AP - Stocks continued their slow trek higher after the government's report of a drop in companies' inventories during January.

Reuters - Bank and technology shares lifted Wall Street on Wednesday on hopes the sectors may be poised for a recovery as the U.S. economy improves.

AFP - Leading shares closed higher on Wednesday in cautious trading as market players digested the latest batch of company results and awaited key US economic data later this week.

AP - World stock markets mostly rose Wednesday, though trading was choppy as investors looked for direction a day after the one-year anniversary from recession-related lows. The pound meanwhile continued to decline after disappointing industrial production figures.

AFP - Europe's leading stock markets nudged higher on Wednesday as traders awaited key US economic data and assessed the latest batch of company results.

Reuters - Concerns over Europe's fiscal problems hit the euro and sterling on Wednesday, while world stocks hovered near their recent six-week highs, though they were still up 66 percent from a low hit one year ago.