UNITED STATES

Stock index futures pointed to a lower opening on Wall Street on Wednesday, following declines in Asia after China implemented an increase in higher reserve requirements for some lenders.

Chinese state media stepped up their war of words with the United States over Internet control on Tuesday, with a top newspaper claiming a U.S. conspiracy and saying China can live without Google.

Asian stocks slid on Tuesday, with Taiwan suffering its worst one-day fall in six months, as fears mounted that China could impose further measures to curb soaring loan growth, potentially dampening a global recovery.

U.S. retail sales should rise 2.5 percent this year, signaling that store chains have made it through the worst of the downturn as improvements in the housing and job markets bolster shoppers' confidence, a trade group forecast on Tuesday.

Asian stocks fell on Tuesday as fears of further clampdowns on lending in China and a U.S. plan to freeze domestic spending sparked worries about the outlook for global growth.

Avatar, which is set to beat 'Titanic' in the next few weeks as the all-time record holder for U.S. Domestic box-office receipts is still relatively far from beating 1933's “Gone With the Wind” as the inflation-adjusted box office champion.

Amgen Inc issued a 2010 forecast on Monday that showed potential to exceed Wall Street expectations, but the company's slightly higher fourth-quarter profit came in shy of analyst estimates primarily due to higher expenses.

The yen held broadly steady on Tuesday, hovering below a nine-month peak struck against the euro last week and taking a breather from a rally triggered by the onset of risk reduction. The yen surged last week as investors dumped higher-yielding currencies and risky assets on concerns that China's efforts to curb its surging economy could impair global growth and worries over a White House plan to curb risk-taking among banks.

With the copper prices rising day by day, several companies have decided hike the price of their consumer durable products, which need usage of copper. Companies like LG, Godrej & Boyce, Videocon and Whirlpool may hike the prices by around 5% in refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and flat panel displays by March to make up for increasing input costs.

The U.S. Senate looked likely to grudgingly approve Ben Bernanke to a second term as Federal Reserve chairman this week after the White House stepped in to defend his crisis-fighting record and rally votes.

President Barack Obama will deliver his first State of the Union speech at 9 p.m. EST on January 27 to reassure Americans about their jobs and the economy.

President Barack Obama, concerned by voter anxiety over high unemployment, will use his State of the Union speech on Wednesday to reassure Americans worried about jobs and the economy, aides said.

Apple Inc. on Monday reported its strongest quarter ever in revenue and net income for the first quarter of 2010, on the back of strong sales of its iPhone and Mac computers.

Yesterday's surprise 0.4% decline in the Producer Price Index did little to curb the markets support for the Aussie dollar around 90 cents as it traded at an intraday high near 0.9075.

Stocks snapped a three-day slide on Monday as signs that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke would win a U.S. Senate vote for a second term helped ease investors' concerns.

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes suffered a record drop last month as the boost from a popular tax credit waned, raising doubts the housing market recovery can be sustained without government support.

Stocks snapped a three-day slide on Monday as signs that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke would win a Senate vote for a second term helped ease investors' concerns.

General Motors Co Chairman Ed Whitacre said on Monday he would stay on as chief executive indefinitely, ending an eight-week search for his successor in a move intended to bring stability to the automaker's turnaround plans.

The U.S. Senate looked likely to grudgingly approve Ben Bernanke to a second term as Federal Reserve chairman this week after the White House stepped in to defend his crisis-fighting record and rally votes.

Intel said new contracts are in place to incorporate approximately 2.5 megawatts worth of new solar power projects as it moves to develop renewable energy sources.

Easing the burden of people in the “sandwich” generation who must care for both their children and aging parents amid a struggling economy will be a key theme for President Barack Obama in his State of the Union address on Wednesday.