IBT Staff Reporter

MetLife Inc , the No. 1 U.S. life insurer, posted its third straight quarterly loss on Thursday, hurt by investment losses, some of which were tied to improvement in the company's own credit spreads.

U.S. Economy Grows Again; Geithner Sees Early Stability; Landlords See Hope

CIT Group is likely to file for bankruptcy in the coming days, analysts and experts said.

U.S. digital media company RealNetworks Inc swung back into the black in the third quarter as cost-cutting offset sliding revenue from music and games.

The Federal Reserve should lose its authority to bail out big, failing financial firms like AIG and Bear Stearns under proposed reforms aimed at limiting the collateral damage from such failures, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Thursday.

Two of the largest U.S. apartment landlords said on Thursday they see something in their sector that's been missing for the past few years -- a little optimism about the future.

US EQUTIES regained all of Wednesday's losses as risk tolerance jumped back into the markets after US 3rd quarter GDP beat expectations, in particular a downgrade released by Goldman Sachs earlier in the week.

The clock will really start ticking on a deal to create the world's biggest confectioner once Kraft Foods Inc reports earnings next week.

McAfee Inc , the No. 2 U.S. security software maker, reported quarterly revenue that missed Wall Street projections as sales to consumers grew at their slowest rate in almost two years.

Hospital operator Universal Health Services Inc reported higher quarterly net earnings on Thursday as revenue rose slightly, operating margins improved while costs were cut.

U.S. military chiefs plan to present recommendations on troop strength and strategy in Afghanistan to President Barack Obama on Friday as White House deliberations reach an end stage, Pentagon officials said.

MetLife Inc , the No. 1 U.S. life insurer, said on Thursday it posted a quarterly loss, hurt by investment losses, some of which were tied to improvement in the company's own credit spreads.

The Australian Dollar opens higher against the greenback today at 0.9140. The Aussie spent most of the local session beneath US90 cents yesterday but bounced back to life offshore after U.S. economic growth data came in higher than anticipated. The U.S. economy grew at a 3.5 per cent annual pace in the September quarter prompting a rally in stocks and commodities and a move by investors back into high-yielding currencies.

U.S. stocks logged their best one-day percentage gain in three months on Thursday as investors saw data showing the U.S. economy returned to growth in the third quarter as brightening the outlook for profits.

The Obama administration's new proposal for tackling financial risk in the U.S. economy, unveiled just two days ago, came under attack on Thursday from Congress and regulators, with questions raised about its funding and scope.

World Series schedule for Thursday's Game 2 featuring the New York Yankees against the Philadelphia Phillies is set to start by 7:57 p.m. EST at the Yankee Stadium.

U.S. stocks logged their best one-day percentage gain in three months on Thursday as investors saw data showing the U.S. economy returned to growth in the third quarter as brightening the outlook for profits.

U.S. stocks rallied on Thursday as GDP data showing the U.S. economy returned to growth in the third quarter buoyed hopes of a sustained rebound in corporate profits.

Major U.S. auto dealerships see only a grudging recovery in demand in 2011, a cautious outlook at odds with the consensus view that the battered industry could see a double-digit percentage rebound.

Motorola has been generating a lot of buzz with its Motorola Droid which is all set to beat the iPhone. After the entire sneak peak on the pictures and specs, it has finally been given a test run and the reviews are out.

If things that go bump in the night interest you, a stay at one of these Grand Old Dames would be a haunting good time! Since around the turn of the century, these hotels have offered exceptional

The Michael Jackson movie This Is It earned $20.1 million at worldwide box offices on its first day in theaters as fans around the globe turned out in strong numbers, Columbia Pictures said on Thursday.

The London film festival closes on Thursday with the world premiere of Nowhere Boy, about John Lennon's rebellious teenage years and his torrid relationship with his aunt and mother before the Beatles were formed.

Comedian George Lopez is about to enter a world in turmoil by competing for American TV viewers against the likes of Jay Leno, David Letterman and Conan O'Brien with his own nightly talk show.

Dirty Dancing star Patrick Swayze's widow, Lisa Niemi, said that even though her husband's battle with cancer lasted nearly two years, that did not prepare her for his death in September.

The soundtrack to the upcoming Twilight movie sequel grabbed the No. 1 spot on the U.S. pop chart Wednesday, while Tim McGraw followed at No. 2 with his lowest debut sales week for a studio set.

Lilith Fair, the women's music festival that ran for three years during the 1990s, will re-launch with an 18-city tour in 2010, organizers said Wednesday.

The U.S. economy grew in the third quarter for the first time in more than a year as government stimulus helped lift consumer spending and home building, fueling an unexpectedly strong advance.

Filmmaker Lee Daniels had modest aims when he brought his new drama, then called Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire, to the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.