InterContinental Hotels Group reported first-quarter room revenue that beat analyst estimates as the owner of the Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza saw increases in all its regions.

New York: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide chief executive Frits van Paasschen said increased demand for hotel rooms in New York City may signal the US is beginning to emerge from the recession.

Wall Street finished the week with moderate gains today, extending a November rally in light post-Thanksgiving trading amid signs of a strong start to the busy holiday shopping season.

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and his girlfriend Heather Mills appealed to a celebrity-studded New York audience to open their wallets and ‘‘adopt-a-minefield’’ so their dream of a world without landmines can become a reality.