IBT Staff Reporter

Gold moved higher on Thursday after the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates, but weaker oil prices limited gains and prevented the metal from breaking recent record highs.

A suspected U.S. missile strike that killed up to 13 foreign militants in Pakistan's North Waziristan region this week had targeted second or third tier al Qaeda leaders, according to residents in the tribal area.

Google Inc's top three executives had pledged to work together for 20 years in a pact they made shortly before the company's initial public offering in August 2004, Fortune magazine has reported.

You may know actor Keith David for starring opposite Kurt Russell in the 1982 horror film 'The Thing', or for his Tony Award-winning role in the 1992 production of 'Jelly's Last Jam'.

Bands trying to break into the music business are taking advantage of digital technology, online social networking and the current uncertainty in the established music industry.

A federal judge ruled to extend the U.S. government's antitrust oversight of Microsoft for two more years, shy of the five-year extension sought by states accusing the company of continuing monopolistic behavior.

Asian markets were mixed during a volatile session Thursday, with indexes in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Sydney wavering between gains and losses as investors assessed the Federal Reserve's half-point reduction in a key interest rate overnight and the health of the U.S. economy.

Last week it was revealed that Societe Generale had lost 4.9 billion euros due to the unauthorised trading of alleged rogue trader Jerome Kerviel.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has warned that more incidents of financial crime may come to light in 2008 and that resources could be diverted away from fighting financial crime, thanks to tighter economic conditions.

Communication including internet and telephone services all over the Middle East and India went down on Wednesday following the cut of two submarine cable systems in the Mediterranean Sea.

Natural gas futures increased on Wednesday amid speculations that an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve might boost the U.S. economy and reduce energy demand.

Corn on Wednesday fell due to a decline in global demand of the grain for food, fuel and animal feed following speculations that the interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve might not stop the economy from going into a recession.

Amazon reported strong fourth quarter earnings late Wednesday on strong holiday sales, but issued a conservative forecast sending shares down in after-hours trading.

U.S. stocks plunged on Wednesday after earlier rallies in response to the Federal Reserves highly anticipated half-point rate cut and on speculation that bond insurers Ambac Financial and MBIA Inc. faced downgrades.

Madonna is the richest woman in music, according to Forbes' first-ever Cash Queens of Music list released Wednesday.

The motives that propelled alleged rogue trader Jerome Kerviel to trade huge amounts of money, ending in accusations of fraud from his bank, Societe Generale, are coming to light after a partial transcript of prosecutor questioning was released.

Gold futures rose in after market trading on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve slashed its key interest rate by 50 basis points to 3 percent which boosted the precious metal's appeal as a safe haven for investment.

Myspace, the largest social networking site said Wednesday it will let programs pre-register for its developer platform program which is set to be launched next week.

U.S. economic growth slowed significantly below expectations in the last three months of 2007, and is on the verge of recession.

The Federal Reserve's policy making committee is expected to announce a cut U.S. interests rates this afternoon at 2:15 p.m. EST.

A record number of foreigners visited Japan last year as the weak yen lured more Chinese shoppers, French gourmets, and fans of Japanese pop culture, though the country still ranks low among holiday destinations.

Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia with Western backing the weekend after the February 3 Serbian presidential election if the nationalist candidate wins, political sources said on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles County coroner has opened an investigation into the death of Hollywood legend Marlon Brando's eldest son, acting at the request of his family, a spokesman for the medical examiner said on Tuesday.

The United States, Sweden and Japan topped a new ranking that measures how well countries use telecommunications technologies - networks, cell phones and computers - to boost their social and economic prosperity.

Microsoft Corp. continues its bid to topple Google and Yahoo by announcing on Tuesday it will become the new provider of paid search and contextual advertising links on sites run by The Wall Street Journal.

Copper rose on Tuesday as stock markets recovered and worries about the health of the U.S. economy decreased as the Federal Reserve met to decide on interest rates.

U.S stocks advanced Tuesday as the Federal Reserve as investors anticipate another interest-rate cut on Wednesday by the Federal Open Market Committee.

A ground-breaking move to launch a new free global music download service that could help overcome the music industry's cash crisis faced uncertainty Tuesday.

IAC/InterActiveCorp, parent company of LendingTree, reacted on Tuesday after its controlling shareholder Liberty Media Corp asked a court to remove IAC Chairman Barry Diller, saying Liberty's request was preposterous and a incomprehensible.