Wall Street boosted by bank stocks; probe drags GE
(Reuters) – U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday, driven by gains in bank stocks, while shares in General Electric fell after the company revealed a regulatory investigation of a multibillion-dollar insurance charge.
U.S. home sales fall as record-low inventory boosts prices
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. home sales fell more than expected in December as the supply of houses on the market dropped to a record low, pushing up prices and sidelining some potential first-time buyers.
Dow gets a lift from gains in industrials
(Reuters) – The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up more than 100 points on Wednesday morning, powered by gains in industrial stocks such as GE, Boeing and Caterpillar.
U.S. existing home sales, supply tumble in December
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. home sales fell more than expected in December as the supply of houses on the market dropped to a record low, pushing up prices and likely sidelining some first-time buyers.
Key U.S. ruling in Bombardier-Boeing trade dispute delayed to Friday
MONTREAL (Reuters) – The International Trade Commission (ITC) has postponed to Friday a key decision on whether duties should be slapped on American sales of Canadian plane-and-trainmaker Bombardier Inc’s largest jet, the U.S. agency said on Wednesday…
JPMorgan plans expansion into Ghana and Kenya
LONDON (Reuters) – JPMorgan Chase & Co plans to expand its African presence into countries including Ghana and Kenya, Chief Executive Jamie Dimon said in an interview on Wednesday.
Unilever and consumer rivals raise bets on Nigeria
LAGOS (Reuters) – With Africa’s most populous country out of recession, and the wider region on the path to growth, the world’s consumer goods companies are looking to cash in.
Duesseldorf court rejects suit seeking ban of VW diesel cars
DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) – A German court on Wednesday dismissed a suit by an environmental lobby group seeking a ban of certain Volkswagen diesel cars from the western German city of Duesseldorf’s streets.
Apple to add battery features after slowdown row
(Reuters) – Apple Inc announced changes on Wednesday that make good on its promise to allow users to turn off a controversial feature that slows down iPhones when batteries are running low, although it signaled it might take months more to deliver.
Ford complains rising metals costs hurt profits, rivals unfazed
DETROIT (Reuters) – When Ford Motor Co reports fourth-quarter results on Wednesday afternoon, it is expected to fret that rising metals costs have cut into profits, even as rivals say they have the problem under control.
