Microsoft Corp. has finally roped Yahoo Inc. into an Internet search partnership, capping a convoluted pursuit that dragged on for years and setting the stage for them to make a joint assault against the dominance of Google Inc.

Sprint Nextel Corp posted a wider quarterly loss and revenue fell 10 percent as the No. 3 U.S. mobile service continued to lose valuable post-paid monthly bill-paying customers, sending its shares down almost 12 percent.

Shares of auto parts supplier American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. soared 50 percent on heavy volume Wednesday as a deadline related to a financial covenant waiver approached.

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE:

U.S.-traded shares of several foreign automakers advanced on Wednesday after reporting better-than-expected quarterly earnings.

New York Community Bancorp Inc. on Wednesday said it recorded a second-quarter profit on higher net interest income and improved efficiency, but its shares fell sharply on plans to issue common stock through an exchange offer.

Shares of Savvis Inc. jumped more than Wednesday after the computer network service provider posted a narrower second-quarter loss than Wall Street expected.