BUSINESS - News - Unites States Newspapers - NSBK

Paccar Inc.

2010-03-13 09:48:06: US truck and construction machinery makers rose after Komatsu Ltd. of Japan, the world’s second-largest seller of large dump trucks and excavators, said it expects sales in China to gain up to 50 percent in the year starting April 1. Bellevue, Wash.-based Paccar makes Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. Caterpillar Inc. of Peoria, Ill., the world’s largest maker of bulldozers, gained ...

Zimmer Holdings

2010-03-13 09:48:06: Warsaw, Ind.-based Zimmer Holdings regained some ground after analysts said the market “overreacted’’ to a study presented at a medical conference showing problems with one of the company’s knee implants. A Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. analyst told investors the study would not have a significant impact on sales. Zimmer is the world’s biggest maker of artificial hips and knee ...

Q&A: Luxury home market looks on its way back up

2010-03-13 08:08:19: John Daugherty Jr. says there are plenty of positive signs that the luxury housing market is turning around

Examiner unveils Lehman accounting tricks

2010-03-13 08:08:19: An accounting gimmick called Repo 105 provided financial relief for Lehman Brothers in the months before its spectacular collapse, an autopsy of the once-venerable Wall Street house has found.

Next loan guarantee could go to Bay City nuke plant

2010-03-13 08:08:19: The head of the joint venture planning to add two new reactors to the South Texas Project nuclear plant said he believes it could be next to receive a federal loan guarantee.

Energy industry has a greener shade at CERAWeek

2010-03-13 08:08:19: Although they're unenthusiastic about the Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to regulate greenhouse gases as pollutants, many CERAWeek speakers advocated some kind of federal approach to climate change.

Tech companies try to stand out at SXSW in Austin

2010-03-13 08:08:19: Tech companies have descended on Austin trying to catch the attention of early adopters and receptive geeks.

Walk, baby, walk: New rig drills, then moves

2010-03-13 08:08:19: Houston's Global Energy Services unveiled a next-generation rig walking system that it says provides greater mobility and efficiency at drilling sites.

Stocks end mixed after mixed economic reports

2010-03-13 08:08:19: Stocks finished mixed after uneven reports on retail sales and consumer confidence gave investors little new insight into the economy.

Texas environmental agency says gas drilling oversight improving

2010-03-13 08:08:19: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality says it is hiring six new inspectors for the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It's part of the two-dozen-county area atop the Barnett Shale, one of the nation's biggest natural gas fields.

Sources: Obama wants Yellen as Fed vice chair

2010-03-13 08:08:19: President Barack Obama intends to nominate Janet Yellen, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, to take over as vice chairman of the Federal Reserve, a person familiar with the selection said today.

U.S. retail sales rise 0.3 percent in February

2010-03-13 08:08:19: The advance, the biggest since November, provided hope that the recovery from the Great Recession is gaining momentum.

Houston trash firm treasuring exec's reality show appearance

2010-03-13 08:08:19: Waste Management Inc.'s president is learning that reality-television shows may be one man's trash TV and another's public-relations treasure. Hits to the Houston-based company's new-customer and career Web links surged after Lawrence O'Donnell, who is also chief operating officer, appeared on the CBS Corp. program “Undercover Boss” following the Feb. 7 Super Bowl.

Exxon chief doubts natural gas in cars is viable move

2010-03-13 08:08:19: Exxon Mobil Corp. chief executive Rex Tillerson, it seems, has not joined the T. Boone Pickens army. Pickens has been stumping for the past two years for Americans to shift to natural gas as a vehicle fuel, particularly for heavy duty trucks. He says the move would help wean the U.S. off of foreign oil, support domestic natural gas, cut energy costs and reduce pollution.

Lyondell plans to raise $6B as it emerges from bankruptcy

2010-03-13 08:08:19: Lyondell Chemical Co. plans to raise $6.05 billion in bonds, loans and equity to repay debt after it emerges from bankruptcy protection. The chemical maker, based in Houston, is seeking $3.25 billion by selling senior secured bonds and borrowing through a senior term loan, according to a statement distributed Thursday. It also plans to raise $2.8 billion in a rights offering.

Devon deal gives BP a Brazilian presence

2010-03-13 08:08:19: BP is expanding its dominant oil and gas operations in the Gulf Mexico and dropping anchor off Brazil with a $7 billion deal to buy exploration rights from Devon Energy.

New twist unfolds in Ecuador v. Chevron

2010-03-13 08:08:19: Chevron Corp. won a round Thursday in the long legal fight over oil field contamination in Ecuador, with a U.S. judge ruling in New York that the California-based company can pursue arbitration in the case. But the final outcome of the fight, which could cost Chevron $27.3 billion, remains in doubt.

Study sees efficiency as key to meeting energy needs

2010-03-13 08:08:19: Improving efficiency is better than relying on new resources to meet energy demand while keeping costs low and greenhouse gas emissions in check, says a new study unveiled at the CERAWeek conference.

Deal reported on AIG bonuses

2010-03-13 08:08:19: American International Group has reached an agreement with the Obama administration's compensation czar to pay back the remaining money employees agreed to return after an uproar over bonuses at the insurance giant, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

As Its Arms Industry Withers, Russia Buys Abroad

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Once-legendary Russian weapons are suffering embarrassing quality problems, and Russia’s own military is in talks with France to buy assault ships.

Violations Are Cited in Generics

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Ranbaxy Laboratories, a maker of generic drugs, has run afoul of the Food and Drug Administration for violations at its United States factory in upstate New York.

Findings on Lehman Take Even Experts by Surprise

2010-03-13 05:18:11: The report on the demise of Lehman Brothers is full of exhaustive detail in its nine volumes, acting as a road map for further inquiry into Lehman executives.

Fed Helped Bank Raise Cash Quickly

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Lehman Brothers engaged in a series of transactions with the New York Fed that were similar to the ones that drew criticism from the bankruptcy court examiner who investigated its collapse.

UBS Pushes Swiss Officials for an End to Tax Dispute

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Bank is pushing the Swiss government to pass a treaty with the United States that would resolve a dispute over tax-evading client.

Payback Time: Patchwork Retirement Plan Adds to Greece’s Debt Woes

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Greece’s retirement plan, which lets 14 percent of its work force retire early, has become divisive in Europe.

China Warns Google Again on Censorship

2010-03-13 05:18:11: A top Chinese regulator warned bluntly that any move by Google to stop censoring its Chinese search engine would draw a response from Beijing.

Trichet Sides With Advocates of Crackdown on Banks

2010-03-13 05:18:11: The European Central Bank president, Jean-Claude Trichet, sharpened his criticism of the banking industry, and seemed to single out hedge funds.

Grapevine Moth Forces Quarantine for Part of Napa Valley

2010-03-13 05:18:11: A 162-square-mile area of Napa Valley has been quarantined in an effort to stop the spread of the European grapevine moth, which also threatens other fruit.

Top Choices Are Floated to Fill Seats on Fed Board

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Issues like inflation and interest rate policy played roles in the administration putting forth names like Janet L. Yellen to be considered for the bank’s board of governors.

Strike Is Set After Talks Fail at British Airways

2010-03-13 05:18:11: British Airways cabin crew are preparing to walk off the job for seven days later this month after talks with management broke down without an agreement.

Stocks and Bonds: Stocks Close Mixed after Uneven Economic Data

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Shares initially gained after a rise in retail sales was reported, but slipped after a disappointing report on January’s business inventories.

Europe Rebuts U.S. Criticism of Hedge Fund Rules

2010-03-13 05:18:11: The European Union said its new hedge fund rules were in line with policies previously agreed upon by the world’s biggest countries.

Business Briefing | Corporations: Increase Expected in Heavy Equipment Sales in China

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Komatsu, the Japanese heavy equipment maker, said Friday it expected sales in China to rise by half as the country’s 10 percent growth rate drives demand for resources like coal.

Avastin Fails Clinical Trial for Prostate Cancer

2010-03-13 05:18:11: The miss in prostate cancer follows a similar disappointment with Avastin in gastric cancer but success in ovarian cancer.

February Retail Sales Rise 0.3%, Topping Forecast

2010-03-13 05:18:11: When car and gas sales were excluded, the gain was 0.9 percent, raising hopes that confidence was growing.

Rapid Rise in Seed Prices Draws U.S. Scrutiny

2010-03-13 05:18:11: A Justice Department antitrust investigation of the seed industry is apparently focused on Monsanto.

Lexus, a Toyota Brand, Avoids Taint From Recalls

2010-03-13 05:18:11: The brand’s sales and reputation have held up, analysts say, because Lexus has not been included in Toyota’s most serious recalls.

N.H.T.S.A. Studying ‘Black Box’ for Cars

2010-03-13 05:18:11: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is considering whether data recorders similar to those on planes should be required on all new cars and trucks.

Obama Outlines Drive to Raise U.S. Exports

2010-03-13 05:18:11: The administration’s announcement came as America’s trade deficit narrowed in January, largely because of a drop in spending on oil.

Advertising: Instant Ads Set the Pace on the Web

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Companies like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft let advertisers buy ads in the milliseconds between the time someone enters a site’s Web address and the moment the page appears.

Dodd to Press Ahead on Financial Regulation Bill

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Senator Bob Corker, a Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, called Senator Christopher J. Dodd’s announcement on Thursday “very disappointing.”

Airline Group Lowers Loss Forecast for 2010

2010-03-13 05:18:11: The International Air Transport Association predicted $2.8 billion in losses, down from the $5.6 billion predicted late last year.

China’s Consumer Prices Rose 2.7% in February

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Analysts said the economy was not overheating and that interest rates would probably increase to keep inflation in check.

HSBC Says Data of 24,000 Clients, Not Just a Few, Was Stolen

2010-03-13 05:18:11: HSBC’s private banking unit initially said that records on 10 or fewer clients were taken when the theft occurred three years ago.

A.I.G.'s Sale of Its Taiwan Unit in Regulatory Limbo

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Officials are investigating whether the buyers are funded by China, a historical foe of the island nation.

BP to Buy Licensed Oil Blocks From Devon Energy

2010-03-13 05:18:11: The deal would give BP access to an area off the coast of Brazil that analysts expect to have great potential for oil discoveries.

Pink Floyd Wins Court Battle With EMI Over Downloads

2010-03-13 05:18:11: The court ruling prevents the record company from selling single downloads on the Internet from the group's concept albums.

Initial Jobless Claims Fall for 2nd Straight Week

2010-03-13 05:18:11: A new report on weekly filings for first-time jobless claims was the latest indication of a slow recovery in the labor market.

Japan Revises Fourth-Quarter G.D.P. to Show Smaller Growth

2010-03-13 05:18:11: Japan’s economy grew less than initially estimated in the fourth quarter, and a measurement of price trends hit a record low, adding to pressure on the Bank of Japan to ease monetary policy.

U.S. Nets $15M on Washington Fed. Warrants

2010-03-13 03:28:16: Treasury Department's Auction of Washington Federal Warrants Follows Last Week's Record $1.54B Sale of BoA Instruments

BofA Ends Overdraft Fees on Debit Cards

2010-03-13 03:28:16: Step May Become Common Move ahead of New Regulations Limiting Such Fees

Toyota to Expand Tundra Pickup Recall

2010-03-13 03:28:16: Frames Could Rust and Lead to Spare Tires Falling from Vehicle; Recall Applies in "Cold Weather" States

Video: Prius Driver's Frantic 911 Call

2010-03-13 03:28:11: Toyota Prius driver Jim Sikes frantically called 911 when his car speed out of control on a stretch of San Diego highway. Ben Tracy reports the U.S. government wants to know what happened.

Take your royalty checks, SoundExchange begs

2010-03-13 00:58:03: Money is piling up from digital music streams, and the nonprofit has to track down artists who don't know. Then it has to convince them it's not a scam.

When John Boydston got an e-mail from SoundExchange saying he had several thousand dollars in unclaimed royalties, he did what most sensible people would do. He ignored it.

Trade numbers climb sharply at Southland ports

2010-03-13 00:58:03: The growth in February lends strength to the arguments of some experts who believe that a stronger-than-anticipated recovery may be underway.

Trade numbers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation's busiest seaport complex, rose sharply in February compared with the same month last year, lending strength to the arguments of some experts who believe that a stronger-than-anticipated recovery may be underway.

Plenty of new airports but few passengers in China

2010-03-13 00:58:03: A construction spree brings flight service to some unlikely locales, and a hoped-for spurt in air traffic fails to materialize.

It's less than two hours before boarding time but most of the staff of Libo Airport are walking off their dinner of spicy dog meat with an evening stroll around the parking lot.

Toyota aims for a surge in sales

2010-03-13 00:58:03: The troubled automaker hopes to draw buyers this weekend with the help of an advertising blitz and big incentives.

Toyota dealers are gearing up for something they haven't seen in a while: a crowded showroom.

L.A. becomes a test case in battle to undo interest rate swap deals

2010-03-13 00:58:03: Its agreement with two banks, which used to pay off for the city, is now costing it money. But whatever happened to honoring the sanctity of a contract?

"I can pay. I just don't want to." That's the unapologetic position of the "walkaways" -- homeowners who have no equity in their houses and who no longer see the point of paying their mortgages, even though they're financially fully capable of doing so.

LAX to get more full-body screening machines

2010-03-13 00:58:03: The controversial imaging units will be added to the three existing ones at Los Angeles International Airport. San Jose and San Diego airports also will receive devices in the next two weeks.

Californians, get ready for your close-up.

Food sector faces sweeping antitrust investigation

2010-03-13 00:58:03: Officials are looking into the gaps between what farmers earn and what shoppers pay at the grocery store. The Justice Department and the USDA pledge an examination of alleged monopolistic practices.

U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder and a team of top federal officials on Friday pledged a sweeping examination of alleged monopolistic practices in the food sector, and promised to bust those who violate antitrust laws.

Disney to shut ImageMovers Digital studio

2010-03-13 00:58:03: Robert Zemeckis' Bay Area studio has 450 employees and will close by January. It produces the motion-capture animation technology that was used in 2009's 'A Christmas Carol.'

In a cost-saving move, Walt Disney Studios is shutting down Robert Zemeckis' ImageMovers Digital studio in Marin County, which employs 450 people. Those employees will be phased out over the course of the year until the facility closes by January.

Young veterans returning home to few jobs

2010-03-12 21:48:03:

The unemployment rate last year for young Iraq and Afghanistan veterans hit 21.1 percent, the Labor Department said Friday, reflecting a tough obstacle combat veterans face.

WaMu settles with JPMorgan, FDIC

2010-03-12 21:48:03: Washington Mutual has tentatively resolved disputes with JPMorgan Chase and the FDIC over some $4 billion at issue in the bank holding company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a WaMu attorney said Friday.

Homeowners take ‘cash for keys’ to escape debt

2010-03-12 21:48:03:

Owners of bad loans are increasingly making deals with borrowers to avoid a foreclosure. Lawmakers are more accepting of these solutions even if they mean the borrower loses the home.

Disney to close Bob Zemeckis' digital film studio, laying off hundreds

2010-03-12 18:18:04: In a cost-savings move, Walt Disney Studios is shutting down director and producer Robert Zemeckis' ImageMovers Digital studio in Marin County, which employs 450 people. Those employees will be phased out over the course of the year until the facility closes by January 2011.

Permanently modified mortgages grow by 45%, government says

2010-03-12 18:18:04: In February, the number of homeowners with permanently reduced monthly payments grew to 168,708, the Obama administration reports, and 91,483 more trial modifications are approved.

The Obama administration Friday said its mortgage modification program continued to make progress, with the number of homeowners receiving permanently reduced monthly payments in February increasing by 45% to 168,708.

Janet Yellen appears a likely nominee as Fed vice chairwoman

2010-03-12 18:18:04: Appointing the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco would reinforce Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's policy of keeping interest rates low to help stimulate the economy.

Economist Janet L. Yellen, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, has emerged as the likely nominee as vice chairwoman of the Federal Reserve.

Cablevision, Comcast lose latest battle to toss FCC programming rules

2010-03-12 18:18:04: In a blow to the cable industry, an appeals court upheld the Federal Communications Commission's so-called program access rules that prohibit cable operators from withholding programming they own from rival distributors such as satellite television services.

Lions Gate rejects Carl Icahn's hostile tender offer to raise stake to nearly 30%

2010-03-12 18:18:04: Lions Gate clawed back at Carl Icahn on Friday, rejecting the shareholder's hostile tender offer to raise his stake in the movie and television studio to nearly 30%. The company's board is urging shareholders not to sell their shares to Icahn, who owns 18.9% of the studio and is offering to pay $6 per share, or up to $79.9 million, for as many as 13.2 million outstanding shares.

Orange County prosecutor sues Toyota over defects

2010-03-12 18:18:04: SANTA ANA -- The Orange County district attorney has filed a lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corp., accusing the automaker of knowingly selling hundreds of thousands of vehicles with acceleration defects.

Stocks mixed after uneven economic data

2010-03-12 15:08:04: Stocks shuttled between narrow gains and losses Friday after mixed reports on retail sales and business inventories gave investors little new insight into the economy.

Oil production predicted to peak in 2014

2010-03-12 15:08:04: Predicting the end of oil has proven tricky and often controversial, but Kuwaiti scientists now say that global oil production will peak in 2014.

Blunt the e-mail interruption assault

2010-03-12 15:08:04: Constant e-mail interruptions make you less productive, less creative and — if you're e-mailing when you're doing something else — just plain dumb. Here's how to fight back.

Just 170,000 homeowners have received aid

2010-03-12 15:08:04:

The Obama administration's mortgage relief plan has helped only about 16 percent of borrowers who signed up since its launch last year, and hundreds of thousands of homeowners are in limbo without an answer.

Business sales rise to highest level since 2008

2010-03-12 15:08:04: Business inventories were unexpectedly flat in January, while sales rose to their highest level since October 2008, government data showed on Friday.

Consumer sentiment dips amid job worries

2010-03-12 15:08:04: U.S. consumer sentiment declined slightly in early March, with Americans less positive about the job outlook, a survey released on Friday showed.

Court OKs TV rules opposed by Comcast, Cablevision

2010-03-12 11:38:03: WASHINGTON -- A federal court has upheld regulations that require cable TV companies to make channels they own available to satellite TV providers and other rivals on equal terms.

Retail sales rise 0.3% in February

2010-03-12 11:38:03: WASHINGTON -- Retail sales posted a surprising increase in February as consumers did not let major snowstorms stop them from storming the malls. The advance, the biggest since November, provided hope that the recovery from the Great Recession is gaining momentum.

Lions Gate rejects Icahn offer to buy shares

2010-03-12 11:38:03: SANTA MONICA -- Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. on Friday rejected an offer from activist shareholder Carl Icahn to boost his stake in the movie studio by buying up to 13.2 million shares.

Stocks trade flat after mixed economic reports

2010-03-12 11:38:03: NEW YORK -- Stocks traded in a tight range Friday after mixed reports on retail sales and business inventories gave investors little new insight into the economy.

New wave of foreclosures threatens market

2010-03-12 08:28:09:

Swelling ranks of homeowners who are seriously delinquent but haven't yet lost their homes may soon lead to a new round of foreclosures.

Red Tape: Toyota woes raise car-tech woes

2010-03-12 08:28:09: We may never know why runaway Toyotas suddenly seem to be everywhere. The scariest possibility, however, is that faulty computers are driving some victims to their deaths with frightening randomness.

U.S. sales tax rates hits record high

2010-03-12 08:28:09:

While the White House's push to raise federal income taxes for the wealthy gets the attention, the sales tax rates imposed by state and local governments has crept to its highest level ever.

Policy ‘dove’ may be tapped for Fed vice chair

2010-03-12 08:28:09: President Barack Obama plans to nominate San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Janet Yellen, a respected policy dove, to be vice chairman of the central bank.

BA cabin crew to strike for 7 days this month

2010-03-12 08:28:09: British Airways PLC cabin crew plan to strike for a total of seven days this month, potentially disrupting thousands of travellers ahead of Easter holidays, after talks with management over changes to pay and working conditions broke down.

BA cabin crew to strike this month

2010-03-12 07:48:03: Union members representing British Airways cabin crews announced Friday they will hold two separate strikes this month in a dispute over working conditions.

Outcry over China migrant curbs

2010-03-12 07:48:03: It's break time at the Seven Colors Elementary School, a privately-run school just an hour's drive from central Beijing. Scores of warmly dressed Chinese pupils are enjoying sunshine. Some play table tennis or skip rope. Others run around the flag pole, seemingly oblivious to the problem their parents face.

Men’s Wearhouse Inc.

2010-03-12 07:08:07: “You’re going to like the way you look. I guarantee it,’’ says the guy in the Men’s Wearhouse TV commercial. But investors didn’t like the way the Houston company’s shares looked, at least not yesterday. They fell the most since Dec. 9 after the company reported fourth-quarter sales that missed analysts’ estimates. For the first quarter of 2010, it forecast ...

Some who chase muni bonds’ higher yields may take more risks than they think

2010-03-12 07:08:07: Investors in search of better returns poured $7.8 billion into high-yield municipal bond funds last year, pushing assets to a two-year high. They may start experiencing losses as early as this year as default risks grow.

US may seek more oversight of auto safety

2010-03-12 07:08:07: WASHINGTON — Government vehicle safety regulators may seek greater authority to investigate defects in cars and trucks after Toyota’s recall of more than 8 million vehicles for safety problems.

Bucking trend, Exxon plans to spend more

2010-03-12 07:08:07: NEW YORK — Exxon Mobil said yesterday it will boost spending this year on new and existing projects even as some rivals pull back because of weak global demand for energy.

What?! Another Time Warner Cable rate hike?

2010-03-12 04:58:10: It's time for cable and satellite subscribers to pay only for the channels they want, rather than the dozens that they don't.

There's definitely an art to informing customers that you're about to smack them upside the head.

Rising food prices may start with seeds

2010-03-12 04:58:10: Farmers say consolidation in the industry means they're forced to buy more costly seeds. But Monsanto, the world's largest seed firm, says competition 'is alive and flourishing.'

For 40 years, farmer Todd Leake and his family have battled bitter cold, hungry pests and a short growing season to coax soybeans out of their fields in eastern North Dakota.

Barnes & Noble: A besieged giant

2010-03-12 04:58:10: The world's largest bookseller faces an unwelcome stock fight while trying to deal with radical market shifts.

The story line for bookstore giant Barnes & Noble Inc. is growing ever more dramatic, with falling store sales, increasingly stiff competition and a fierce battle over the company's shares led by a billionaire Los Angeles investor.

Toyota faces a growing number of probes in U.S.

2010-03-12 04:58:10: The FBI, a U.S. attorney's office in New York, the SEC and even the L.A. city attorney have opened investigations of the Japanese automaker, adding to existing probes by Congress and regulators.

As if Toyota Motor Corp. hasn't had enough trouble, the automaker is now facing a new set of interrogators: federal and local law enforcement officials.

Leader defends NHTSA's response to Toyota complaints

2010-03-12 04:58:10: The agency investigated sudden-acceleration reports but didn't find enough evidence to force a recall, Administrator David Strickland tells a House subcommittee.

Rebuffing criticism of slow action and underfunded efforts, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said his agency acted properly in investigating complaints about sudden-acceleration problems in Toyota vehicles and has enough money and staff to oversee the auto industry.

Lehman Bros. accounting trickery alleged

2010-03-12 04:58:10: A court-appointed examiner's report also says that JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Ernst & Young could face legal claims over the investment bank's failure.

In the months before Lehman Bros. collapsed in late 2008, setting off the global financial crisis, the investment bank used an accounting trick to make it appear to have greater liquidity than it did, a court-appointed examiner alleges in a report unsealed Thursday.

Contrasting portraits of former KB Home chief as trial opens

2010-03-12 04:58:10: The prosecution paints Bruce Karatz as a greedy man who manipulated stock option grant dates and lied about them. The defense says he was a hardworking leader who never intentionally violated laws.

The stock option backdating trial of former KB Home chief Bruce Karatz opened Thursday in Los Angeles with two vastly conflicting portraits of the man who steered the giant home-building company for decades.

Video game sales fall 15% in February

2010-03-12 04:58:10: The drop occurred despite the release of three major titles last month. Demand for consoles tumbles 20%, according to an NPD Group report.

Video game sales in the U.S. plunged 15% in February as skittish consumers continued to ratchet back their spending.

Weak economy means it's a freebie nation

2010-03-12 01:48:03:

Whether it's to boost sagging business or attract customers to a new product, there seems to be a freebie fad going on. That's a boon for budget shoppers and can be good for companies too.