CHINA

Speculation and rumors that former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin may have died have led government Internet censors to quash any such discussion of the subject online.

A century ago, it was the explorers and infantrymen of Europe's great powers slugging it out for slices of Africa. Now, it is the agents of Chinese and Brazilian capital, but the competition is just as fierce.

Transportation stocks were among the standouts in another flat session for U.S. equities on Wednesday, and the sector's rally could be cause for optimism ahead.

Stocks bounced off session highs on Wednesday after investors shrugged off a downgrade of Portugal's credit rating and an interest-rate hike in China.

Anish Kapoor's 'Orbit' is being compared to London's Eiffel tower.

Growth in the U.S. economy's vast services sector remained sluggish in June as new orders fell, but economists said a steady employment reading pointed to job growth later in the year.

China raised interest rates for the third time this year on Wednesday, making clear that taming inflation remains a top priority even as the growth pace of its vast economy gently eases.

Amidst a worsening labor dispute in the NBA that threatens the start of the next season, the top player in the game may lead a barnstorming tour of China, the league’s biggest potential market.

Stocks fell slightly on Wednesday after a downgrade of Portugal's credit rating, China's interest rate rise and a soft report on the U.S. services sector sparked jitters about global growth prospects.

The pace of growth in the U.S. economy's services sector remained sluggish in June and new orders fell, but employment held steady last month, according to an industry report released on Wednesday.

As the core of the third generation of Communist Party leaders, and as someone famous for his flamboyant personality, Jiang's absence from CCP's 90th anniversary is unusual. Rumors of his death triggers speculations about the power shifts within the Communist Party as the 2012 leadership transition is drawing closer.

China's central bank increased interest rates for the third time this year on Wednesday, making clear that taming inflation is a top priority even when as the economy slows gently.

On July 1, Jiang was absent at an important event in Beijing commemorating the 90th anniversary of China's Communist Party.A few days later, an important figure was urgently hospitalized into 301 Military Hospital located in Beijing, China. The figure is reportedly the former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, who was rumored to be in sickness since his last public appearance in Jiangsu on May 14th.

New International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde pledged on Wednesday to push ahead with reforms to give fast-growing emerging markets greater sway at the global lender.

China's top search engine Baidu Inc said on Wednesday it had reached an agreement with a Chinese television company to bring its search box to millions of television screens.

There has been speculation that former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin died, which led government Internet censors to suppress any such discussion on the subject online.

China will reform its export of rare earths based in part on World Trade Organization rules, state media reported on Wednesday, a day after the global trade governing body ruled against its curbs on exports.

Stocks were poised for a lower open on Wednesday after Moody's downgrade of Portugal's credit rating to junk and China's interest rate rise sparked jitters about global growth prospects.

Speculation and rumors that former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin may have died have led government internet censors to quash any such discussion of the subject online.

China raised interest rates for the third time this year in response to rising inflation in the country. That's just one of the problems the world's second-largest economy faces.

Stock index futures fell on Wednesday after Moody's downgrade of Portugal's credit rating to junk and China's interest rate rise triggered unease about global growth prospects.