A much-anticipated deal to connect Lithuania's electrical network with Poland ?and thus the Baltic states with the EU ?was not finalized Wednesday as planned.

  The United States on Wednesday urged Brazil to lead other developing nations in making concessions needed to reach a global trade agreement.

  European stocks closed slightly higher Wednesday, with London and Frankfurt in positive territory, while Paris finished lower

  Royal Philips Electronics NV said Wednesday it sold about 46 million shares in LG.Philips LCD Co., its joint venture with South Korea's LG Electronics Inc., to financial institutions in a deal that will bring it about ?1.55 billion (US$2.18 billion).

  While U.S. economic data look good in the third quarter, the growth rate will continue to slow and the housing market will weaken further, former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said Wednesday.

  President George W. Bush's administration took action Wednesday against three Saudi Arabians suspected of raising money to bankroll terrorist acts and providing support to an al-Qaida affiliated group believed responsible for bombings and kidnappings in Southeast Asia.

  Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. said Wednesday they are collaborating on the development of a promising new skin cancer drug in a deal that could be worth around US$1 billion (?712 million) for the U.S.-based biotechnology company.

  Fiat Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo confirmed Wednesday that Fiat has had contacts with Daimler, but said it was premature to discuss alliances.

  Thousands of staff at Dutch factories run by food and consumer products multinational Unilever were to go on strike for 40 hours starting Wednesday night to push for better working conditions and job security, a labor union announced.

  Boeing is delaying initial deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner by six months due to continued challenges in completing assembly of the first airplanes, the company said Wednesday.

  Boeing is delaying initial deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner by six months due to continued challenges in completing assembly of the first airplanes, the company said Wednesday.

  Shares rose 0.27 percent on the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday.

  3M Co. is hoping to reduce its tax bill by moving more of its operations to lower-tax locations outside the U.S.

  Ryanair Holdings PLC said Wednesday it will sue France in the European Court of Human Rights in hopes of preventing its French-based staff from being subject to French labor laws and social security taxes.