Insurance and support from the Pentagon may mean Northrop Grumman can rebuild after Hurricane Katrina without spending much of its own money.

The Government Accountability Office is strongly urging Congress to protect military personnel from deceptive sales practices.

No company illustrates the speed at which corporate America can replace high-priced American talent with cheaper foreign brainpower than Conexant Systems.

The Swiss company Roche agreed to share control of production and sales of Tamiflu with Gilead Sciences, the California biotechnology company that invented it.

The nomination of Ben S. Bernanke to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve will now go to the full Senate for a final confirming vote.

The White House warned that President Bush was likely to veto a bill passed Wednesday aimed at strengthening the nation's system of company pension plans if it remained in its current form.

The therapy uses a virus that attacks only tumor cells and is based on one developed and then abandoned by an American biotechnology company.

By The Associated Press.

By Reuters.

The tax panel has proposed reduced tax rates on other forms of investment, along with the mortgage interest credit, to make cutting housing subsidies less painful.

By Bloomberg News.

Preston Robert Tisch was a previous postmaster general and half-owner of the New York Giants football team.

The Dutch publishing and market research company is expected Thursday to abandon its $6.4 billion deal to acquire IMS Health after a shareholder revolt.

Oil executives were asked to explain statements they made to Congress last week about their ties to the energy task force led by Vice President Dick Cheney.

D. R. Horton Inc. posted a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit and raised its outlook for the current year on strong demand nationwide.

Hillenbrand Industries agreed to pay $337.5 million to settle an antitrust lawsuit that challenged a discount on specialty hospital beds.

By Bloomberg News.

The plan to close more than a dozen factories and possibly split up Tyco International's wide-ranging businesses is an effort to increase the value of its stock.

Kent Brownridge is retiring after 31 years as general manager of Wenner Media.

The Blu-ray Disc group said that it would not adopt technology requested by one of its leading members, the Hewlett-Packard Company.

An educational gadget called the Fly Pentop Computer is already appearing high on the 'hottest toys' lists for this holiday season.

Toshiba and other Japanese cellphone makers see a second chance to compensate for past mistakes and catch up in the global marketplace.

There are three Web sites dedicated to digging up sale secrets well in advance of the biggest shopping day of the year.

City officials in Atlanta hope to bolster tourism with the new slogan: 'Every Day Is an Opening Day.'

Cuts would be announced in other departments in the next three weeks, but the publisher did not say how many jobs would be lost over all.

The auto parts manufacturer has proposed eliminating about 18,000 jobs in the United States as it reorganizes under bankruptcy protection.

The fired bond analyst says he was repeatedly pressured to alter his research to suit the firm's investment bankers and its clients.

By Bloomberg News.

Plans to develop Indonesia's largest known oil reserve have stalled, prompting the government to warn that it will take over the project if an agreement is not reached by the end of the year.

The cable channel says it's unfazed by the success of ABC's 'Desperate Housewives,' and remains confident about its own Sunday-night prospects.

Reuters - Zurich Financial Services Group easily beat market expectations with a 21 percent rise in nine-month net profit to $2.256 billion, despite high U.S. hurricane claims hurting its non-life insurance unit.

Insurance and support from the Pentagon may mean Northrop Grumman can rebuild after Hurricane Katrina without spending much of its own money.

Shares in General Motors fall to an 18-year low amid fears of possible strike action at its troubled parts supplier Delphi.

The Pensions Commission will call for a higher basic state pension and a rise in the age at which it can be claimed, the FT says.

UK plasterboard company BPB agrees to be bought by Saint-Gobain, after the French firm raises its offer.

Commerzbank is to take control of Eurohypo, Germany's largest mortgage firm, in a £3bn deal.

Reuters - French telecoms and media group Vivendi Universal SA posted a stronger than expected 14 percent rise in third-quarter operating profit on Thursday, helped by its music business and a return to profit in games.

Reuters - Zurich Financial Services Group posted its best ever net profit in the first nine months of the year, easily beating market expectations, despite high U.S. hurricane claims hurting its non-life insurance unit.

A small shopkeeper in Mexico City wins her legal battle against drinks giant Coca-Cola.

Russia, Turkey and Italy officially open a major Black Sea gas pipeline after surmounting disputes.

A $100 laptop for children across the world makes its debut at the UN internet summit in Tunis.

Vodafone's customer-losing Japanese mobile phone unit is about to turn the corner and recover, its boss says.

Reuters - French telecoms and media group Vivendi Universal SA posted a stronger than expected 14 percent rise in third-quarter operating profit on Thursday, helped by its music business and a return to profit in games.

The rate of economic growth in the eurozone will recover in both 2006 and 2007, says the European Commission.

A US businessman is charged with fraud relating to contracts for reconstruction in Iraq, the New York Times reports.

The European Parliament approves a law that will put the onus on industry to test the chemicals it uses.

Retail sales increase modestly, fuelling hopes for recovery on the High Street after a sharp slowdown earlier this year.

Malicious hackers are exploiting the loophole opened by Sony BMG's uninstaller for its anti-copy CD code.

VNU, the Dutch publisher, calls off a $7.6bn merger with US firm IMS Health following fierce opposition from shareholders.

Reuters - A rebellion by investors forced Dutch publisher VNU to abandon a $7 billion takeover of U.S. health care data firm IMS Health on Thursday and triggered the resignation of its chief executive.

Reuters - BAWAG P.S.K., a top creditor of collapsed futures trader Refco, said on Thursday it was suing Refco's former head and 28 Refco units in the United States for fraud over a 350 million-euro loan.

Reuters - Limited Brands Inc. on Thursday posted a third-quarter loss, hurt by weakness in its apparel division, which led to steep markdowns on merchandise.

Reuters - Williams-Sonoma on Thursday reported higher quarterly results, helped by solid sales at its Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids stores.

Reuters - U.S. stock futures were higher, pointing to a firmer market opening on Thursday as oil prices remained near $58 a barrel and following strong earnings from several key technology companies.

US manufacturing production jumps 1.4%, its biggest monthly rise in six years, says a Federal Reserve report.

French telecoms and media giant Vivendi sees a 14% rise in quarterly profit after a strong performance in all its divisions.

A small shopkeeper in Mexico City wins her legal battle against drinks giant Coca-Cola.

Reuters - U.S. housing starts fell 5.6 percent in October as construction of both single-family and multifamily homes slid, while a drop in permits for future groundbreaking was the largest in more than six years, the government said on Thursday.

Reuters - U.S. stocks opened higher on Thursday following strong results from retailers and some key technology companies that helped boost investors' hopes for a year-end rally.

AP - Output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities rose at the fastest pace in 17 months in October, posting a solid rebound from the devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes.

Reuters - Footwear chain Payless ShoeSource Inc. on Thursday said quarterly profit climbed, citing a rise in sales and favorable pricing.

New home construction dropped to its slowest pace in five months and permits for building had their biggest monthly drop in almost six years in October.

Most Chinese internet users are wary of buying goods online, a survey of Chinese internet habits reveals.

Five secures a licence from regulator Ofcom as it gears up for the launch of its first digital television channel.

Reuters - U.S. housing starts fell 5.6 percent in October and a drop in permits for new construction was the largest in more than six years, the government said on Thursday in a report that indicated some cooling in the red-hot real estate market.

Reuters - Core U.S. inflation and inflation expectations have weathered high energy prices and if necessary, the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates to make sure this stays the case, a top Fed policy-maker said on Thursday.

Reuters - The supervisory board of BAWAG P.S.K., a key creditor of collapsed futures trader Refco, is due on Thursday to revisit why the Austrian bank gave a loan to Refco's former chief executive just before his arrest.

Reuters - U.S. technology stocks rose on Thursday, as strong earnings results lifted investors' hopes for a year-end rally.

The Pensions Commission is expected to call for a higher state pension and a rise in the pension age to 67.

Five secures a licence from regulator Ofcom as it gears up for the launch of its first digital television channel.

Reuters - A sharp drop in U.S. housing starts and permits for new building in October pointed to some cooling in the red-hot real estate market, but the industrial sector picked up steam, government reports showed on Thursday.

Reuters - Growing demand and constraints in supply mean global energy prices are likely to stay at loftier levels from now on, St. Louis Federal Reserve President William Poole said on Thursday.

Reuters - U.S. technology stocks rose on Thursday, as strong earnings lifted investors' hopes for a year-end rally and helped send shares of bellwether Google Inc. above $400 for the first time.

Reuters - Tenet Healthcare Corp.'s shareholder committee on Thursday said it believes the future of the hospital operator 'remains bleak' and called for a complete investigation into the deaths that occurred in Tenet's New Orleans hospitals after Hurricane Katrina.

Reuters - Barnes & Noble Inc. posted a slim third-quarter profit on Thursday, as strong sales of hardcover books helped to offset costs related to a new distribution center.

Conrad Black and three other executives were indicted by a federal grand jury for a $51.8 million fraud.

Media tycoon Conrad Black, a member of the UK House of Lords, is charged in a federal fraud indictment in the US.

Reuters - U.S. prosecutors announced criminal fraud charges on Thursday against Conrad Black, accusing the ex-publisher of looting his now-shrunken media empire, once one of the world's largest.

Reuters - As General Motors Corp. considers contingency plans in light of a potential strike at its main auto parts supplier, analysts fear a walkout could cost the troubled automaker billions of dollars.

Reuters - U.S. technology stocks climbed on Thursday as robust earnings and positive forecasts lifted investors' hopes for a year-end rally and helped send shares of Web search engine Google Inc. over the $400 level the first time.

Reuters - A rebellion by investors forced Dutch publisher VNU to abandon a $7 billion takeover of U.S. health care data firm IMS Health Inc. on Thursday, and triggered the resignation of VNU's chief executive.

AP - Securities regulators support legislation that would ban a kind of mutual-fund product chiefly sold to military personnel.

AP - The retailer Limited Brands Inc. reported a third-quarter loss on Thursday as sales slumped at Victoria's Secret and its apparel lines.

Conrad Black and three other executives were indicted by a federal grand jury for a $51.8 million fraud.

The trading pits erupt as crude oil prices fall more than $1 a barrel to a fresh five-month low, driven by fresh supplies of heating fuel.

DaimlerChrysler, the fifth-largest carmaker in the world, offers free petrol and an extended warranty to American car buyers.

Weak DVD sales hit Disney's studio and shaves about a quarter off the group's profits this autumn.

Reuters - Losses at General Motors Corp. are unsustainable, but the company is not headed toward insolvency, Chief Executive Richard Wagoner said on Thursday.

Reuters - No. 2 computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co. on Thursday posted a lower quarterly net profit, due in part to charges related to ongoing jobs cuts.

Reuters - Starbucks Corp. on Thursday reported a 21 percent rise in quarterly earnings, beating Wall Street analysts' average estimate thanks to strong sales of specialty drinks and a larger number of stores.

Reuters - Gap Inc. on Thursday posted a 20 percent drop in third-quarter earnings, hurt by disappointing sales of unpopular merchandise.

AP - Housing construction and new building permits were down sharply in October, providing fresh evidence that rising mortgage rates are beginning to cool the five-year housing boom.

Reuters - U.S. stocks rallied on Thursday, with the Nasdaq posting its highest close since June 2001, after key technology companies reported better-than-expected results and shares of Google Inc. broke through the $400 level.

AP - Gap Inc.'s third-quarter profit plunged 20 percent as the clothing retailer stumbled through its worst sales slump in more than three years.

Media tycoon Conrad Black, a member of the UK House of Lords, is charged in a federal fraud indictment in the US.

Efforts to turn around the troubled US computer giant Hewlett-Packard are working, fresh figures suggest.

Leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific nations gather in South Korea for a summit focusing on bird flu, trade and security.

Media tycoon Conrad Black, a member of the UK House of Lords, denies charged of fraud in the US.

Reuters - Starbucks Corp. on Thursday reported a 21 percent rise in quarterly earnings, beating Wall Street analysts' average estimate, as it rolled out new specialty drink hits like green tea Frappuccinos and opened stores at a quick clip.

Investor's Business Daily - Amid a host of economic reports Thursday, housing hissed and factories hummed while output and labor data suggested the U.S. is recovering nicely from the Gulf Coast hurricanes.

Reuters - U.S. stocks rallied on Thursday, driving the Nasdaq to its highest close since June 2001, after shares of Google Inc. broke through $400 for the first time and its rival Yahoo Inc. hit a five-year high.

Investor's Business Daily - Get your umbrella. The forecast is for showers -- in the form of more capital-gain and dividend distributions from mutual funds between now and year-end.

AP - Apparel retailers Limited Brands Inc. and Gap Inc. may be in for a tough holiday season. Both reported sluggish results for the third quarter on Thursday due to fashion missteps, and while they're fixing their assortments, heated competition from rivals could make winning over shoppers this Christmas season more difficult.

Conrad Black and three other executives were indicted by a federal grand jury for a $51.8 million fraud.

Permits for building had their biggest monthly drop in almost six years in October, providing more evidence of a housing slowdown.