Greek worries push European markets down further
2012-05-17T11:18:25Z
Fears that Greece might leave the euro currency union, with uncertain consequences for the rest of Europe, pushed the continent's markets down again on Thursday, though Asian stocks eked out gains thanks to good economic growth figures out of Japan.

Wal-Mart posts strong profit as U.S. sales jump
2012-05-17T11:09:18Z
(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday as its Walmart U.S. division showed a 2.6 percent rise in sales at stores open at least a year, as warm weather and an earlier Easter enticed shoppers to spend. The world's largest retailer, which was recently rocked by allegations of bribery in Mexico, earned $1.09 per share from continuing operations, compared with a profit of 98 cents a year earlier. Wal-Mart had forecast earnings per share of $1.01 to $1.06. (Reporting by Jessica Wohl in Chicago; Editing by Maureen Bavdek)

GM's Vauxhall announces new Astra at UK plant
2012-05-17T11:08:32Z
General Motors' Vauxhall plant in northern England will build the company's top-selling Astra vehicles, the automaker said Thursday — a relief for U.K. politicians who had lobbied its American owner to keep the plant open.

RFK Jr.'s troubled estranged wife found dead in NY
2012-05-17T11:07:43Z
Mary Richardson Kennedy's life had both highlights and troubled moments, just like other members of the famous political family she married into in 1994.

White births in US no longer in majority: census
2012-05-17T11:07:16Z
White births in the United States are no longer in the majority, according to US Census Bureau data made public Thursday.

Judge delays Mladic trial due to evidence errors
2012-05-17T11:02:39Z
The judge in Ratko Mladic's war crimes trial on Thursday indefinitely delayed the presentation of evidence due to "errors" by prosecutors in disclosing evidence to defense lawyers — a ruling that throws the future of the trial into question.

High funding costs threaten Spain's robust exports
2012-05-17T11:00:23Z
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's small and medium-sized exporters are struggling to compete with European rivals due to high borrowing costs, as fallout from the country's banking crisis hurts one of the few bright spots in a contracting economy. From ceramic tile makers to chemicals producers and conveyor belt manufacturers, they say credit is too expensive or simply unavailable, even though exporters appear at first sight to be healthy. Since the crisis year of 2008, Spanish exports have grown faster than those of any other euro zone country except Estonia, according to banking group BBVA. ...

Spain beset by bank crisis, recession, bond pressure
2012-05-17T11:00:23Z
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's borrowing costs shot up at a bond auction on Thursday, after economic data confirmed the country is back in recession and reports that nationalized Bankia SA had suffered an outflow of deposits hammered its share price. The Spanish Treasury had to pay around 5 percent to attract buyers of three- and four-year bonds. The longer-dated paper sold with a yield of 5.106 percent, way above the 3.374 percent the last time it was auctioned. ...

Bollywood star faces police probe over cricket row
2012-05-17T10:58:16Z
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan faced a police probe and a lifetime ban from Mumbai's main cricket stadium on Thursday following a furious late-night row with staff at the ground, officials said.

Egypt's cautious provinces make vote hard to call
2012-05-17T10:56:11Z
SOHAG, Egypt (Reuters) - Democratic fervour is gripping Egypt's big cities ahead of a presidential election but in the provinces many are nostalgic for the autocratic past. In Sohag, a town 250 miles (400 km) up the Nile from Cairo, residents have been alarmed by civil unrest, labour strikes and lax policing since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak last year. "Egypt is a land of pharaohs. If it isn't ruled by an iron-fisted pharaoh, it won't work," said Metias Rezq, a 65-year-old farmer, who believes life was better under Mubarak. ...