Business
Spike in Prius complaints may not be all it seems
(AP)
AP - Reports of sudden acceleration in the Toyota Prius have spiked across the country. But that doesnt mean theres an epidemic of bad gas pedals in the popular hybrid.
Mexicos Slim named worlds richest person
(AP)
AP - Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim is the worlds richest person, jumping past Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the first person from a developing nation to top the list, according to Forbes magazine.
China inflation accelerates in February
(AP)
AP - Chinas inflation spiked higher in February, raising the chances that Beijing might need to cool the recovery in the worlds third-largest economy.
Senate passes jobless aid, business tax breaks
(AP)
AP - The Senate voted Wednesday to extend key pieces of last years economic stimulus measure, including help for the jobless and money to help financially strapped states pay for health care for the poor.
US Senate adopts aid for unemployed
(AFP)
AFP - The US Senate has adopted a 140-billion-dollar raft of measures aimed at shoring up unemployment benefits and setting out tax breaks to spur job creation.
Budget deficit sets record in February
(AP)
AP - The government ran up the largest monthly deficit in history in February, keeping the flood of red ink on track to top last years record for the full year.
SEC chief economist leaving
(AP)
AP - The chief economist of the Securities and Exchange Commission, who is an expert on the financial instruments that figured largely in the 2008 crisis, is leaving his position for the private sector.
Okla.s jobless rate continues to improve in Jan.
(AP)
AP - Oklahomas jobless rate declined to 6.7 percent in January.
Hill International 4th-quarter profit rises
(AP)
AP - Construction consultant Hill International Inc. said Wednesday that its fourth-quarter profit more than doubled as revenue from its project management and construction claims units rose and selling, general and administrative expenses fell.
Britain confronts debt of Greek proportions
(AP)
AP - Government debt is growing, as is the deficit. The economy is struggling to get out of recession and there is talk of spending cuts or higher taxes. The unions are on edge. And the currency is plummeting.
Quinn seeks income tax hike for schools
(AP)
AP - Calling himself a realist, Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday scaled back his proposal to raise income taxes, shifting to a call for an increase of just one percentage point to be used solely for preventing deep cuts to education.
US views Doha framework as not satisfactory: lawmaker
(AFP)
AFP - The United States is unhappy with the current framework of the Doha Round of negotiations to forge a global trade accord, a key lawmaker said Wednesday after talks with WTO chief Pascal Lamy.
Wal-Mart spent $1.78 million lobbying in 4Q
(AP)
AP - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the worlds largest retailer, spent nearly $1.78 million lobbying in the fourth quarter on a wide range of issues from health care reform to organized crime and food safety issues, according to a recent disclosure report.
Home loan demand nudges higher in latest week
(Reuters)
Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications nudged higher last week, reflecting increased demand for home purchase loans even as interest rates trekked higher, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday.
ND oil rig count tops 100
(AP)
AP - The number of rigs piercing North Dakotas oil patch has topped 100 for the first time in nearly three decades, the state Department of Mineral Resources said Wednesday.