Health-care costs loom large in U.S. auto talks
It has been said only half-jokingly that General Motors Corp. is actually a giant health-insurance provider - just one that happens to make cars.
Airbus edging ahead of Boeing in 2007 orders
After a frenzied four days of deals at the Paris Air Show, Europe's Airbus appears to have booked enough orders to move ahead of rival Boeing Co. in the sales race this year.
Blackstone IPO draws high non-U.S. demand: report
Private equity firm Blackstone Group's initial public offering was about seven times subscribed, boosted by demand from Asia, the Middle East and Europe, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
ICE warns CBOT members on rival bid
IntercontinentalExchange Inc. on Thursday urged CBOT Holdings Inc. shareholders and members to reject the proposed sale of the company to Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc.
Bond prices mixed after jobless claims data
U.S. government debt prices were mixed on Thursday after data suggesting less tightness in the labor market offset downward pressure from worries over rising global interest rates.
EU body to expand Web search probe, write to Google
The European Union's data watchdog will expand its investigation of Web search engines beyond sector leader Google and write to that company, a European Commission source said on Thursday.
H&R Block posts loss on subprime woes
H&R Block Inc., the largest U.S. tax preparer, on Thursday posted a fourth-quarter loss on the depressed value of a mortgage unit slammed by deterioration in the U.S. subprime market.
French winemakers fret over Teetotal Sarkozy
French winemakers are disappointed that President Nicolas Sarkozy is teetotal and fear his clean-living image gives the wrong impression of France.
Nigerian strike spares oil exports
A general strike to protest against a rise in fuel prices paralyzed most economic activity in Nigeria for a second day on Thursday, but unions spared vital oil exports.
South Korea, U.S. review sweeping trade deal
The nations will review labor and environmental standards in a deal struck earlier in the year.
China says cancels debt owed by Iraq
China on Thursday forgave Iraq's debt owed to the Chinese government and pledged to help rebuild the country's war-shattered economy.
San Marino banks seek to polish thuggish image
Residents from the seaside resort of Rimini on Italy's Adriatic coast quietly admit that a short drive to nearby microstate San Marino has allowed many to hide cash from the taxman for decades.
Dow Jones board takes lead on News Corp. talks
Dow Jones & Co. Inc. said on Wednesday its board will take over negotiations related to a $5 billion takeover offer from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., a move that could bring a quicker resolution to the talks.
Simple lifecycle funds give pensions a headache
Lifecycle funds have become hugely popular with investors due to their simplicity but as more funds are launched, picking the right one is increasingly becoming a complex task for retirement plans.
Best Buy aims to step up expansion in China
Top U.S. consumer electronics retail chain Best Buy Co. Inc. is speeding up its expansion in China, banking on robust demand in a fast-growing market that it entered just one year ago.
Morgan Stanley raises $8 bln global real estate fund
Morgan Stanley, a top Wall Street firm, has raised an $8 billion real estate fund through its property arm to focus on North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Fed seen on hold amid inflation debate: report
U.S. Federal Reserve policy makers want to shift their emphasis away from current benign inflation to uncertainty about future price pressures, and are debating whether to stop calling inflation 'elevated' in their policy statements, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
Self-censorship by Venezuela media mogul rewarded
The shutdown of a Venezuelan television station critical of President Hugo Chavez may prove a windfall for the owner of a rival network: millions of dollars in advertising revenue.
U.S. groups present divided view of South Korea pact
U.S. businesses painted dramatically different portraits of a new trade deal with South Korea on Wednesday, some touting lucrative sales opportunities and others charging the Bush administration had brought home an abominable deal for U.S. workers.
British censor bans first video game in 10 years
British censors on Tuesday banned a video game for the first time in 10 years, rejecting U.S.-published 'Manhunt 2' for what they described as an unrelenting focus on sadism and brutal slaying.
Ten years on, impact of Asian crisis lingers
From depressed investment to bulging foreign exchange reserves, Asia's economies are still deeply marked by the legacy of the financial crisis that engulfed the region a decade ago.
Apple says iPhone to access YouTube content
Apple Inc.'s widely anticipated music- and video-playing iPhone will allow subscribers to wirelessly stream material from Google Inc.'s popular video-sharing site YouTube, Apple said on Wednesday.
No alarm as China sells U.S. Treasuries in April
China decreased its holdings of U.S. government debt in April for the first time in 18 months, but this may not be the bearish signal it appears to be for U.S. Treasury bonds.
Sterling rises on rate outlook, yen slips
Sterling rose on Wednesday, boosted by Bank of England meeting minutes that reflected a surprising bias for higher interest rates, while the euro and dollar climbed for the fifth day in six against the low-yielding yen.
Morgan Stanley profit beats estimates
Morgan Stanley on Wednesday said its second-quarter profit rose 40 percent, trouncing expectations as most of its trading and investment-banking businesses achieved record results.
Oil slumps $1 after U.S. stockpiles surprise
Oil fell more than $1 a barrel on Wednesday after a U.S. government report showed larger-than-expected increases in crude and gasoline stockpiles in the world's top consumer.
Stocks slip as rising yields spur rate worry
U.S. stocks slipped on Wednesday as a rise in benchmark Treasury bond yields rekindled concern that higher interest rates would cut into corporate profits.
FedEx 4Q Profit Rises, Misses Estimates
Package delivery company FedEx Corp. on Wednesday reported a profit that missed analysts' forecast and said earnings growth would fall short of expectations due to continued softness in the U.S. economy.
Yahoo in search deal with Asian mobile operators
Yahoo Inc. said it signed agreements with six mobile operators across Asia, as part of a broad global expansion that will see its mobile services in tens of millions of phones by the end of the year.
World stocks rally on hunt for risk, yen soft
World stocks flirted with record highs on Wednesday and the yen remained under pressure as receding expectations for rising interest rates encouraged investors to chase higher-yielding assets.