By Ryan Vlastelica NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell more than 1 percent on Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank would start to reduce its stimulus measures later this year if the economy is strong enough. Equities have been closely tethered to ultra-loose monetary policy, which has been key to the S&P's climb of more than 14 percent so far this year. Benchmark 10-year U.S. bond yields jumped to a 15-month high on expectations the Fed will reduce its bond buying. ...

By Diane Bartz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Forcing a combined American Airlines and US Airways Group to surrender slots at Reagan National Airport would risk fewer flights to small and medium-sized cities, US Airways CEO Doug Parker told lawmakers on Wednesday. Parker was testifying to a Senate subcommittee on the impact of the proposed merger of the two airlines. Servicing larger cities is more profitable and thus the airlines, which together have two-thirds of the take-off and landing slots at Reagan National, near Washington D.C. ...

By Ruben Sprich BERNE (Reuters) - Swiss lawmakers dealt a death blow on Wednesday to a draft law which aimed to protect the country's banks from criminal charges in the United States for helping wealthy Americans evade tax. The Swiss government has warned that the bill's failure could prompt impatient U.S. prosecutors to indict banks, though it could still use an executive order to allow them to hand over data to try to avoid criminal charges. ...

By Alwyn Scott and Maria Sheahan PARIS (Reuters) - Orders at the Paris Airshow surpassed $100 billion on Wednesday, as planemakers Boeing and Airbus cashed in on demand for fuel-efficient jets and growth in both budget carriers and emerging markets. Ryanair, Europe's biggest low-cost airline, finalized an order for 175 Boeing 737-800 aircraft worth around $15.6 billion at list prices on day three of the aerospace industry's showcase event, the largest single order ever placed by a European airline with the U.S. group. ...

By Andrea Shalal-Esa PARIS (Reuters) - With development and technology challenges on the Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter increasingly under control, the company and the U.S. military are taking aim at a more vexing problem: the cost of flying and maintaining the new warplane. U.S. officials worry the current $1.1 trillion price tag for operations and maintenance - sometimes called "sustainment" - will erode international support for the new Joint Strike Fighter, which is critical to ensuring the plane can be as affordable as advertised. ...

(Reuters) - Apparel retailer Men's Wearhouse ousted Executive Chairman George Zimmer, the face of the company founded 40 years ago, sending its shares down as much as 6 percent. The company, which gave no reason for the dismissal, also postponed its annual shareholder meeting scheduled for later on Wednesday in order to renominate existing directors without Zimmer. "The board expects to discuss with Mr. Zimmer the extent, if any, and terms of his ongoing relationship with the company," Men's Wearhouse said in a terse statement. ...