IBT Staff Reporter

Applications for U.S. home mortgages increased last week as lending rates eased from recent highs, an industry group said on Wednesday.

Nvidia shares soared 15 percent on Wednesday, their biggest one-day rise in over two years, as investors bet the company's new chips would win it a major stake in future tablets and smartphones.

U.S. manufacturer ITT Corp plans to split itself into three companies to take advantage of growing water and industrial markets as its defense unit braces for U.S. military spending cuts.

U.S. housing prices overall are expected to hit bottom by spring 2011 and begin a gradual rise in 2012, Frank Nothaft, chief economist and vice president of housing lender Freddie Mac said on Wednesday.

Space tourists will have the chance to strap in and fly to orbit beginning in 2013, as the company that sent up the first space tourists comes back from hiatus.

Federal law enforcement arrested a California man today and charged him with making death threats to U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-WA, according to federal authorities.

Nvidia shares surged 15 percent on Wednesday, extending a rally ignited by optimism about its ARM-based mobile chip business and a $1.5 billion legal settlement with Intel Corp.

The U.S. public overwhelmingly opposes raising the country's debt limit even though failure to do so could hurt America's international standing and push up borrowing costs, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday.

With China virtually cut off and Western markets maturing, Wikipedia is targeting India first and possibly Brazil next to reach its goal of 1 billion users, Executive Director Sue Gardner says.

New app/device combo from PLX Devices can control a user's mind.

Groups concerned about net neutrality have taken the first shots at MetroPCS over its newly unveiled data plans, which they say run afoul of the new Federal Communications Commission rules.

A homeless man who became a YouTube sensation for his golden voice will check into rehab for treatment of alcohol and drug dependency, representatives for the Dr Phil show said on Wednesday.

Banks will meet in New York City on Thursday to make their case for the right to sell the U.S. Treasury's stake in American International Group, three people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Demand Media Inc, which relies on search engine data and thousands of freelancers to churn out low-cost articles and video, set terms on Wednesday for a $112.5 million initial public offering.

The U.S. will contribute to a trust fund to help Yemen as it expands aid beyond counter-terrorism against Al-Qaeda to include aid for economic, social and political development, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday.

Prospects are slim due to high deficits that the U.S. government will create a financing arm to underwrite big-ticket infrastructure projects, the chief executive of General Electric Co said on Wednesday.

President Hu Jintao of China is coming to America next week, to meet with President Barack Obama and discuss relations between the world’s two largest economies.

Stocks ended solidly higher on Wednesday after European debt fears eased and sparked a broad advance, led by banks and commodity-related shares.

Wall Street's continuing rally and the improving finances of America's wealthy will keep luxury spending's hot streak alive in 2011, and the less well heeled are also poised to join the party, top retail executives said.

The United States posted an $80 billion budget deficit in December, slightly smaller than economists had expected, Treasury Department data showed on Wednesday.

Nvidia shares surged 14 percent on Wednesday, extending a recent rally ignited by optimism about its ARM-based mobile chip business and a $1.5 billion legal settlement with Intel Corp.

The battered U.S. labor market may finally be looking up, according to a report from the Federal Reserve that found modestly better job conditions across the country.

Activist investor Boston Common Asset Management LLC said that it has sold most of the 167,000 shares it held in Cisco Systems Inc, capping a lengthy dispute with the company over its human rights record.

Nvidia shares surged 12 percent on Wednesday, extending a recent rally ignited by a $1.5 billion legal settlement with Intel and optimism about its ARM-based chip business.

The tablet from Notion Ink is waiting approval before it gets shipped out in the U.S. and U.K.

Ships plying the waters where piracy is a danger may soon have a non-lethal laser weapon to defend themselves with.

Clearwire Corp shares rose more than 1 percent after the wireless service provider said board member Ben Wolff is also acting as a strategic adviser, raising the possibility that it soon might raise more money.

U.S. securities regulators are preparing to release two key studies this month that could lead to major changes in how investment advisers and brokers who offer advice to retail customers are regulated.

Airbus basked in the world's biggest commercial plane order on Wednesday, with shares in parent EADS lifted by news of its $15.6 billion 180-aircraft deal with Indian airline IndiGo.