Investors remain inclined to take markets higher in the absence of anything that would suggest equities should fall. The market seems to have hit a stage where strong data helps and weak data affirms the Fed's intentions to keep policy accommodative, which also helps stocks.

Chilean drug maker CFR Pharmaceuticals issued a formal bid to acquire 100% of the issued share capital of South African pharmaceutical company Adcock Ingram Holdings Limited for USD1.26 billion.

Construction group Murray & Roberts Holdings, Ltd announced that it had secured a material requirement to move forward with its buyout of Australian engineering company Clough Ltd.

Vale SA had sold the last of its 21.6% ownership in Norsk Hydro ASA following the sale of its non-core assets in order to focus on its more profitable business, which is in iron ore.

Mexico-based food conglomerate Sigma Alimentos announced it plan to take over Spain's meat processing company Campofrio after it agreed to buy 40% of of the Spanish company from its current shareholders.

US-based global private equity firm Advent International signed an agreement to purchase a USD1.1 billion minority stake in Ocensa, Colombia's biggest oil pipeline in terms of capacity.

The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported on Wednesday including BNP Paribas, Facebook, Crocs, VTB Capital and Flybe Group.

PetroChina's acquisition of Lots 57, 58 and X would help the state-backed oil and gas company diversify its assets abroad, said one analyst.

Petroleos de Venezuela SA is set on selling USD4.5 billion worth of bonds to increase scarce international reserves as well as curb the fastest rising inflation rate in the world.

Nissan Motor Co Ltd will build 1 million cars in Mexico by 2016, cementing the country's position as the export hub for the Japanese automaker in the Americas, Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn told Reuters as he inaugurated a $2 billion plant.