IBT Staff Reporter

Global footwear maker, Sketchers USA Inc on Wednesday said its first quarter net revenue fell 11 percent to $343.5 million ended March 31, from $8.2 million a year ago.

Windows XP get all the support from corporate and individual end-users due to its performance and flexibility but how Bad Vista is that even Microsoft gives XP a chance to live virtually in its upcoming new Windows 7?

Mac OS still waiving its flag as the top alternative to a Microsoft’s Windows operating system according to a survey of 1,142 IT professionals conducted in March of this year.

Alcoa World Alumina LLC and Billiton Suriname Holdings B.V. have reached an agreement in principle where Suriname Aluminum Company LLC (Suralco), an Alcoa subsidiary, will acquire the bauxite and alumina refining interests of N.V. BHP Billiton Maatschappij Suriname (BMS), a BHP Billiton subsidiary, in Suriname.

Starbucks Corp posted quarterly profit that just topped expectations on cost cuts and is planning a multimillion dollar advertising campaign challenging the view that its coffee is an expensive luxury.

Visa Inc posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings on Wednesday as the world's largest credit card network increased prices, slashed expenses and consumers used debit cards more.

Bank of America Corp shareholders voted to oust embattled Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis as chairman of the board on Wednesday in what could be a precursor to his eventual replacement as CEO as well.

Visa Inc posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings on Wednesday as the world's largest credit card network increased prices, slashed expenses and consumers used debit cards more.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway will not report first-quarter earnings on Friday as expected, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday the outlook for the U.S. economy had improved a bit in recent weeks but that low interest rates would be needed for some time to ensure it recovers from its deep recession.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway will not report first-quarter earnings on Friday as expected, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Canada's National Post, the flagship daily newspaper of Canwest Global Communications Corp, will not publish a Monday edition for nine weeks this summer in its latest move to cut costs, a company spokesman said on Wednesday.

Visa Inc posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings on Wednesday as the world's largest credit card network increased prices, slashed expenses and consumers used debit cards more.

Starbucks Corp on Wednesday posted a quarterly profit excluding items that fell less than analysts expected, as cost savings helped offset an 8 percent drop in sales.

The World Health Organization warned on Wednesday that a global flu pandemic was imminent, raising its threat level as the swine flu virus spread and killed the first person outside of Mexico, a toddler in Texas.

The president of Google Inc's global display advertising business is leaving, marking the latest in a series of changes within the Internet company's sales team in the past two months.

France BNP Paribas said Wednesday it has approved its sales from the Belgium Fortis Holding’s shareholders, in a deal that builds a new industry as the biggest banking group across the Europe by €540 billion or $706 billion deposits.

Using a new tracking tool, search engine giant Google said on Wednesday it saw a spike in searches for information about flu among people in Mexico last week even before news of the outbreak became widely known.

Visa Inc , the world's largest credit card network, posted higher quarterly earnings on Wednesday, as consumers used their debit cards more, and the company cut expenses.

Bank of America Corp shareholders voted to oust Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis as chairman of the board on Wednesday after months of mounting criticism of his stewardship of the largest U.S. bank.

Starbucks Corp on Wednesday posted slightly better-than-expected quarterly profit as cost savings helped offset an 8 percent drop in same-store sales.

French parliamentarians revived debate on a bill to crack down on Internet piracy at the behest of President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday after it had been the subject of an embarrassing defeat for the ruling party.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will be granted more than $100 million from the economic stimulus package, the U.S. Department of Energy announced on Wednesday.

Google has reportedly been questioned by the U.S. Justice Department over whether their plan to digitize the world’s books into an online database represents a potential antitrust violation, according to the New York Times.

President Barack Obama's energy plans and actions during the first 100 days of his administration reveal a strong emphasis on spending to promote renewable energy technologies that will generate jobs and an effort to shift the nation to a low-carbon economy.

The U.S. economy shrank by a surprisingly steep 6.1 percent in the first quarter, hit by a record plunge in business inventories and sinking exports, but investors read signs of recovery in the report.

The fate of the Detroit troubled automaker will be known tomorrow as President Obama is expected to make an announcement at 11:30am EST.

Most firms nowadays especially in this era of financial downturn are doing its best to cut cost effectively however some may not notice about the impact of keeping the old mindset. A new release study shows that a company who wishes to save money by keeping old computer cost more.

U.S. stocks climbed on Wednesday after grim growth data offered hints of future expansion, a prospect reinforced by the Federal Reserve's hopeful comments.