Special Report: Can that guy in Ironman 2 whip IBM in real life?
In the movie Ironman 2, Larry Ellison makes a cameo appearance as a billionaire, playboy software magnate. It is a role he knows well. He is playing himself -- chief executive of Oracle Corp, one of Silicon Valley's most enduring, successful and flamboyant figures.
Jobless claims signal high unemployment rate
The number of U.S. workers filing for jobless benefits fell only slightly last week, suggesting the unemployment rate will remain elevated even as recovery in the labor market becomes entrenched.
SAP pays dearly with $5.8 billion Sybase purchase
SAP AG's planned purchase of Sybase Inc for $5.8 billion to move ahead of arch rival Oracle Corp in the mobile data market has raised concerns the German software maker is paying too much.
PIMCO's El-Erian says U.S. inflation may accelerate
Although price pressures in the U.S. economy are currently muted, inflation could accelerate in the United States in the next three to five years, the world's biggest bond fund management company said on Thursday.
Manufacturers say it's time to rein in Wall Street
Manufacturers don't always understand Wall Street's game, but after still-unexplained events nearly wiped out a trillion dollars in market value, they say it's high time for more regulation of financial services.
Wall Street drops after recent gains
U.S. stocks fell on Thursday, following the best three-day run in 10 months as lackluster jobless data underscored difficulties facing the labor market and offset optimism after a multibillion-dollar tech deal.
Ford says expects solid profits in 2010
Ford Motor Co expects earnings improvement in 2011 after solid profits in 2010 as its turnaround gains traction, executives said at its annual meeting of shareholders on Thursday.
U.S. mortgage rates drop to 5-month low: Freddie Mac
U.S. mortgage rates dropped below 5 percent in the latest week, the lowest level in 5 months, boding well for the hard-hit housing market as it copes with the absence of government support, a closely watched survey showed on Thursday.
April foreclosures ebb, suggesting high plateau
Foreclosure activity fell in April as lenders repossessed homes at a record pace but started far fewer new actions against struggling homeowners, signaling a plateau in loan failures, RealtyTrac said on Thursday.
Wall St slips as jobless claims offset tech deal
U.S. stocks fell on Thursday, following the best three-day run in 10 months as lackluster jobless data underscored difficulties facing the labor market and offset optimism after a multibillion-dollar tech deal.
Ford balance sheet a priority before dividend
Ford Motor Co expects earnings improvement in 2011 after solid profits in 2010 as its turnaround gains traction, executives said at its annual meeting of shareholders on Thursday.
BofA modifies 56,000 mortgages under govt program
Bank of America Corp said on Thursday that it had modified roughly 56,000 customer mortgages so far this year under the primary U.S. government program aimed at preventing bank foreclosures.
Wall Street flat after jobless data
U.S. stocks were little changed on Thursday as gains in technology shares tempered lackluster jobless data that underscored the difficulties facing the labor market.
Avatar's James Cameron urges producers to embrace 3D TV
Director James Cameron, whose blockbuster Avatar set off a 3D frenzy in the movie industry, on Thursday told television producers to put aside their worries about higher filming costs and embrace the technology.
Jobless claims fell 4,000 last week
The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment insurance fell slightly less than expected last week, government data showed on Thursday, while the number of people still drawing benefits unexpectedly rose.
Ford priority is balance sheet strengthening
Ford Motor Co expects earnings improvement in 2011 after solid profits in 2010 as its turnaround gains traction, executives said at its annual meeting of shareholders on Thursday.
Portugal agrees on new austerity measures
Portuguese leaders agreed tough new austerity measures on Thursday, joining a coordinated euro zone push that has so far calmed the markets' worst fears of a Greek-style debt crisis spreading.
Jobless claims highlight challenges facing labor market
The number of U.S. workers filing for jobless benefits fell only slightly last week, highlighting the challenges facing the labor market, while import prices pointed to tame inflation, according to government data released on Thursday.
PIMCO's El-Erian sees U.S. inflation in medium term
Although price pressures are currently muted, the United States will get an uptick of inflation over the medium term, the world's biggest bond fund management company said on Thursday.
Paris scorns lovers with scour of romantic bridge
PARIS (Reuters Life!) - Lovers in Paris were left feeling a little less welcome this week after the tokens of their ardor mysteriously disappeared from one of the city's most romantic spots.
Obama government defends healthcare law in court
(Reuters) - The Obama administration has urged a court to reject an attempt to block a controversial new law overhauling the U.S. healthcare system, saying it was constitutional and any challenge was premature.
SAP pays dear for game-changing Sybase deal
SAP's planned buy of Sybase for $5.8 billion to stay in the mobile data race with arch rival Oracle is raising concerns the German software company may be paying too much.
Bank probes expanding with new investigation
U.S. authorities are expanding their probes of past mortgage securities deals, with New York's attorney general opening an investigation into whether eight banks misled rating agencies, a source familiar with the matter said.
Former Lehman execs launch distressed structured credit fund
Former Lehman Brothers Asia executives, who headed the bank's structured products division and its syndicate business, have launched their maiden hedge fund investing in distressed structured credit assets, said the partners in the fund firm, Oracle Capital.
Pru gets in principle nod for AIA buy: sources
UK regulators have agreed in principle to Prudential Plc's $35.5 billion purchase of AIG's Asian life insurance unit, sources familiar with the situation said, and the British insurer hopes to price its bumper rights issue within days.
BP says oil spill costs $450 million so far
British oil major BP said the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico had cost it $450 million so far, an increase of $100 million on the figure reported earlier this week.
S&P futures rise on Sybase deal
S&P 500 index futures edged higher on Thursday, reversing an earlier decline, as investors were cheered by a big technology-sector acquisition and Portugal moved to stem its sovereign debt problems.
Ford, Mazda aim to break up 3-way China JV: sources
Ford Motor and its China venture partners, Mazda Motor Corp and Chongqing Changan Automobile Co, are seeking Chinese government approval to end their three-way tie up, two sources said on Thursday.
Stock index futures signal dip; techs eyed
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower start on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq down 0.1-0.3 percent at 5:30 a.m. EST.
More banks drawn into Wall Street probes
Five U.S. banks and four European lenders are being investigated by U.S. authorities, as they widen their probe of the role of banks in past mortgage securities deals, according to news reports.
