Reuters - Stocks fell in skittish trading on Wednesday, led by financial services company shares, while rebounding oil prices fed concerns about the toll of higher energy costs on business and consumer spending.

Reuters - Merrill Lynch & Co will determine exactly how much of its stakes in BlackRock Inc and Bloomberg LP to sell based on how deep its second quarter loss is, a person briefed on the matter said on Wednesday.

Reuters - It is hard to know how far the global financial crisis still has to run, with the extent of further credit losses hinging on what happens to the U.S. housing sector, IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said on Wednesday.

Reuters - Germany's GfK Holdings AG said on Wednesday it wants to make a better offer for Britain's Taylor Nelson Sofres TNS than Martin Sorrell's advertising group WPP.

Reuters - Oil rose $2 to around $138 a barrel on Wednesday, partly recouping a $5 drop in the previous session, after Iran said it had test-fired missiles that could reach Israel and U.S. bases in the region.

Reuters - A flurry of visits by Chinese leaders to cities hit by sluggish exports and a reported tax rebate for textile exporters are being interpreted by the market as signals that Beijing might cautiously ease tight economic policies.

Reuters - Microsoft Corp introduced on Wednesday pricing for its suite of online services targeted at corporate customers and a revenue-sharing plan to encourage other companies to sell the software company's products.

AFP - Google has rolled out a challenge to virtual world giant Second Life with free software that lets people create their own online 3D worlds that can be embedded on websites and melded with other online functions.

Reuters - Video game publisher Electronic Arts Inc said on Tuesday it complied with a regulator's request for more information on its Take-Two Interactive Software Inc bid, moving a step closer to buying its rival.