IBT Staff Reporter

Asian shares rose on Friday as investors were encouraged by upbeat earnings reports from the United States and Asia while the dollar resumed a broad slide after a Fed official indicated U.S. rates would remain low.

General Motors Chief Executive Fritz Henderson will get a raise in his compensation package to $5.45 million under new rules advocated by the U.S. pay czar, Bloomberg said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

General Motors Chief Executive Fritz Henderson will get a rise in his compensation package to $5.45 million under new rules advocated by the U.S. pay czar, Bloomberg said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Microsoft is ready to regain its stronghold in operating system war over Apple as the Redmond giant released Windows 7 to fight for the mindshare of consumers after the failure of Vista. Through the comparison below you can see the pros and cons of both operating systems.

Asian shares nudged higher on Friday on the back of upbeat earnings reports from the United States and Asia while the dollar resumed a broad slide after a Fed official indicated U.S. interest rates would remain low.

The American Booksellers Association has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate a recent price war on books sold online between such retail giants as Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Amazon.com Inc and Target Corp ahead of the holidays.

Calpers, the biggest U.S. public pension fund, is reviewing its business relationship with Apollo Global Management, examining fees, performance and the relationship as a whole, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing documents outlining the review.

Corporate spending is showing signs growth despite still low levels, the chief executive of American Express Co. said on Thursday.

CIT Group Inc , a large finance company trying to avoid bankruptcy, reached a tentative agreement with Goldman Sachs Group Inc over a disputed payment on a $3 billion loan, Dow Jones Newswires reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Top global cellphone maker Nokia Oyj on Thursday charged Apple Inc with infringing Nokia patents, accusing the iPhone maker of trying to hitch a free-ride on Nokia's technology investments.

Big banks took a beating from government on Thursday, both in the U.S. Congress where lawmakers backed tougher industry rules, and from U.S. and UK regulators who moved aggressively to restrain bankers' pay.

The Wal-Mart supercenter is getting downsized.

American Express Co posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings on Thursday as the credit card company trimmed costs, consumer spending declined at a slower pace and credit losses were lower than forecasts.

The Aussie dollar ran into a wall of resistance ahead of 93 cents during yesterday's Asian morning session retreating throughout the afternoon with the market somewhat disappointed by China's envious 8.9% economic growth result.

American Express Co posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings on Thursday as the credit card company trimmed costs, consumer spending declined at a slower pace and credit losses were lower than forecasts.

The idea that hundreds of people would line up outside anything to do with Microsoft would have been far-fetched only a few years ago -- but on Thursday that's what happened when the software giant opened its first retail store in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Microsoft Corp launched Windows 7 on Thursday, its most important release in more than a decade, aiming to win back customers disappointed by Vista and strengthen its grip on the PC market.

Amazon.com Inc on Thursday posted quarterly profit that handily beat Wall Street estimates and said holiday sales could come in far above expectations, sending its shares up 15 percent to their highest level in nearly a decade.

The U.S. pay czar on Thursday slashed compensation for top earners at seven bailed-out companies for the final two months of the year, and was immediately slammed by the country's largest bank which claimed the cuts could send talent fleeing.

The Wasserstein family will not sell New York Magazine, the weekly arts, entertainment and lifestyle title owned by leading investment banker Bruce Wasserstein, who died on October 14.

American Express Co reported on Thursday lower quarterly earnings as consumers spent less with their credit cards and credit losses rose.

Amazon.com Inc on Thursday posted quarterly profit that handily beat Wall Street estimates and said holiday sales could come in far above expectations, sending shares of the world's largest online retailer up 8 percent.

Higher passenger car sales in the quarter ended September is likely to boost Maruti Suzuki India (MRTI.BO) earnings, while India's Tata Motors (TAMO.BO) will benefit from a recovery in truck sales, say analysts.

U.S. stocks rose on Thursday after quarterly results from insurer Travelers and regional bank PNC Financial gave a boost to financial stocks.

Video-viewing site Hulu is experimenting with different business models and initiatives, from bumping up advertising to designing subscription-based content, to boost revenue, said NBC Universal's TV chief, Marc Graboff.

China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 8.9 percent in the third quarter, while the economy rose 7.7 percent in the first three quarters year-on-year, Li Xiaochao, spokesman of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced on Thursday.

Former Vivendi boss Jean-Marie Messier and the head of Warner Music Group Edgar Bronfman Jr have been told to stand trial on various charges of financial wrong doing, according to a court document obtained by Reuters.

Microsoft Corp. formally unveiled Thursday its newest operating system, Windows 7, as the software giant hopes to breath new life into its Operating System product line. Steve Ballmer said the product was a result of an intense collaboration between Microsoft and its partners - 50,000 software, hardware, and peripheral vendors, as well as 8 million beta testers.

Fortune Magazine published its 40 under 40 list featuring the business's hottest young rising stars.