JAPAN

US stocks defied odds on Wednesday to close slightly positive. The S&P 500 index climbed 3.77 points, or 0.29 percent, to close at 1,297.54. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 67.39 points, or 0.56 percent, to end at 12,086.02. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.54 percent.

Japan, which is grappling with the impact of March 11 earthquake and the resultant tsunami, may be pushed towards a recession, an expert told IBTimes.

(Corrects 11th paragraph to state that Fukushima factory assembles digital cameras and audio equipment and Sendai plant makes optical pick-ups, not vice-versa.)

With the staging of the world's most important watch and jewelry show, Baselworld, in Switzerland starting today, many horology enthusiasts and analysts speculate a somber mood during the event, eliciting fears of declining sales for the Swiss watch industry.

As the world closely watches the latest developments at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant in earthquake-torn Japan, work to prevent meltdown resumes, workers are hospitalized after radiation exposure, while IAEA said serious concerns remain.

Corrects story from March 22 to make fourth paragraph read “on a free on board basis” instead of “including the cost of insurance and freight”

Radiation from the damaged Japan nuclear plant reaches U.S.. EPA, which is monitoring the radioactive substances and isotopes, assures that it is far below levels of concerns.

Oracle Corp is poised to provide fresh evidence of the upward curve of technology spending on Thursday, and to detail its battle plan against emerging competitor Hewlett-Packard Co as the two tech giants vie to lead the datacenter revolution.

Steam was seen rising from Japan's troubled Fukushima Daiichi plant early Thursday as workers continue to battle a potential nuclear meltdown following last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami.

With a route length of 57 km and a total of 151.84 km of tunnels, shafts and passages, the Gotthard Base Tunnel beneath the Alps in Switzerland is the world's longest rail tunnel.

Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> will slow some North American production because of supply disruptions caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

U.S. stocks staged an afternoon rally Wednesday, led by materials companies, though investors continued to eye several overseas trouble spots warily.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 89 points, or 0.7%, to 12108 in late afternoon trade, led by Alcoa, which rose 3.3%. The gains were kept in check by a 1.5% decline for Bank of America, which said the Federal Reserve didn't allow it to boost its dividend. Wal-Mart Stores also was weak, falling 0.8%, as was DuPont, down 0.4%.

US stocks defied odds on Wednesday to close slightly positive.

Germany could be the first industrialized nation to abandon nuclear power for good.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says U.S. nuclear regulators have agreed to make the Indian Point power plant their top priority as they review seismic risks in some of the nation's nuclear plants.

Like previously-announced 3D devices, HTC's EVO 3D offers promise - with a few drawbacks.

Here is the latest update on the situation at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor in northeastern Japan from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The parents of Taylor Anderson – the woman who is believed to be the first confirmed American victim of the massive earthquake/tsunami disaster in Japan – plan to help the people living in the region where Taylor died.

Exxon Mobil said on Wednesday it has restored all four of its Japan group refineries to full operations and opened the Shiogama terminal after the earthquake and tsunami severely damaged the terminal.

Oil rose on Wednesday as unrest in the Middle East and North Africa continued to flare and as a report showed U.S. gasoline inventories fell more than expected.

The Gold Price rose sharply against all major currencies on Wednesday, touching near-two-week highs against the Dollar even as the US currency rose amid fresh European debt and budget concerns.