BUSINESS

Twitter blocked local access to a neo-Nazi group in Germany after police charged it with racial hatred incitement and criminal activity.

More Americans than expected applied for unemployment benefits last week.

A White House-ordered review has found no clear evidence for the allegation that Huawei Technologies Ltd has spied for the Chinese government, Reuters has reported.

Corporate third-quarter earnings reports will continue to flood in next week: Do you have a watch list prepared?

The Dalits of India -- the word "dalit" means “oppressed” or “downtrodden" in Sanskrit -- are stuck at the very bottom of the caste hierarchy.

Given Imaging Ltd, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Clearwire Corp, Mellanox Technologies, MannKind Corp, TICC Capital Corp, Sandisk Corp and Caterpillar Inc. are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Thursday.

Asian stock markets advanced Thursday as concerns over a sharper slowdown in the world's second largest economy eased after China reported the third quarter economic activity data in line with expectations.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a lower open Thursday ahead of the Labor Department's weekly jobless claims data.

European markets were mixed Thursday as investors were waiting for the results of the European Council summit starting in Brussels later in the day. The summit is expected to announce measures to control the debt crisis affecting the euro zone.

Crude oil prices advanced slightly and hovered above $92 a barrel in Asia Thursday as better-than-expected economic reports from the U.S. and China eased concerns over the global growth slowdown.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Wednesday were WESCO International, Ethan Allen Interiors Inc, Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Knight Capital Group and MGIC Investment Corp. The top after-market NYSE losers were Fortune Brands Home & Security, Meritor, Bridgepoint Education, Albemarle Corp and Halcon Resources Corp.

Asian stocks gained Thursday with investor sentiment turning positive as data from China showed that the world’s second largest economy grew as expected in the third quarter, decreasing the concerns about the rapidly worsening economic conditions.

According to the official data released Thursday, China’s industrial production rose in September compared to that in the previous month, indicating an upswing in the manufacturing output.

After 11 years without new flight attendants, American Airlines is finally hiring. But the new hires will be working for lower wages than those being laid off.

China’s growth slowed again last quarter, to its lowest level since early 2009, the government announced Thursday morning.

Asian shares rose to their highest in seven months Thursday, boosted by a surge in U.S. housing starts that has followed other positive economic data.

Despite slowing sales, McDonald's is expected to serve up a $1.48 per share this quarter with a side of extra dividend.

Pirates boarded the Bourbon Liberty 249 off the coast of Nigeria and took hostage six Russians and one Estonian.

Negotiators for Greece and three institutions that are financially rescuing the country reached a deal on aid and austerity.

Labor strife in South Africa entered a dangerous phase this week after negotiations between strikers and mining companies broke down.

Thirty-five ships hauled cargo through the frigid waters north of Russia this year, breaking last year's record-breaking season.

The world's largest publicly traded energy company extended its buying streak with a $2.91 billion purchase of Canadian petroleum shale properties.

Bilateral India-Australia trade currently amounts to $20-billion, and it's increasing at a rate of 20 percent annually.

Some schools are looking to ban a popular snack, Flamin' Hot Cheetos, for its addictive qualities amid health concerns.

Germany's economy will grow this year by 1 percent, Berlin said Wednesday, not the 1.6 percent it had earlier forecast.

The company admitted that some students in its summer internship were below the Chinese legal minimum working age of 16.

Kingfisher Airlines, India’s crisis-struck airline, will extend its lockout period said chief executive Sanjay Aggarwal, after a meeting with the employees on Wednesday.

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc, Telefonica S.A, ArcelorMittal, International Business Machines Corp, Intel Corp, Diageo plc, Alpha Natural Resources and Barclays Plc. are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Wednesday.

Despite a huge U.S. federal debt and prospects of a so-called fiscal cliff, foreign governments continue to snap up U.S. government debt.