IBT Staff Reporter

On Wednesday, April 20, 2011, the IAEA provided the following information on the current status of nuclear safety in Japan

The U.S. dollar slid to a 3-year low against a basket of major currencies and Asian stocks jumped to a 3-year high on Thursday, as investors scrambled to get in front of upward momentum in higher-yielding assets, particularly in emerging markets.

Wireless chip maker Qualcomm Inc posted better than expected quarterly results and raised its full-year financial targets on improving demand for advanced phones, sending its shares up almost 5 percent.

A patent trial between tech giants Oracle and Google should be held before November, a U.S. judge said at a hearing.

The U.S. dollar slid to a 2-1/2-year low against a basket of major currencies and Asian stocks were poised to hit a 3-year high on Thursday, as investors scrambled to get in front of upward momentum in higher-yielding assets, particularly in emerging markets.

Western Digital Corp posted lower third-quarter results as higher sales of tablet devices led to lower demand for its hard disk drive from PC makers, and forecast fourth-quarter adjusted profit below Wall Street view.

Luxury automaker Rolls-Royce Motor Cars should more than double sales in the second quarter, in large part because of its Ghost model, David Archibald, president of Rolls-Royce in North America, said on Wednesday.

There is a risk that Nissan Motor Co's <7201.T> U.S. market share, which has been on the rise, may fall due to a lack of auto parts from Japan, North American Chairman Carlos Tavares said on Wednesday.

A probe has been launched into the handling of insurer Prudential's failed $35.5 billion bid for AIA <1299.HK>, the Financial Times said on Thursday.

American Express Co's first-quarter profit rose 33 percent from a year ago, beating expectations, but its expenses soared 19 percent, and shares in the credit card lender and processing network fell 1.8 percent.

Yum Brands Inc , the parent of the KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut fast-food chains, reported higher-than-expected quarterly sales, boosted by growth in China, helping to send its shares up 4.9 percent in after-hours

Nokia investors concerned about dwindling market share are anxious for better news on the tie-up with Microsoft and details of cost cuts when the handset maker posts quarterly figures on Thursday.

Gold rallied above $1,500 an ounce for the first time on Wednesday, extending this week's record run as investors hedged growing inflation risks and bought into a broad commodities rally as the dollar slumped.

A pair of top U.S. manufacturers beat Wall Street's profit expectations, as a recovering global economy drives demand for products ranging from air conditioners to truck transmissions.

Apple Inc blew past Wall Street expectations for its fiscal second quarter, fueled by solid demand for iPhones, sending its shares up 3 percent after hours.

Apple posted record second quarter profits on Wednesday, but sales of its iPad tablet took a hit.

American Express Co's first-quarter profit rose 33 percent from a year ago, as its wealthy customers spent more on their credit cards.

Raj Rajaratnam wanted to conquer the stock market at the expense of the law, a U.S. prosecutor said in closing arguments of the hedge fund manager's insider trading trial on Wednesday.

Apple Inc's quarterly results again smashed Wall Street's expectations, fueled by record iPhone and Mac sales, offsetting lower-than-expected sales of its iPad tablet computer.

Wireless chip maker Qualcomm Inc posted better than expected quarterly results and raised its full-year financial targets on improving demand for advanced phones, sending its shares up almost 5 percent.

Raj Rajaratnam wanted to conquer the stock market at the expense of the law, a U.S. prosecutor said in closing arguments of the hedge fund manager's insider trading trial on Wednesday.

After a goalless ninety minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner for Real Madrid in the first period of extra time to hand Jose Mourinho his first trophy at Madrid.

Critical infrastructure companies in industries such as energy, water and gas are not smartening up to the increasing number of cyber attacks.

Moving to the beat of 1990s pop hit American Boy, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's stiff dance moves became an immediate viral hit on YouTube on Wednesday.

Television journalist Tom Brokaw has found a buyer for his Park Avenue duplex apartment that was listed on the market for $10.75 million.

The board of Citigroup Inc was sued by an individual shareholder for the damage done to the bank by years of shoddy mortgage and foreclosure practices, which recently led to a costly fix agreed with regulators.

Raj Rajaratnam wanted to conquer the stock market at the expense of the law, a prosecutor said in closing arguments of the hedge fund manager's insider trading trial on Wednesday.

The ice that lies in the Canadian Arctic may play a larger role in sea level rise than anyone thought.

AT&T says even without having an exclusive deal on the iPhone, it gained subscribers in the first quarter.