Some are wondering if the outlet-heavy Mills Corporation, a fast-growing real estate investment trust, is a victim of its success.

Ford's chief executive urges the US Congress to support carmakers' investment in more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's government agrees a deal to provide cheap heating fuel to low-income Americans.

Energy company Scottish Power rejects a £11.3bn bid approach from German utility firm E.ON.

Oil prices rise above the $59 a barrel mark amid fears that US snowstorms could trigger strong demand.

Steelmaker Arcelor makes a 3bn euro bid for Canada's Dofasco after talks between the two collapse.

South Korean MPs ratify a plan to liberalise the domestic rice market, amid strong opposition from farmers.

Reuters - South Korea is investigating Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (005930.KS) over accusations of unfairly low pricing in its supply of flash memory chips to Apple Computer Inc. , regulatory officials said on Wednesday.

Reuters - If surging sales were meant to take some of the sting out of the Airbus-Boeing rivalry, someone's forgotten to tell both of the world's biggest planemakers.

Reuters - Arcelor , the world's second largest steelmaker, is poised to make an all-cash takeover bid for Dofasco Inc. , valuing the Canadian steelmaker at more than C$4.3 billion (US$3.6 billion).

Shares in Merck, the German drugmaker, fall 5% in the wake of the shock departure of its chief executive.

Ford's chief executive urges the US Congress to support carmakers' investment in more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's third nominee for oil minister is rejected by the Iranian parliament.

Christmas spending will decline this year, the first drop in a decade, a survey by accountants Deloitte predicts.

The Bank of England voted unanimously to keep UK interest rates on hold at 4.5% this month, minutes show.

The lead plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit against the Delphi Corporation yesterday asked the judge overseeing the company's bankruptcy to reject a proposed $110 million executive pay plan.

The French government approves a new air tax expected to generate about 200m euros each year for development aid.

Rising passenger numbers help Air France KLM shrug off a big increase in fuel prices and report a 50% rise in profits.

Christmas spending will fall this year for the first time in a decade, a survey by accountants Deloitte predicts.

Trade Secretary Alan Johnson says lights across Britain will not go out this winter, despite fears over energy supplies.

South Korean MPs ratify a plan to liberalise the domestic rice market, amid strong opposition from farmers.

Reuters - Drax Group Ltd, owner of Europe's largest coal-fired power station, said on Wednesday it ended takeover talks with a U.S. consortium over a 2.23 billion-pound offer and aimed to float next month.

Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications fell last week, dragged down by a slump in home refinancings which hit a 16-month low as interest rates remained close to their highest levels this year, industry trade group figures showed on Wednesday.

Reuters - Arcelor, the world's second largest steelmaker, announced an all-cash takeover bid for Dofasco Inc. on Wednesday, valuing Canada's largest steel company at C$4.4 billion Canadian dollars.

Reuters - United States-based Sovereign Bancorp and Spain's top bank, Santander, won a victory on Tuesday over shareholders opposed to their three-way takeover deal, thanks to a New York Stock Exchange decision.

Reuters - U.S. stock futures were little changed, pointing to a flat market opening on Wednesday, amid signs the Federal Reserve may be approaching the end of its rate hike cycle.

USATODAY.com - As Macy's faces the crucial holiday selling season, it's going all-out to trump its competition. Friday, the retailer will kick off its biggest promotion ever - giving away $1 million worth of gift cards in one day.

Mobile phone giant Vodafone, which has sponsored Manchester United since 2000, calls time on a four-year shirt deal with the club.

Workers at a US oil company in Azerbaijan return to work after striking in pursuit of better pay and conditions.

Reuters - The final November reading on the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index is expected to show that consumers' mood improved from October levels, economists said.

Reuters - Drax Group Ltd, owner of Europe's largest coal-fired power station, said on Wednesday it has ended takeover talks with a U.S. consortium over a 2.23 billion-pound offer and aimed to go ahead with its share flotation next month.

Reuters - Shares of Independence Community Bank Corp. rose 4.8 percent in trading before the market opened on Wednesday, a day after a decision put the deal for Sovereign Bancorp to buy Independence back on track.

Reuters - U.S. stocks edged lower on Wednesday, with shares of Research in Motion Ltd. , maker of the Blackberry wireless device, falling after it cut its subscriber forecast.

US consumer sentiment recovers from a two month slump, buoyed by falling fuel prices and the effect of recent hurricanes eases.

Reuters - Arcelor, the world's second-largest steelmaker, made an unsolicited cash takeover bid for Dofasco Inc. on Wednesday, valuing the Canadian peer at C$4.4 billion.

Reuters - U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday as a drop in crude prices after the latest inventory data and a report showing stronger-than-expected consumer sentiment raised investors' hopes about healthy household spending before the holiday shopping season.

Shares in the world's third largest record firm rise 10% on rumours that a takeover bid could be imminent.

Reuters - U.S. consumers are heading into the holiday season in a much cheerier mood now gasoline prices are easing and the economy appears to be shaking off the impact of Hurricane Katrina, data on Wednesday showed.

Reuters - U.S. retailers look set to catch a break just in time for the big Thanksgiving shopping weekend as consumer confidence perks up, gasoline prices fall and stores pile up early-bird specials.

Reuters - None of the five major oil companies subpoenaed to testify about record profits and high consumer energy prices at a hearing December 1 in Wisconsin would say this week whether their officers would attend.

Reuters - U.S. stocks shot higher on Wednesday as a better-than-expected consumer sentiment reading and a drop in the day's crude oil prices fueled optimism for strong holiday spending and a year-end rally.

New German Chancellor Angela Merkel calls for stronger ties with the US on her first full day in office.

Niger faces a second food crisis in the coming months unless world donors give more, a UN agency warns.

Chile's ex-military ruler Augusto Pinochet is placed under house arrest and charged with tax evasion.

Reuters - General Motors Corp.'s plan to cut 30,000 North American manufacturing jobs adds to the bad news for U.S. states already strained from revenue losses as manufacturers shed jobs and operations.

Reuters - U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday after a drop in crude oil prices and a report showing better-than-expected consumer sentiment set the stage for healthy holiday spending.

EU trade chief Peter Mandelson says Europe has room to move on what goods to protect from tariffs at WTO talks next month.

Reuters - General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., Detroit's downhill racers, will post another big drop in their U.S. sales when they report November results next week, industry analysts said on Wednesday.

Reuters - Stocks rose on Wednesday, extending a week-long rally, after a drop in crude oil prices and a report showing better-than-expected consumer sentiment set the stage for robust holiday spending.

AP - Falling energy prices have economists believing improvement is on the way for hiring, which has been mired in a hurricane-related lethargy for the last few months.

AP - Shares of Eastman Kodak Co. jumped more than 8 percent Wednesday, a day after the photography-equipment maker reached an income tax-refund settlement with the Internal Revenue Service that will boost its fourth-quarter earnings.

AP - When consumers shop for diamond bracelets this holiday season, BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. probably won't be the first retailer they think of. But luxury goods are finding their way into warehouse clubs and other low-to-moderate price retailers who want to be part of the boom in upscale merchandise.

Oil prices slip back from the $59 a barrel level as US government data shows a larger-than-expected rise in stockpiles.

Reuters - Bankrupt brokerage Refco Inc. said on Wednesday a Swiss court had granted an injunction to prevent a Geneva-based online foreign exchange broker from diluting its majority stake in the Swiss firm.

Reuters - The FBI has arrested a former stockbroker and accused him of insider trading using stolen advance copies of Business Week magazine, according to a court complaint released on Wednesday.

Reuters - Stocks climbed on Wednesday, extending November's rally, after a drop in crude oil prices and a report showing better-than-expected consumer sentiment set the stage for robust holiday spending.

AP - A federal judge has ordered a French retailer to pay California nearly $190 million plus interest as restitution for its role in the takeover of failed insurer Executive Life.

Reuters - Energy company Black Hills Corp. on Wednesday said it is proposing to make a bid worth up to $1.25 billion for electric utility NorthWestern Corp., in a move that would trump a previous bid from power consortium Montana Public Power Inc.

Investor's Business Daily - Money is surging into exchange-traded stock funds. Much of it is coming from traders who got the cold shoulder from mutual funds or are simply looking to get into a market sector without buying individual stocks.

Car-parts firm Delphi delays plans for executive rewards amid union and investor opposition.

Three former Merrill Lynch workers win a $2m payout from broker Merrill Lynch for a sex discrimination claim.

Top company directors retiring early on luxury pensions should stop 'lecturing' average workers on the issue, the TUC says.

Reuters - The Nikkei share average climbed to its highest level in nearly five years on Thursday, extending its rally into a sixth straight session, as shares in chip-related companies surged on confidence in the industry's recovery.