Reuters - Oil dropped 7 percent, on Wednesday, touching a new 16-month low as rising U.S. fuel inventories and a jump in the dollar exchange rate added to signs a global economic slowdown has dragged down demand.

Reuters - Wachovia Corp reported a third-quarter loss of $23.9 billion on Wednesday, a record quarterly deficit for a banking company in the global credit crisis, underscoring the challenges Wells Fargo & Co faces when it acquires the big lender.

Reuters - Stocks, currencies, oil and commodities tumbled on Wednesday and governments from Budapest to Buenos Aires resorted to emergency action to rescue their economies from the worst financial crisis in 80 years.

Reuters - Stocks fell for a second day on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 down more than 5 percent, as a raft of disappointing profits added to fears of a global recession.

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's largest retailer, says it will crack down on its Chinese suppliers by enforcing stricter quality and environmental standards for the products it sells.

AFP - Fears of a global recession triggered sharp swings on currency markets Wednesday and sent Asian shares down despite talk of fresh government aid to shore up confidence in the financial system.

Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) will post its first sales decline in a decade in 2008 with vehicle sales now on track to drop 2 percent below previous year levels, the Nikkei newspaper reported.

Reuters - Fears of global recession overshadowed signs on Wednesday that government attempts across the world to end the gravest global financial crisis in 80 years may be bearing fruit.

Reuters - Oil fell by more than $3 to near its lowest in 16 months on Wednesday, dropping back below $70 on mounting worries that output cuts by OPEC will not be enough to offset slackening energy demand in leading consumers.

Reuters - Shares in global miner and takeover target Rio Tinto Ltd jumped 5 percent in a weak market on Wednesday, swept up by rumors ranging from a sweetened cash bid by BHP Billiton to a Chinese counter-bid.

Reuters - Asian stocks slumped to their lowest since December 2004 on Wednesday as poor U.S. corporate results and falling commodity prices fanned worries of a protracted global economic slowdown.

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc , the world's largest retailer, has achieved annual sales growth in China of at least 25 percent and this strong growth will continue, a company executive said on Tuesday.

AFP - The US Federal Reserve reached deeper into the troubled financial system on Tuesday to offer help to money market mutual funds in its latest response to recent turmoil.