IBT Staff Reporter

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan has appointed City Hall veteran Anne Campbell Washington as her chief of staff to placate her critics.

States are crafting a scaled-back mortgage abuses settlement with top U.S. banks that would exclude California, one of the states hardest hit by foreclosures and falling home prices.

The sacked chief executive of Japan's disgraced Olympus Corp says he has accepted an invitation to attend the company's board meeting this week, which could be a hopeful sign for investors who want him to return and lead a clean-up of the firm.

Hewlett-Packard is trying to enlist European antitrust authorities to investigate whether Oracle improperly leveraged its strength in software to freeze HP out of certain parts of the hardware market, attorneys for both companies said in court.

AT&T Inc was dealt a blow on Tuesday as the top U.S. communications regulator sought to have its planned $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile USA sent to an administrative law judge for review.

Merck & Co will pay roughly $950 million to settle criminal and civil charges that it promoted the painkiller drug Vioxx for an unapproved use, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.

Amazon Kindle users can no longer borrow electronic versions of Penguin books at libraries, a move that's drawn the ire of the American Library Association.

The Federal Reserve appears to be edging closer to providing financial markets with more detail to gauge the likely path of monetary policy as a way to buttress a weak recovery.

Small wireless carriers, such as U.S. Cellular and MetroPCS, provide low-cost alternatives to companies such as AT&T and Verizon. However, companies and industry experts are split on how the AT&T/T-Mobile merger will affect the smaller companies.

The U.S. economy grew more slowly than previously estimated in the third quarter, but a drawing down of stocks held by companies and firm consumer spending suggested output would pick up in late 2011.

The U.S. Federal Reserve held a wide-ranging debate on communications strategy at its most recent meeting, suggesting a shift in the way it frames policy may be its next step to buttress a weak recovery.

Stocks fell for a fifth day in a row on Tuesday, having lost more than 5 percent over that period as borrowing costs in Spain hit another record high.

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has moved next month's Asian developer conference from Bangkok to Singapore due to flooding in the Thai capital.

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission plans to seek an administrative hearing on AT&T's proposed $39 billion deal to acquire T-Mobile USA.

Chinese solar companies including Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd, JA Solar Holdings Co Ltd and LDK Solar Co Ltd posted larger-than-expected quarterly losses and warned that the sector's bleak outlook would continue well into next year.

The Federal Reserve plans to stress test six large U.S. banks against a hypothetical market shock, including a deterioration of the European debt crisis.

Merck & Co will pay roughly $950 million to settle criminal and civil charges that it promoted the painkiller Vioxx for an unapproved use, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.

Chinese solar companies including Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd, JA Solar Holdings Co Ltd and LDK Solar Co Ltd posted larger-than-expected quarterly losses and warned that the sector's bleak outlook would continue well into next year.

Campbell Soup Co's efforts to turnaround its U.S. soups business have yet to convince Wall Street as it risks losing price-conscious buyers with fewer promotions and by raising prices due to high ingredient costs.

U.S. bank earnings reached a more than four-year high in the third quarter, but regulators are warning that the industry faces challenges that include the risk of the European debt crisis washing up on U.S. shores.

Spanish bank Santander SAN.MC> will sell a 7.8 percent stake in Santander Chile , worth around $1 billion dollars, to help meet capital requirements amid Europe's spreading crisis, the Chilean affiliate said, sending the local unit's shares plunging.

Stocks fell on Tuesday as record-high yields at a Spanish debt auction and a downward revision of U.S. economic growth raised concerns about the global economy.

As winter chills set in, it's time to dust off the skis and head to the hill! But before you do, check out this guide to the best of the East. This ski season preview has you covered for season dates, best runs, and directions to the top resorts.

Tony Rezko, a one-time adviser to the embattled former Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich, has been sentenced to ten-and-a-half years in prison.

Nebraska lawmakers on Tuesday voted unanimously to reroute a controversial proposed U.S.-to-Canada oil pipeline away from an ecologically-sensitive region in the state, and the governor quickly signed the measure into law.

The California Supreme Court declined to give local governments carte blanche to hike health premiums for retired workers, saying on Monday that retirees could have a right to such benefits in some circumstances.

Iraq has signed contracts worth $396 million with South Korea's Hyundai Engineering to build two power plants as it tries to increase electricity supplies, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Garrett Uekman, a freshman tight end in University of Arkansas was reported dead at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville on Sunday. The cause of the death is yet to be found. According to Lt. Mat Mills in the university police department, there was nothing suspicious about Uekman’s death. However, his body will be sent to Arkansas state medical examiner for an autopsy.

Twilight fans can have their very own fairytale wedding experience next year when Carolina Herrera's CHNY boutiques begin selling gowns in the same design as worn by Bella Swan in Breaking Dawn - Part 1, the apparel maker's spokesman said on Monday.