updated Wed December 26, 2007

1st Constitution Bancorp to Pay a Stock Dividend of 6 Percent

CRANBURY, N.J. (AP) -- 1st Constitution Bancorp announced a 6 percent stock dividend.The bank holding company said it will pay the dividend on Feb. 6 to shareholders of record on Jan. 23.

updated Wed December 26, 2007

WGNB Corp. to Pay a Regular Dividend of 21 Cents Per Share

CARROLLTON, Ga. (AP) -- WGNB Corp. announced a regular dividend of 21 cents per share.The bank holding company said it will pay the dividend on Jan. 4 to shareholders of record on Dec. 20.

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Oil Prices Rise on Expectations US Crude Supplies Fell Last Week

SINGAPORE (AP) -- Oil prices rose Wednesday on new supply concerns amid expectations that data from the U.S. will show a new decline in its oil inventories.Crude oil supplies in the United States are expected t...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Ensign Group Declares Quarterly Dividend of 4 Cents Per Share

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (AP) -- Ensign Group Inc., which provides skilled nursing, rehabilitative care services and assisted living services, said its board declared a quarterly dividend of 4 cents per share.The ...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Investors Poised to Take Second Look at FuelCell After Major Sell-Off on Conn. Contract News

NEW YORK (AP) -- Investors are poised to take a second look at FuelCell Energy Inc. on Wednesday after its stock faced a major sell-off in the previous trading session on disappointing news about a state contra...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Palomar Medical Stock Likely to Face Pressure After Shares Dropped to 3-Year Low on Monday

NEW YORK (AP) -- Investors on Wednesday may take a second look at Palomar Medical Technologies Inc., after the company's stock tumbled to a three-year low during Monday's abbreviated session on news that a cont...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

China Promises More Clean Energy Spending but Warns Coal Use Will Climb

BEIJING (AP) -- China promised Wednesday to develop renewable energy for its fast-growing economy but warned that coal consumption will grow dramatically and avoided embracing binding limits on its greenhouse g...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Report: German Minister Says Government Will Reduce 2008 Growth Outlook

BERLIN (AP) -- Germany's economy minister said the government must lower its 2008 economic growth forecast, according to an interview released Wednesday.The current forecast for Europe's biggest economy, which ...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Amazon.com Experiences Strong Holiday Season; Nintendo Wii Systems Among Top Sellers

SEATTLE (AP) -- Amazon.com Inc. said Wednesday its 2007 holiday season was its strongest to date, with Nintendo Wii game systems and the "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" DVD among its top-selling pro...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Ultralife Batteries Gets $40M Communications Systems Order From Unnamed Defense Contractor

NEWARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Ultralife Batteries Inc., which makes specialty batteries and chargers, said Wednesday it received a $40 million order from an unspecified defense contractor to supply communications system...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Cogdell Spencer Spends $28.6 Million to Buy 2 Medical Properties in Tennessee

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Cogdell Spencer Inc. bought two medical offices in Tennessee to expand its portfolio and tap a new market, the real estate investment trust said Wednesday.Cogdell Spencer on Friday spent...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Most Asian Markets Advance in Thin Trading; Nikkei Adds 0.7 Percent

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Most Asian markets rose in thin trading Wednesday, with stocks in Japan and China advancing modestly while the Philippine benchmark index jumped to two-week high.South Korean and Taiwa...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Dyax May Off Up to $100 Million in Securities

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) -- Drug developer Dyax Corp. on Wednesday said it registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a potential securities offering worth up to $100 million.Dyax filed a universal...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Analysts Cut Earnings Forecasts After Target Says December Sales Show Possible Decline

NEW YORK (AP) -- Bargain-seeking late holiday shoppers didn't offer enough of a boost to prevent a decline in December sales, Target Corp. said late Monday, and Wall Street responded by cutting profit estimates...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Analysts Cut Earnings Forecasts After Target Says December Sales Show Possible Decline

NEW YORK (AP) -- Bargain-seeking late holiday shoppers didn't offer enough of a boost to prevent a decline in December sales, Target Corp. said late Monday, and Wall Street responded by cutting profit estimates...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

China's SAIC to Buy Nanjing Auto in Hope of Creating 'World-Class' Automaker

BEIJING (AP) -- Two of China's biggest automakers announced a deal Wednesday to combine their production assets in hopes of creating a company able to compete in global markets.The tie-up between Shanghai Autom...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Analysts Say Teva Pharmaceutical Could Beat Estimates With Heartburn Drug and Other Generics

NEW YORK (AP) -- Analysts raised their earnings estimates on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Wednesday, saying the company's new heartburn drug could push its profits beyond Wall Street forecasts. On Monday...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Police: More Than 30 People Killed in Nigeria Fuel Pipeline Fire

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) -- A ruptured gasoline pipeline exploded in flames, killing at least 34 people near Nigeria's main city of Lagos as they tried to scoop fuel from the gushing leak, police said Wednesday. The...

updated Wed December 26, 2007

Semiconductor Manufacturing International in Licensing Deal for IBM Chip Technology

ARMONK, N.Y. (AP) -- Chip maker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) said Wednesday it entered a deal to license some of IBM's two-transistor chip technology to strengthen its market position....

updated Wed December 26, 2007

China Aims to Grow Middle Class to More Than 50 Percent of Population by 2020

BEIJING (AP) -- China hopes to grow its middle class to more than half of its population by the end of the next decade, a Communist Party planner said Wednesday.The goal is part of quadrupling China's per capit...