MARKETS / FINANCE

The U.S. government filed suit against Intel Corp on Wednesday, accusing the chip giant of illegally using its market dominance to stifle competition for a decade.

U.S. consumer prices rose in line with expectations in November on a surge in energy costs, but prices were flat, excluding food and energy, a government report showed on Wednesday.

Stocks should score a second straight year of gains in 2010 as an economic recovery brightens the profit outlook, extending the market's rebound from the depths of a punishing financial crisis, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday.

The current account deficit widened as expected in the third quarter to $108 billion, largely driven by a big trade shortfall, a Commerce Department report showed on Wednesday.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday that banks have been stabilized but lending remains too weak to support a healthy recovery.

Southwest Airlines Co topped the list of the 50 best U.S. places to work, based upon employee opinions, according to research released on Wednesday.

A majority of job-seekers in the finance sector would consider taking a pay cut since their job searches are taking longer than initially expected, according to a survey by an online career management company.

The Federal Reserve is expected to stick to its highly accommodative monetary policy when it wraps up a two-day meeting on Wednesday, with high unemployment constraining enthusiasm about an improving economy.

Wall Street was set to rise at the open on Wednesday after data showed consumer prices did not overheat in November, quelling inflation worries ahead of a statement from the Federal Reserve that will be scrutinized for clues on the state of the world's largest economy.

Australia's central bank raised interest rates for a record third successive month earlier in December, pulling further back from emergency lows as the economy gallops ahead of its peers in the developed world.

European shares extended gains in morning trade on Wednesday, with banks taking the lead after sources said global regulators plan to give banks a grace period before they have to implement new, stronger capital rules.

Global equities edged higher on Wednesday, led by banks after a report that global banking regulators are eyeing delaying the implementation of new capital rules, while gold and crude prices were also in demand.

The United States must improve the business climate for manufacturers and not place undue regulatory burdens on the sector, the White House said on Wednesday ahead of a meeting focused on the industry.

The United States must improve the business climate for manufacturers and not place undue regulatory burdens on the sector, the White House said on Wednesday ahead of a meeting focused on the industry.

EU antitrust regulators accepted on Wednesday Microsoft's offer to allow users in Europe choose rival Internet browsers, ending a decade-long dispute and averting a possible fine for the company.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Wednesday ahead of a statement from the Federal Reserve that will be scrutinized for clues on the state of the world's largest economy.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Wednesday ahead of a statement from the Federal Reserve that will be scrutinized for clues on the state of the world's largest economy.

Abu Dhabi's $10 billion financial aid to fellow United Arab Emirates member Dubai to meet debt obligations was in the form of bonds, on similar terms to a $10 billion bond issue to the UAE central bank in February.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.2 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.2 percent at 0841 GMT (3:41 a.m. EST).

When the global economic crisis hit in the autumn of 2008 there was a joke in Portugal that the world was finally catching up, and stumbling as it had after its own, home-grown housing bust in the early 2000s.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to stick to its super loose monetary policy stance on Wednesday as high unemployment constrains policy-makers' enthusiasm about the economy's recent improvement.

Top Federal Reserve officials in charge of setting the nation's monetary policy are expected to continue offering banks at record low interest rates, when they finish their last scheduled meeting of the year Wednesday.

The U.S. government quietly agreed not to collect billions of dollars in potential taxes from Citigroup Inc as part of its deal to allow the bank to repay its taxpayer bailout, The Washington Post reported.

General Electric Co expects to record flat profit across its big industrial units next year, as a sluggish global economy crimps sales for jet engines, electric turbines and other heavy equipment.

Day trading is simply the buying and selling of any financial instrument in the same trading session. This is different from investing or swing trading.

Gold prices were flat at around $1,125 per ounce on Wednesday ahead of the conclusion of the U.S. Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting, which could provide clues about the timing of interest rate moves.

Oil prices rose above $70 a barrel on Tuesday, snapping their longest losing streak since 2001, as traders bet that government data will show U.S. crude inventories fell last week and colder-than-normal weather will boost demand for heating oil.

So Shooters, today's big news: Citigroup to pay back $20 billion in TARP to government. Why stop so soon the magic IV drip known as TARP funding (which had just been so graciously extended by Treasury)? Well, it's not because the company is back in good health. They just want to keep ahead of the talent-poaching with the zombies doing jumping jacks - the likes of Goldman Sachs.

U.S. bank regulators on Tuesday approved an initial proposal to jump-start the securitization market and strengthen standards to avoid abuses that helped lead to the economic crisis, but the board remained divided on what limits to impose on banks.