Wholesale businesses increased their stockpiles sharply in December although the gains are expected to slow in coming months, a development that could curb overall economic growth.

Michigan's governor said Thursday that the state should capitalize on its brightest economic outlook in a decade by opening its checkbook to school districts - but only those that can show their students actually are learning from year to year.

More than two years after it came clean about its addiction to debt, Greece may finally have begun its long and painful road to recovery.

Picture it: Save for a few disposable point-and-shoots, Kodak is exiting the camera business.

Two of the architects behind Ford's remarkable turnaround are retiring, and their departures have intensified the guessing game over who will become the next CEO.

The stock market finally got a deal in Greece, but it didn't produce much of a rally.

A landmark $25 billion settlement with the nation's top mortgage lenders was hailed by government officials Thursday as long-overdue relief for victims of foreclosure abuses. But consumer advocates countered that far too few people will benefit.

Markets were shored up by the news that Greece's party leaders agreed a deal on new cuts that are necessary for the country to get crucial bailout funds.

The number of people seeking unemployment aid neared a four-year low last week, a positive sign that strong hiring could continue in the coming months.

The Spanish judge celebrated for pursuing international human rights cases was convicted of overstepping his jurisdiction in a domestic corruption probe Thursday and barred from the bench for 11 years, completing a spectacular fall from grace for one of Spain's most prominent people.

The European Central Bank kept its key interest rate at a record low of 1 percent on Thursday as it waits to see if the 17-nation eurozone needs more help to stave off recession.

Romania's Parliament approved a new government led by a former spy chief on Thursday, and he promised to keep up the austerity measures the country imposed to win international loans but to raise public-sector salaries as soon as he can.

PepsiCo is trying to put some fizz back into its business. The food and drinks maker announced a restructuring on Thursday that includes cutting 8,700 jobs globally and plowing money into advertising drinks like Pepsi and Mountain Dew in North America.

The Bank of England is to inject another 50 billion pounds ($79 billion) into the British economy, which contracted in the last three months of 2011 and is likely to face further difficulties as Europe struggles to contain its raging debt crisis.

Another day, another doping case, another Tour de France result amended.

It could be the beginning of the end for No Child Left Behind.

A court in the Maldives issued an arrest warrant Thursday for former President Mohamed Nasheed, a day after his supporters rampaged in the capital and his claim of being ousted in a coup left unclear the stability of the fledging Indian Ocean democracy.

Syrian forces fired mortars and rockets that killed scores of people Thursday in the rebellious city of Homs, activists said, the latest strike in a weeklong assault as President Bashar Assad's regime tries to crush increasingly militarized pockets of dissent.

Strong sales of Mercedes luxury cars in China and the United States helped German automaker Daimler AG post a stronger than expected 57 percent increase in fourth quarter profits.

Harrison Barnes shook off his nagging ankle injury and a series of undersized defenders to help No. 5 North Carolina take charge in the second half. He just couldn't finish off No. 10 Duke.

Olli Jokinen capitalized on a turnover by Colin White to break a third-period tie with his third goal of the game, and the Calgary Flames beat the San Jose Sharks 4-3 Wednesday night.

Chase Budinger had 22 points off the bench and the Houston Rockets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 103-96 on Wednesday night.

Chase Budinger had 22 points off the bench and the Houston Rockets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 103-96 on Wednesday night.

All-Star Corey Perry scored at 2:14 of overtime to help the Anaheim Ducks beat the last-place Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Wednesday night for their second straight victory.

Wake Forest coach Jeff Bzdelik felt like he was watching a rerun of a horror movie Wednesday night.

Rudy Gay had 19 points and nine rebounds, and Quincy Pondexter added a career-high 17 points as the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a three-game losing streak with a 85-80 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

Nebraska coach Doc Sadler used two words to sum up why his Cornhuskers lost 62-46 to 22nd-ranked Michigan on Wednesday night.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points and the Dallas Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the undermanned Denver Nuggets 105-95 on Wednesday night.

A U.S. drone fired two missiles at a house in Pakistan's northwest tribal region, killing three suspected militants in the second such attack in as many days, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

Austin Rivers and his Duke teammates kept hanging around, doing just enough to keep North Carolina from blowing the game open until the Tar Heels finally gave them an opening.

A year ago John Thompson III finally achieved a win on hallowed ground, guiding his Georgetown Hoyas to a victory over rival Syracuse in the Carrier Dome, his first victory under the teflon dome in six tries.

One of the first things Baylor coach Scott Drew talked about after another loss to Kansas was wanting his team to now imitate the Jayhawks.

Rudy Gay had 19 points and nine rebounds, and Quincy Pondexter added a career-high 17 points as the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a three-game losing streak with a 85-80 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

With Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff nursing three broken ribs and watching from the press box, goalie Ryan Miller made 36 saves to earn his second shutout in three games in a 6-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.

All the frustrating late-game losses finally were worth it for Boston College. The young Eagles looked as if they've grown up a lot with their upset of No. 15 Florida State.

Zack Novak scored 14 points to go over 1,000 for his career and No. 22 Michigan defeated Nebraska 62-46 on Wednesday night.

Drew Miller and Henrik Zetterberg scored in the third period, and the Detroit Red Wings extended their home winning streak to 18 games with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.

Carlos Boozer scored 18 points and the Chicago Bulls won their fourth straight game while nearly holding New Orleans to a franchise low in points during a 90-67 rout Wednesday night.

Josh Smith scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, leading the Hawks to a 97-87 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night that snapped Atlanta's three-game home losing streak.

Greg Monroe had 20 points and 12 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons won their season-high third straight game with a 99-92 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday night.