IBT Staff Reporter

The revolution of cell phones has been adding much functionality to its use. Its function varies from in-built camera, MP3 player, GPS to online service. What if, in the future, new functions on our cell phones could also protect us from toxic chemicals?

U.S. manufacturers were busy in April as factories ramped up production to rebuild inventories though soft labor markets still point to a relatively slow economic recovery.

In the summer of 2008, just months before giant mortgage lender Washington Mutual Bank flamed out and became the biggest bank failure in U.S. history, the thrift's regulators were squabbling over its financial condition.

Microsoft Corp said on Thursday it was investigating charges that young workers at a factory in China making its mice, cameras and Xbox controllers suffer overlong working hours and harsh treatment.

Seven former wealthy U.S. clients of UBS AG were charged on Thursday with filing false tax returns, collectively hiding more than $100 million held offshore in Swiss accounts.

Credit card delinquency rates fell last month at most major U.S. lenders, with the exception of Citigroup Inc, in the latest sign that Americans are starting to climb out of the recession.

U.S. stocks posted their sixth straight day of gains on Thursday as an encouraging profit forecast from United Parcel Service lifted transportation shares, though concerns about a rise in weekly jobless claims limited the market's advance.

When Michelle Obama wore a J. Crew outfit on the Tonight Show during the presidential campaign, online sales for the clothing retailer went through the roof.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc , which filed the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history, won a federal bankruptcy judge's approval on Thursday to create a new asset management company.

Google Inc posted a 23 percent gain in first-quarter revenue, beating analysts' average estimate but only slightly exceeding the most bullish expectations on Wall Street.

Greece asked on Thursday for official talks with European authorities and the International Monetary Fund, a step toward Athens obtaining billions of euros in emergency loans.

Google Inc said its revenue grew 23 percent in the first quarter, beating Wall Street expectations.

Google Inc said its revenue grew 23 percent in the first quarter, beating Wall Street expectations.

U.S. mortgage rates have fallen for the first time in five weeks, retreating from an eight-month high and remaining near historically low levels, a closely watched mortgage survey showed on Thursday.

U.S. regulators will run safety tests on a new Lexus SUV and take action if the Toyota Motor Corp vehicle does not meet government standards, the top U.S. auto safety official said on Thursday.

The Federal Reserve's pledge to keep interest rates low for an extended period should reflect more conditionality on the state of the economy, a top official of the U.S. central bank said on Thursday.

One item that won't fit in your backpack or your carry-on when you're trekking through numerous countries is the pet you're leaving back home. If you're missing your little loved one or just looking for a way to help animals around the world, an optimal option is to volunteer at an animal shelter while traveling abroad.

Sluggish trading and low interest rates led to a 45 percent drop in profit at Charles Schwab Corp , matching its own worst-case-scenario forecast, but the brokerage said the worst has passed.

Private equity firm Quadrangle Group LLC settled its part of a long-running pay-to-play probe involving the state's $129.4 billion pension fund, but the accord excludes co-founder Steve Rattner, who remains under scrutiny.

Private equity firm Quadrangle Group is to spend the coming months laying the groundwork for raising a new fund, now that a long-running pay-to-play probe has been settled, a source familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

U.S. home-builder sentiment rose faster than expected to a seven-month high in April as consumers rushed to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit, the National Association of Home Builders said on Thursday.

U.S. stocks inched higher on Thursday as an upbeat profit forecast from United Parcel Service lifted transportation shares, but concerns about a rise in weekly jobless claims limited gains.

The regulator for the largest U.S. banks warned on Thursday against using industry-wide stress tests as a cornerstone of bank supervision going forward -- a view that diverges from a top Federal Reserve official.

U.S. stocks edged up on Thursday as an upbeat profit forecast from United Parcel Service lifted transportation shares, but concerns about a rise in weekly jobless claims limited gains.

The U.S. Federal Reserve's political independence may make it better suited than a council of regulators to spot and act upon behavior that could threaten the entire financial system, a senior Federal Reserve official said on Thursday.

Known as a champion of independent filmmakers, the Tribeca Film Festival shifts into a new gear and embraces the future of film when it opens next week with a 3D Shrek movie and online streaming for Web audiences.

Seven former U.S. clients of UBS AG were charged with failing to pay taxes for assets held offshore in Swiss accounts, with one attempting to evade tax on $20 million, according to court documents on Thursday.

U.S. manufacturers were busy in April as factories ramped up production to rebuild inventories though soft labor markets still point to a relatively slow-paced economic recovery.

Apache Corp said it will buy oil and natural gas explorer Mariner Energy Inc for $2.7 billion, diving into the deepwater Gulf of Mexico with its second major acquisition this week.