IBT Staff Reporter

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.

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 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 .

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.

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.

U.S. consumer prices rose in February on higher gasoline and apparel prices, government data showed on Wednesday, calming fears of deflation for now.

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.

Stock futures were little changed on Wednesday as a report that IBM was in talks to buy computer maker Sun Microsystems offset caution before the Federal Reserve's policy decision.

IBM is in talks to buy Sun Microsystems Inc for at least $6.5 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported, in a deal that could bolster their computer server products against rivals such as Hewlett-Packard Co.

Oil fell from a 2-1/2-month high toward $48 a barrel on Wednesday after industry data showed large builds in U.S. crude stocks.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Wednesday as investors awaited decisions from the Federal Reserve's two-day policy setting meeting.

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 share prices rose on Wednesday, while European government debt fell with forecast-beating U.S. housing data prompting more optimism among investors after the last week's rally.

Videogame publisher Gazillion also will develop Marvel Universe, an MMO game for PC and consoles. Financial details of the licensing deal were not disclosed.

Political pressures cast a new shadow over Rio Tinto Ltd's planned $19.5 billion tie-up with Chinese state-owned Chinalco, knocking its shares down 10 percent on Wednesday, with Australia's Senate saying it would examine foreign investment.

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.

What a difference a year makes.

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.

Bank shares powered ahead in Asia on Wednesday to underpin regional markets, while Japanese government bond futures edged up after the Bank of Japan sharply increased the debt it would buy to support the economy.

Former Qwest Communications International Chief Executive Joseph Nacchio asked a Denver judge to rule by Wednesday on a petition to delay the start of his six-year prison term for insider trading.

Some of the billions of dollars the U.S. government paid to bail out American International Group Inc stand to benefit hedge funds that bet on a falling housing market, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter and reviewed documents.

The chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has asked for records on the $3.62 billion of year-end bonuses at Merrill Lynch, to see if the panel was misled about the payments, the Wall Street Journal said.

A leading indicator of U.S. nonresidential construction activity rose slightly in February from a record low the previous month, an architects' trade group said on Wednesday.

Computer maker Sun Microsystems Inc is preparing to take on web retailer Amazon.com Inc in the fledgling market for cloud computing services that can be accessed via the Internet.

Investors at Starbucks Corp's annual meeting on Wednesday will be searching for answers on the coffee chain's cost-cutting measures and ideas to galvanize growth despite weakening global consumption.

Asian stocks drifted higher on Wednesday as banks extended gains, while Japanese government bonds rose after the Bank of Japan sharply increased the amount of government debt it would purchase to support the economy.

Asian stocks inched higher on Wednesday after a financial sector-driven rally pushed them to one-month highs this week, while U.S. Treasuries edged up on speculation the Federal Reserve may take the unorthodox step of buying government debt to push down interest rates.

The Obama administration turned up the heat on AIG on Tuesday over its employee bonuses, saying the embattled insurer will be forced to repay U.S. taxpayers before it gets another bailout of $30 billion.

Global financial turmoil has had a major impact on the reserve management policies of two thirds of central banks and almost all are rethinking diversification tactics, a survey showed on Wednesday.