Number of headlines: 976

Business

High demand, price of rice good news to US farmers
Dipping its left wing, a canary-yellow biplane makes a sharp turn and dives over a flooded field, showering rice on the shallow water 15 feet below.

Startup shows off electric car planned for Israel
Startup shows off electric car planned for Israel MATTI FRIEDMAN Israelis got a first demonstration Sunday of the electric car that developers hope will revolutionize transportation in the country and serve as a pilot for the rest of the world. The silver car doing circles in a Tel Aviv parking lot l

G-8 labor officials begin 3-day meeting in Japan
G-8 labor officials begin 3-day meeting in Japan MARI YAMAGUCHI Labor ministers from the Group of Eight industrialized nations met with international trade union and business groups Sunday to discuss the reduction of workplace emissions of "greenhouse" gases blamed for global warming, official

Rebate excludes many taxpayers with foreign spouses
Rebate excludes many taxpayers with foreign spouses JULIANA BARBASSA When Maulit Shelat heard about the Bush administration's plan to pump up the economy by sending out stimulus checks, he sat down with his wife and drew up a list of priorities: first up, remodeling the bathroom. But Shelat is m

Wall Street looks to US consumers for direction
Wall Street looks to US consumers for direction MADLEN READ With millions of stimulus checks going out to taxpayers, Wall Street wants to know where that money will be spent-and this week's data could help investors gauge the mind-set of the average consumer. Tax rebates have historically been h

Gas prices knock bicycle sales, repairs into higher gear
Gas prices knock bicycle sales, repairs into higher gear JAMES MacPHERSON Four-dollar-a-gallon gas is good for business-if you run a bike shop. Commuters around the country are dusting off their old two-wheelers-or buying new ones-to cope with rising fuel prices, bicycle dealers say. "Everyone t

Deutsche Telekom CEO asks shareholders for patience
Deutsche Telekom CEO asks shareholders for patience Deutsche Telekom AG's chief executive is asking shareholders to show patience, pointing to the global credit crisis as a reason for the company's lackluster share price, according to an interview published Sunday. Rene Obermann took over

News Corp. ends bid to buy Long Island newspaper Newsday
News Corp. ends bid to buy Long Island newspaper Newsday DAVID B. CARUSO News Corp., the media conglomerate controlled by Rupert Murdoch, has withdrawn its bid to purchase the Long Island paper Newsday, a News Corp. spokeswoman said Saturday. The decision to revoke the offer came just days after Murd

Ecuador wary of World Bank arbitration in Occidental case
Ecuador wary of World Bank arbitration in Occidental case GABRIELA MOLINA President Rafael Correa said Saturday he has "no confidence" in the World Bank arbitration branch that is hearing U.S. oil company Occidental's lawsuit against Ecuador. Ecuador "handed over its sovereignty&

China establishes company to make its own jumbo jets
China establishes company to make its own jumbo jets China has established a homegrown company to make passenger jumbo jets, state media reported Sunday-a step forward in the country's quest to become less dependent on Boeing and Airbus. China Commercial Aircraft Co. was established in Shanghai

Report: China launches company to make its own jumbo jets
Report: China launches company to make its own jumbo jets China has established a homegrown company to make passenger jumbo jets, state media reported Sunday-a step forward in the country's quest to become less dependent on Boeing and Airbus. China Commercial Aircraft Co. was established in Sha

Young widower pushes for change in Mass. life insurance law
Young widower pushes for change in Mass. life insurance law DENISE LAVOIE When Jenny and John Crowley learned they were having a baby, they did the responsible thing: they bought life insurance. Barely in their 30s, they passed the insurance company's physicals, applied for a $500,000 policy for

Citigroup to shed nearly $500 billion in assets
Citigroup to shed nearly $500 billion in assets MADLEN READ Citigroup Inc.'s new chief executive, Vikram Pandit, plans to stick with a global banking model after months of intense review-but only after shrinking the company by about one-fifth first. The three-year game plan, revealed Friday, inc

FedEx cuts 4Q profit forecast, blames fuel costs(4)
FedEx cuts 4Q profit forecast, blames fuel costs WOODY BAIRD FedEx Corp. cut its fourth-quarter earnings expectations Friday, blaming continuing increases in fuel costs. The Memphis-based shipping company said it expects profits of $1.45 to $1.50 per share for the three months ended May 31, down from

Children's Place allows former CEO's acquisition talks
Children's Place allows former CEO's acquisition talks AMANDA FEHD The board of Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. said Friday it has approved a request from its former chief executive Ezra Dabah to work on a proposal to acquire the company with a private equity firm. Dabah had asked

Brokerages demystify options trading as way to ride markets
Brokerages demystify options trading as way to ride markets JOE BEL BRUNO For Kim Snider, it only takes one word to send participants in her monthly investment workshops into a near panic. The Dallas-based financial adviser gets the same reaction, without fail, every time she suggests using options as a

FedEx cuts 4Q profit forecast, blames fuel costs(3)
FedEx cuts 4Q profit forecast, blames fuel costs WOODY BAIRD FedEx Corp. cut its fourth-quarter earnings expectations Friday, blaming continuing increases in fuel costs. The Memphis-based shipping company said it expects profits of $1.45 to $1.50 per share for the three months ended May 31, down from

Federal regulators close Arkansas bank ANB Financial
Federal regulators close Arkansas bank ANB Financial Federal regulators says they've closed ANB Financial National Association banks after discovering "unsafe and unsound" business practices there. David Barr, a spokesman for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. says many customers ser

Dell procurement exec retires
Dell procurement exec retires An executive at Dell Inc. who led the slumping computer maker's procurement efforts and managed its relationships with suppliers has left the company, Dell said late Friday. Martin Garvin, a vice president who had been with Round Rock, Texas-based company for 10 ye

Facebook to let users carry profiles with them
Facebook to let users carry profiles with them MICHAEL LIEDTKE Facebook Inc. is loosening its grip on millions of personal profiles to allow inhabitants of its popular Internet hangout to transplant the information and applications to other Web sites. With the changes announced Friday, Facebook joins

Apple agrees to settle iPod lawsuit
Apple agrees to settle iPod lawsuit Apple Inc. has agreed to settle a pair of class-action lawsuits in Canada alleging it misled customers about the staying power of their iPods, the latest courtroom truce over the dwindling battery life of early generations of the device. According to a court docum

70 people sickened during San Francisco conference
70 people sickened during San Francisco conference JORDAN ROBERTSON It's a new kind of virus for Sun Microsystems Inc. At the company's JavaOne conference this week in San Francisco, 70 people came down with what officials believe is norovirus, a type of medical virus easily spread by touch

FedEx cuts 4Q profit forecast, blames fuel costs(2)
FedEx cuts 4Q profit forecast, blames fuel costs WOODY BAIRD FedEx Corp. cut its fourth-quarter earnings expectations Friday, blaming continuing increases in fuel costs. The Memphis-based shipping company said it expects profits of $1.45 to $1.50 per share for the three months ended May 31, down from

Conference attendees in San Francisco sickened
Conference attendees in San Francisco sickened JORDAN ROBERTSON It's a new kind of virus for Sun Microsystems Inc. At the company's JavaOne conference this week in San Francisco, more than 50 people came down with what officials believe is norovirus, a type of medical virus easily spread by

Grain futures close mixed on CBOT; livestock prices rise
Grain futures close mixed on CBOT; livestock prices rise Grain futures ended Friday mixed on the Chicago Board of Trade. Wheat for July delivery fell 17.5 cents to settle at $8.045 a bushel; July corn lost a penny to $6.2925 a bushel; July oats rose 1.5 cents to $4.13 a bushel; July soybeans added 4

Microsoft appeals $1.4B EU antitrust fine
Microsoft appeals $1.4B EU antitrust fine JESSICA MINTZ Microsoft Corp. on Friday said it has appealed a $1.39 billion fine imposed in February by the European Commission for the company's failure to comply with a 2004 antitrust order. Spokesman Jack Evans said Microsoft filed an application wit

Facebook to let users carry profile with them
Facebook to let users carry profile with them The popular online social hangout Facebook says it's setting up a new system that will allow its 70 million users to take their personal profiles with them as they surf other Web sites. Users will be able to automatically copy pictures, personal inf

Fedex cuts 4Q profit forecast, blames fuel costs
Fedex cuts 4Q profit forecast, blames fuel costs FedEx is cutting its fourth-quarter guidance, blaming a steep increase in fuel costs. The Memphis, Tenn.-based shipping company says it now expects to post a fourth-quarter profit of $1.45 to $1.50 per share, down from its previous prediction of $1.60

Gates: Microsoft to go its own way
Gates: Microsoft to go its own way ANTHONY DEUTSCH Microsoft Corp. will focus on growing its own advertising and Internet search business after it withdrew its takeover offer for Yahoo Inc., Chairman Bill Gates said Friday. Microsoft has not presented an alternative strategy to compete with its domin

Treasurys mainly advance as AIG reports quarterly loss
Treasurys mainly advance as AIG reports quarterly loss TIM PARADIS Treasury prices mostly rose Friday after steeper-than-expected losses at insurer AIG stirred fresh concern about strains still taxing the global financial system and as stocks retreated following another advance in oil prices. America

Auto parts supplier Delphi reports wider loss
Auto parts supplier Delphi reports wider loss VINNEE TONG Auto parts maker Delphi Corp. reported on Friday that it lost more money in the first quarter than it did a year ago, but that an increased credit line will still allow it to emerge from bankruptcy protection intact. Delphi lost $589 million i

Circuit City allows Blockbuster, Icahn to review books
Circuit City allows Blockbuster, Icahn to review books MICHAEL FELBERBAUM Circuit City Stores Inc. on Friday gave in to pressure from activist shareholders, essentially putting itself up for sale and agreeing to nominate dissident directors to its board. The electronics retailer announced it would op

Advocacy groups take aim at Google-Yahoo partnership
Advocacy groups take aim at Google-Yahoo partnership CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER An online advertising partnership between Yahoo Inc. and Google Inc. is facing opposition from consumer and civic groups that didn't wait for an official deal announcement to voice their discontent. Top Google executives

Clarification: Activision earnings story
Clarification: Activision earnings story In a May 8 story about Activision Inc.'s earnings, The Associated Press reported that the company expected earnings of $1.30 per share after excluding Vivendi Games. The story should have said the adjusted earnings excluded other items as well.

Commodities Review: Wheat drops on higher output forecast
Commodities Review: Wheat drops on higher output forecast ADAM SCHRECK Wheat futures fell sharply Friday after the government forecast increased U.S production and a record global crop, while corn futures surged to a new high on continuing concerns about the weather. The U.S. Department of Agricultur

ALL BUSINESS: Government-backed housing bailout badly needed
ALL BUSINESS: Government-backed housing bailout badly needed RACHEL BECK A government-backed mortgage bailout is needed, and it must be done right away. Before shouting about all the reasons why taxpayers shouldn't rescue the profligate who took on more debt than they could handle, think about t

Diageo brews $1.25B Irish overhaul
Diageo brews $1.25B Irish overhaul SHAWN POGATCHNIK Guinness beer owner Diageo PLC rattled an Irish icon Friday, announcing plans to lay off more than half of its brewery workers, close two breweries and shift most production to a new, high-tech plant in the Dublin suburbs by 2013. The British bevera

Retailers can use DNA tracing to track meat
Retailers can use DNA tracing to track meat BRIAN CHARLTON Meat retailers can now trace their wares from the ranch to the refrigerator case using DNA analysis. IdentiGEN Ltd., based in Ireland with U.S. offices in Lawrence, Kan., said its DNA TraceBack technology can boost consumer confidence, as wel

Sovereign, AIG among big market movers
Sovereign, AIG among big market movers Stocks that are moving substantially or trading heavily Friday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE Sovereign Bancorp Inc., up 30 cents at $7.76 An analyst upgraded the bank after a news report it will raise up to $2 billion in

Texas may claim Amazon owes sales taxes
Texas may claim Amazon owes sales taxes Texas officials may claim that Amazon.com owes millions in sales taxes on purchases that state residents made from the Internet retailer. A 1992 U.S. Supreme Court ruling lets states collect sales taxes from out-of-state retailers that have a "physical pr

Data from Columbia disk drives survived the shuttle accident
Data from Columbia disk drives survived the shuttle accident BRIAN BERGSTEIN Jon Edwards often manages what appears impossible. He has recovered precious data from computers wrecked in floods and fires and dumped in lakes. Now Edwards may have set a new standard: He found information on a melted disk

ArcelorMittal sues Esmark over aborted steel mill sale
ArcelorMittal sues Esmark over aborted steel mill sale ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, filed a lawsuit against steelmaker Esmark over the aborted sale of a steel mill near Baltimore. Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal claims that Esmark breached its August 2007 agreement to purchase

EBay's PayPal rule in Australia draws fire
EBay's PayPal rule in Australia draws fire AMANDA FEHD EBay Inc. is exploring whether to require customers to use its online payment service PayPal, a move that has angered users and prompted antitrust scrutiny in Australia, where a PayPal-only rule takes effect next month. It's unclear whe

Citigroup to shed nearly $500B in assets
Citigroup to shed nearly $500B in assets MADLEN READ Citigroup Inc. said Friday it aims to shed about $500 billion in assets and grow revenue by 9 percent over the next few years, as it tries to rebound from massive losses tied to deterioration in the mortgage and credit markets. The plans are the mo

Activision shares soar after 4Q results fly past estimates
Activision shares soar after 4Q results fly past estimates BARBARA ORTUTAY Shares of Activision Inc. hit a record high Friday after the video game publisher reported profit and sales that soared past guidance and Wall Street's expectations. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based company's stock jum

Asset sales boost Clear Channel profit; Deal still in limbo
Asset sales boost Clear Channel profit; Deal still in limbo SETH SUTEL Clear Channel Communications Inc., a major radio and outdoor advertising company, reported higher first-quarter earnings Friday on asset sales but operating results were flat, reflecting weak demand for radio advertising. The San

Agriculture futures trade mostly up on CBOT; livestock mixed
Agriculture futures trade mostly up on CBOT; livestock mixed Agriculture futures traded mostly higher Friday on the Chicago Board of Trade. Wheat for July delivery fell 11 cents to $8.11 a bushel; July corn added 0.75 cents to $6.31 a bushel; July oats rose 3.75 cents to $4.1825 a bushel; July soybe

Fees for `.org' domain names to increase 10 pct
Fees for `.org' domain names to increase 10 pct Wholesale fees for Internet addresses ending in ".org" will increase 10 percent Nov. 9. Public Interest Registry, which operates the ".org" domain name, disclosed the planned fee increase in a May 1 letter to the Internet'

Gas jumps above $3.67, oil passes $126 on Venezuela concerns
Gas jumps above $3.67, oil passes $126 on Venezuela concerns JOHN WILEN Oil rose above $126 a barrel for the first time Friday, bringing its advance this week to nearly $10, as investors questioned whether a possible confrontation between the U.S. and Venezuela could cut exports from the OPEC member. Ga

Stocks decline as AIG reveals need for cash, oil surges
Stocks decline as AIG reveals need for cash, oil surges TIM PARADIS Wall Street fell sharply early Friday as investors contended with wider-than-expected losses at insurer American International Group Inc. and another worrisome spike in oil prices. The Dow Jones industrial average at times lost more tha

Icahn prepared to buy Circuit City if Blockbuster can't
Icahn prepared to buy Circuit City if Blockbuster can't MICHELLE CHAPMAN Consumer electronics retailer Circuit City Stores said Friday that it will allow Blockbuster to review its books in connection with the video-rental chain's bid to buy the company. Circuit City also revealed that it re

Citigroup to shed $500B in assets
Citigroup to shed $500B in assets MADLEN READ Citigroup Inc. said Friday it aims to shed about $500 billion in assets and grow revenue by 9 percent over the next few years, as it tries to rebound from massive losses tied to deterioration in the mortgage and credit markets. The bank's plans to wi

Stocks open lower as AIG reveals need for cash, oil surges
Stocks open lower as AIG reveals need for cash, oil surges TIM PARADIS Wall Street fell sharply early Friday as investors contended with wider-than-expected losses at insurer American International Group Inc. and another worrisome spike in oil prices. AIG's loss for the first quarter rekindled i

Oil surpasses $126 per barrel ahead of US driving season
Oil surpasses $126 per barrel ahead of US driving season PABLO GORONDI Oil prices surpassed a record $126 per barrel Friday on the eve of the U.S. driving season as a weakening dollar drove investors to snap up commodities. Light, sweet crude for June delivery rose $2.51 to a new record of $126.20 a

Diageo brews Irish Guinness overhaul
Diageo brews Irish Guinness overhaul SHAWN POGATCHNIK Guinness beer owner Diageo PLC rattled an Irish icon Friday, announcing plans to lay off more than half of its brewery workers, close two breweries and shift most beer production to a new, high-tech plant in the Dublin suburbs by 2013. The British

Oil nears $126 per barrel ahead of US driving season
Oil nears $126 per barrel ahead of US driving season PABLO GORONDI Oil prices neared $126 per barrel Friday on the eve of the U.S. driving season as a weakening U.S. dollar drove investors to snap up commodities. Light, sweet crude for June delivery rose to a record $125.98 a barrel in electronic tra

March trade deficit drops by bigger-than-expected amount
March trade deficit drops by bigger-than-expected amount MARTIN CRUTSINGER The U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in March as demand for imports fell by the largest amount since the last recession was ending. The Commerce Department reported Friday that the deficit totaled $58.2 billion, down 5.6 pe

China producer price index up 8.1 pct
China producer price index up 8.1 pct ELAINE KURTENBACH China's producer price index, a key indicator of inflation, rose 8.1 percent in April over the same month a year earlier, the government reported Friday, as a top economic official sought new controls to cool rising prices. Greater-than-exp

Clear Channel profit surges, income flat from continuing ops
Clear Channel profit surges, income flat from continuing ops Clear Channel Communications Inc. reported Friday its first-quarter profit soared due to asset sales, an investment gain and higher revenue, but earnings from continuing operations were flat. The radio broadcaster and outdoor advertising c

Citigroup targeting 9 percent revenue growth
Citigroup targeting 9 percent revenue growth Citigroup says it is aiming for 9 percent revenue growth as it looks to rebound from recent struggles tied to deterioration in the mortgage and credit markets. Citigroup generated $13.22 billion in revenue during the first quarter. In notes for a prese

Guinness brewing ops being consoldiated in Irleand
Guinness brewing ops being consoldiated in Irleand Diageo PLC said Friday it will close two Irish breweries, reduce operations at a third facility and cut its staff in the country by more than half as it consolidates Guinness brewing operations in Ireland. The $1 billion-plus reorganization plan cal

German insurer Allianz 1Q net profit falls 65 percent
German insurer Allianz 1Q net profit falls 65 percent GEORGE FREY German insurer Allianz SE said Friday first-quarter net profit fell 65 percent due to difficult market conditions as it wrote down $1.3 billion tied to the U.S. subprime crisis. Allianz, which also owns Dresdner Bank, said net profit f

Clear Channel Communications reports profit, revenue jump
Clear Channel Communications reports profit, revenue jump Radio broadcaster Clear Channel Communications Inc. says its profit soared in the first quarter while revenues rose 4 percent. The San Antonio-based company said Friday it earned $799.7 million or $1.61 per share in the first three months of

Oil surpasses $125 per barrel ahead of US driving season
Oil surpasses $125 per barrel ahead of US driving season PABLO GORONDI Oil prices surged past $125 per barrel Friday on the eve of the U.S. driving season as a weakening U.S. dollar drove investors to snap up commodities. Light, sweet crude for June delivery rose as high as $125.12 a barrel in electr

Stock head for lower open after AIG reveals need for cash
Stock head for lower open after AIG reveals need for cash MADLEN READ Wall Street headed for a lower open Friday after the world's largest insurer reported a wider-than-expected loss for the first quarter, rekindling investors' anxiety about the strained state of the global financial system.

Dollar falls against euro on ECB interest rate signals
Dollar falls against euro on ECB interest rate signals The dollar fell against the euro Friday after the European Central Bank signaled that it was unlikely it would consider any interest rate cuts in the coming months. In midmorning European trading, the 15-nation currency rose to $1.5470 compared

Euro edges higher against US dollar
Euro edges higher against US dollar The dollar fell against the euro Friday after the European Central Bank signaled that it was unlikely it would consider any interest rate cuts in the coming months. In midmorning European trading, the 15-nation currency rose to $1.5470 compared with $1.5404 in lat

Oil approaches $125 per barrel ahead of US driving season
Oil approaches $125 per barrel ahead of US driving season PABLO GORONDI Oil prices soared to record highs near $125 Friday on the eve of the U.S. driving season as a weakening U.S. dollar drove investors to snap up commodities. Light, sweet crude for June delivery rose as high as $1.24 to $124.93 a b

Oil prices rise to record high near $125 a barrel
Oil prices rise to record high near $125 a barrel Oil prices struck record highs near $125 as investors dumped more money into commodities. Light, sweet crude for June delivery rose $1.24 Friday to $124.93 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange near midday in Europe. On T

Oil approaches $125 per barrel
Oil approaches $125 per barrel Oil prices struck record highs near $125 as investors dumped more money into commodities. Light, sweet crude for June delivery rose $1.24 Friday to $124.93 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange near midday in Europe. On Thursday, the contra

Gates: Microsoft shifts focus after Yahoo deal collapses
Gates: Microsoft shifts focus after Yahoo deal collapses ANTHONY DEUTSCH Microsoft Corp. will focus on growing its own advertising and Internet search business after it withdrew its takeover offer for Yahoo Inc., Chairman Bill Gates said Friday. Microsoft has not presented an alternative strategy to

Japanese shares drop on Toyota outlook
Japanese shares drop on Toyota outlook Japanese shares dropped Friday as selling spread across the board following Toyota's bleak earnings projection. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index sank 287.92 points, or 2.06 percent, to 13,655.34. "Investors were spooked by Toyota's sluggish earn

Oil holds above $124 after record
Oil holds above $124 after record THOMAS HOGUE Oil prices held above $124 a barrel Friday in Asia after hitting an intraday trading record as bullish momentum and renewed weakening of the U.S. dollar kept the commodity on its upward trend. Analysts, though, struggled to explain the continued strength

China producer price index up 8.1 percent in April
China producer price index up 8.1 percent in April ELAINE KURTENBACH China's producer price index, a key inflation indicator, rose 8.1 percent in April, according to the official statistics agency, and a top economic official called Friday for tighter controls to cool further price increases. Ch

Japan Airlines reduces losses in latest quarter
Japan Airlines reduces losses in latest quarter YURI KAGEYAMA Japan Airlines reduced losses in the January-March quarter from a year earlier on cost cuts but forecast lower profit Friday for this fiscal year, blaming soaring fuel costs and intense competition. The nation's top carrier, also know

Japan Airlines reduces losses in fourth quarter
Japan Airlines reduces losses in fourth quarter YURI KAGEYAMA Japan Airlines reduced losses in the January-March quarter from the same period last year on cost cuts but forecast lower profit Friday for this fiscal year, blaming soaring fuel costs and intense competition. The nation's top carrier

AIG posts 1Q loss of $7.8B, plans to raise $12.5B
AIG posts 1Q loss of $7.8B, plans to raise $12.5B STEPHEN BERNARD American International Group Inc. says it will raise $12.5 billion in the coming months as the insurer looks to shore up a capital base that has been rocked by deterioration in the credit markets. AIG shares tumbled $3.27, or 7.4 perce

GM offers up to $200M to help end American Axle strike
GM offers up to $200M to help end American Axle strike TOM KRISHER A bitter, 10-week strike at auto parts supplier American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. could end soon now that General Motors Corp. has agreed to kick in up to $200 million to help settle the dispute, industry analysts said. GM

Oil prices hold above $124 a barrel in Asian trade
Oil prices hold above $124 a barrel in Asian trade Oil prices held steady Friday in Asia after rising to a trading record above $124 a barrel as bullish momentum and renewed weakening of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies kept the commodity on its upward trend. Light, sweet crude for June de

Survey says executives see oil prices falling
Survey says executives see oil prices falling JOHN PORRETTO Even as oil prices ascended to new highs of more than $124 a barrel this week, many oil and gas industry executives say they expect the price to fall significantly by year's end, a new survey shows. Fifty-five percent of 372 petroleum i

Chrysler unleashes Dodge Challenger into an uncertain market
Chrysler unleashes Dodge Challenger into an uncertain market DEE-ANN DURBIN The 2008 Dodge Challenger began rolling off the assembly line Thursday into an uncertain market that could embrace the nostalgic muscle car or reject it for its gas-guzzling excess. Chrysler LLC celebrated the launch at its 2

Western states rebuff plan for Italian nuclear waste in Utah
Western states rebuff plan for Italian nuclear waste in Utah JOHN MILLER Eight Western states on Thursday rejected a company's plan to ship tons of radioactive waste from Italy for disposal in Utah, saying importing foreign loads would violate the group's rules. EnergySolutions Inc. is appl

GM buys its Detroit headquarters for $626 million
GM buys its Detroit headquarters for $626 million DAVID N. GOODMAN General Motors Corp. said Thursday that the shaky real estate market convinced the automaker that it was a good time to buy its previously leased headquarters in downtown Detroit's towering Renaissance Center for $626 million. GM

Wachovia separates chairman, CEO positions
Wachovia separates chairman, CEO positions IEVA M. AUGSTUMS Wachovia Corp. on Thursday stripped Chief Executive Ken Thompson of his chairman role in a move that separates the top management position from the top oversight role. The Charlotte-based bank named its lead independent director, Lanty Smith

Google execs hope for long-term ad deal with Yahoo
Google execs hope for long-term ad deal with Yahoo MICHAEL LIEDTKE Google Inc.'s top executives on Thursday expressed hope that the Internet search leader will be able to form a potentially lucrative advertising partnership with Yahoo Inc.-a deal that would lower the odds of Microsoft Corp. renewin

Business Highlights
Business Highlights Gas jumps nearly 3 cents to record; oil crosses $124 NEW YORK (AP)-Gasoline and crude oil jumped to new records Thursday, with gas rising 3 cents to an average national price of nearly $3.65 a gallon and oil crossing $124 a barrel for the first time. At the pump, the average p

Court weighs whether to restrict 'business method' patents
Court weighs whether to restrict 'business method' patents CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER Is a baseball pitcher's method for throwing a curveball patentable? How about a chiropractor's techniques? A federal appeals court wrestled with those kinds of questions Thursday when it considered p

Activision 4Q profit soars past expectations
Activision 4Q profit soars past expectations BARBARA ORTUTAY Video game publisher Activision Inc.'s fiscal fourth quarter was exceptional, with sales of "Guitar Hero III" and "Call of Duty 4" pushing profit and revenue well above guidance and analyst estimates. Activision sai

Rice futures jump on worries over Myanmar supply; Oil jumps
Rice futures jump on worries over Myanmar supply; Oil jumps STEVENSON JACOBS Rice futures surged Thursday on worries that devastation to Myanmar's rice-growing heartland could lead to widespread shortages and worsen the global food crisis. Other commodities traded mostly higher, with corn future

More shoppers seeking shelter from economy in discounters
More shoppers seeking shelter from economy in discounters ANNE D'INNOCENZIO Caught in the maelstrom of higher gas and food prices, Americans-even more affluent ones-are seeking shelter in wholesale clubs and discount apparel chains. Low-price operators Costco Wholesale Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc

With Microsoft mum, analysts mull next moves for Live Search
With Microsoft mum, analysts mull next moves for Live Search JESSICA MINTZ Without the influx of Web traffic that Microsoft bet would quickly follow a Yahoo buyout, the software maker is facing a long slog if it wants to turn its money-losing online services business into a Google-killer. Since it wi

AIG posts 1Q loss of $7.8B, plans to raise $12.5B in capital
AIG posts 1Q loss of $7.8B, plans to raise $12.5B in capital STEPHEN BERNARD American International Group Inc. said Thursday it swung to a $7.81 billion loss in the first quarter because of losses tied to credit swaps and mortgage-related operations and that it plans to raise a total of $12.5 billion in

AIG posts 1Q loss of $7.8B, plans to raise $7.5B in capital
AIG posts 1Q loss of $7.8B, plans to raise $7.5B in capital STEPHEN BERNARD American International Group Inc. said Thursday it swung to a $7.81 billion loss in the first quarter due to losses tied to credit swaps and mortgage-related operations and that it plans to raise $7.5 billion through a stock off

Stocks rise modestly even as oil extends record high run
Stocks rise modestly even as oil extends record high run MADLEN READ Wall Street closed a quiet session with a moderate advance Thursday even as oil prices extended their record-breaking run and as retailers issued sales reports that were generally not as gloomy as anticipated. The price of crude oil

House passes broad housing rescue despite veto threat
House passes broad housing rescue despite veto threat JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS The House has passed a housing aid plan to provide $300 billion in refinanced mortgages for struggling homeowners. President Bush says he'll veto the bill. It passed 266-154 with support from 39 Republicans. The measure

Treasurys extend rally as investors seek safe haven bets
Treasurys extend rally as investors seek safe haven bets JOE BEL BRUNO Treasurys extended their rally into a second day Thursday, as the soaring price of oil and concerns about a resulting slowdown in consumer spending drove investors to the security of government issues. "Right now it is all ab

Best Buy teams up with leading European cell phone retailer
Best Buy teams up with leading European cell phone retailer STEVE KARNOWSKI Consumer electronics chain Best Buy Co. Inc. is establishing a foothold in the European market with a $2.1 billion investment in the continent's largest cell phone retailer, allowing the American company to roll out its tra

Stocks rise modestly as oil extends record high run
Stocks rise modestly as oil extends record high run MADLEN READ Wall Street held on to modest gains Tuesday even as oil prices extended their record-breaking run and after retailers issued sales reports that were generally not as gloomy as anticipated. The retailers' sales data still suggested,

T-Mobile USA adds nearly 1 million customers in 1Q
T-Mobile USA adds nearly 1 million customers in 1Q T-Mobile USA, the fourth-largest wireless carrier in the country, said Thursday it added 981,000 customers in the first quarter, which along with an acquisition brought its total to 30.8 million. T-Mobile USA completed its acquisition of SunCom Wire

Stocks edge higher as oil's record run takes a pause
Stocks edge higher as oil's record run takes a pause MADLEN READ Wall Street held on to modest gains Tuesday even as oil prices extended their record-breaking run and after retailers issued sales reports that were generally not as gloomy as anticipated. The retailers' sales data still sugge

Housing OKs foreclosed-property bill, weighs rescue bill
Housing OKs foreclosed-property bill, weighs rescue bill JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS The House on Thursday approved sending $15 billion to states to buy and fix up foreclosed property. The measure, passed 239-188, is part of a sweeping housing package Democrats are pushing to prevent more foreclosures and he

Gas jumps nearly 3 cents to record; oil crosses $124
Gas jumps nearly 3 cents to record; oil crosses $124 JOHN WILEN Gasoline and crude oil jumped to new records Thursday, with gas rising 3 cents to an average national price of nearly $3.65 a gallon and oil crossing $124 a barrel for the first time. At the pump, the average price of a gallon of regular

GM to pay up to $200M to help end American Axle strike
GM to pay up to $200M to help end American Axle strike TOM KRISHER General Motors Corp. says it will pay up to $200 million to help bring an end to a crippling labor dispute at parts supplier American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. The automaker said Thursday in a government filing that the mon

North Carolina TV market to make early switch to digital TV
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MySpace to allow users to share data with Yahoo, others
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Gas jumps nearly 3 cents to record; oil ends at new high
Gas jumps nearly 3 cents to record; oil ends at new high JOHN WILEN Gas prices jumped nearly 3 cents overnight to a new national record of nearly $3.65 a gallon Thursday. Oil prices rose slightly to a new settlement record after a day of back and forth trading. At the pump, the average price of a gal

Rice futures jump on worries over Myanmar supply; Oil falls
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Top 3 air carriers boost fuel charge by $20 roundtrip
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Cablevision plans wireless broadband network
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Stocks edge higher as investors watch oil retreat
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ECB, Bank of England leave rates steady
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Facebook, states set bullying, predator safeguards
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Toyota, Best Buy among big market movers
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Intel buys license for Sweden-wide WiMax network
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Will love of mom overcome economy worries on Mother's Day?
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AMD tightlipped on company's future
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Gas prices jump nearly 3 cents to record, while oil pauses
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Delta Air Lines, American boost fuel charge by $20 roundtrip
Delta Air Lines, American boost fuel charge by $20 roundtrip ADAM SCHRECK Two of the three biggest U.S. carriers said Thursday they have again raised ticket prices, this time by $20 roundtrip, to recoup rapidly rising fuel costs. The increases by Delta Air Lines and American Airlines affect the carri

Stocks advance as investors watch oil prices retreat
Stocks advance as investors watch oil prices retreat MADLEN READ Wall Street advanced moderately Thursday as investors reacted to a pullback in oil prices and sifted through sales figures from retailers that were generally not as gloomy as anticipated. The retailers' sales data still suggested,

Correction: Smart meters story
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Stocks fluctuate as April retail sales reports arrive
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Stocks edge higher as retail sales reports arrive
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Oil slip after peaking at record near $124 a day earlier
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Toyota projects first full-year profit drop in 7 years
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Consumers give stores some relief but still spend cautiously
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Cablevision 1Q loss widens, but revenue rises 10 percent
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Nasdaq first-quarter profit surges on boost from OMX buyout
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European Central Bank, Bank of England leave rates unchanged
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Retailers report mixed results as consumers seek value
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Dynegy swings to 1Q loss as energy prices surge
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ECB, BoE leave key interest rates unchanged
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Wal-Mart same-store sales top Wall Street expectations
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Band of England on hold, ECB expected to do same
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Lobster boat builders pinched as catch drops, economy slows
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Bank of England holdsrate steady, ECB expected to do same
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InBev profit drops on rising costs
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Warner Music Group 2Q loss widens on increased expenses
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Stock head for higher open as retail sales reports arrive
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Best Buy puts $2.1 billion into European cell phone retailer
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Oil steady after record near $124, with bulls in control
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Housing aid bills face vetoes by President Bush
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US dollar mixed in European trading
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Toyota reports 28 percent drop in fiscal 4th quarter profit
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Euro sinks to 2-month low against the dollar
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Bridgestone's first-quarter net profit falls 18.4 percent
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Northwest cherry harvest down with the temps
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South Korea may demand revision of US beef import pact
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Softbank's annual net profit surges to record high
Softbank's annual net profit surges to record high Softbank Corp.'s net profit nearly quadrupled to a record high last fiscal year on the strength of its rapidly expanding mobile business, the technology and Internet company said Thursday. Softbank, which outpaced rivals in signing up new

Japanese shares fall on inflation fears; Nikkei sheds 159
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Bank of England, ECB expected to keep rates unchanged
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Papa John's surpasses $1 billion in online pizza sales
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Oil prices steady in Asian trading after record near $124
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Gates: Microsoft going 'independent' way
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Oil companies agree to settle MTBE contamination lawsuits
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Apple inks Latin American deal for iPhone
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Hackers' posts on epilepsy forum cause migraines, seizures
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Murdoch sees clinching Newsday soon; News Corp. profit jumps
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Comcast mulling Net usage cap to discourage 'excessive' use
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Research firm cuts into Sony claims for super-thin TV
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General Dynamics picks new CEO from board
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Treasurys rally as Wall Street worries about oil, recession
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Studios win $111 million judgment against TorrentSpy.com
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News Corp. profit of $2.7B boosted by stock exchange
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Broadband service over power lines in Texas to shut down
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Gold, silver futures slump after dollar gains; oil hits $123
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Oil jumps over $123 on drop in diesel, heating oil supplies
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Google looking golden again after challenging stretch
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Stocks retreat as oil prices creep higher
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News Corp. reports $2.7B profit on Liberty stock exchange
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General Dynamics weighs pick for new CEO
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DirecTV profit rises 10 pct on US subscriber growth
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Joint Sprint, Clearwire network could boost consumer power
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Conflict over housing crisis threatens rescue package
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Walt Disney, Cisco Systems among big market movers
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Stocks decline as oil prices creep higher
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South Korea's Hynix hopeful after WTO ruling on Japan tariff
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Flying saucers, tiny helicopters compete in British war game
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HP labs director seeks more help from academia
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NAR: US pending home sales drop to new low in March
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Cablevision buys Sundance Channel for almost $500M
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As fuel prices rise, some speedometer needles fall
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South Korea may suspend imports of beef from US
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Treasurys dip ahead of auction and on new inflation worries
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Oil waffles on mixed government inventory report
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Take-Two's Grand Theft Auto IV tops $500M in 1st-week sales
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France Telecom posts revenue growth, eyes acquisitions
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Agriculture futures open mixed on CBOT; livestock also mixed
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Oil drops on government report of higher fuel inventories
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Stocks mixed after varying economic data
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Stocks down after home sales, labor cost data
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Stocks mixed ahead of pending home sales data
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Oil steady after approaching $123 a barrel a day earlier
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Clinton lends her struggling campaign $6.4 million
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DirecTV profit rises 10 pct on demand for high-def service
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Worker productivity up at 2.2 percent rate in first quarter
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Worker productivity up at 2.2 percent rate in 1st quarter
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Clearwire, Sprint Nextel to form wireless company
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DirecTV 1Q profit up 10 percent, will buy back $3B shares
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Ford says it's doubling fuel-efficient 6-speed transmissions
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Stock head for lower open ahead of pending home sales data
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Total 1Q profit jumps 18 percent on record energy prices
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Hollywood producers suspend talks with Screen Actors Guild
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Oil steady above $122 a barrel after record
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Clearwire, Sprint Nextel to form $14.55B wireless company
Clearwire, Sprint Nextel to form $14.55B wireless company Clearwire and Sprint Nextel are planning to combine their wireless broadband units to create a $14.55 billion communications company. The new company, to be named Clearwire, will receive a $3.2 billion investment from Intel Corp., Google Inc.

Bill Gates says Microsoft going 'independent' way
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US

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