U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat open on Wednesday as investors awaited January wholesale sales and inventory data and digested a slew of new corporate deals.

Investors are searching for direction Wednesday, after two days of relatively flat trading. Stock futures are narrowly mixed.

World stock markets rose modestly Wednesday, though trading was listless as investors looked for direction, while the British pound continued to founder following weak industrial output figures.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will raise concerns that the U.S. Air Force's $35 billion tanker contract is anticompetitive when he visits President Barack Obama later this month, a spokesman said Wednesday.

World oil demand is projected to grow by 900,000 barrels per day in 2010, OPEC said Wednesday, revising up its previous month's forecast while cautioning that the increase is hinged on a sustained global economic rebound, particularly in the United States.

Kansas would impose a new tax on soda -- a penny for every teaspoon of sugar -- under a proposal that a key legislator outlined Tuesday while lawmakers considered raising taxes to erase a projected budget shortfall.

Barclays is on the lookout to buy a retail bank in the United States, according to reports, to build on its successful investment bank build-up there and create a buffer against regulatory reform.

Smokers suing Philip Morris and its parent company Altria Group over light cigarettes will have to start from scratch with their lawsuit in Maine.

PETALUMA, Calif.----Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc. , a commercial medical technology company that develops, manufactures and markets a family of products based upon the Microcyn® Technology platform, today announced that it has received new 510 clearance from the U.S.

PITTSBURGH----American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. today announced that non-GAAP earnings for the fourth quarter ended January 30, 2010 were $0.33 per diluted share, excluding non-cash store impairment charges totaling $0.05 per diluted share.

Gushan Environmental Energy Limited , a leading producer of biodiesel in China, today announced its unaudited consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

As part of its commitment to provide more control, choice and clarity for its customers, Bank of America today announced that beginning this summer it will only authorize single debit card transactions at the point of sale if a customer has enough money in their account at the time.

WARRINGTON, Pa. -- Discovery Laboratories, Inc. today announces financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009 and provides a business update.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.----ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it will hold a live webcast of its quarterly conference call at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 16, 2010. Harvey J. Berger, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer, will host the call.

Legislation blending help for the jobless with popular tax breaks for businesses and individuals is slated to pass the Senate Wednesday over protests from conservatives who say it adds too much to the $12.5 trillion national debt.

ReneSola Ltd , a leading global manufacturer of solar wafers and provider of solar module original equipment manufacturer services, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.

Harbin Electric, Inc. , a leading developer and manufacturer of a wide array of electric motors in the People's Republic of China, today reported its preliminary full-year and fourth quarter 2009 financial results.

British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia have offered to give away takeoff and landing slots at London and New York airports to soothe European Union antitrust worries, EU regulators said Wednesday.

Derivatives have become a dirty word. The complex financial products helped blow up the U.S. housing market. They all but sank AIG. Now European officials want to crack down on a derivative called a credit default swap.

China's exports rose in February in a new sign of growing global demand that could help persuade officials to let the Chinese currency rise.