IBT Staff Reporter

General Electric Co raised its quarterly dividend by 2 cents per share to 14 cents, its second increase in the payout this year and a fresh sign the largest U.S. conglomerate is gaining confidence in the outlook for its finance business.

Justin Bieber says it was just an innocent kiss between 16-year-olds and should not be made a big deal

Barcelona Football Club have ended a 111-year old tradition of refusing commercial shirt sponsorship by signing a five-year €150m deal with the Qatar Foundation

On Saturday's late kick-off, Liverpool will visit St. James Park to face a troubled Newcastle United in the English Premier League.

The School works to develop a proprietary teaching and assessment tool that will enhance how faculty teach and measure the development of students' ethical judgment.

The International Monetary Fund postponed approving a multi-billion euro loan for Ireland on Friday after Prime Minister Brian Cowen said he would seek parliamentary approval for the bailout.

TJX Companies Inc will shut down its A.J. Wright clothing stores, cutting about 4,400 jobs and taking a charge of $150 million to $170 million, as it focuses on its core off-price retail brands like T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.

Organizations can protect themselves to some degree against cyber attacks like the ones WikiLeaks supporters have carried out against Visa and Mastercard but it's a costly and constant race against time.

The International Monetary Fund postponed approving a multi-billion euro loan for Ireland on Friday after Prime Minister Brian Cowen said he would seek parliamentary approval for the bailout.

A rise in U.S. consumer confidence to its highest level in six months and a much bigger-than-expected contraction in the country's trade deficit pointed to a firmer economic recovery on Friday.

Shares of United Technologies Corp rose 1 percent Friday morning, a day after the diversified U.S. manufacturer said profit could rise 7 percent to 14 percent next year.

Rodman & Renshaw initiated exploration company Energy Partners Ltd. (NYSE:EPL) with a Market Outperform rating and a target price of $18, saying its turnaround story is worth another look.

Consumer sentiment rose more than expected in early December while an index of current conditions jumped to its highest level since January 2008, a survey released on Friday showed.

U.S. import prices in November rose at their fastest pace in a year as petroleum and food costs maintained their upward trend, according to a government report on Friday that hinted at a pick up in imported inflation.

Jesus will return to earth on May 21, 2011, a Christian Web site has proclaimed through a billboard campaign.

U.S. economic data painted a picture of a firming recovery on Friday as consumer confidence rose to its highest level in six months and the country's trade deficit narrowed much more than expected.

European equities will beat 2010 gains by the end of next year, as companies get some help from better earnings and record-low interest rates that will overcome the sovereign debt crisis, Bloomberg said, citing a survey of 13 strategists.

It may look like just any other laptop, but on the inside the Google's first Chrome OS Laptop - the Cr-48 is a distinct breed.

He will reprise his Legolas role albeit it will be a longer role than the one in the trilogy

Apple Inc is preparing new iPads, including models that are about half the size of the current tablet computer, and will include front- and back-mounted cameras, supply chain sources told Reuters.

(Corrects 8th paragraph to say 9.8 percent unemployment rate was for November, not October)

Stock index futures rose on Friday following encouraging data out of China and as a two-year high in the S&P 500 had investors betting on a year-end rally.

Google has released its year-end search report - Zeitgeist 2010. Among the personalities and events that figure on search trends list are Justin Beiber, Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Oil Spill, World Cup, Haiti Earthquake and more.

U.S. stocks rose on Friday following encouraging economic data on consumer sentiment and trade, while the S&P 500's break above key levels pointed to further gains.

The world's smallest battery is so tiny that thousands could fit inside a human hair, and holds twice the energy of conventional lithium-ion cells.

Cyber activists striking at companies seen as enemies of WikiLeaks sought to block the website of online payment firm Moneybookers on Friday but denied their campaign was intended to damage economic activity.

General Motors Co Chief Executive Dan Akerson said on Friday that the automaker is seeking some relaxation in the restrictions on executive pay imposed by the U.S. government.

South Korean President, Lee Myung-bak, stated that reunification with North Korea would 'definitely' take place. His statement also comes close to Wikileaks revelations that suggested that North's biggest ally China is reportedly backing a plan for reunification. A leaked diplomatic cable sent out to Washington by US diplomats maintained that South Korean officials would press for reunification but precisely, under their control.

Changes reserve ratio level in third paragraph to 18.5 percent, not 19 percent