UNITED STATES

Stock index futures rose Wednesday, putting the benchmark S&P 500 index on track to extend the prior session's big gains as banks borrowed more than anticipated at the European Central Bank's record cash injection aimed at easing the debt crisis.

China became the world's top patent filer in 2011, surpassing the United States and Japan as it steps up innovation to improve its intellectual property rights track record, a Thomson Reuters research report showed on Wednesday.

Smartphones are, increasingly, becoming quite common, particularly with several wireless carriers making feature-rich devices affordable through contracts. The key aspect of a smartphone, apart from its operating system, is its processor... something which determines the speed of the device and acts as its brain.

China urged the United States on Wednesday to halt anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese tires and other products since Washington does not recognize China as a market economy.

North Korea will shift to collective rule from a strongman dictatorship after last week's death of Kim Jong-il, although his untested young son Kim Jong-un will be at the head of the ruling coterie.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.38 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.62 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.61 percent at 4:10 a.m. EST.

The European Union's highest court ruled on Wednesday that the EU can make all airlines flying to or from European airports pay to offset their carbon emissions from January 1.

Just visit the Google search bar, type in let it snow, and watch the screen fill with flakes. After the snow falls, frost begins to fill the screen. Users can use their cursor as an ice scraper to clear the screen, or they can simply press the Defrost button.

Europe's banks borrowed nearly 490 billion euros from the European Central Bank at its first-ever offer of three-year loans on Wednesday, encouraging demand for the euro and stocks on hopes the funding will ease the two-year old debt crisis.

There was also a report that Amazon.com Inc. considered buying Research in Motion (RIM). But RIM, maker of the BlackBerry, is said to have turned down overtures from Amazon since the company is determined to repair current shortcomings on its own, according to a report from Reuters.

European stocks and the euro firmed on Wednesday, enjoying a brief surge after banks borrowed around $489 billion euros from the European Central Bank at its first-ever offer of three-year loans on hopes it will be a significant step toward easing the region's two-year old debt crisis.

Global stocks and commodities fell Wednesday as investors shrugged off heavy European Central Bank lending and eyed a troublesome U.S. earnings report.

The International Business Times has compiled comprehensive profiles of the top seven Republican presidential candidates, with complete rundowns of their political positions, from Rick Santorum on abortion to Newt Gingrich on taxes. These profiles will be updated as the primary campaign continues.

Europe's highest court will on Wednesday deliver a final ruling in a case over airline emissions that has triggered tit-for-tat legislation in the U.S. Congress and drawn a threat from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

China became the world's top patent filer in 2011, surpassing the United States and Japan as it steps up innovation to improve its intellectual property rights track record, a Thomson Reuters research report showed Wednesday.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.38 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.62 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.61 percent at 0910 GMT.

Gold prices in India rose for a third straight day to stay above 28,000 rupees per 10 grams for the first time in a week, denting physical demand which has been subdued so far this week, dealers said.

Japan's central bank offered a bleaker view of the economy and the government warned of worsening business sentiment as exports slumped, adding to evidence of the pain Europe's debt crisis is inflicting on global growth and Japan's recovery prospects.

North Korea's new young leader will have to share power with an uncle and the military after the death of his father Kim Jong-il as the isolated country shifts to collective rule from strongman dictatorship, a source with close ties to Pyongyang and Beijing told Reuters.

The Chinese box office is on track to break the U.S. equivalent of $2 billion by the end of the year, according to a recent report from the country's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.

European stocks rallied and the euro was well bid Wednesday as investors priced in an improvement in the economic outlook and looked forward to a big take up by banks of the European Central Bank's first-ever offer of three-year loans.