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When Mass Effect 3, developed by Bioware and distributed by Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: EA), was released in early March, gamers were surprised to learn From Ashes, a downloadable content, or DLC, package was available for an additional $20, a move the company made strictly for financial reasons.

The LinkedIn Corp. (NYSE: LNKD), the business-related social-networking company, considered buying online job-listings provider Monster Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: MWW), but decided against the purchase, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, the private-equity firm Silver Lake Partners continues to have interest.

Asahi Group Holdings (Tokyo: 2502), the Japanese beer company, said Tuesday it would buy milk producer Calpis for 120 billion yen ($1.5 billion) in its largest acquisition to date as it seeks more revenue outside of beer sales.

Highlighting the economic data this week -- May 7-11 -- are the March trade-balance figures to be released Thursday. Economists expect the U.S. trade deficit to widen after its sharp narrowing in February.

Hiring in the U.S. probably picked up somewhat in April after a disappointing showing in March renewed fears of another spring slump in the labor market, economists said in anticipation of the April non-farm payroll report due Friday.

Investors might be in for another week of gloomy economic news. The U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, Institute for Supply Management data, and the European Central Bank's monthly policy meeting are key items on the economic calendar from April 30 to May 4.

Starbucks Corporation (Nasdaq: SBUX), the world's largest coffee shop chain, said Thursday its fiscal second-quarter profit jumped 18.5 percent on rising sales at stores open at least one year and higher efficiency.

Starbucks Corp. is expected to report a higher second quarter profit as the company's expansion efforts and growing line of products, as well as the diminishing cost of coffee, continue to add revenue sources for the company.

Federal Reserve officials are expected to be in wait-and-see mode on extra stimulus at the April Federal Open Market Committee meeting this week, as little has changed since the March meeting to warrant policy changes, economists say.

AstraZeneca has agreed to buy U.S. company Ardea Biosciences for $1.26 billion, giving it a new gout drug to bolster its weak pipeline in a deal that feeds a wave of M&A in the biotechnology sector.

The Federal Open Market Committee meeting on April 24-25, Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke's comments during the post-meeting press conference, and an advance reading on U.S. gross domestic product in the first quarter will dominate the economic calendar next week.

Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners is nearing a deal to buy restructuring and consulting firm AlixPartners for more than $1 billion, according to several people familiar with the matter.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) is expected to report highly disappointing financial results Thursday morning, a development that -- as has been the case in the past -- will provide plenty of schadenfreude to the company's vociferous and numerous critics.

Most of the Asian stock markets ended lower Tuesday after data showed that foreign direct investment (FDI) into China declined for the fifth month in a row.

Asian stock markets declined for the second day Tuesday despite better-than-expected US retail sales data as concerns over Europe's debt crisis continued to weigh.

There could not have been a more fitting place for Italian businessman and occasional philosopher Brunello Cucinelli to kick off the pre-listing roadshow of his eponymous clothing company than a former Dominican convent.

Reports on retail sales and housing starts in March highlight the economic calendar next week, April 16-20. Economists will be watching for any lingering signs of a positive boost from the recent warm weather, as well as indications of whether the strength in consumer demand continues.

Manhattan's 2 World Financial Center was evacuated Thursday morning after workers who discovered what they believed to be a hand grenade contacted authorities -- it turned out to be a toy, police said.

Two proxy advisory firms are backing a shareholder proposal to split the roles of chairman and chief executive at Wells Fargo & Co , putting pressure on another U.S. bank to revamp its leadership structure.

PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE:PEP), the world's second-largest food and beverage company, claimed the No.784 spot on the IBTimes 1000 list by expanding aggressively in emerging markets and catering to consumers' demand for healthier food and beverages.

The U.S. nonfarm payroll report on Friday will highlight the economic calendar this week -- April 2 to 6 -- even though it will be released on Good Friday when the stock market is closed.

This week - March 26 to 30 - will highlight Wednesday's durable goods report and a busy policy calendar, including the core of the Federal Open Market Committee: Chairman Ben Bernanke and New York Fed President William Dudley. Wall Street will be closely monitoring the Fed officials' speeches, hoping to find clues of their latest views on the economic, inflation and policy outlooks.

Monster Worldwide Inc is open to selling all or part of itself and expects to have data ready for potential buyers fairly soon, Chief Executive Sal Iannuzzi said in an interview.

The Federal Reserve officials decided to keep the near-term interest rates unchanged at ultra-low levels but offered few clues about plans for further easing, as highly anticipated, while the Fed noted recent strength in the labor market and that strains have eased in global financial markets.

If you expect the Federal Reserve to launch another round of bond buying to stimulate growth at its meeting next week, you're almost certain to be disappointed.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Monday were: Monster Worldwide, Sony Corp, Giant Interactive Group, Heckmann Corp, RPC and NetQin Mobile Inc. The top aftermarket NYSE losers: RAIT Financial Trust, Darling International, Plains All American Pipeline, AllianceBernstein Holding and Equity One.

Facebook Inc will add banks in coming weeks to help underwrite its initial public offering, two sources familiar with its plans said on Friday.

Facebook Inc plans to increase its $2.5 billion credit line to help cover a major tax hit when employee stock awards vest shortly after it goes public, according to two sources familiar with the company's plans.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ:GMCR), the maker of Keurig single-serve brewers and capsules, claimed the No. 45 spot on the IBTimes 1000 list by catering to consumers' needs while operating on a high-margin business model.