Consumers want unrestricted Internet access: survey
Nine in 10 people expect their Internet service providers to offer open and unrestricted access to the Web, a survey showed on Wednesday. The survey, commissioned by Google, Yahoo and Web telephone company Skype, came as the European Parliament and EU states hold talks on a joint deal to reform the bloc's telecoms rules to boost competition.
Gas, clothing push up consumer prices
U.S. inflation rose in February on higher gasoline and apparel prices, government data showed on Wednesday, pointing to some pricing power in the recession-hit economy and easing fears of deflation for now.
Gas, clothing prices push up consumer prices
U.S. inflation rose in February on higher gasoline and apparel prices, government data showed on Wednesday, pointing to some pricing power in the recession-hit economy and easing fears of deflation for now.
Nearly 15 percent of hedge funds closed last year
A record 778 hedge funds liquidated during the fourth quarter, capping a year that saw financial markets melt down and investors yank $150 billion of their money at the end of 2008, Hedge Fund Research Inc said on Wednesday.
Oil falls below $48 after U.S. stock build
Oil fell more than 3 percent to below $48 a barrel on Wednesday after fresh industry data showing a build in U.S. crude oil stocks and the World Bank cut its forecast for China's economic growth this year.
IBM seeks Sun Microsystems buyout
IBM is in talks to buy Sun Microsystems Inc for a proposed $6.5 billion cash offer, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Discovery sues over Amazon's Kindle
Media company Discovery Communications Inc has sued Amazon.com, accusing the online retailer's Kindle of infringing its patent on electronic book technology.
NATO says 4,000 extra troops needed for Afghan poll
NATO's secretary-general said on Wednesday 4,000 more soldiers were needed to secure Afghanistan's presidential election in August and to make sure the vote was credible and fair.
Bank of America CEO says could repay TARP in '09: report
Bank of America Corp Chairman and Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis said the largest U.S. bank could repay the $45 billion of government capital it has taken by late 2009 or early 2010, depending on the economy, according to an interview published in the Charlotte Observer.
Lebanese president rules out direct Israel talks
Lebanon's president ruled out on Wednesday holding direct peace talks with Israel, saying that the best way to resolve his country's differences with the Jewish state was to hold a regional peace conference instead.
Vatican defends pope condoms stand
The Vatican Wednesday defended Pope Benedict's opposition to the use of condoms to stop the spread of AIDS as activists, doctors and politicians criticized it as unrealistic, unscientific and dangerous.
Man blows himself up in failed Yemen attack: source
A suicide bomber blew himself up near Sanaa airport on Wednesday, apparently to target a convoy of South Koreans investigating an al Qaeda suicide that killed four Korean tourists this week, a security source said.
Japan to ready defense against North Korea rocket: Kyodo
Japan will clear the way for the deployment of ballistic missile interceptors as it prepares for the possibility a North Korean rocket could fall toward its territory, Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday.
Market drops on oil, IBM drag
Stocks fell on Wednesday as lower oil prices hurt energy shares and caution before the Federal Reserve's policy decision offset optimism from a report of a potential takeover in the technology sector.
Army-backed leader cements grip in Madagascar
Madagascar's new president, Andry Rajoelina, celebrated and consolidated power on Wednesday after being appointed by the Indian Ocean island's military in a move that drew international disapproval.
U.S. consumer prices up 0.4 percent
U.S. consumer prices rose in February on higher gasoline and apparel prices, government data showed on Wednesday, calming fears of deflation for now.
Merrill Lynch buys remaining stake in Indian unit
Merrill Lynch & Co has taken full control of its Indian unit DSP Merrill Lynch after Hemendra Kothari, the subsidiary's founder and chairman, said he had sold his 10 percent stake to the firm ahead of his retirement.
AIG CEO defends bonuses as public fury mounts
The head of AIG said on Wednesday the cold realities of competition compelled the insurer to pay $165 million in bonuses, and acknowledged that bailout-weary Americans' patience was running thin.
General Mills profit below view but outlook raised
General Mills Inc posted a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday, hurt by the effect of the stronger dollar and high costs, but the food maker raised its full-year outlook, citing strong sales in the first nine months and lower costs in the current quarter.
China scuttles Coke's bid for juice maker
China has rejected Coca-Cola's planned $2.4 billion acquisition of top juice maker Huiyuan Juice , saying the deal would have been bad for competition.
Oil retreats after U.S. stock build
Oil fell from a 2-1/2-month high toward $48 a barrel on Wednesday after industry data on Tuesday showed large builds in U.S. crude stocks.
IBM in talks to buy Sun Microsystems
IBM is in talks to buy Sun Microsystems Inc, sources with knowledge of the matter said, a move that could bolster the technology giant against rivals in the high-end computer server market.
Boutiques, hedge funds lure cream of global banking
Boutique investment firms and top hedge funds are slowly lapping up the cream of global banking talent as the financial crisis forces banks to cut staff and limit the pay of their top risk-takers.
U.N. climate chief hustles on global warming deal
Big gaps remain in a new U.N. deal on global warming meant to be agreed in December and time is running worryingly short with just 265 days left, the U.N. climate chief said on Tuesday.
U.S. cuts red tape on offshore renewable energy
With the aim of ending a regulatory turf war, U.S. government agencies on Tuesday said they would work together to cut red tape and spur development of offshore renewable energy projects.
Fed resumes meeting, focus seen on existing plans
The Federal Reserve resumed a two-day meeting on Wednesday that was expected to end with a vow to do whatever it takes to turn back the U.S. economy's deep recession but no new concrete steps to do so.
Higher gas, clothing prices push up inflation
U.S. inflation rose in February on higher gasoline and apparel prices, government data showed on Wednesday, pointing to some pricing power in the recession-hit economy and easing fears of deflation for now.
Stocks to dip at open, Fed unease offsets M&A
Stocks were set to dip at the open on Wednesday as investors turned cautious before the Federal Reserve's policy decision, tempering optimism from a report that IBM was in talks to buy computer maker Sun Microsystems .
Opel, GM have funds to last into April: Germany
German carmaker Opel and its U.S. parent General Motors have, to the knowledge of the German government, sufficient financing to see them through into April, a junior economy minister said on Wednesday.
World Bank cuts China 2009 GDP forecast to 6.5 percent
The World Bank lowered its forecast for China's 2009 economic growth on Wednesday but warned Beijing that it would be thwarting its own medium-term goals if it tried to offset the slowdown by further boosting investment.
