By The Associated Press.

Japan's Nikkei share index touches the 15,000 mark for the first time in five years, as the economy shows signs of recovery.

Major satellite operator Eutelsat announces details of its initial public offering, after an earlier attempt fell through.

Hawaii-based airline Aloha gets the green light for a restructuring plan that will see it leave bankruptcy.

Insurance market Lloyd's of London says its chances of making a profit this year are small following US hurricanes.

B&Q-owner Kingfisher says profits at its core UK DIY chain more than halved in autumn as it cut prices to shift stock.

Total agrees to compensate Burmese workers who claimed they were used as forced labour on a pipeline project.

Reuters - Ford Motor Co , which has announced a series of restructuring initiatives this year, plans to cut production at its Jaguar luxury brand by as much as 7 percent next year, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

Reuters - The dollar eased against the yen on Wednesday but stayed in sight of a two-year high as investors awaited U.S. data due later in the session for a possible cue to break through resistance at 120 yen.

The Indian economy grows at 8% in the half-year to September, thanks to strong performance in tourism, manufacturing and finance.

Mongolia agrees to develop its coal fields with China as its neighbour looks to feed a booming economy and rapacious appetite for energy.

A rise in the state pension age to 68 is part of a major proposed shake-up to the UK pensions system.

Total agrees to compensate Burmese workers who claimed they were used as forced labour on a pipeline project.

Reuters - The Lloyd's of London insurance market said on Wednesday the chances of it making a profit in 2005 were small after it faced claims of around 2.9 billion pounds from the costliest U.S. hurricane season.

Reuters - Ford Motor Co is mulling the sale of its historic Browns Lane plant near Coventry, central England, that was the home of its iconic Jaguar brand since 1928, Jaguar said on Wednesday.

Reuters - British Airways , Europe's third-largest airline, said on Wednesday it planned to cut almost 600 management jobs as part of wider plans to reduce labor costs.

AFP - The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has forecast growth of around five percent for South Korea's economy in 2006 and 2007, up from 3.9 percent this year.

British Airways says it will get rid of more than a third of its 1,715 managerial posts by March 2008.

A gradual rise in the state pension age to 68 is part of a major proposed shake-up to the UK pensions system.

Chancellor Merkel says she will not be 'blackmailed' over the abduction of a German in Iraq in her first key address.

Gamers hoping to buy the Xbox 360 when it goes on sale in the UK on Friday may be disappointed, warn retailers.

Two Chinese firms must pay compensation to drinks maker Hennessy, and cease selling items breaching its trademarks.

Reuters - U.S. stock futures pointed to a slightly weaker market opening on Wednesday before government data expected to show strength in the economy, which may lead the Federal Reserve to further raise interest rates.

Reuters - Delta Air Lines Inc. received U.S. bankruptcy court approval to sell some of its aircraft on Tuesday, according to court documents.

Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications fell for a third straight week, dragged down by a decline in home refinancings to a 16-month low even as interest rates dipped, an industry trade group figures showed on Wednesday.

Reuters - High-end jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co Inc. on Wednesday reported higher quarterly profit, helped by an increase in worldwide comparable store sales, a higher gross margin and a lower effective tax rate.

AP - For the last several years, ultra-short bond funds have served as a higher-yielding alternative to money market mutual funds, but the gap in returns has rapidly been closing.

AP - Fine jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. on Wednesday said third-quarter earnings grew 37 percent on higher profit margins, a lower tax rate and sales growth.

The European Central Bank is widely expected to end more than two years of inactivity and ignore critics to raise interest rates on Thursday.

Reuters - U.S. economic growth was much stronger in the third quarter than first thought as consumers and businesses spent more than estimated, but Gulf Coast hurricanes sideswiped corporate profits, a government report showed on Wednesday.

Reuters - High-end jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co Inc. on Wednesday reported higher quarterly profit, meeting Wall Street expectations, but posted disappointing sales.

Reuters - U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday after a government report showed the U.S. economy expanded at a faster-than-expected pace in the third quarter.

Reuters - While research suggests a formal inflation target could make interest rate moves more predictable, monetary policy should not be rigidly dictated by such a goal, St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President William Poole said on Wednesday.

Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications fell for a third straight week, dragged down by a decline in home refinancings to a 16-month low even as interest rates dipped, an industry trade group figures showed on Wednesday.

The bid for Denmark's dominant telephone company, TDC, could set a new benchmark for leveraged buyouts in Europe.

The US economy grew at an adjusted 4.3% in the third quarter, driven by strong consumer spending.

Packaging firm Tetra Pak will stop making milk and fruit juice cartons using printing chemical ITX after contaminating milk.

The Indian economy grows at 8% in the half-year to September, thanks to strong performance in tourism, manufacturing and finance.

Reuters - Business activity in the U.S. Midwest grew a bit more slowly in November but remained strong even as prices paid surged to their highest in 26 years, a report showed on Wednesday.

Reuters - U.S. economic growth was much stronger in the third quarter than first thought as consumers and businesses spent more than estimated, but Gulf Coast hurricanes sideswiped corporate profits, a government report showed on Wednesday.

Reuters - The U.S. judge overseeing the patent infringement case against BlackBerry e-mail device maker Research In Motion Ltd. on Wednesday filed a sealed memorandum and opinion, according to the court docket.

Reuters - U.S. stocks were higher on Wednesday after a report showed the nation's economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace in the third quarter, a positive sign for economically sensitive stocks including 3M Co. and Caterpillar Inc.

Reuters - High-end jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co Inc. on Wednesday reported higher quarterly profit, but sales lacked sparkle, especially in Japan, and shares fell as much as 4 percent.

A federal judge ruled unvalid Wednesday a $450 million settlement between a small patent holding firm and the maker of BlackBerry e-mail devices, Research in Motion Ltd.

The World Bank approves a $100m loan to Iraq to help reduce overcrowding in the worn-torn country's schools.

Reuters - BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. on Wednesday was pushed closer to a possible shutdown of its U.S. mobile e-mail service after a judge refused to delay a patent infringement case and rejected a disputed settlement with patent holder NTP Inc.

Reuters - U.S. blue-chip stocks declined on Wednesday as shares of financial companies, including American Express Co. , fell after a regional business conditions report came in above expectations, fueling fears about higher inflation and interest rates.

AP - Brazil's economy expanded at half the expected pace in the third quarter as sky-high interest rates imposed by the central bank to keep inflation down prevented businesses from boosting production and hiring workers, the government said Wednesday.

The Motley Fool - Being the prematurely crusty investor and commentator that I am, I take a dim view of companies that promote their investment performance in their financial reports. While I can understand why Smithfield Foods (NYSE: SFD - News) would be proud of its long record of success, let's not forget the mutual-fund industry boilerplate -- past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The maker of the Blackberry mobile device is hit by a court ruling which could affect its operations in the US.

Reuters - U.S. economic activity increased across the country through mid-November but the housing market has cooled and high energy prices have raised concern about consumer spending and production costs, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday.

Reuters - Dominant diamond firm De Beers said on Wednesday it had obtained preliminary approval for an agreement to settle the majority of civil class action suits filed against it in the United States for $250 million.

Reuters - U.S. blue-chip stocks fell on Wednesday as a series of buoyant economic reports fanned worries about more interest-rate increases, causing financial companies, including American Express Co. , to lose ground.

The boss of rail operator GNER admits that customers find it difficult to find the cheapest fares on his firm's website.

AP - Fine jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. on Wednesday said third-quarter earnings grew 37 percent on higher profit margins, a lower tax rate and sales growth.

The European Union will tell Ukraine on Thursday of its intention to grant the country market economy status.

Reuters - U.S. blue-chip stocks fell on Wednesday after strong economic data stoked fears the Federal Reserve would keep raising interest rates, triggering a sell-off in financial stocks, including Citigroup.

Reuters - Clothing retailer J. Crew Group Inc., which has been the target of an anti-fur campaign, will no longer sell products made with fur, a company spokesman said on Wednesday.

Investor's Business Daily - With Eastern Europe becoming a more appealing region to sell U.S. mutual funds, Franklin Resources looks to cash in.

Research In Motion moved closer to a showdown with NTP over BlackBerry service after a court dismissed its request to impose a failed settlement agreement.