IBT Staff Reporter

Frontier Communications Inc has agreed to buy 4.8 million access lines from Verizon Communications Inc for $5.25 billion in stock, in a deal that triples its size and makes it the largest U.S. communications provider serving rural areas.

Stock index futures pointed to a drop of more than 1.5 percent at the open on Wednesday after key U.S. retail sales data came in worse than expected, dampening hopes of a quick economic recovery.

The European Commission fined Intel Corp a record 1.06 billion euros ($1.45 billion) on Wednesday and ordered it to halt illegal rebates and other practices it used to squeeze out its rival, AMD.

Macy's Inc posted a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss on Wednesday as cost cuts eased the pain of declining sales at its department stores, and its shares rose 1.6 percent in premarket trade.

Eradicating greenhouse gases from power stations and cars, trucks and aviation must be Europe's next policy move to tackle climate change, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Wednesday.

The remarkable spending on commodities out of China continues... this single country demand continues to make old sign posts useless.

Pollution-free electric scooters and bicycles have been available for a while but nothing on the market so far has come close to providing what bikers would regard as a ride with the style and performance they crave.

I've become numb a long time ago ... but seeing these programs and solutions one after the other is simply.... I don't have words.

Global talks on combating climate change this year might progress best by focusing on Mexico's proposal for a world climate change fund, one of the European Union's top negotiators said.

The founders of India's Suzlon Energy Ltd are looking to raise up to $48 million through the sale of 30 million shares or a stake of 2 percent in the world's fifth-largest wind turbine maker, sources said on Tuesday.

Macy's Inc posted a wider quarterly loss on Wednesday, hurt by a persisting decline in sales as shoppers at its department stores shunned unnecessary items in the recession.

Stock index futures fell about 1 percent on Wednesday as investors waited for key retail sales data for an indication of the mood of the U.S. consumer.

Pacific Ethanol Inc said on Tuesday that its first-quarter sales had fallen by nearly half and warned again that it would need to file for bankruptcy protection if it could not soon restructure its debt.

Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday as consumers drank up its value-priced soft drinks, and the company raised its 2009 profit forecast, sending its shares up 5.9 percent in premarket trade.

Fashion company Liz Claiborne Inc reported a quarterly loss deeper than Wall Street expected as retail sales remained weak in the recession, and its shares fell nearly 12 percent in light premarket trading.

U.S. power plants will burn about 2.3 percent less coal in 2009 than they did last year as the recession trims electricity demand, the government's top energy forecaster said on Tuesday.

Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday as consumers drank up its value-priced soft drinks.

Stock index futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Wednesday as investors waited for key retail sales data for an indication of the mood of the U.S. consumer.

Executives at Citigroup Inc's Primerica Financial Services unit are looking to sell the division's marketing arm, Bloomberg said, citing four people familiar with the matter.

SHANGHAI (Reuters Life!) - A popular Chinese online video showing a woman going hysterical after her male companion refuses to buy her a car is stirring debate about Shanghai's females, who are renowned for their demanding ways.

Internet search engine Google said it would reshoot all Japanese pictures for its online photo map service, Street View, using lower camera angles after complaints about invasion of privacy.

Top mobile phone maker Nokia said on Wednesday France Telecom's Orange would sell its top model 5800 and exclusive music-package deal in Britain.

The European Commission imposed a record 1.06 billion euros ($1.45 billion) fine on chipmaker Intel Corp on Wednesday and ordered it halt illegal rebates and other practices to squeeze out rival AMD.

The European Commission imposed a record 1.06 billion euros ($1.45 billion) fine on chipmaker Intel Corp on Wednesday and ordered it halt illegal rebates and other practices to squeeze out rival AMD.

Economists surveyed by Reuters believe that U.S. retail sales outside the auto sector regained some strength in April, helped by Easter holiday shopping and moderately stronger consumer confidence.

Stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.2 percent, Dow Jones futures flat and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.1 percent at 4:40 a.m. EDT.

The U.S. dollar fell to a four-month low on Wednesday, its safe haven appeal eroded by optimism about a global economic recovery and concerns about the United States' fiscal health.

Britain unveiled plans to cap ownership of the digital radio spectrum among mobile phone companies, aiming to settle a long-running dispute and fulfill the government's target of providing universal broadband.

British mobile phone companies could be forced to cap the amount of spectrum they own under a proposal aimed at settling a long-running dispute and fulfilling the government's target of providing universal broadband.