UNITED STATES

Tencent Holdings Ltd, China's biggest Internet company by revenue, reported its slowest profit growth in four years, missing analysts' estimates on softer growth in its casual games and lower margins due to increased investments.

The Volcker rule is too long and complicated and financial lobbyists are to blame, said the man who gave his name to the new regulation on bank trading.

Gold prices slipped Wednesday as skyrocketing Italian government bond yields signaled the beginning of a possibly terminal phase in that nation's economy.

Applications for U.S. home mortgages surged last week, driven by increased refinancing demand as interest rates dropped, an industry group said on Wednesday.

European stocks were lower at midday Wednesday as mounting concerns over Italy's debt kept investors on edge, following an early rally sparked by Silvio Berlusconi's pledge to step down as Italy's prime minister.

Argentina's biggest energy firm YPF has announced that it had found nearly a billion barrels in unconventional energy resources in Patagonia. YPF is the Argentine unit of Repsol YPF SA, Spain's largest oil group.

Asus has launched its Eee Pad Transformer Prime, the world's first tablet to feature Nvidia's Tegra 3 quad-core mobile processor.

People in the U.S., who brave hurricanes, storms and other natural disasters every year, will now get emergency alerts as an emergency alert system will be tested across the country on Wednesday.

HSBC Holdings cited a dire outlook for the global economy as it reported a larger-than-expected drop in third-quarter profits, hit by lower investment banking income and a rise in bad debts in the United States.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, increased profits by more than expected in the third quarter after charging more for the same amount of beer.

Former U.S. President George W Bush says he doesn't like watching Hollywood movies.

Actress Jennifer Lopez was honored with “Women of the Year” award, while former U.S. First Lady Laura Bush and Comedienne Chelsea Handler were awarded for their contribution in politics and entertainment.

Pakistan is on a clandestine mission of hiding its nuclear arsenal from the Pentagon and is transporting weapons of mass destruction in low-security vans on roads used by civilians, The Atlantic and National Journal report, quoting unnamed U.S. officials.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc shoppers can now research the trove of product data the world's largest retailer gathers, through a new iPad app and updated app for Apple Inc's iPhone.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc shoppers can now research the trove of product data the world's largest retailer gathers, through a new iPad app and updated app for Apple Inc's iPhone.

Cable companies will offer high-speed Internet service to low-income families at around a fifth of the national average price, the top U.S. communications regulator will announce on Wednesday.

The head of the International Monetary Fund warned on Wednesday that Europe's debt crisis risked plunging the global economy into a lost decade and said it was up to rich nations to shoulder the burden of restoring growth and confidence.

A powerful Republican state Senate leader who spearheaded Arizona's controversial crackdown on illegal immigrants appeared headed for defeat Tuesday night in a historic recall election, early returns showed.

French President Sarkozy was overheard telling President Obama that Prime Minister Netanyahu is a liar after a G20 summit press conference.

A recombinant poxviral vaccine, PANVAC, under study has shown to produce positive results in patients suffering from ovarian and breast cancer with limited tumour burden and minimal prior chemotherapy, a recent research reveals.

Activision Blizzard revealed it has lost almost a million users for its World of Warcraft cash cow, dampening enthusiasm for its blockbuster Call of Duty franchise and wiping 3 percent off its share price.