IBT Staff Reporter

New U.S. claims for jobless benefits fell last week to their lowest level since early April and the trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in September, pointing to a slight improvement in the sluggish economy.

New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to their lowest since early April and the trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in September, pointing to a slight improvement in the economy.

Viacom reported $576 million in fourth quarter earnings Thursday, more than 300 percent over last year's $189 million, driven by solid performances in both the box office and television segments.

Stocks steadied on Thursday as the European Central Bank's purchase of Italian bonds helped calm markets queasy over the euro zone debt crisis.

Dear reader, if Jane Austen lived today, she'd be an avid blogger, she'd be on Facebook, and of course she'd also be tweeting away -- but mostly about other people, not herself.

New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits declined for the second straight week, to the lowest level since the first week of April, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

Merck & Co said on Thursday it raised its quarterly dividend by 11 percent, or 4 cents a share, to 42 cents a share, and said it expects sales next year to be at or near the 2011 level.

New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to their lowest since early April and the trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in September, pointing to a slight improvement in the economy.

Watch the amazing synchronized dance of a flock of starlings, captured by chance above River Shannon in Ireland.

Airbus parent EADS pushed back its A350 carbon-fiber jetliner by six months with a 200 million euro ($272 million) charge as it seeks to avoid errors like those that nearly derailed Europe's A380 superjumbo.

Siri, the much-coveted voice assistant feature on the iPhone 4S, will not be made available to the users of other Apple devices such as iPhone 4 according to Apple's word - a letdown for many iPhone 4 and iPod touch users.

Stocks rebounded on Thursday, a day after the S&P 500 suffered its worst day since mid-August as Italian bond yields eased.

General Motors looks set for another bruising collision with the German government and labor unions after the U.S. automaker raised the prospect of further job cuts and plant closures at its ailing Opel subsidiary.

At the CNBC Republican presidential candidates' debate on Wednesday, Rick Perry could only remember two of the three federal agencies he would eliminate as president. It was a potentially game-changing gaffe, but it is missing from the official CNBC transcript of the debate.

Stock index futures rose on Thursday, indicating the S&P 500 may bounce back from its worst day since mid-August as Italian bond yields eased.

Karl Rove's Crossroads group is launching an ad attacking Massachusetts Democratic Senatorial candidate Elizabeth Warren.

The head of the International Monetary Fund urged Italy Thursday to act quickly fill its damaging political vacuum, and China said it was willing to help maintain global financial stability that was being threatened by the euro zone crisis.

While Wednesday's Victoria Secret Fashion Show which heated the New York State Armory won't be aired on CBS until Nov. 29, the best looks on the pink carpet and behind-the-scene photos of the angels are out.

While Wednesday's Victoria Secret Fashion Show which heated the New York State Armory won't be aired on CBS until Nov. 29, the best looks on the pink carpet and behind-the-scene photos of the angels are out.

Stocks rebounded on Thursday, a day after the S&P 500 suffered its worst day since mid-August as Italian bond yields eased.

South Africa's ruling ANC kicked out its firebrand Youth League leader, Julius Malema, from the party for five years on Thursday after finding him guilty of dividing and bringing the 99-year-old liberation movement into disrepute.

The impact of Thailand's floods on Honda Motor Co <7267.T> extended to a fourth continent even as Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> showed further signs of recovery from the disaster.

Spain's new government will unleash a wave of spending cuts and strengthen economic reforms in the first months of its legislature, moves that will throw the economy back into recession and send unemployment higher before making things better.

Stocks were poised for a higher open on Thursday, indicating the S&P 500 will bounce back from its worst day since mid-August as Italian bond yields eased.

James Murdoch turned on his former News of the World colleagues Thursday as he fought to survive a second grilling over phone-hacking by British lawmakers and keep his place in his father's media empire.

Former European Central Bank vice-president Lucas Papademos will head Greece's new crisis coalition, the president's office said on Thursday, charged with saving the country from default, bankruptcy and an exit from the euro zone.

German travel group TUI AG is going where the world's biggest financial firms have yet to venture.

News Corp executive James Murdoch said on Thursday that staff within his company had ordered private investigators to follow and investigate members of the parliamentary committee investigating the phone hacking scandal.

German travel group TUI AG is going where the world's biggest financial firms have yet to venture.