IBT Staff Reporter

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...

China's online game revenues are expected to hit 73.1 billion yuan ($10.7 billion) in three years, driven by growing Internet penetration in the world's most populous country, a research firm said in a report released Thursday.

Gold struck its third straight peak in as many days on Thursday because of its investor appeal as a safe asset while Asian stocks advanced as the appetite for risky assets remained strong despite Wall Street's dip.

China's online game revenues are expected to hit 73.1 billion yuan ($10.7 billion) in three years, driven by growing Internet penetration in the world's most populous country, a research firm said in a report released Thursday.

A group led by former Ford Motor Co executives has submitted a revised bid this week for Ford's Volvo unit and hopes to beat the offer by Chinese carmaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the situation.

American Airlines said it, Oneworld alliance members and private equity fund TPG would be willing to invest $1.1 billion in Japan Airlines to match a similar bid from rival Delta and the SkyTeam alliance.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc is meeting with major investors in an effort to head off a possible investor backlash over its record bonuses, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

American Airlines said it, Oneworld alliance members and private equity fund TPG would be willing to invest $1.1 billion in Japan Airlines to bolster the airline's finances and prevent it from defecting to a rival alliance.

Delta Air Lines said on Thursday that teaming up with a third party to support struggling Japan Airlines Corp, which is seeking a state bailout, was one option.

Federal Reserve officials sounded a relatively upbeat note on the U.S. economy on Wednesday, but warned timing withdrawal of the bank's extraordinary support for the economy will prove difficult.

Yahoo announced Wednesday a partnership with Facebook that will enable the two sites to share certain parts of their streams. Yahoo email account users will be able to check Facebook status from their inboxes. The service will also be available across other Yahoo properties, including News, Answers, and Sports, thanks to Facebook Connect.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Google unveiled a map of California's climate-changed future on Wednesday, part of the most populous U.S. state's first steps in planning to adapt to inevitable global warming.

The International Monetary Fund expects to cut its 2010 growth forecast for the United Arab Emirates as economic activity slows due to the debt woes of state-owned Dubai World, a top IMF official said on Wednesday.

Powerful men who seem to have it all; a successful career, a loving wife and family, why are they prone to stray?

The U.S. government has identified flaws in equipment from four companies, including Cisco Systems Inc , that hackers can exploit to break into corporate computer networks.

National Beef Inc, a holding company that intends to buy a minority stake in the fourth largest U.S. beef company, said it will have an initial public offering of 17.25 million shares of common stock, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Wednesday.

The Delaware Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of appeals in a case over ownership rights at The Chicago Board Options Exchange, removing an obstacle to the CBOE's plan to turn itself into a for-profit shareholder company, the exchange said on Wednesday.

Footwear retailer Collective Brands Inc posted a third-quarter profit that beat market expectations, driven by a successful back-to-school season and strong boot sales, sending its shares up 8 percent in extended trade.

Australian fertiliser firm and takeover target Nufarm Ltd expects its first-half earnings to be lower than the previous corresponding period, the company told its shareholders meeting on Thursday.

Peet's Coffee & Tea Inc said it was yet to receive a notice from Diedrich Coffee Inc, terming Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc's latest offer as being superior to its bid.

General Electric Co and Comcast Corp are set to announce a joint venture on Thursday morning that would give the cable company eventual control of NBC Universal in this year's biggest media deal.

Top U.S. officials said the first of 30,000 new U.S. troops will arrive in Afghanistan in two to three weeks, but also made clear on Wednesday that plans to start bringing the soldiers home in 18 months could slip.