BUSINESS

The top after-market NYSE gainers Wednesday were Walter Energy, Masco Corp, Companhia Siderurgica Nacional, Orient-Express Hotels and Korn/Ferry International. The top after-market NYSE losers were Men's Wearhouse, Cobalt International Energy, SuperValu Inc, Deutsche Bank and SAIC Inc.

The top after-market NASDAQ gainers Wednesday were Finisar Corporation, Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals Inc, Garmin Ltd and Zogenix Inc. The top after-market NASDAQ losers Wednesday were Vera Bradley Inc, Align Technology Inc, Dunkin' Brands Group Inc, Memorial Production Partners LP and NXP Semiconductors N.V.

Apple’s iPad will continue to dominate the tablet market through 2016, according to a recent IDC report.

The global economy continued to recover in November, helped by a sharp growth in the service industries.

South Korea's economic growth slowed to 0.1 percent in the third quarter compared to that in the previous quarter.

A U.S. probe of money laundering allegations could result in HSBC Holdings PLC (NYSE:HBC) paying a fine of $1.8 billion.

Mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. agrees to pay $9 billion to diversify into oil and natural gas exploration and production.

Activision Blizzard Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) netted $1 billion in sales of its new video game, "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2," in just 15 days, a day faster than its predecessor, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3."

Starbucks plans to build 1,500 stores amid booming profits and massive expansion.

The British hospital treating Middleton admitted it was victimized by a crank call during which a woman impersonated Queen Elizabeth II.

This year has been a dud for corporate mergers & acquisitions, a survey revealed, but there is some hope regarding 2013.

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) will eliminate more than 11,000 jobs globally, about 4 percent of its total workforce.

Citigroup Inc will eliminate 11,000 jobs worldwide, about 4 percent of its total staff, in a move to save as much as $1.1 billion a year in expenses.

An eight-day strike at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach ended, lifting a threat to the fragile U.S. economic recovery.

The ADP number missed expectations ahead of Friday's closely watched government employment report.

Bill Gross, the manager of the United States' largest bond fund, was out Tuesday with a very dour view of the U.S. economy.

The pharmaceutical industry is grappling with diminishing R&D productivity -- exemplified by a drop in revenue per new drug approval.

Wal-Mart has longed to get into U.S. banking, but even without a charter it could expand its offers.

The relationship between the U.S. and Israel is being subjected to an increased scrutiny.

Rio Tinto Plc, Nokia Corp, Facebook Inc, BHP Billiton, Transocean, Dynavax Technologies, CBRE Group, Apple Inc and Carnival Corp. are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Wednesday.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a higher open Wednesday ahead of Automatic Data Processing’s (ADP) National Employment Report.

Crude oil prices advanced and hovered below $90 a barrel during the Asian trading hours Wednesday.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Tuesday were Pike Electric Corp, Wipro Ltd, Esterline Technologies, Ion Geophysical and EQT Corp. The top after-market NYSE losers were Pandora Media, Oxford Industries, Tempur-Pedic International, Teavana Holdings and Allegheny Technologies Inc.

Japan’s service activity expanded in November, indicating that there is hope for a rise in new business and a general improvement in the country’s economic climate.

The top after-market NASDAQ gainers Tuesday were AeroVironment Inc, Amyris Inc, Aegerion Pharmaceuticals Inc and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation. The top after-market NASDAQ losers Tuesday were Mattress Firm Holding Corp, Mitcham Industries Inc, TIBCO Software Inc, Select Comfort Corporation and Cynosure Inc.

China's service activity expanded in November but at a slower pace compared to that in the previous month, according to the HSBC Services Purchasing Managers’ Index released Wednesday.

A practical joke played on Americans by major pollster PPP led to a string of Twitter comments by politicos: Americans' issue awareness was not high.

Tensions are mounting between U.S. and Chinese securities regulators and could mean Chinese companies' shares being delisted from U.S. exchanges.

A U.S. judge said the $4B in fines against Microsoft for the Xbox 360 was undue punishment for the alleged patent dispute.