NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures dropped on Wednesday after data showed housing starts unexpectedly fell in October to their lowest level in six months.

  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer prices rose more than expected in October, chiefly from increases in energy and motor vehicle costs, according to government data on Wednesday that showed the economy may have to confront some inflation threats during its recovery from the worst recession in 70 years.

  PHILADELPHIA/MILAN (Reuters) - Chocolate makers Hershey Co and Ferrero SpA are considering a joint bid for Cadbury Plc that could help the British confectioner fend off a hostile takeover by Kraft Foods Inc

  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New U.S. housing starts in October unexpectedly fell to their lowest level in six months, weighed down by a sharp decline in construction activity for both single-family and multi-family dwellings, a government report showed on Wednesday.

  SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp has been ordered by a Chinese court to stop selling versions of its Windows operating systems that include fonts designed by a local company, citing a violation of licensing agreements.

  RICHMOND, Virginia (Reuters) - Top Federal Reserve officials on Tuesday struck differing notes on the likely pace of the U.S. economic recovery and one warned that pockets of weakness must not deter the central bank from withdrawing its extraordinary economic support.

  LONDON (Reuters) - Gold hit a fresh record high near $1,150 an ounce on Wednesday, boosting precious metals across the board, as a dip in the dollar index added to momentum buying as prices broke through key technical resistance levels.

  NEW YORK (Reuters) - BJ's Wholesale Club Inc reported a lower quarterly profit on Wednesday, hurt by falling food prices and lackluster demand for its general merchandise.

  BEIJING (Reuters) - President Barack Obama gave his sternest warning yet about the need to contain rising U.S. deficits, saying on Wednesday that if government debt were to pile up too much, it could lead to a double-dip recession.

  TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group became the third major Japanese bank to post upbeat results, underscoring the improving outlook for the sector, and said it would raise $11 billion to meet stricter capital rules.