NEW YORK (Reuters) - Network equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc posted a 37 percent rise in quarterly profit on solid demand from telecoms carriers, but its shares fell 9 percent on concerns about its outlook amid U.S. economic weakness.

  MILWAUKEE (Reuters) - Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday said more interest rate cuts could be needed if economic growth proves weaker than expected, just a week after hinting that rates would probably stay steady for now.

  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Wednesday and the Nasdaq posted its biggest drop since February as a probe of the home loan industry by New York's attorney general drew in the country's biggest mortgage finance companies and Washington Mutual Inc warned the housing downturn would extend well into next year.

  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp said on Wednesday its quarterly operating profit rose 23 percent on strong box office sales of "The Simpsons" and a rise in Fox News ad sales and affiliate revenue.

  NEW YORK (Reuters) - American Express on Wednesday said it had reached a settlement with Visa, removing Visa from a lawsuit American Express had filed against rivals for anti-competitive practices.

  DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp posted its largest quarterly net loss on Wednesday, reflecting a $39 billion charge related to unclaimed tax credits and a deeper-than-expected loss at former finance subsidiary GMAC.

  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Tesco will debut its U.S. grocery stores on Wednesday to a select group of local officials, though activists skeptical of the British retailer's promise to bring wholesome foods to overlooked neighborhoods have pledged to challenge the company.

  WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday that his office was sending subpoenas to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as part of his expanding probe of the home mortgage industry.

  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped into negative territory on Wednesday, retreating from an all-time high above $98 a barrel as speculators took profits from the record rally.

  ORLANDO (Reuters) - It's not just for lonely hearts anymore. Speed-dating -- a way for busy singles to meet -- was on the event list at a distinctly unromantic venue, the Information Management Network's ABS East conference, in a bid to bring together investors and issuers still reeling from this year's U.S. subprime mortgage meltdown.