The U.S. trade deficit widened by a surprising 11 percent in September, reflecting a surge in energy imports after Hurricane Katrina and a drop in airplane exports.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences plans to recognize original video content for computers, cellphones and other hand-held devices.

United Airlines said that it planned to hire 2,000 flight attendants, the first such hires for the company since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Maryland and Virginia are testing technology that allows them to monitor traffic by tracking cellphone signals and mapping them against road grids.

An investigation of Halliburton's pension plans has uncovered three violations of the law, including that executive pensions were charged to workers' pension fund.

Nissan Motor Company said that it would sell its North American headquarters outside Los Angeles and relocate to Franklin, Tenn., a town of 46,000 people.

A leading Senate Democrat on Thursday endorsed President Bush's nomination of Ben S. Bernanke to become chairman of the Federal Reserve.

By Bloomberg News.

After 21 hours of negotiation, the Man Group of Britain won a large portion of Refco, the fallen futures brokerage giant, with a $282 million bid.

The federal government awarded $18.6 million in contracts meant to accelerate the use of modern computer technology in health care.

By Bloomberg News.

Hedge funds have been used to getting their way of late. But for the moment, at least, they have met their match in OfficeMax.

A new racing video game for the Microsoft Xbox system, called Volvo Drive for Life, showcases the Volvo brand identity as the car designed with safety foremost.

Deal fever may be overtaking the European telecommunications industry, but Ben Verwaayen, the chief executive of BT, wants nothing to do with it.

By Bloomberg News.

The board that writes the accounting rules for American businesses voted to start a major revision of the rules for reporting retirement plans.

By The Associated Press.

By Bloomberg News.

Dell Inc. said that third-quarter profit fell 28 percent, a slowdown its chief executive said was likely to worsen this quarter.

Daniel S. Lynch, the chief executive of ImClone Systems who helped steady the company after years of scandal, has resigned, apparently under pressure from the board.

H&M showed for a second time that customers will bang down the doors at the whiff of a designer bargain.

The New York Times has promoted Roland A. Caputo, vice president for circulation fulfillment services, to chief financial officer effective Jan. 1.

Yesteryear's clichés can be correct. At least for an unpopular president, it really is the economy, stupid.

When Thomas Peterffy moved to the United States in the 1960's, he had little money in his pocket, no knowledge of English and no college degree. But Mr. Peterffy, an immigrant from Hungary, soon found a haven in computers.

Ten weeks after Katrina, government officials and business leaders worry that a scarcity of able-bodied workers is hampering the area's recovery.

Lower than expected US ticket sales for the new Wallace & Gromit film help cause a loss at studio giant Dreamworks.

The Chinese government hints that it is planning to gradually increase the value of the yuan next year.

European aircraft maker Airbus agrees to compensate airlines affected by delays in deliveries of the new A380 superjumbo.

DaimlerChrysler sells its remaining 12.4% stake in struggling Mitsubishi Motors to bank Goldman Sachs.

US private equity firm Carlyle is the mystery party making a takeover approach for Kingston Communications.

Reuters - The New Jersey judge overseeing 3,500 Vioxx-related lawsuits in the company's home state, told lawyers earlier this week she wants the next 10 or so trials in her court to involve plaintiffs who took the drug for at least eighteen months, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The World Trade Organization approves Saudi Arabia's application for membership after 12 years of talks.

Italian carrier Alitalia's shares are suspended after the government says it will buy almost 500m euros worth of new shares.

Japan's economy expands in the third quarter, boosted by strong domestic demand, official figures show.

Viruses have appeared that exploit Sony's controversial anti-piracy software used on some of its CDs.

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson says there is no chance of a deal from next month's WTO meeting.

Reuters - DaimlerChrysler AG drew the final curtain on its ill-fated investment in Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMC) on Friday by selling its entire 12.42 percent stake in the Japanese car maker.

Reuters - U.S. stock futures signaled a flat market opening on Friday, as news of a drop in quarterly profit by technology bellwether Dell Inc. helped to offset declines in crude oil prices.

Reuters - The Securities and Exchange Commission, which has been looking at company stock-option grants, has focused its investigation on whether companies backdated grants to provide insiders an even larger windfall, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica reports a surge in profit, boosted by acquisitions and income from its operations in Latin America.

Reuters - U.S. stocks opened little changed on Friday as sliding crude oil prices offered some support on a day with no major economic data or earnings news on the calendar.

Reuters - Oil sank toward $57 on Friday after touching the lowest level since July as swelling fuel stocks eased consumer fears of tight winter supplies.

AP - Japan's economy expanded at an annual pace of 1.7 percent in July-September on healthy consumer spending and booming trade, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of growth, the government said Friday.

USATODAY.com - As the doldrums for publicly traded stocks drag on, companies are being taken private at the fastest pace in years. This week has been a case in point as hotel chain La Quinta and household goods retailer Linens 'n Things became the latest to be picked off by private equity firms.

Ryanair announces a $1bn expansion plan which would see Germany become the Irish airline's second-biggest base.

Annual inflation in India rises to a quicker-than-expected 4.75%, but industrial growth remains strong.

The Albanian government takes steps to end power cuts that have crippled the country since Monday.

Tesco is blitzing its customers with a massive e-mail marketing campaign.

Carmaker Volkswagen says the inquiry into allegations of corruption at the company will cost it 5m euros.

Reuters - Oil prices fell below $58 on Friday to the lowest level since July as swelling fuel stocks eased consumer fears of tight winter supplies.

Reuters - DaimlerChrysler AG drew the final curtain on its ill-fated investment in Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMC) on Friday by selling its entire 12.42 percent stake in the Japanese car maker.

Reuters - United Airlines plans to start hiring 2,000 flight attendants as it moves to staff increased numbers of international flights and use jets that fly domestic routes more hours, the airline said on Friday.

Reuters - U.S. stocks rose on Friday for a third straight session as oil traded below $58 a barrel, easing concerns about high energy prices on corporate profits, and as Dell Inc. said it plans to buy back at least $1.7 billion in stock.

Reuters - A leading gauge of the U.S. economy rose in the latest week due to stronger housing activity and higher stock prices, a report said on Friday.

Reuters - United Natural Foods Inc. , an organic and natural foods distributor, on Friday said it expects to incur about $6.0 million to $8.2 million in share-based compensation expenses this fiscal year due to the adoption of an accounting rule.

Norway says it might close down publicly listed companies which fail to meet proposed boardroom quotas for women.

The World Trade Organization approves Saudi Arabia's application for membership after 12 years of talks.

Carmaker Volkswagen says the inquiry into allegations of corruption at the company will cost it 5m euros.

Reuters - Unionized workers at General Motors Corp. , the world's largest auto maker, have ratified a landmark deal to help the automaker cut its massive health-care costs, the United Auto Workers union said on Friday.

Reuters - U.S. blue-chip stocks rose on Friday, buoyed by a rally in General Motors Corp. shares after its unionized workers ratified a landmark deal to cut health-care costs.

The Motley Fool - Half a year after I first began writing about the half-dozen or so companies engaged in facilitating online banking and bill-paying, the market is sending a clear signal on which of these companies it considers 'winners' and which ... well, not so much.

The move effectively ending the grand scheme of DaimlerChrysler's chairman, Jürgen E. Schrempp, to create a global car company.

Workers at General Motors agree to a deal that will cut the carmaker's huge healthcare bill.

Reuters - U.S. stocks gained on Friday, boosted by shares of blue-chip General Motors Corp. after unionized workers ratified a deal to cut the automaker's health-care costs.

Reuters - Oil prices fell below $58 on Friday to the lowest level since July as swelling fuel stocks eased consumer fears of tight winter supplies.

Reuters - Blue-collar workers at General Motors Corp. , the world's largest automaker, ratified a landmark deal to help the automaker cut its massive health-care costs, the United Auto Workers union said on Friday.

Reuters - Union workers at General Motors Corp. ratified a deal to help the automaker cut billions of dollars in health-care costs, but analysts said the move was far from enough to turn things around at the struggling auto giant.

Reuters - AT&T Corp on Friday said it expects to pay a special dividend of $1.30 per share in connection with the pending merger of AT&T and SBC Communications Inc. to holders of record of AT&T common stock immediately prior to the completion of the merger.

Reuters - Copper futures surged to record levels on Friday, shooting above $2.00 a lb for the first time ever as tight supplies and inflation worries spurred heavy purchases by funds, traders said.

Investor's Business Daily - Tuition and fees at private colleges are up 5.9% on average this academic year vs. last year, the College Board reported recently. At public schools, the price hikes are even steeper, up 7.1%.