> NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wednesday, the final day of the quarter, with investors awaiting data on employment and gross domestic product (GDP).

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Stock futures rise as Q3 nears end; GDP, jobs data eyed

European stocks rose and Wall Street was expected to open higher Wednesday as an upbeat report by the International Monetary Fund and a fall in Germany’s unemployment rate offset worries over weak U.S. consumer confidence. Asian markets were mixed. Germany’s…

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Asia – Japan – Nikkei 225 – US – Stock market

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European stocks rise on upbeat IMF report

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday lowered its estimate for global write-downs for banks and other financial institutions to roughly $3.4 trillion but warned that loan losses could rise in the face of stubbornly high unemployment and associated delinquencies.

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IMF warns on rising bank losses

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. mortgage applications fell last week despite the lowest loan rates in four months, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Wednesday, in another sign that housing will likely recover slowly from its three-year plunge.

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Mortgage demand falls despite lower rates

The owner of Sheraton hotels will offer thousands of guests a free night’s stay in dozens of North American locations as part of a massive campaign that kicks off Wednesday to highlight the chain’s $6 billion revitalization efforts. The deal is available for…

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Hotel – Sheraton Hotels and Resorts – Travel and Tourism – Lodging – Hotels and Motels

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Sheraton offers free night stay at 86 locations

Georgia says an EU-commissioned report presented Wednesday will underscore that Russia has invaded its territory last year and continues to occupy part of its territory. Georgia’s EU Ambassador Salome Samadashvili said Wednesday after the report was released:…

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European Union – Georgia – 2008 South Ossetia war – Russia – South Ossetia

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EU expects Russia-Georgia war report to blame both

PHOTOS BY JERRY McCREA/THE STAR-LEDGERAT&T scientists Chris Volinsky, left, and Bob Bell were part of a team that created software to help Netflix better predict which movies its customers would like. Their marathon effort took three years. In addition to…

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AT&T pair helped team win $1 million prize

Strengthening stock markets in Europe helped push oil prices to near $68 a barrel Wednesday despite data showing U.S. crude inventories rose for a third week, suggesting consumer demand remains weak. By midday in Europe, benchmark crude for November delivery…

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Asia – Singapore – OilPrices – United States – Price of petroleum

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Oil to near $68 despite high inventories

The chairman of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. warned Wednesday the global economic recovery will likely be lethargic, even as the retailing behemoth sees great growth potential in China and India. “The world recovery is going to be led by Asia although it’s going to…

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Wal-Mart – China – India – Retailing – Asia

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Wal-Mart warns of lethargic economic recovery

Likely losses from the financial crisis in the three years to 2010 have been reduced by $600 billion to $3.4 trillion as the world economy grows faster than previously expected, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday. The organization warned however…

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International Monetary Fund – World economy – Economic – Financial crisis – International

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IMF says estimated crisis losses down by $600 bln

German unemployment declined in September, but the fall was due to a seasonal upturn and statistical effects rather than any fundamental economic improvement, official figures showed Wednesday. The unadjusted jobless rate in Europe’s biggest economy was 8…

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Unemployment – Economy – German language – Recreation – Picture Ratings

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German unemployment rate falls to 8 pct in Sept

LONDON (Reuters) – U.S. food giant Kraft has until November 9 to say whether it will make an offer for British confectioner Cadbury or it must walk away for six months, Britain’s Takeover Panel said on Wednesday.

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UK sets Kraft November 9 deadline for Cadbury bid

A Canadian circus tycoon, an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut blasted off in a spacecraft from the Kazakh steppe Wednesday on a journey to the International Space Station. Minutes after lifting off from the Baikonur launch facility, the Soyuz…

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Cirque du Soleil РInternational Space Station РGuy Lalibert̩ РSoyuz РCircus

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Canadian circus billionaire heads to space station

Federal regulators yesterday proposed raising an additional $45 billion from the nation’s banks to help rebuild the fund that insures customer deposits as an increasing number of failures threaten to drain the fund’s reserves. The board of the Federal Deposit…

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FDIC acts to bolster dwindling reserves

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Las Vegas casino company Wynn Resorts raised $1.63 billion after pricing its Asian IPO at the top of its indicated range, a sign that demand is still strong for certain offerings despite a glut of Asian stock deals.

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Strong Wynn Macau IPO puts pressure on debut, rivals