IBT Staff Reporter

Linda Stern is a freelance writer. Any opinions in the column are hers. You can follow Linda Stern's financial notes on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/lindastern

Financial news service TheFlyonthewall.com has asked a U.S. federal judge to lift a ban on its reporting hot news about analyst research from three Wall Street banks, saying the ban has cost it subscribers and could threaten its survival.

U.S. stocks rose for a fifth straight day on Wednesday and the S&P 500 topped 1,200 as stronger-than-expected corporate results and March retail sales bolstered the outlook for profits.

A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Wednesday said the court-appointed examiner of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc could release his report to the public in full, including all supporting documents.

U.S. stocks rose for a fifth straight day on Wednesday and the S&P 500 topped 1,200 as stronger-than-expected corporate results and March retail sales bolstered the outlook for profits.

Toronto's main stock index edged higher on Wednesday morning, with financials leading the gains on upbeat U.S. economic data and company earnings, but held in check by retreating fertilizer issues.

Simon Property Group , which on Wednesday offered to help bankroll General Growth Properties Inc effort to emerge from bankruptcy as an independent company, remains very interested in buying the entire company, a source familiar with the situation said.

Around 40 percent of UBS shareholders rapped the Swiss bank for awarding hefty pay checks despite big losses, a warning to Chief Executive Oswald Gruebel not to follow market excesses.

Apple Inc said it would delay for one month the international roll-out of its iPad tablet computer, due to heavy demand and swift sales after its launch in the United States.

U.S. securities regulators proposed requiring that high-frequency traders reveal their identities and disclose their trades -- the latest attempt to get a grip on how the lightening-fast trades are shaking up equity markets.

The Obama administration is asking for public comment on seven broad questions about the future of housing finance that will provide a framework for reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

U.S. President Barack Obama will turn up the pressure for an overhaul of Wall Street regulations when he meets on Wednesday with top Democratic and Republican lawmakers to discuss a sweeping package of reforms.

A moderate U.S. economic recovery is likely to warrant very low interest rates for a long time, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified on Wednesday.

U.S. mortgage applications fell for a second straight week, with a slump in demand for government loans driving activity to its lowest level in three months, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday.

U.S. mortgage bonds backed by government agencies Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae have so far handily navigated the waters without the recent support of the Federal Reserve, but it may not be smooth sailing for long.

The U.S. economy is still being weighed down by weakness in the construction sector and battered state and city budgets, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks advanced for a fifth straight day on Wednesday and the S&P 500 topped 1,200 as stronger-than-expected company results and retail sales boosted the outlook for the economy and profits.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc has sued the U.S. government, asking for the return of some $110 million that the bankrupt investment firm said it overpaid in taxes and penalties in 1999 and 2000.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is the only regulator that has the expertise to effectively supervise financial firms of all sizes, a senior central bank official said on Wednesday.

U.S. securities regulators are considering requiring that high-frequency traders reveal their identities and disclose their trades -- the regulator's latest attempt to get a grip on how the lightening-fast trades are shaking up equity markets.

U.S. stocks extended gains on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq up more than 1 percent, on stronger-than-expected quarterly results from bellwethers, including chipmaker Intel Corp .

A moderate U.S. economic recovery is likely to warrant very low interest rates for a long time, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday.

China's economy grew about 11.9 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, topping expectations and the fastest annual pace in nearly three years, according to two market sources.

World number two truck maker Volvo said on Wednesday it expected its key European truck market to revive only gradually this year from its worst downturn in decades.

A German economist plans to launch a Constitutional Court challenge to the 30 billion euro aid package for Greece agreed by euro zone finance ministers, a German newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Crude oil imports by world's second largest oil consumer, China registered a 29.2 percent growth year on year in March. According to country's General Administration of Customs, China's crude oil imports were 21.06 million tons or 4.98 million barrels per day in March, up 29.2% year on year or 2.7% month on month. In the first three months, the country's crude oil imports surged 39% year on year to 56.68 million tons.

Gold consumption in India, the largest yellow metal consumer in the world, is steadily going up. Despite high prices, gold imports by India is steadily going up in 2010. According to the Bombay Bullion Association (BBA) figures on Wednesday, India's gold imports rose to 27.7 tonnes in March, compared to the paltry 4.8 tonnes of that the country had imported in March 2009. The apex trade body said gold demand in India is going up, despite rising stock and commodity market volumes.

Pakistan will export wheat this year despite an expected slight fall in production as the forecasted output will outpace the country's annual demand, said Minister for Agriculture Nazar Mohammad Gondal. The country is expected to produce 23.87 million metric tons of wheat against the annual demand of 22 million tons. Besides, it maintains a carryover stock of 3.5 million tons of wheat to meet emergencies.

Apple Inc said on Wednesday it would delay for one month the international launch of its popular iPad tablet computer, due to stronger-than-expected first-week sales in the United States.