IBT Staff Reporter

High-frequency traders have become a convenient scapegoat as markets for sugar, coffee, cocoa and cotton react to tight supplies and surging demand, the president of ICE Futures US said on Wednesday.

Two top energy market operators redoubled their defense of speculators on Wednesday amid renewed concerns in the oil market, arguing that speculators are misunderstood and often too quickly blamed for price spikes.

Security software company Websense Inc is exploring selling itself and has hired Frank Quattrone's Qatalyst Partners to help with the process, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Real Madrid broke the jinx and qualified for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in seven years after a 3-0 victory over French side Olympique Lyon at the Santiago Bernabeu. In the other game, Chelsea and FC Copenhagen played out a 0-0 draw, meaning the English side go through with an aggregate score of 2-0.

Accused hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam did not get secrets about Advanced Micro Devices Inc and eBay Inc from a former high-placed friend because the information was already public, his lawyer argued at trial on Wednesday.

The yen soared to a record high against the dollar on Wednesday as concerns escalated over a nuclear crisis in Japan, and investors nervously watched to see if Japanese authorities will step in to stem the currency's rise.

TORONTO - Lionsgate is partnering with Groupon to sell half-price $6.00 tickets for The Lincoln Lawyer, starring Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei and Ryan Phillippe. The film is opening wide this Friday.

The United States is playing a key role in support of Japan's aid, search, and rescue efforts.

The S&P and Nasdaq dropped into negative territory for the year on Wednesday in a crush of trading on the perception Japan's nuclear crisis would continue to be a headwind for equities.

The newest version of Internet Explorer boasts impressive first-day numbers.

The earthquake in Japan caused insured losses of $12 billion to $25 billion, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in history for global insurers, according to risk modeling firm Eqecat.

A rare Wall Street downgrade stoked fears that Apple Inc's torrid growth is slowing and sent its shares sliding for the second straight day as nervous investors ponder the impact on the tech industry from Japan's largest-ever earthquake.

When they finally completed their new control tower last November, officials at University Park Airport hoped it would provide a needed safety upgrade.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq turned negative for the year on 2011's highest volume in a sharp selloff on Wednesday as investors feared Japan's nuclear crisis could worsen.

After a year in which Johnson & Johnson's product quality control was deemed such a shambles that the U.S. government will oversee some plants, the board had praise for Chief Executive William Weldon and awarded him almost $29 million in overall compensation.

Apple Inc shares slid for a second straight day after a rare broker downgrade stoked worries that the company's torrid pace of growth will slow.

The Obama administration is backing legislation to protect the personal data of Internet users, toughening its stance from a call last year for voluntary codes of conduct for data companies and advertisers.

Senators, government organizations and even the President are throwing their support behind 'Do Not Track' legislation.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Wednesday it is imperative that the United States cut its budget deficits, and he believes there is increasing bipartisan support in Congress to do so.

(Corrects month of Goggins departure in paragraph 12)

The disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power stations in Japan could have long-lasting effects that go beyond the radiation exposure measured directly from the site, according to one anti-nuclear group.

The device is a follow-up to the 3G version of the device released last month.

Twitter adds HTTPS option to for users.

Netflix, the DVD rental and online video service, is breaking away from its traditional role just as a licensor of movies and TV shows by negotiating with two of Hollywood's biggest names for an original show.

Zediva Inc, a startup, said it has launched a new service that lets customers watch movies over the Web the same day they are released on DVD, avoiding the usual delays required by film studios.

A French Gothic townhouse in Manhattan was put on the market at $90 million last Friday.

Producer prices surged in February at their fastest pace in 1-1/2 years, data showed on Wednesday, a day after the Federal Reserve said it had a watchful eye on inflation pressures it expects to subside.

When they finally completed their new control tower last November, officials at University Park Airport hoped it would provide a needed safety upgrade.

Mergers sweeping financial exchanges are in part an unintended consequence of global financial regulatory reforms, the head of IntercontinentalExchange Inc said on Wednesday .