UNITED STATES

It has been three months since Lisa Irwin, an infant from Kansas City, was reported missing. Now, for perhaps the first time, it seems the police have a substantial lead to help with their investigation; at least according to John Picerno, a Kansas City attorney acting for Lisa's parents, Jeremy Irwin and Deborah Bradley.

Dorothee Burkhart, mother of the suspect LA Arsonist, is in legal trouble of her own, and police think that Harry Burkhart set the L.A. fires due to his anger over his mother's pending deportation because of those problems.

South Korea said on Wednesday it had approved a plan by Samsung Electronics Co to build a flash memory chip plant in China seen costing some $4 billion, as a boom in smartphones and tablet computers fuels the chip industry's growth.

Chrysler reported a 37 percent rise in U.S. new-vehicle sales in December as the U.S. automaker finished the year with strong gains thanks to a refreshed lineup of cars and trucks.

European shares slipped from five-month highs on Wednesday, with Italy's UniCredit leading banks lower after it priced a capital increase at a deep discount, suggesting a weak appetite at a time when several lenders face capital increases.

Swiss central bank head Philipp Hildebrand came under pressure on Wednesday following revelations of sensitively timed currency trades by his wife and the sacking of a whistleblower who passed details to the lawyer of a political adversary.

U.S. oil group ExxonMobil is in talks to sell most of its 50 percent stake in Japanese refiner TonenGeneral Sekiyu KK <5012.T>, in a deal that could be worth as much as $5 billion, four sources with knowledge of the matter said.

China has publicly rejected new U.S. sanctions on Iran.

German car sales rose 6.1 percent in December as consumers brushed off an uncertain economic environment and bought more compact cars, high-margin vans and luxury saloons.

Mexico drug violence killed more than 12,000 people in 2011.

The German and French governments have both come to accept that the era when leading euro zone countries enjoyed the very best sovereign debt ratings is nearing an end, but a downgrade could shake Paris far harder than it does Berlin.

Chrysler reported a 37 percent rise in U.S. new-vehicle sales in December as the U.S. automaker finished the year with strong gains thanks to a refreshed lineup of cars and trucks.

Children who get more exercise also tend to do better in school, whether the exercise comes as recess, physical education classes or getting exercise on the way to school, according to an international study.

Japan's leading share average rose to a three-week closing high on Wednesday after better-than-expected economic data from the United States and China, although strategists said the rally could stall if the euro holds below 100 yen.

Gold demand in India, the world's top consumer of the metal, was moderate on Wednesday as some jewellers chose to restock despite a price rise, dealers said Wednesday.

The Federal Reserve, in a move that could push back expectations of when near-zero U.S. interest rates will rise, will begin publishing its policymakers' forecasts for borrowing costs.

Stock index futures fell on Wednesday after a sharp market rally in the previous session, as investors focused again on Europe's debt problems.

The PIMCO Total Return Fund, the world's largest bond fund, had $1.4 billion in outflows in December, according to fund analytics firm Morningstar.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Wednesday after a sharp market rally in the previous session, as investors focused again on Europe's debt problems.

Exxon Mobil is in talks to sell most of its 50 percent stake in TonenGeneral Sekiyu KK <5012.T> back to its Japanese refining partner and unload other assets in Japan in a deal that could be worth as much as $5 billion, four sources with knowledge of the matter said.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Wednesday after a sharp market rally in the previous session, as investors focused again on Europe's debt problems.