IBT Staff Reporter

Stocks stayed in positive territory on Wednesday after securities regulators recommended an updated uptick rule proposal which would apply to all stocks.

Alcoholic drink maker Constellation Brands Inc reported adjusted quarterly profit that missed Wall Street estimates by a penny on Wednesday, hurt by disappointing demand in Europe and Australia during Christmas and New Year's.

Pulte Homes , the fourth-largest U.S. homebuilder, said it would buy the third largest, Centex Corp , for $1.3 billion in stock as it looks to save costs and get through the housing downturn.

Oil fell to around $48 a barrel on Wednesday after U.S. data showing swollen crude stocks, and analysts said there was little sign global demand would soon rise to soak up the excess.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wednesday after news of government aid for life insurers and a merger among homebuilders spurred optimism and offset a quarterly loss from Alcoa .

U.S. President Barack Obama needs to convince Americans to spend now and save later in order to get the U.S. economy back on solid footing.

Signs are beginning to emerge that suggest sales of new and existing homes are moving toward a bottom. Actual sales figures took a positive turn in February and mortgage applications for the purchase of a home have increased in recent weeks as mortgage rates have tumbled.

Pulte Homes said it would buy Texas-based builder Centex for $1.3 billion in stock, against the backdrop of a troubled industry.

United Nations climate talks threaten Saudi Arabia's economic survival and the kingdom wants support for any shift from fossil fuels to other energy sources such as solar power, its lead climate negotiator said.

Global warming is likely to overshoot a 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) rise seen by the European Union and many developing nations as a trigger for dangerous change, a Reuters poll of scientists showed on Tuesday.

Kimberly-Clark Corp is going green in toilet paper, napkins and paper towels, launching a line of consumer paper products that uses recycled material.

At first glance, a new day seems to be dawning for the overshadowed solar sector in Australia, the world's sunniest continent.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wednesday after news of government aid for life insurers and a merger among homebuilders spurred optimism and offset a quarterly loss from Alcoa .

American International Group Inc's aircraft leasing unit is in talks over a $5 billion credit line from the New York Federal Reserve that could be used to facilitate its sale, the Financial Times reported on its website late on Tuesday.

Nokia Siemens Networks' key attraction to Nortel Networks Corp is its quarter share of the North American telecom gear market, analysts said on Wednesday.

The U.S. Treasury Department plans to extend the Troubled Asset Relief Program to certain life insurers, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wednesday Dow component Alcoa kicked off the earnings season with its second consecutive quarterly loss and reignited concern about the global economy.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wednesday Dow component Alcoa kicked off the earnings season with its second consecutive quarterly loss and reignited concern about the global economy.

GM edged closer to preparations for possible bankruptcy on Wednesday, a source familiar with the company's plans said, while Germany extended its subsidy for scrapping old cars.

Nokia Siemens Networks' key attraction to Nortel Networks Corp is its quarter share of the North American telecom gear market, analysts said on Wednesday.

Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc reported a second consecutive quarterly loss on Tuesday, as metal prices and the autos industry slumped and global demand fell in the economic downturn.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Wednesday, as mounting fears over corporate results knocked down stock markets around the world.

Chinese exports in March were down by double digits from a year earlier, but the decline was smaller than in February, a newspaper linked to the Ministry of Commerce reported on Wednesday.

More U.S. data showing swollen crude stocks pushed oil below $48 a barrel on Wednesday, and analysts said there was little sign demand would soon rise to soak up the excess.

Daimler's Chief Financial Officer Bodo Uebber will be named as new chairman of EADS , replacing Ruediger Grube, Daimler said at its annual shareholders' meeting on Wednesday.

Sharp Corp , the world's No.3 LCD TV maker, doubled its loss estimate for the year just ended on a slump in sales of its TVs and panels, but it brought forward plans for a cost-efficient new factory to cut costs.

U.S. securities regulators meet on Wednesday to consider restrictions on short selling, a type of investing blamed by some lawmakers and executives for exacerbating the financial crisis and driving down share prices.

U.S. securities regulators meet on Wednesday to consider restrictions on short selling, a type of investing blamed by some lawmakers and executives for exacerbating the financial crisis and driving down share prices.

Intel Corp, the world's largest chip maker, is uncertain when demand for semiconductors will revive, Chairman Craig Barrett said on Wednesday.