Singapore has signed a free trade agreement with the Pacific Alliance - made up of Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Chile - those governments said on Wednesday, in a deal they said would facilitate trade and closer ties with Asia.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday signaled it is likely to raise U.S. interest rates in March and reaffirmed plans to end its bond purchases that month before launching a significant reduction in its asset holdings.

Siemens Energy has stepped up efforts to explore a full integration of wind turbine business Siemens Gamesa, sources told Reuters, after profit warnings and share price slumps last week exposed flaws in the current ownership structure.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday signaled it is likely to raise U.S. interest rates in March and reaffirmed plans to end its bond purchases that month before launching a significant reduction in its asset holdings.

Ford Motor Co and longtime Chinese partner Jiangling Motors Corp have formed a joint venture aimed at strengthening Ford's sales efforts and reach in China, the companies said Wednesday.

Sales of new U.S. single-family homes jumped to a nine-month high in December, boosted by a severe shortage of previously owned houses on the market.