From the Wires

Bloomberg: More Americans than forecast filed claims for unemployment insurance payments last week, according to government figures that were estimated because some state agencies closed during the holidays.

USA Today: A one-year extension of a wind industry tax credit was included in the fiscal cliff deal passed by Congress.

AP: Avis is buying Zipcar for $491.2 million, joining the expanding car sharing market.

Chicago Tribune: While the tax package that Congress passed New Year’s Day will protect 99 percent of Americans from an income tax increase, most of them will still end up paying more federal taxes in 2013.

Washington Post: U.S. markets surged more than 2 percent Wednesday morning, hours after Congress approved a plan to avoid the “fiscal cliff” by raising taxes on American’s wealthiest households.

AP: Hostess expects to sell of its snack cakes and bread brands like Twinkies and Wonder Bread to separate buyers.

AP: The Philadelphia Mint is testing a variety of recipes to make coins more cheaply without altering quality, durability, size or appearance.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Pet owners are spending more to indulge their pets during the holidays.

New York Times: President Obama will nominate Senator John Kerry as secretary of state, succeeding Hillary Clinton.

Guardian: Russian president Vladimir Putin says the world will end 4.5 billion years later than the alleged 2012 Mayan date.