(Reuters) - The Swiss National Bank stepped up its efforts to tame a runaway franc on Wednesday but stopped short of direct intervention, disappointing markets that had positioned for more radical measures and sending the currency sharply higher. The central bank said it would boost liquidity by expanding banks' sight deposits to 200 billion francs from 120 billion francs and take additional steps if needed, even as the government ran the rule over possible measures of its own to offset the impact of the currency's gains on economic growth.

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(Reuters) - Staples Inc (SPLS.O) reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on currency benefits and sales to its business customers in North America, prompting the largest U.S. office supply chain to raise its profit outlook. Smaller rivals have also shown some financial improvement lately, with Office Depot Inc (ODP.N) reporting a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss and OfficeMax Inc (OMX.N) posting better-than-expected earnings.

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(Reuters) - France on Wednesday released a letter sent to European Council President Herman Van Rompuy detailing its joint proposals with Germany on ramping up economic governance of the euro zone. In the text, President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel -- who unveiled the broad lines of their proposals on Tuesday -- said they wanted to freeze European Union structural funds for euro zone members that do not respect EU recommendations on deficit-reduction.

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(Reuters) - Shares of Dell Inc (DELL.O) fell more than 7 percent in pre-market trading on Wednesday, a day after the world's second-largest PC maker slashed its full-year revenue forecast, weighed down by weak technology spending. It forecast fiscal 2012 revenue growth at 1-5 percent, down from 5-9 percent, and said weak government and corporate spending may not hold up in the face of flagging economic growth. Analysts said the lowered outlook was not a surprise, given all the economic uncertainty.

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(Reuters) - Stocks fell in early trading on Tuesday after three days of gains as data showed sluggish German growth hobbled the euro zone, rekindling fears of a stagnant global economy. Investors focused on a meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss measures to contain Europe's fiscal crisis. A joint news conference was set for noon EDT.

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(Reuters) - The leaders of France and Germany meet for high-pressure talks on Tuesday to discuss what further measures they can take to shore up investor confidence in the euro zone following a dramatic market sell-off last week. President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are under pressure to show financial markets they are in agreement on doing more to shore up the embattled currency union -- or risk watching the euro zone unravel.

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(Reuters) - Industrial production rose at its quickest pace in seven months in July as motor vehicle output rebounded strongly, further easing fears the economy could slide into recession. Other data showed residential construction, while still depressed, was not a drag on the economy as the second half of the year got under way. Industrial output increased 0.9 percent, the Federal Reserve said on Tuesday, after a 0.4 percent gain in June and well above economists' expectations for a 0.5 percent rise.

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(Reuters) - Fitch Ratings said on Tuesday it affirmed the United States' top-notch credit rating at AAA, giving the world's largest economy a reprieve after it was downgraded by Standard & Poor's little more than a week ago. Fitch said the outlook for the rating was stable. However, it warned that the United States was falling behind its peers among the AAA-rated nations on fiscal matters and the country had to show tangible results in its efforts to reduce the budget deficit.

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(Reuters) - Sales at Wal-Mart Stores Inc's U.S. discount stores open at least a year fell 0.9 percent during its second quarter, marking the ninth straight quarterly decline as it tries to lure back bargain hunters. Still, profit beat analyst expectations as international sales, sales at the company's Sam's Club unit and a push to rein in expenses helped offset U.S. same-store sales that came in below analysts' forecasts. Wal-Mart shares rose 3.6 percent in premarket trading on Tuesday.

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(Reuters) - Home Depot Inc (HD.N), the world's largest home improvement chain, raised its fiscal-year profit forecast for the second time in three months on Tuesday as timely promotions and renewed focus on cheaper products helped it gain market share from rival Lowe's Cos Inc (LOW.N). The news boosted Home Depot's shares by 2.3 percent to $32.20 and hurt Lowe's shares by 1.6 percent to $19.36 in premarket trading.

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