IBT Staff Reporter

Apple Inc landed blockbuster results and a strong outlook on dazzling sales of the iPhone and iPad, reassuring investors that visionary CEO Steve Jobs's medical leave will have no impact on growth.

Nokia is expected to report its third profit fall in a row as the mobile phone company struggles to compete against high-end smartphones of Apple and Samsung, while also losing share at the cheaper end of the market.

Citigroup Inc plans to name John Havens as president and chief operating officer as part of a structural overhaul to address the bank's efforts to expand, the Wall Street Journal said.

Google Inc. has extended its dominance in the worldwide search advertising market amid challenges from Microsoft’s Bing and rising competitive obstacles in fast-growing regions, says a report from IHS iSuppli.

World stocks hit their highest in nearly 2-1/2 years on Wednesday and the dollar dipped to eight-week troughs as strong fourth-quarter corporate earnings boosted confidence the world economic recovery would keep its momentum.

Swatch Group , the world's largest watchmaker, gave an upbeat outlook for 2011 as it expects strong demand for its watches to help offset the impact of the soaring Swiss franc.

China's exports of vital rare earth elements used for numerous high-tech goods slipped almost one-tenth last year but the overall value rocketed as quota cuts lifted international prices, data showed on Wednesday.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc's decision to scale back a heavily publicized sale of shares in social network site Facebook shows how the bank risks losing its edge as financial regulation intensifies.

Angry Birds just got angrier not because their eggs were stolen but because their roost was shaken by Bubble Ball, a game developed by a new kid on the block, a 14-year old developer from Utah.

Asia's rapid economic growth will moderate slightly in 2011 even as policymakers combat rising prices with higher interest rates and try to keep local currencies from appreciating too sharply, a Reuters quarterly poll showed.

Lot of artists have refused Glee covers and appearances

The content draws parental concern although advertisers are targeting the show fully

Greg Mattison has joined the Michigan Wolverines as defensive coordinator after leaving the same position at Baltimore Ravens.

Gambling group William Hill Plc said it expects net revenue for the full year to rise 7 percent on strong growth from its online business and gaming machines.

Australian gaming and wagering company Tatts Group Ltd is considering refinancing its A$700 million in bank debt with its existing lenders after tapping the U.S. private market in December, its chief financial officer said on Wednesday.

Australia's government is reportedly considering a taxpayer levy to help pay for massive flood rebuilding, while preserving the budget's path back to surplus in 2012-13, as one major bank warned on Tuesday the damage bill could reach A$20 billion.

The tent festival is a sure fire event on any concert-goers list

An increasing number of U.S. companies in China say the enforcement of intellectual property rights has deteriorated in the last year and that the regulatory environment is the biggest hurdle to doing business there, a survey showed on Wednesday.

Swatch Group , the world's largest watchmaker, has seen double-digit sales growth so far in January and is upbeat on its prospects for 2011 despite the strong Swiss franc.

U.K. real estate investement trust Land Securities said it has maintained high levels of activity across its London and Retail portfolios with the continued success on lettings on a number of projects that will drive both valuation surpluses and income growth.

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.2 shook southwestern Pakistan early on Wednesday, jolting residents of cities as far apart as Delhi and Dubai, but the epicentre was far from major population centres.

Asian stocks rose to their highest since May 2008 on Wednesday, led by sectors most sensitive to the economic growth cycle ahead of U.S. earnings, while the U.S. dollar slid to a two-month low, weighed by traders closing short-term bets against the euro.

The BSE Sensex nudged up 0.2 percent on Wednesday powered by metal producers on firm world metal prices, but trading was choppy reflecting investor concern about inflation and a looming rate rise.

Swiss Bank UBS will revise its dress code 44-page dress code telling its Swiss staff how to present themselves, which sparked worldwide ridicule for its micro-management of their dressing and dining habits.

Nearly one-fifth of potential car buyers are either likely or very likely to consider purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) when the time comes to replace their current ride, according to a study conducted by IBM's Institute for Business Value division.

The Haas Business School's Center for Executive Education will now offer all Berkeley MBAs the opportunity to hone their business skills through a two-day free training.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will reshuffle his cabinet on Wednesday in a mid-term effort to refresh a coalition government snared by corruption scandals and year-high food inflation as it faces key state elections.

Software services firm HCL Technologies posted a better-than-expected 34.2 percent jump in consolidated net profit for October-December, aided by strong growth in non-core markets.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, the world's largest contract chip maker, could boost investment by 35.6 percent in 2011 as it seeks to boost efficiency with new technology, a media report said on Wednesday.