IBT Staff Reporter

Mistras Group Inc, a provider of technology to evaluate the structural integrity of infrastructure, rose slightly in its first session following an initial public offering that priced below expectations.

Vivendi may throw in the towel on its attempt to buy Brazilian telecom company GVT after being trumped by a 2.6 billion euro ($3.8 billion) counterbid from Spain's Telefonica.

NASA will impact the moon with a rocket on Friday to confirm or deny the existence of water ice which scientists think exists on billions of gallons but haven't been able to prove it.

Liz Claiborne Inc said on Thursday that its namesake apparel line would be sold exclusively at J.C. Penney Co Inc department stores, and it expects a profit from its Liz Claiborne wholesale brands in 2010, sending its shares up more than 12 percent.

Indian state-run telecom Mahanagar Telephone Nigam is looking to move ahead with a consortium bid for Kuwait telecom Zain and is also interested in buying a stake in Zambian telecom firm Zamtel.

Off-price retailer Ross Stores Inc said same-store sales for September rose more than expected and raised its third-quarter earnings view partly on reduced inventory.

Britain's Lloyds Banking Group said it was still assessing ways to exit or reduce its participation in a state scheme to insure its toxic assets, after reports it plans to raise 25 billion pounds.

U.S. retailers gave investors an early Christmas present, posting their first monthly sales increase in more than a year and suggesting that wounded consumers might begin to heal in time for the crucial holiday season.

Intel Corp should handily beat forecasts when it kicks off a busy earnings season for the chip sector next week, but investors worry that corporate spending will not rebound until mid-2010.

Canada's Sandvine Corp posted a narrower third-quarter loss, helped by higher revenue and lower cash operating expenses. The company, which helps broadband and telecom operators manage data traffic, posted net loss of C$4.4 million, or 3.2 Canadian cents a share, compared with a loss of C$6.3 million, or 4.6 Canadian cents a share in the year-ago quarter.

British software firm Autonomy said on Thursday it expected to report third-quarter results ahead of market expectations after seeing significant demand for its products, sending its shares up 3 percent.

Insolvent German luxury fashion house Escada has attracted interest from more than 10 potential investors, a source close to the matter told Reuters.

Daimler aims to invest tens of millions of euros in its Hambach plant in the French region of Lorraine to manufacture an electric version of the Smart ForTwo car, powered by a lithium-ion battery.

Stocks rose on Thursday as a surprise profit from Alcoa Inc and reassuring monthly sales from major retailers, including Macy's Inc , bolstered economic recovery hopes.

Marriott International posted a third-quarter profit that surpassed analyst estimates on Thursday, but said the pricing environment in 2010 would remain difficult.

Cadbury chairman Roger Carr has emerged victorious from many bid battles but if U.S. food giant Kraft ups its multi-billion pound offer the tough-talking takeover veteran will be under pressure to soften his stance.

Luxury retailers, rejoice: the global economic downturn hasn't dented demand for pricey designer goods in China, where a study shows the affluent are buying handbags, watches and jewelry in force.

Banco Santander's Brazilian unit, the biggest IPO of the year, lagged far behind much smaller Warren Buffett-backed Verisk Analytics in their stock market debuts on Wednesday -- a sign that valuation remains a key concern as the IPO market revives.

Japan's top wireless operator NTT DoCoMo Inc is easing the pace of its M&A activity in Asia as it focuses on existing acquisitions, an executive said.

HSBC has resumed talks with Royal Bank of Scotland over the purchase of the remaining retail and commercial units that bailed-out RBS owns in Asia, sources said on Thursday.

The head of Alcatel-Lucent, the French telecoms equipment maker seen as a possible takeover target, said on Thursday that deals were not the best solution for the company's problems.

Display and imaging products maker Microvision Inc said it has secured an initial purchase order from a consumer electronics original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to private label its PicoP display engine-based accessory laser Pico projector.

After retreating to the safety of yen deposits in the wake of the financial crisis, Japan's wealthy investors are slowly regaining their appetite for risk and are eyeing foreign currencies and bonds for higher returns.

Don't look now but mortgage rates are really, really low -- practically at record low levels. Homeowners who still have adequate equity might want to jump on this and refinance one more time. Or start using their home equity line again. Or switch to a fixed-rate loan. Or give up on their plans to pay off their home quickly and stretch it out as long as possible.

Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG gained exclusive worldwide rights to a drug candidate already in late-stage trials for treatment of drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA, it said on Thursday.

The European Central Bank kept its main refinancing rate unchanged at a record low of 1.0 percent on Thursday, as expected by economists.

Stocks rose at the open on Thursday after a surprise profit from Alcoa Inc boosted the start of the earnings season.

Alcoa Inc shares rose more than 4 percent on Thursday after the aluminum producer reported its first profit in a year in what Wall Street viewed as a bellwether of how industrial companies are recovering from the recession.

Don't look now but mortgage rates are really, really low -- practically at record low levels. Homeowners who still have adequate equity might want to jump on this and refinance one more time. Or start using their home equity line again. Or switch to a fixed-rate loan. Or give up on their plans to pay off their home quickly and stretch it out as long as possible.