The end is in sight for US Federal Reserve easing that has dominated financial markets for half a decade after it set out an optimistic economic outlook that would lead to the end of asset purchases in mid-2014.

Stratasys announced Wednesday that it will acquire Makerbot, effectively merging two of the biggest names in the 3-D printing industry.

No reason has been given yet for the departure of founder and executive chairman George Zimmer, reports CNBC's Courtney Reagan.

Four of the nation's leading mortgage servicers have not complied fully with new standards for handling home loans and must correct the problems or potentially face fines, the government said Wednesday.

The loyalty of airline passengers will no longer be measured in miles, as industry watchers have long anticipated. In the future, earning the stature and privileges of a high-end frequent flier will be tallied in a more conventional currency: cold, hard cash.

Canadian stocks fell the most in a week, ending two days of gains, after the U.S. Federal Reserve said it may reduce the pace of bond purchases later this year as economic risks subside.

Dunkin' Donuts is poised to beat McDonald's Corp. (MCD) and Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) in introducing the fast-food industry's first gluten-free pastries nationwide.

FedEx Corp. Chief Financial Officer Alan Graf denied that the company was predicting unrealistically low earnings for the coming year so that it could deliver better-than-expected results.

South African inflation slowed for the first time in five months to 5.6 percent in May after gasoline prices fell the most since July.

Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz said the nation will need a rebound in business investment to drive growth in coming years, a process that will require �stability and patience.