US Airways Group Inc. said on Wednesday that it will post a loss in 2008, something analysts had already been expecting.

Shares of NetScout Systems Inc. soared Wednesday after the company, which sells systems that report on network performance, gave a better-than-expected outlook for its fiscal third quarter and raised its full-year guidance.

WRAPUP 2-US private job losses mount, ominous for payrolls

Europe shares slip on U.S. job fears, weak commods

FACTBOX-How is Ukraine coping with the gas cut-off?

Shares of dollar stores rose on Wednesday after Family Dollar Stores Inc. reported fiscal first-quarter earnings above Wall Street expectations and raised its second-quarter outlook.

Shares of veterinary services provider VCA Antech Inc. slipped Wednesday after an analyst downgraded the stock, saying pet ownership may be in decline because of the recession.

Shares of semiconductor companies retreated with the broader market after Intel Corp. added to a series of downbeat corporate and economic reports Wednesday, saying fourth-quarter sales have plunged 23 percent.

Portugal telcos to invest 1 bln euro on new networks

BRIEF-Oneida to close North American retail outlet store business

UPDATE 1-Slovak car plants to halt work due to gas cuts

UPDATE 1-S.Lanka cenbank opens treasury market to diaspora

U.S. consumer credit worsens in December: Fitch

Bankruptcy court allows HRP Myrtle Beach to liquidate

House Democrats plan to give President-elect Barack Obama an early victory on health care with a vote next week on legislation to expand a children's health insurance program.

Toyota to launch OnStar competitor in U.S.

UPDATE 2-U.S. says Madoff sent diamonds in violation of bail

Colombian coffee growers are brewing up a lawsuit over a U.S. comic strip joking that violence is so rampant there, maybe "there's a little bit of Juan Valdez in every can" of the country's java.

UPDATE 1-Air France-KLM close to Alitalia investment deal

Anheuser-Busch Inbev sells $5 bln debt in three parts