IBT Staff Reporter

Wall Street was set for a near 1 percent opening gain on Thursday following four days of losses in the S&P 500 after data showed the U.S. economy grew faster than expected in the third-quarter and corporate profits reassured investors.

French prison drama A Prophet won the inaugural best picture award at the London film festival Wednesday, going one better than in Cannes where it was runner-up to Michael Haneke's The White Ribbon.

The U.S. economy grew in the third quarter for the first time in a year, beating market expectations, as consumer spending and new home-building rebounded, signaling the end of the worst recession in 70 years.

Wall Street was set for a near 1 percent opening gain on Thursday following four days of losses in the S&P 500 after data showed the U.S. economy grew faster than expected in the third-quarter and corporate profits reassured investors.

Looks like the world has missed one helluva concert. Whatever cynicism one might harbor about the Hail Mary piece of cinema This Is It -- which can be called the first concert rehearsal movie ever -- what this strange yet strangely beguiling film does is capture one of pop culture's great entertainers in the feverish grips of pure creativity.

The homeless population of Los Angeles fell sharply during the past two years, a study released on Wednesday found, confounding expectations that the recession would drive more people into the city's streets and shelters.

The economy grew in the third quarter for the first time in a year as consumer spending and investment in new home-building rebounded, data showed on Thursday, unofficially ending the worst recession in 70 years.

Weakness in energy stocks, pulled lower by downbeat results from Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L), offset gains from banks and miners leaving Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE off 0.3 percent by midsession on Thursday.

The U.S. economy resumed growing in the third quarter after a year of decline as consumers spent more and investment in home-building bounced back to end the worst recession in 70 years, a Reuters survey of economists predicts.

A federal judge ordered State Street Corp (STT.N) to pay $89.75 million to settle a lawsuit over mortgage losses, rejecting the bank's argument that the accord may prove unfair depending on how a related regulatory probe is resolved.

Wall Street was set to rise on Thursday after four days of losses in the S&P 500 as reassuring corporate profits spurred optimism ahead of data expected to show the U.S. economy resumed growing in the third quarter.

Wall Street was set to rise on Thursday after four days of losses in the S&P 500 as reassuring corporate profits spurred optimism ahead of data expected to show the U.S. economy resumed growing in the third quarter.

The U.S. economy resumed growing in the third quarter after a year of decline as consumers spent more and investment in home-building bounced back to end the worst recession in 70 years, a Reuters survey of economists predicted.

* U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher opening on Wall Street on Thursday as investors take a breather following the previous session's sharp selloff ahead of key GDP figures and a flurry of corporate earnings.

Nintendo Co Ltd reported a 52 percent slide in quarterly profit on Thursday and slashed its full-year earnings forecast, as its Wii console loses its place as the videogame platform to beat.

Procter & Gamble Co posted a quarterly profit well ahead of analysts' forecasts and said it has modestly higher expectations for growth in the industry even as consumers continue to remain cautious.

Google touted its new music search service on Wednesday, saying that it will make it easier for users to find and click on songs, as well as create a possible new revenue stream by putting the new convenience feature high in its search results.

Oil majors Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Eni dashed hopes of an imminent turnaround for the industry, as sluggish economic recovery weighs on energy demand and prices, contributing to a big drop in profits.

Oil majors Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Eni dashed hopes of an imminent turnaround for the industry, as sluggish economic recovery weighs on energy demand and prices, contributing to a big drop in profits.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Thursday ahead of data expected to show the economy grew in the third quarter, while jobless numbers and a round of corporate earnings were also on tap.

Europe's largest carmaker Volkswagen said business remained hard after third-quarter earnings plunged on Thursday while Japan's Mazda predicted a smaller full-year operating loss.

Oil rose toward $78 on Thursday as the United States, the world's biggest energy consumer, was expected to return to economic growth, but gains were limited by the weakness of prompt fuel demand.

The U.S. economy resumed growing in the third quarter after a year of decline as consumers spent more and investment in home-building bounced back to end the worst recession in 70 years, a Reuters survey of economists predicts.

World stocks hit a three-week low on Thursday, following a sharp fall on Wall Street, as disappointing European corporate results and weak U.S. data fanned concerns about the strength of the economic recovery.

Oil majors Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Eni warned of a slow recovery, highlighting weak energy demand and operational challenges, as their profits slumped.

National Mediation Board, a U.S. federal labor-management relations agency, is considering a proposal to allow airline workers to form unions with the majority approval of those voting, Bloomberg news agency said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Oil prices steadied at above $77 a barrel on Thursday, pausing from the previous session's decline of 2.6 percent, as investors waited for more economic data to gauge the pace of economic recovery in the United States.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc said third quarter net profits fell 73 percent, hit by falling oil and gas prices and refining margins, and Chief Executive Peter Voser warned of a slow recovery.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc said third quarter net profits fell 73 percent, hit by falling oil and gas prices and refining margins, and Chief Executive Peter Voser warned of a slow recovery.