IBT Staff Reporter

Wesley Snipes won't be leaving home with his American Express card anytime soon -- primarily because he's currently sitting in the slammer -- and that's probably a good thing.

A California teen pleaded guilty on Monday to second-degree murder for shooting to death a 15-year-old gay classmate at his middle school who he said made unwanted sexual advances.

Video rental company Netflix Inc said late on Monday that it raised $400 million in fresh capital by selling convertible debt to long-time backer Technology Crossover Ventures and stock to funds managed by T. Rowe Price.

Lady Gaga might've written a love song called Paparazzi, but her true love is apparently her real-life papa, who the New York Post reported Sunday receives half of the pop icon's earnings. For as good a relationship as Joe Germanotta's had with his daughter, one source remarked that all that dough she raked in for scoring hits like Born This Way did nothing to hurt it.

Samsung Electronics, the world's top TV maker, is in last-stage talks with Google to roll out Google TV, the head of Samsung's TV division told reporters on Tuesday.

A top Federal Reserve official said on Monday that given recent improvements in the U.S. economy, any further central bank actions to boost growth should be through clearer communications about policy, rather than expanded bond buying.

Video rental company Netflix Inc said late on Monday that it agreed to sell $200 million of convertible debt to long-time backer Technology Crossover Ventures to raise new capital.

Hewlett-Packard Co will ramp up spending on research, sales and turning around its flagging services arm in 2012, after its fourth-quarter profit fell nearly 91 percent on weak computer sales.

A company run by former American International Group Inc Chief Executive Maurice Hank Greenberg sued the U.S. government for $25 billion, calling the 2008 federal takeover of the insurer unconstitutional.

Gilead Sciences Inc struck a deal to buy biotechnology company Pharmasset Inc for about $11 billion in a huge and risky bet on the next generation of hepatitis C treatments.

Hewlett-Packard's quarterly results beat Wall Street's expectations, while a weak 2012 earnings forecast underscores how the technology giant is heading into a choppy year.

The Federal Reserve could provide more clarity to the public about where policy is likely to go and how it might respond to various conditions, a top Fed official said on Monday.

Apple Inc does not violate patents owned by S3 Graphics Co, the International Trade Commission said on Monday in the latest ruling in the smartphone patent wars.

U.S. stocks fell for a fourth session on Monday, as the lack of progress in dealing with heavy debt both in the United States and Europe further sapped investor confidence in equities.

Netflix Inc said it agreed to sell $200 million worth of convertible debt to private equity firm Technology Crossover Ventures .

Goldman Sachs Group Inc Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Blankfein and Chief Financial Officer David Viniar could be asked to testify in former board member Rajat Gupta's civil insider-trading case, according to court documents.

AT&T Inc, the No. 2 U.S. mobile provider, said it is investigating an organized and systemic attempt to access wireless customers' information but that it did not believe any accounts were breached.

Some lucky options players appeared to have placed well-timed bullish bets in biotechnology company Pharmasset Inc's calls before Gilead Sciences unveiled an $11 billion takeover bid on Monday.

U.S. property and casualty insurer Alleghany Corp said on Monday it would buy reinsurer Transatlantic Holdings Inc for $3.4 billion in cash and stock -- though a sharp drop in Alleghany shares meant a separate, hostile bid for Transatlantic was at least temporarily more valuable.

General Motors Co moved on Monday to speed up the restructuring of its money-losing Opel brand, naming its vice chairman and two other senior executives to lead the unit's board.

Wall Street bankers are used to vicious swings in fortunes - it is in their DNA. Make a killing in the good times, they say, because markets may turn against you tomorrow.

The company said the attempts to hack accounts were unsuccessful.

Retailers trying to woo shoppers with early deals and longer hours this week, and throughout the holiday season, could be putting their profits at risk as shoppers search for bargains and not much else.

The fact that Mitt Romney is a Mormon is well known at this point. His faith has been discussed, criticized and defended. Which is why it actually is somewhat shocking to learn a fact that, if said about any candidate other than Romney, would probably elicit a quizzical look and a duh. That fact? Romney has tried alcohol. And smoked a cigarette.

Retailers are saving some of their deepest discounts on Black Friday for video game products, with large chains Wal-Mart and Best Buy putting some rock-bottom prices tags on hot games to lure shoppers into stores.

Hewlett-Packard Co's quarterly results exceeded Wall Street's modest expectations, while a weak 2012 earnings forecast underscores that the technology giant is heading into a testing year.

Bad decisions did Bill Miller in over the past five years.

U.S. stocks fell for a fourth session on Monday, as the lack of progress in dealing with heavy debt both in the United States and Europe further sapped investor confidence in equities.

U.S.-listed shares of Focus Media Holding Ltd plunged to multiyear lows on Monday after short-selling firm Muddy Waters accused the company of significant overstatement of the number of screens in its LCD network, among other charges.