UNITED STATES

U.S. GDP growth fell to 1.8 percent annual rate in the first quarter of 2011 after a 3.1 percent fourth quarter rise, the Commerce Department said on Thursday. Economists had expected a 2 percent growth pace.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co's first-quarter results beat expectations, bolstered by the weaker dollar and demand for its drugs to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis B.

Gold Investing prices extended last night's strong gains on Thursday, hitting fresh all-time highs at $1534 per ounce as new US data showed inflation accelerating sharply.

Wall Street was set for a lower open on Thursday after a report showed the U.S. economy grew less than expected in the first quarter and a number of companies pointed to rising costs.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Host Hotels & Resorts said they had more guests in the first quarter as a gradual economic recovery sent more workers back on the road to do business.

Wall Street edged lower on Thursday after data showed the U.S. economy grew less than expected in the first quarter and a number of companies pointed to rising costs, but the Nasdaq remained close to its 10-year high reached in the previous session.

U.S. cryde prices pared gains on Thursday as weaker-than-expected economic growth in the world's top economy partly offset a sliding dollar and signs of lower North Sea supplies.

Full Text of the class action complaint against Sony, filed in response to a massive security breach.

Colgate-Palmolive Co posted a drop in first-quarter profit before one-time items on Thursday as higher materials costs cut into margins.

Makers of soap, diapers and other household products are spending much more for fuel and raw materials than expected, which means more price increases are on the way for consumers.

Sprint Nextel's first-quarter revenue was higher than expected as customers spent more on data services, sending its shares up about 4 percent in trading before the market opened.

Merger hopefuls Deutsche Boerse and NYSE Euronext attempted to dazzle investors with forecast-beating results as they stepped up efforts to see off rival bidder Nasdaq.

U.S. stocks declined in early trade on Thursday after government reports showed that US economic activity slowed significantly in the first quarter and applications for jobless benefits unexpectedly increased.

Exxon Mobil Corp's quarterly profit rose a better-than-expected 69 percent as the world's largest publicly traded oil company benefited from higher crude prices and improved earnings in its chemical and refining businesses.

Exxon Mobil Corp's quarterly profit rose a better-than-expected 69 percent as the world's largest publicly traded oil company benefited from higher crude prices and improved earnings in its chemical and refining businesses.

Storms in Alabama have claimed at least 128 people, destroyed many house and buildings, and caused power and traffic disruptions

Procter & Gamble Co lowered the high end of its profit forecast for the year on Thursday, as it does what it can to trim expenses and raises some prices to offset rising costs for materials.

Chrysler Group LLC, which came to the brink of collapse before a federal bailout in 2009, plans to fully repay more than $7 billion in loans from the U.S. and Canadian governments by the end of June.

Dow Chemical Co posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, helped largely by sales of plastics, pesticides and electronic parts.

A devastating storm that ripped that ripped through Alabama killed at least 128 people, according to the state's emergency management agency.

U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Thursday, a day after the Nasdaq rose to a 10-year high and investors looked ahead to first-quarter growth data amid concerns the U.S. economy may be starting to slow.