Fed suggests it's closer to slowing bond purchases
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Chairman Ben Bernanke ended weeks of speculation Wednesday by saying the Federal Reserve will likely slow its bond-buying program later this year and end it next year if the economy continues to improve....

Fed sees lower US unemployment, more growth
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Reserve sketched a slightly brighter picture of the U.S. economy this year and next, a sign it is moving closer to slowing its bond-buying program....

Stocks slide as Fed says bond purchases could slow
NEW YORK (AP) -- Financial markets shuddered Wednesday after the Federal Reserve said it could start scaling back its huge economic stimulus program later this year and end it by the middle of 2014....

Italian icons find no respite from tax man
MILAN (AP) -- Sophia Loren wore green silk and sunglasses for her date with the taxman, Luciano Pavarotti a suit and sneakers. Diego Maradona gave up his diamond stud earring to pay off a tax debt....

Men's Wearhouse ousts founder, pitchman Zimmer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Men's Wearhouse doesn't like the way its founder looks anymore....

Food stamp cuts key to farm bill's fate in House
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House passage of a massive farm bill could turn on the level of food stamp cuts as key backers scrambled Wednesday to secure support for the five-year, half-trillion dollar measure....

Car quality dinged by tech glitches, survey finds
DETROIT (AP) -- Car buyers increasingly want high-tech features like voice recognition and navigation. But they're not very forgiving of the car company when those systems fail....

GAO says airline merger would reduce competition
DALLAS (AP) -- A government review finds that the merger of American Airlines and US Airways would reduce competition on more than 1,600 routes traveled by more than 53 million passengers....

FedEx 4Q profit drops as priority services lag
DALLAS (AP) -- FedEx Corp.'s fourth-quarter profit fell 45 percent as international customers traded down to less-expensive delivery options and the company spent heavily on restructuring....

OfficeMax, Office Depot pit Ill. v. Fla. for HQ
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- OfficeMax Inc. and Office Depot Inc. want Illinois and Florida to compete to be the home of their combined headquarters if their proposed merger is approved by offering the best package of tax breaks that they can....