MARKETS / FINANCE

Facebook's head of mobile marketing has joined the board of directors of eBay Inc, expanding the size of the board.

Nelson Peltz's son-in-law Edward Garden joined the board of Family Dollar Stores Inc after the billionaire investor withdrew his offer to buy the discount chain for at least $7 billion.

The Securities and Exchange Commission faces hurdles proving wrongdoing at credit-rating agencies, the SEC's enforcement chief said in an interview shortly after it was learned that his office may sue Standard & Poor's for breaking securities laws.

U.S. chief executives' view of the economy deteriorated sharply in the third quarter, with the number who expect to cut jobs roughly doubling, according to a survey released on Thursday.

Gold prices hovered in a tight range Thursday as bullish and bearish forces pinned the yellow metal to a virtual standstill.

Will the possible release of the iPhone 5 to Sprint (S) in October spark a renaissance in the wireless sector, including for longstanding iPhone carrier, steady-as-she-goes Verizon (VZ)?

A much-hyped $12 billion plan for Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn to produce iPads in Brazil is in doubt due to stagnant negotiations over tax breaks and Brazil's own deep structural problems such as a lack of skilled labor, government sources tell Reuters.

Following a now-familiar script, Europe again averted disaster in its debt crisis when German lawmakers rallied behind Chancellor Angela Merkel to approve a stronger euro zone bailout fund on Thursday.

Analysts who say the just unveiled Amazon Kindle Fire tablet doesn't have the muscle to become an iPad killer are too busy trying to compare the differences between the apple (iPad) and the orange (Fire).

When Stratfor, a geopolitical intelligence firm, takes on the euro crisis and Greece, you know it's going to offer a fresh perspective.

The Dow and S&P 500 rose on Thursday on stronger-than-expected economic data and German lawmakers' approval of new powers for the euro zone's crisis fund, while weakness in big-cap Internet names weighing on the Nasdaq.

Stocks rose on Thursday on stronger-than-expected economic data and German lawmakers' approval of new powers for the euro zone's crisis fund.

It is some measure of the depth of concern at Europe's debt crisis that some market players are actively discussing the chance of the European Central Bank printing euros -- something it has said it will never do.

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co said it will acquire Harleysville Group for $760 million to expand its reach in commercial insurance lines of business.

Investors are entering the fourth quarter with a slightly raised exposure to shares and holding high reserves of cash that could quickly be used to fuel a stock rally, Reuters polls showed on Thursday.

Pending sales of existing homes fell less than expected in August despite rock-bottom mortgage rates, underscoring the difficulties policymakers face in helping the struggling housing sector.

H&R Block Inc said it would discontinue service under its EXPRESSTAX brand, as it focuses on its core tax-preparing brand and services.

Shares of online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) jumped on Wednesday after the company unveiled its new, cheaply priced Tablet computer called Kindle Fire as a potential challenger to Apple Inc.’s (Nasdaq: AAPL) celebrated iPad. But is it really a case of apples and oranges?

Gold prices rose on Thursday in choppy trade, with strong physical demand and gains in the euro lending support, but investors remained cautious towards the precious metal after this month's intense volatility.

Silver mining company shares rose solidly Thursday, even though the price of silver itself was up a mere 0.4 percent.

Small Canadian miner Rio Alto Mining Ltd said on Thursday a strike has halted mining activities at its La Arena gold mine in Peru temporarily.

Pending sales of existing homes fell in August to their lowest level in four months as Hurricane Irene held back sales in the Northeast, data from a real estate trade group showed on Thursday.

Even before China's great stock market bull run of 2006-2007, Wang Jianzhong had become known as China's god of stocks for his prescient picks.

The number of Americans claiming new unemployment benefits fell to a five-month low last week, while the economy grew slightly more than previously reported in the second quarter, the latest suggestion a recession was not in the cards.

Angela Merkel won her toughest challenge yet as German chancellor by pushing through changes to a rescue fund for the euro zone debt crisis on Thursday without the humiliation of relying on opposition support.

Australia-based Sylvania Platinum Ltd. said Thursday it applied for a permit to mine in the northernmost part of South African.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday the central bank might need to ease monetary policy further if inflation or inflation expectations fall significantly.

Stocks were poised for a higher open on Thursday after Germany's lower house approved new powers for the euro zone's crisis fund and U.S. economic data was stronger than forecast.

The Tampa Bay Rays and St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night helped conclude the wildest, wackiest, and, ultimately, greatest month of the regular season in baseball history.