Australia’s economy gathered pace in the first half of this calendar year, firming expectations that the nation will remain among the few developed countries to avoid recession, according to figures released Wednesday.

New signs of economic recovery keep emerging, but with the American consumer still hamstrung by flat wages and job losses, it’s unclear those signs will last.

Asian shares pulled back on Wednesday after a sell-off on Wall Street prompted a round of profit-taking, even as upbeat Australian economic growth figures reassured on the health of recovery.

Australia’s economy gathered pace in the first half of this calendar year, firming expectations that the nation will remain among the few developed countries to avoid recession, according to figures released Wednesday.

Oil edged above $68 a barrel on Wednesday, reversing part of the previous day’s slide of 3 percent, after industry data showed a sharp fall in U.S. crude stocks, boosting hopes of a demand rebound in the world’s top energy user.

Dominica is turning to a $40 million loan from China to complete four development projects, including the rehabilitation of major roads across the Caribbean country.

With a potentially deadly swine flu outbreak looming, President Barack Obama is urging Americans to take steps to prevent infection.

A stock market ripe for a big pullback succumbed Tuesday, plunging when rumors of a bank failure revived investors’ anxiety about the banking industry and the economy as a whole.

A stock market ripe for a big pullback succumbed Tuesday, plunging when rumors of a bank failure revived investors’ anxiety about the banking industry and the economy as a whole. A batch of economic reports that just weren’t good enough added to the mix.

NEW YORK—-In the course of surveillance, Fitch upgrades the rating on Ovilla, Texas’ approximately $7 million in outstanding combination tax and waterworks and sewer system surplus revenue certificates of obligation , series 2002 to ‘BBB+’ from ‘BBB’.