UNITED STATES

Shares of Oracle, the biggest enterprise software developer, fell more than 15 percent Wednesday after the company missed second-quarter estimates for earnings.

Walgreen Co posted a lower quarterly profit as the largest U.S. drugstore chain's margins were hurt by lower reimbursement rates for the prescriptions it fills, fewer flu shots and its spat with pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts Inc .

Susquehanna raised its price target on Apple Inc's stock and increased its iPhone shipment estimates as it sees the company ramping up smartphone production, now that Thailand-related constraints have been resolved.

Sales of previously owned homes surged in November, but revisions to data for the last four years showed the housing recession was deeper than previously thought.

Canada's main stock index was set to open lower on Wednesday as the initial enthusiasm faded about strong demand at European Central Bank's three-year tender

Stocks fell on Wednesday as hope faded that banks would use the European Central Bank's massive funding operation to buy regional sovereign debt and help mend the deep-rooted debt crisis.

AT&T Inc may look to Dish Network Corp or Clearwire Corp for its next deal as it recovers from its failure to buy T-Mobile USA.

A trio of astronauts blasted off aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket on Wednesday on a mission to bring the International Space Station back up to full manpower after an August cargo launch accident disrupted flights.

The United States has removed Baidu Inc, China's largest search engine, from its list of notorious markets for piracy in a nod to the firm's efforts to clean up its music offerings.

RadarOnline reported via a Star magazine exclusive that the Kardashians' products are made in sweatshops with the use of child labor.

While reports of the highly publicized divorce of Kim Kardashian begin to fizzle, the spotlight is on Reggie Bush after he finally made a public statement about his ex-girlfriend's divorce after 72 days of marriage and failed to mention his new girlfriend.

The unemployment extension for 2012 has not passed yet. Some politicians in Washington still call for lawmakers to work out a solution before Jan. 1, 2012. Many critics and unemployment benefits recipients, however, fear no deal will be made by then.

For most people, the holiday season is a time spent with family and friends, but for many it can be a time of intense loneliness. Scammers count on that.

The winter solstice begins (for most) Dec. 22, 2011. Many in the Northern Hemisphere regard it as the start of winter and shorter days, but what time does it begin, what does it mean for the different hemispheres, and how did the tradition get started? Find out everything you need to know about Winter Solstice 2011 and how to prepare for it here.

Tokio Marine said it will buy U.S. insurer Delphi Financial Group for $2.7 billion and is eyeing other acquisition targets, as Japan's No.2 property-casualty insurer looks to expand outside its mature home market and diversify geographic risks.

Hashemi is forbidden to leave the country.

The Courage Campaign wants reality TV star Kim Kardashian to endorse the Millionaires Tax of 2012, a statewide ballot initiative that seeks to levy a higher tax rate on Californians who make more than $1 million a year. Their new ad pointedly explains that Kardashian made $12 million in 2010, significantly more than the average Californian whose income was $47,000.

A survey from the United States and Canada found 40 percent of police officers had symptoms of a sleep disorder, including sleep apnea and insomnia.

Applications for home mortgages slipped last week, led by a drop in purchase demand as low interest rates were not enough to entice home buyers, an industry group said on Wednesday.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wednesday as enthusiasm waned after strong bank demand for the European Central Bank's record funding operation and fears over the debt crisis resurfaced.

The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: Research In Motion, Polycom, and Yandex. The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Oracle, Conceptus, ARM Holdings, ASML Holding, Baidu, and Paychex.