IBT Staff Reporter

Four men were arrested for taking part in an insider trading scheme in which details of Apple's iPhone and iPad were leaked to hedge fund managers.

WikiLeaks's founder Julian Assange's crusade for greater official transparency could backfire by provoking a U.S. government crackdown on leaks that might entangle even journalists, legal experts warn.

A Detroit-area medical clinic owner has been sentenced to 151 months in prison for his role in a $23 million Medicare fraud scheme, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced.

NEW YORK - In yet another sign that social games are emerging as a promotional platform of potential significance, Dr. Dre has partnered with game developer Zynga to develop a variety of branded experiences within the popular game Mafia Wars.

Mobile commerce via the Internet will reach to $4.1 billion for 2010, according to a report from ABI Research.

The Obama administration’s latest strategy review on the war in Afghanistan has, in general, drawn praise from government officials, military leaders and lawmakers from both parties. Some of that praise is, however, well seasoned with concerns, and at least one lawmaker thinks the administration's approach is off the mark.

LOS ANGELES - The Young and the Restless actor Eric Braeden pulled out of a How I Met Your Mother guest starring role last minute -- and Neil Patrick Harris is none too pleased.

At a conference six months ago, Facebook's 26-year-old chief executive was literally dripping in sweat as he fielded tough questions about his company's privacy practices and a forthcoming movie portraying him as manipulative and arrogant.

Authorities closed four banks on Friday, bringing the number of closures this year to 155.

U.S. state and local governments face a surge in borrowing costs after lawmakers refused to renew the federally subsidized Build America Bonds program used to fund infrastructure projects and create jobs.

The U.S. government on Friday proposed prohibiting commercial truck and bus drivers from using cellphones while behind the wheel.

The states of Arizona and Nevada sued Bank of America Corp on Friday, accusing the largest U.S. bank of routinely misleading consumers about home loan modifications.

U.S. retailers are focusing on convenience in the holiday season's home stretch.

The man assigned to recover money for Madoff's victims won his biggest settlement yet -- an agreement by the estate of longtime Madoff friend Jeffry Picower to give back $7.2 billion in profits from the epic fraud.

(Corrects company name and details of funds under management in 5th paragraph)

Emerging markets, the consensus trade for 2011, look set for further heavy inflows of investment dollars, raising questions over how much more new money they can comfortably absorb without igniting an asset bubble.

LOS ANGELES - Oscar nominee James Caan will voice an animated chili pepper on kids' web series The Annoying Orange, a rep for OpenFilm.com confirms to The Hollywood Reporter exclusively.

It seems there is little Research In Motion can do these days to impress analysts convinced that Apple and Google will eventually dominate the booming smartphone and tablet markets.

The estate of Madoff insider Jeffry Picower agreed to give back $7.2 billion to settle civil claims on Friday, significantly boosting the amount available to repay thousands of investors swindled in the epic fraud.

The U.S. economy is gathering steam as the year draws to a close, boosting optimism about prospects in 2011, according to measures published by two separate economic research firms on Friday.

Ratings agency Moody's gave an emphatic thumbs-down on Friday to Europe's efforts to resolve a debt crisis, slashing Ireland's credit rating as EU leaders took no new action to prevent market turmoil spreading.

A man who used a “child modeling” website to push child pornography has been sentenced to nine years in prison, federal authorities said today.

Legal experts, including a pair of former U.S. prosecutors, discussed U.S. law and how it relates to the leaking of documents online by the WikiLeaks organization and its founder Julian Assange.

Securities regulators have broadened their inquiry into the mortgage industry, asking big banks about the early stages of securitizing home loans, two sources familiar with the probe said.

Howrey's litigation practice co-chair Gary Bendinger has defected with two other partners to Sidley Austin.

The S&P clung to a two-year high on Friday as investors predicted a pause as volumes are expected to dry up in the days ahead, and after a 5 percent gain already so far in December.

U.S. regulators have opened a new line of inquiry in their mortgage foreclosure probe and are asking big Wall Street banks about the beginning stages of mortgage securitization, two sources familiar with the probe said.

Bank of Montreal will buy troubled Wisconsin lender Marshall & Ilsley Corp for $4.1 billion in stock, the biggest in a series of deals in which Canadian banks have snapped up weakened rivals.

The estate of Jeffry Picower settled a $7.2 billion lawsuit filed by the Madoff firm trustee, significantly increasing the amount available to repay investors swindled in the epic fraud, U.S. officials said on Friday.