IBT Staff Reporter

The nation's largest hospital operator HCA Inc., announced on Monday that a private equity group has bought the company for about $21 billion. The firm has been struggling due to an increase in competition and in addition to growing unfunded liabilities.

Leading UK shares rose 1 percent on Monday, led by British mobile giant Vodafone Group Plc after it reported upbeat numbers one day before its annual general meeting and as PartyGaming firmed.

Global free trade talks, billed as a once in a generation chance to boost growth and ease poverty, collapsed on Monday after nearly five years of haggling and resuming them could take years.

During the quarterly earnings conference call with analysts last Thursday, Microsoft said any delay in its new Windows operating system could cost the company upwards of $400 million.

Airbus has just announced a new line of uncompromising A350 jets, but analysts say the Boeing 787 Dreamliner may have the right ticket.

Schering-Plough Corp. on Monday reported quarterly earnings far higher than Wall Street expected, fueled by growing demand for its drugs against cholesterol, arthritis, allergies and hepatitis C.

Merck & Co. on Monday said its second-quarter earnings more than doubled on growing demand for its drugs, blowing past Wall Street expectations, and raised its full-year profit forecast.

Dell says its in trouble and the market quickly sold off shares. What's next for one of the world's top PC Makers.

Doha round talks between the G8 and the developing G5 nations ended with hopes that negotiations will be completed by the end of the year, South African President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday.

Microsoft Corp. officials for the first time have confirmed that the software giant is readying a portable music player and integrated service, shedding new light on a topic that has fueled rampant speculation in news reports and blog postings for weeks.

After five years and very little to show for it, global trade talks meant to reduce poverty worldwide are at a crucial point.

Trading with South Africa was unheard of under Apartheid. But 15 years on, the nation has become an economic force.

If you've ever thought about starting your own business you're not alone. Along with millions of Americans, the dream of being your own boss carries with it both rewards and struggles.

The quickening flow of capital out of the country may be a sign that recent weakness in Canadian markets could deepen, particularly if, as looks likely, the Canadian dollar's four-year upward charge is losing steam.

For a self-proclaimed advocate of inflation-targeting, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke seemed remarkably unperturbed this week by recent signs that price increases in the economy are accelerating.

Pfizer, the world's largest drug maker, posted a 30 percent decrease in net income for the second quarter on Thursday as it faces strong challenges from generic competitors in the market after losing its patent rights over two of the most profitable drug for the firm.

Microsoft Corp. warned about a new computer virus that exploits a vulnerability in its PowerPoint presentation software to allow hackers to infiltrate computer systems.

PartyGaming plans to expand aggressively outside the United States, but sees no risk of being dragged into the U.S. indictment of a rival for racketeering, the world's biggest online gaming firm said.

Verizon Wireless has obtained a permanent injunction blocking a Miami telemarketer from making automated calls to its customers, the cellular phone company said Thursday.

Britain's FTSE 100 index closed easier on Thursday, giving up an early advance as buyers paused after Wednesday's steep gains on easing interest rate tensions. However, support services company Capita stood out with a 9.3 percent rise after it posted a forecast-beating 24 percent jump in interim profits.

Now might be a good time to put the Apple back into the investor's cart.

Intel Corp. announced on Thursday that it is making a number of senior management changes focused on improving the company's structure and achieving better decision-making.

Free video clips on YouTube are popular but its ads aren't.

The number of people filing initial claims for U.S. employment benefits last week fell 30,000 to its lowest level in a month because of fewer claims from the automobile industry, the government said on Thursday.

The European Union announced 10 million euros (8.6 million pounds) in aid on Thursday to help Lebanese fleeing fighting in their country and expressed grave concern over the humanitarian situation in the region.

Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday said the company was adopting voluntary principles to guide development of its flagship Windows operating system, which will include allowing computer manufacturers to set Google and other non-Microsoft search engines as a default.

Yahoo Inc., the world's largest Internet media company, and Motorola Inc., the second-biggest maker of mobile phones, said late on Wednesday that Motorola will embed Yahoo services on tens of millions of phones.

Google Inc. has begun testing a new version of its search system that makes finding information on the Web easier for the blind or visually impaired, its creator said on Wednesday.

Africa needs better infrastructure in order to maintain the continent's social and economic balance, former UN ambassador Andrew Young said in an interview with the World Bank on Tuesday.