UNITED STATES

The Obama administration stepped up efforts on Thursday to push for measures to tie executive pay at all publicly traded companies more closely to performance, but faced some skepticism from lawmakers.

Stocks rose on Thursday as rising oil and other commodity prices lifted energy stocks, while retail sales and weekly jobless claims data bolstered optimism for an economic recovery.

AOL has struck deals to acquire two small start-up companies focused on local online media, Patch Media Corp and Going Inc, ahead of its separation from Time Warner Inc.

President Barack Obama took his push for healthcare to the U.S. heartland Thursday, calling the current system unsustainable and vowing not to tolerate

U.S. retail sales rose for the first time in three months in May and the number of workers filing new claims for jobless benefits last week hit the lowest level since January, suggesting the recession was abating.

U.S. retail sales rose for the first time in three months in May and the number of workers filing new claims for jobless benefits last week hit the lowest level since January, suggesting the recession was abating.

U.S. aircraft maker Boeing has slashed its forecasts for new plane demand due to the industry downturn, and said it was focused on delivering existing orders rather than chasing new ones.

Swedish luxury carmaker Koenigsegg and Norwegian investors have struck a preliminary deal to buy General Motors' Swedish unit Saab, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

U.S. lawmakers accused the Treasury and Federal Reserve on Thursday of using threats and intimidation to force Bank of America to take over Merrill Lynch, a charge Bank of America Chief Executive Ken Lewis denied.

U.S. stocks extended gains on Thursday following a strong 30-year bond auction from the U.S. Treasury Department.

Stocks extended gains on Thursday following a strong 30-year bond auction from the U.S. Treasury Department.

Iraq's government said on Thursday that violence would increase before a parliamentary election due in January, a day after a car bomb killed at least 33 people at a marketplace in the country's south.

Microsoft's security chief and a veteran of Clinton's and Bush's national security teams are leading candidates for cybersecurity czar, a job that needs White House access and clout to protect networks that underpin the U.S. economy.

Oil prices extended a three-day rally to near $73 a barrel on Thursday on rising hopes the recession has bottomed out, spelling a recovery in ailing world energy demand.

U.S. retailer Macy’s Inc., which operates a chain of 840 stores nationwide, said Thursday it will open two new Macy’s stores in the Central Valley of California ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Iran and North Korea have worked together and made significant progress on ballistic missiles that could carry deadly warheads, the head of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency said on Thursday.

Swedish luxury carmaker Koenigsegg and Norwegian investors have signed a preliminary deal to buy General Motors' unit Saab, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

U.S. stocks advanced on Thursday as oil and other commodity prices rose while retail sales and weekly jobless claims data increased hopes for an economic recovery.

Stocks rose on Thursday as oil and other commodity prices climbed while retail sales and weekly jobless claims data raised hopes for an economic recovery.

Mortgage rates leaped with bond yields in the past week to the highest since November, erasing strides made by a massive government program to help revive U.S. housing.

The International Monetary Fund has revised its 2010 growth forecast sharply upwards, a source said on Thursday, and surging Chinese investment in May fueled hopes of a global recovery.