Employers are begging for specially skilled applicants in fields like critical care nursing and geology.

The New York Times Company and the paper?s largest union agreed to cuts in wages, benefits and job security.

Ben Bernanke has been a forceful proponent of giving the the Fed more power, arguing that it would help the agency act more decisively to prevent future economic crises.

The Federal Open Market Committee is expected to maintain interest rates at near zero, but its statement on the economy is eagerly awaited.

Kesa Electricals, the owner of UK retailer Comet, reports a pre-tax loss of £81.8m and predicts another difficult year.

Reuters - Asian stocks inched up on Wednesday from a one-month low hit the previous day while the dollar drifted, with investors bracing for a Federal Reserve decision and any signs the central bank is worried about the jump in U.S. bond yields.

Reuters - A major union this week called on Morgan Stanley to reverse recent salary hikes for senior executives and other top earners, the Wall Street Journal said citing a letter from the union.

The US and European Union file complaints with the WTO that China is unfairly limiting its raw material exports.

Antigua and Barbuda fires its chief financial regulator, accused of accepting bribes from Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford.

Reuters - Asian stocks bounced up on Wednesday from a one-month low hit the previous day while the dollar drifted, with investors bracing for a Federal Reserve decision and any signs the central bank is worried about the jump in U.S. bond yields.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has revised its forecasts for developed countries upward for the first time in two years.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development says the pace of the global downturn is moderating.

Disgraced US financier Bernard Madoff's lawyer has said his client deserves 12 years in prison for his crimes.

Japanese exports in May were down 40.9% from a year earlier, as overseas demand for its goods remained low.

The European Central Bank has lent a record 442.24bn euros of loans to eurozone banks hit by the financial crisis.

The Boston Globe and its largest union have reached a tentative agreement to save the newspaper $10m.

South Africa's government says it will reject any attempts by mining giants Anglo American and Xstrata to merge.

The Kimberley Process scheme, which aims to stem the use of diamonds to fund conflict, is failing, a campaign group warns.

The carmaker Ford blames the weakness of sterling against the euro for its third price rise in the UK this year.

Transport group Stagecoach reports growth in profits, helped by a strong performance from its bus division.

Reuters - Stock futures pointed to a slightly stronger start for Wall Street on Wednesday, ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision and accompanying statement.

The takeover of Addax Petroleum would give the Chinese company access to oil fields in Iraq and off the coast of West Africa.

The British publishing group said that it is partnering with an Indian education company and an Internet tutor, as it increases its focus on the huge Indian market.

European stock markets rose modestly as investors again turned toward Washington in search of direction, this time the Federal Reserve?s policy statement.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has revised its forecasts for developed countries upward for the first time in two years.

The president argued that a government-run plan competing with private insurers would be an ?important tool to discipline insurance companies.?

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The Bank of England would regain main responsibility for regulating big banks under Conservative plans, the BBC learns.

The number of homes sold in the UK has continued to rise, according to HM Revenue & Customs.

Young people looking for somewhere to rent are being conned out of thousands of pounds in online scams.

Reuters - Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wednesday with the Federal Reserve expected to soothe recent concerns that it could hike interest rates later this year as the economy shows signs of stabilizing.

Reuters - Citigroup Inc intends to raise employees' base salaries by as much as 50 percent this year to offset smaller annual bonuses, the New York Times said, citing people with direct knowledge of the plan.

Reuters - Apple Inc chief executive Steve Jobs underwent a liver transplant at a Tennessee hospital and has 'an excellent prognosis', the hospital that performed the operation confirmed on Tuesday.

Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications climbed last week from a seven-month low, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Wednesday, adding to emerging signs that the three-year housing market collapse may be abating.

The takeover of Addax Petroleum would give the Chinese company access to oil fields in Iraq and West Africa.

Demand for durable goods rose 1.8 percent last month, following a similar rise in April, the best performance since December 2007.

A jump in durable goods orders buoyed U.S. shares, while European markets got a boost from a plan by the central bank to lend $617.8 billion to banks for 12 months.

In a bid to further unclog credit markets in the region, the European Central Bank said that it would lend a record $617.8 billion to banks for 12 months.

Reality television mogul Simon Cowell and retail billionaire Sir Philip Green are finalising a joint entertainment company.

US orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rose unexpectedly in May, raising hopes the worst of the recession may have passed.

Banks face an 'appalling prospect' if the Office of Trading is allowed to rule overdraft charges are unfair, a court hears.

Reuters - Wall Street opened higher on Wednesday after data showed surprisingly strong May durable goods orders and ahead of a Federal Reserve policy meeting later in the day.

Reuters - An unexpected jump in U.S. durable goods orders last month backed hopes that the economy was healing and this message was reinforced by a pick-up in home mortgage applications last week.

Reuters - Citigroup Inc plans to raise salaries companywide to offset declines in bonuses, people familiar with the plans said, in an effort to retain employees after the troubled bank accepted $45 billion of federal bailout money.

The company said it would cut 900 jobs, or about 4 percent of its work force after it reported that third-quarter profit fell 14 percent.

The drugstore operator said it narrowed its first-quarter loss by closing stores and trimming costs, but it expects a greater deficit for the year because of refinancing expenses.

Bank of England governor Mervyn King calls for the government to show 'greater ambition' in cutting public borrowing.

The number of people killed at work has fallen to a record low, the Health and Safety Executive says.

Reuters - Stocks rose broadly on Wednesday as surprisingly strong durable goods orders and quarterly results from software maker Oracle reinforced the belief the economy was stabilizing.

The takeover of Addax Petroleum would give the Chinese company access to oil fields in Iraq and West Africa.

A jump in durable goods orders buoyed U.S. shares, while European markets got a boost from a plan by the central bank to lend $617.8 billion to banks for 12 months.

The giant private equity firm said Wednesday that it is seeking to revise a merger with a publicly listed European affiliate that would give it an Amsterdam listing.

Reuters - Stocks gained on Wednesday after software maker Oracle's results beat expectations and durable goods orders jumped unexpectedly, giving more hope that the economy is rebounding.

Reuters - Warren Buffett said on Wednesday that the U.S. economy has 'no bounce' and will take time to recover, but there is no risk of deflation to push it further into despair.

Facing an economy that is perking up slightly but still in recession, the Federal Reserve said it would keep interest rates low for ?an extended period.?

Markets fell from higher levels earlier in the day after the Federal Reserve held interest rates at record lows and said the economy showed some signs of stabilizing.

Of 36 countries studied, only Germany, Norway, Switzerland and the United States actively enforced the O.E.C.D.?s anti-bribery convention, an advocacy group said.

The Federal Reserve says the pace of economic contraction in the US is 'slowing' but the economy is likely to remain weak.

Reuters - The Dow industrial average (.DJI) fell for the fourth straight day on Wednesday, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gained although well off their session highs, after the U.S. Federal Reserve reiterated concerns about the economic outlook.

Reuters - The U.S. government will 'very soon' launch its program to use federal funds and private capital to buy banks' toxic assets, the new overseer of the government's $700-billion bank bailout fund said on Tuesday.

Layoffs have pushed many skilled professionals into the worldwide marketplace, where smaller companies may tap their talents.

The mining company publishes details of its merger plan to try to win over Anglo American?s shareholders.

A Senate panel released its findings after a yearlong inquiry into soaring wheat futures.

Why doesn?t someone invent a standard for worst-case/best-case duration? Actually, they have. It?s called MobileMark, but there are a few problems...

Reuters - The Dow fell for the fourth day and other indexes ended well off the day's highs on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve reiterated concerns about the economic outlook at the end of its policy meeting.

Reuters - The new overseer of the U.S. government's $700 billion bank bailout fund said on Wednesday an intently awaited program to cleanse toxic assets from banks' balance sheets should soon be ready to roll out.

Reuters - An unexpected jump in U.S. durable goods orders last month backed hopes the economy was healing, a prospect cautiously supported by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday.

Reuters - Bed Bath & Beyond Inc posted an unexpected rise in quarterly profit by cutting costs to offset slumping demand for home furnishings, and the retailer's shares rose more than 6 percent.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development says emerging giants like China, India and Brazil are set to rebound strongly next year, while Europe, the United States and Japan lag.

The bank?s new projection showed that the Russian economy would contract by 7.9 percent this year and not recover to precrisis levels until at least 2012.

Once promoted as a safe way for unsophisticated investors to glide to a safe landing in retirement, target-date mutual funds are being criticized for heavy losses.

Lehman sought Barclays? documents and to talk with its employees to determine what Barclays paid for a Lehman unit.

The $7.22 billion offer would give the Chinese state-owned oil company new stakes in oil fields off the West Coast of Africa and in Iraq.

The seed maker said sales of its Roundup herbicide had been hurt by generics.

Why doesn?t someone invent a standard for worst-case/best-case duration? Actually, they have. It?s called MobileMark, but there are a few problems.

Developing countries call for more money to help them out amid the global financial crisis on the first day of a UN meeting.

Companies market new products to tackle malnutrition

The Woolworths brand is to begin trading as an online shop, five months after the ex-High Street giant went into administration.

The Treasury was 'leisurely' in updating its plan for dealing with a bank in trouble, say MPs reviewing Northern Rock.

Lawmakers, especially Republicans, have been sharply critical of the Fed chairman?s role in Bank of America?s takeover of Merrill Lynch.

Once promoted as a safe way for unsophisticated investors to glide to a safe landing in retirement, target-date mutual funds are being criticized for heavy losses.

The S.E.C. proposed more stringent rules for money market funds to avert runs when they ?break the buck.?.

American groups bring entrepreneurial skills to small businesses in poor countries and help them thrive.

The private equity firm has officially postponed a listing on the New York Stock Exchange, instead seeking to revise a merger with a publicly traded European affiliate.

Many foundations that lost money in the Madoff scandal had four or fewer board members ? not enough, a new study says.

Airlines, hotels, resorts and destinations are intensifying attempts to appeal to frugal would-be travelers.

The lenders, which were rescued by the government during the 1990s banking crisis, had significant mortgage losses last year.

A Congressional investigation found that insurers used a flawed database to underpay some doctors, driving up the cost to patients.

VisaNet, a credit card processor and Visa affiliate, is set to raise $3 billion in the biggest I.P.O. anywhere since last summer.

Profit declined to $341.4 million for the quarter ended May 31, hurt by weak demand and currency fluctuations.

The home-furnishings retailer slashed costs by 2.4 percent from a year ago, including reductions in payroll and advertising.

The 1970s-era modernist building in Chicago will undergo a $350 million green retrofit, which includes the installation of wind turbines on its roof.

Reuters - The Federal Reserve sought to hide its involvement in Bank of America Corp's acquisition of Merrill Lynch as Merrill's financial condition worsened, the top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee said on Wednesday.

Lawmakers, especially Republicans, have been sharply critical of the Federal Reserve chairman?s role in Bank of America?s takeover of Merrill Lynch late last year.

Resisting the ultralow interest rates of other central banks, the E.C.B. seeks to increase lending with liquidity injections instead.

Many foundations that lost money in the Madoff scandal had four or fewer board members ? not enough, a new study says.

Some investors had hoped the Federal Reserve would do more to revive the economy.