IBT Staff Reporter

Germany's top climate researcher says he hopes he and his fellow scientists around the world have got it all wrong about global warming.

The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for jobless insurance unexpectedly fell last week to the lowest level in more than 14 months, government data showed on Thursday, pointing to a moderation in the pace of job losses.

Brazilian oil and gas company OGX Petroleo e Gas Participacoes said Thursday it found signs of hydrocarbons in another well in the BM-C-41 bloc in the southern part of the Campos basin off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.

Diversified energy company FirstEnergy Corp forecast a profit range for 2010, the top end of which could handily beat market estimates, as it gets a boost from its cost-cutting measures.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday will push back at efforts to curb the Fed's power as he goes before lawmakers considering his nomination to a second term at the central bank's helm.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc, facing criticism over its outsized profits and bonuses, will invest $61 million in the preservation of rental homes for low-income New Yorkers, the bank said on Wednesday.

Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers Inc (TOL.N) posted a wider fourth-quarter loss, but said it was seeing some signs of recovery from a declining cancellation rate and improved pace of contract signings.

A New Media Superpower; Heading off a Backlash at Goldman; Unease on Recovery

Belgian drugmaker Movetis priced its initial public offering at 12.25 euros on Thursday -- just below the middle an indicated range of 11.25-14.25 euros, in a signal of the resurgence of the European IPO market.

U.S. online job postings fell slightly in November, due to a dip in demand for health care-related positions and employers' continued unease regarding economic recovery, a private research group said on Thursday.

MTS, Russia's largest mobile phone operator, plans to buy the local, privately-owned telecoms network operator Eurotel to boost expansion of its Internet broadband business and reduce leasing costs.

The closure of four ailing Venezuelan banks, and threats by President Hugo Chavez to nationalize more, have unsettled the South American nation's financial sector and made investors jittery.

President Barack Obama turns his attention on Thursday from Afghanistan to the battle against unemployment which has sapped his popularity and may shape his political future.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Thursday after Bank of America Corp said it would repay $45 billion in taxpayer bailout funds.

The Grammy contenders for 2010 were announced Wednesday evening. R&B singer Beyonce led the list with 10 nominations followed by 19-year old country singer Taylor Swift with eight.

Several U.S. retailers posted weaker-than-expected sales for November, getting the key holiday season off to a sluggish start as consumers worried about the economy and double-digit unemployment.

Japan's Sony Corp said it is enjoying robust demand for its PlayStation 3 game console and other electronic products so far in this holiday shopping season in the key U.S. market.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Thursday after Bank of America Corp said it would repay $45 billion in taxpayer bailout funds.

Comcast Corp struck a deal to buy a majority stake in NBC Universal from General Electric Co, creating a media superpower that would control not just how TV shows and movies are made, but how they are delivered to the home.

Four British banks have a $5 billion combined exposure to Dubai World, making them the biggest foreign creditor group at the Dubai state-owned conglomerate, the Financial Times said on Thursday.

Comcast Corp struck a deal to buy a majority stake in NBC Universal from General Electric Co, creating a media superpower that would control not just how TV shows and movies are made, but how they are delivered to the home.

U.S. credit card companies are targeting affluent consumers in a resurgence of marketing campaigns, as they recover from massive defaults by subprime borrowers in the past year.

American Airlines said it and other members of the Oneworld airline alliance along with private equity fund TPG are willing to invest $1.1 billion in Japan Airlines to prevent it defecting to Delta Air Lines and the rival Skyteam group.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.62 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.47 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.52 percent at 0900 GMT (4 a.m. EST).

U.S. crude futures edged higher Thursday after slipping 2.3 percent a day earlier on a larger-than-expected build in U.S. crude inventories.

The European Central Bank is set to begin the delicate process of phasing out its financial crisis support on Thursday, backed by new staff forecasts which should show greater economic optimism.

Costco Wholesale Corp reported a six percent rise in November same-store sales, helped by an increase in gasoline prices and a weaker U.S. dollar, but missed market estimates.

Bankruptcy courts cleared on Wednesday Ciena Corp's acquisition of a unit of bankrupt Nortel Networks Inc for $769 million after fighting off a legal challenge by Nokia Siemens Networks.

Taliban insurgents in Wardak province warned that more foreign troops will mean more casualties for families back home. Obama is sending more troops to Afghanistan and that means more Americans will die, an unidentified member of its council told BBC. With just a handful of resources we can cause even more casualties and deaths. If they increase it again, we'll increase their casualties too. And we're ready for it. We haven't killed civilians but the Americans have. I want to...