UNITED STATES

An NYSE Euronext merger with Nasdaq OMX makes little strategic sense whether the Big Board were the buyer or the seller, and antitrust regulators would likely block it, according to a source close to NYSE.

Technology stocks led Wall Street slightly higher on Wednesday after comments from Cisco's chief executive bolstered optimism about the networking giant.

The S&P 500 index inched upward on relatively light volume on Wednesday, with investors adding to winning positions in technology stocks, but avoiding large bets ahead of corporate earnings due next week.

Brent crude oil prices rose to a 2-1/2-year high above $123 a barrel on Wednesday before erasing the majority of gains in volatile trade as market players fretted the recent rally was overdone.

Technology stocks led Wall Street slightly higher on Wednesday after comments from Cisco's chief executive bolstered optimism about the networking giant.

U.S. congressional leaders saw signs of hope on Wednesday for a budget deal that would cut billions of dollars in spending in time to prevent a government shutdown.

(Corrects quote in paragraph 8)NEW YORK - Technology stocks led Wall Street slightly higher on Wednesday after comments from Cisco's chief executive bolstered optimism about the networking giant.

President Barack Obama and allied Senate Democrats are sparring with House Republicans on non-budget related items attached to a budget measure that would keep the government funded for the rest of the fiscal year and avoid a shutdown of non-essential government services.

Investors are facing two possible U.S. government shutdown scenarios, one of limited impact on markets, and another so potentially devastating that analysts are struggling to fully assess it.

As the U.S. government moves to the brink of a shutdown with budget talks stalled, taxpayers should remember one thing as tax day nears: tax collection may be considered essential.

Moammar Gaddafi has sent U.S. President Barack Obama a three-page letter in which he asked the western coalition to stop bombing Libya.

Donald Trump is the most sensational candidate to informally announce his candidacy for the 2012 presidential election.

Us Weekly is reporting that Bristol Palin made $262,000 as an abstinence ambassador. Palin made the money as the Candie's Foundation's spokeswoman.

Robots will take over the Smithsonian next week during National Robotics Week

U.S. stocks pared earlier gains as energy companies’ shares declined after a higher-than-expected increase in petroleum inventories and Monsanto Co. shares declined as its revenue fell short of expectations.

The S&P 500 paused near a seven-week high on low volume on Wednesday before the start of earnings reports next week, which investors hoped would provide the catalyst for stocks to advance.

'Nonstop' negotiations on passing a federal budget for the remainder of the fiscal year were continuing ahead of a Friday deadline to avert a shutdown of a big portion of the government, as House Republicans and Senate Democrats allied with President Obama sought to break an impasse that could put hundreds of thousands of workers on leave without funding in place.

Deutsche Boerse has no plans to raise its $10.2 billion bid for NYSE Euronext , confident the benefits of its deal will trump a higher offer from rival U.S. exchanges, a source familiar with the deal said.

U.S. stocks pared earlier gains as energy companies’ shares declined after a higher-than-expected increase in petroleum inventories and Monsanto Co. shares declined as its revenue fell short of expectations.

President Barack Obama's late entry into a budget battle that could shut the government marks an attempt both to play dealmaker and avoid blame if Republicans and Democrats fail to forge agreement in time.

Angelina Jolie, who is in Tunisia doing charity work, appeared with a new tattoo on her left arm.