AFP - Investments in the bonds of struggling US home-loan financers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have earned Russia more than a billion dollars in the past six months, press reports said Tuesday.

Reuters - World stocks edged higher on Wednesday after the previous day's tumble to their lowest level in almost two years attracted some buyers, while rebounding commodity prices helped resource shares.

Reuters - Hewlett-Packard Co results beat Wall Street targets as net profit rose 14 percent, subduing fears that slowing economies and a stronger dollar would weaken the world's biggest computer and printer maker and its rivals.

Reuters - EBay Inc is cutting the fees U.S. sellers on its site pay for fixed-price items, in one of the company's boldest moves this year to boost merchandise for sale, lure new buyers and take on competitors.

Reuters - A joint venture created by LandCap Partners is buying $40 million of troubled land and construction loans from Wachovia Corp The Wall Street Journal said.

Reuters - Airports operator BAA, owned by Spain's Ferrovial , received a tougher-than-expected ruling from Britain's competition regulator on Wednesday, which said it should sell two of its three London airports because of problems created by its near monopoly.

Reuters - Home Depot Inc , the world's largest home improvement retailer, reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday as it held down costs and consumers took on spring projects.

Reuters - The U.S. Federal Reserve must be ready to take action if slowing economic growth fails to curb inflation stemming from higher food and energy prices, one of its top policy-makers said on Tuesday.

Reuters - Target Corp reported a nearly 8 percent drop in quarterly profit on Tuesday as shoppers passed over trendy clothes and home decor in favor of everyday necessities, hurting its margins.

Reuters - Stocks fell for a second straight day on Tuesday, shedding 1 percent, as credit worries hit bank shares and a report showing inflation remains a threat despite slower growth further fed investor anxiety.

Reuters - U.S. wholesale prices shot up in July at the fastest annual rate in 27 years, while home builders cut back on construction as they worked through a glut of unsold homes, government data showed on Tuesday.