AP - Asian stocks extended their New Year's rally Wednesday, with Japan's index up nearly 2 percent, on hopes that stimulus measures from a new U.S. administration would help speed the world's economic recovery.

AP - Japanese stocks rose for a seventh straight trading day on Wednesday, lifted by optimism over a U.S. economic stimulus plan and a surge in exporters on the back of a weakening yen.

AP - Hong Kong's main stock index fell more than 3 percent Wednesday, as shares in China Construction Bank plunged after Bank of America sold part of its stake in the mainland's No. 2 lender.

AP - Asian markets were mixed Wednesday as Japan's key index rose for a seventh day but Indian shares tumbled after the chairman of major outsourcing company Satyam Computer admitted to falsely inflating profits for years. European markets opened lower.

AFP - London shares fell on Wednesday, as investors speculated about deteriorating earnings and the precarious state of the US economy.

AP - Share prices on the London Stock Exchange were lower at midday Wednesday.

AP - European stock markets fell Wednesday after a mixed performance in Asia as investors took profits on solid New Year gains, though sentiment remains relatively upbeat as markets look through grim economic news to a possible economic recovery later this year.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets sank on Wednesday as investors banked profits from gains made since the start of 2009, and digested a bleak outlook on the American economy from the US Federal Reserve.

AP - Constellation Brands, which markets Mondavi wine, Corona beer and Svedka vodka, says its fiscal third-quarter profit fell 30 percent due to restructuring costs and weaker sales, and trimmed the top end of its 2009 forecast due to the slowing global economy.

AP - Hefty one-time charges led Supervalu Inc. to post a big loss for its fiscal third quarter on Wednesday, but the grocer beat Wall Street estimates when the special items were excluded from the results.

Reuters - Monsanto Co . the world's biggest seed company, said on Wednesday that quarterly profit more than doubled, citing strong herbicide and soybean seed sales in the United States and Latin America.

Reuters - Grocer Supervalu Inc posted a quarterly net loss of nearly $3 billion on Wednesday due to asset-impairment charges, but earnings before one-time items were slightly above Wall Street expectations.

AP - Monsanto Co., the world's biggest seed maker, said Wednesday its fiscal first-quarter profit more than doubled on higher sales to Latin America, and raised its expectations for the year.

Reuters - Family Dollar Stores Inc reported a 14 percent jump in quarterly profit and raised its fiscal-year forecast on Wednesday as shoppers headed to its discount stores, sending its shares up more than 10 percent.

AP - Stocks fell sharply Wednesday, as a handful of bleak profit outlooks and more evidence of escalating unemployment served as stark reminders that the economy remains in rough shape. The Dow Jones industrials dropped more than 175 points.

AP - U.S. and European stock markets fell sharply Wednesday after more grim U.S. jobs news stoked fears that the American economy is contracting faster than expected.

Reuters - Shares of Monsanto Co rose nearly 13 percent Wednesday after the company reported much higher-than-expected quarterly profit and raised its full-year outlook, citing increased demand from Latin America and strong early sales for the new U.S. planting season.

Reuters - Family Dollar Stores Inc reported a 14 percent jump in quarterly profit and raised its fiscal-year forecast on Wednesday as shoppers headed to its discount stores, sending its shares up 15 percent.

AFP - FTSE 100 stocks ended sharply lower on Wednesday in the wake of gloomy US jobs data.

AP - Share prices on the London Stock Exchange were lower Wednesday.

AP - U.S. and European stock markets fell sharply Wednesday amid fresh worries about the U.S. labor market following a grim jobs survey and the announcement aluminum producer Alcoa will slash jobs.

AP - Monsanto Co., the world's biggest seed maker, said Wednesday its fiscal first-quarter profit more than doubled on higher sales to Latin America, and raised its expectations for the year.

AP - Bleak outlooks from Time Warner, Intel and Alcoa combined with more evidence of rising unemployment sent stocks sharply lower Wednesday. Major indexes fell more than 3 percent including the Dow Jones industrials, which lost 275 points.

AP - The Federal Reserve will allow more companies to take part in a program aimed at bolstering the money market mutual fund industry.

AP - A warning from tech giant Intel about poor business conditions and more evidence of rising unemployment left stocks with their biggest losses in a month Wednesday.

AP - Asian stock markets fell sharply Thursday, with benchmarks in Tokyo and Hong Kong tumbling more than 3 percent, as more evidence of company woes and a weak U.S. job market rekindled worries about the unfolding global slump.