Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP and others have poured billions into Angola in the last decade to unlock petroleum resources, and the payoffs are finally coming in.

Wal-Mart filed a legal brief on Monday directly contradicting the statements of two former marketing officials who were fired late last year.

The new Airbus A380 superjumbo jet flew into both New York and Los Angeles on Monday, but there were a few differences between the flights.

The decision stymies any mass effort by shareholders to recoup $40 billion in losses from Wall Street banks that had earned fees from Enron.

Auditors complain that they are being forced to close corporate cases prematurely, allowing billions in tax dollars to go unpaid.

Coors is planning an interactive initiative that promotes 4:53 p.m. as the new 5 o?clock.

Delivering shoes to people in the developing world proves to be an adventurous, and sometimes dangerous, job.

Frequent fliers who take a hiatus from traveling for family or other reasons often find their elite status gone when they return.

Harmony Pharmacy and Health Center, opening on Thursday at Newark Liberty International Airport, will be the first such retail service at an airport in the United States.

Lawyers for Conrad M. Black raised concerns about the timing of two large settlements by a chief witness in the case.

Triad Hospitals has agreed to be bought by Community Health Systems for $5.1 billion in a deal that will create the biggest publicly traded United States hospital chain.

Chief executive Gerald Grinstein will not receive any stock, incentive payments or severance when the company exits bankruptcy protection this spring.

MySpace, the Web?s largest social network, has gradually been imposing limits on the software tools that users can embed in their pages.

Wall Street joined overseas markets in riding a wave of merger news yesterday to bounce back from a losing week. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 115 points.

CBOT Holdings Inc. and IntercontinentalExchange are moving quickly after a proposal by ICE to buy the Chicago exchange for $9.9 billion.

The chairman and chief executive of Bank of America, Kenneth D. Lewis, received compensation valued at nearly $23 million in 2006.

The former head of Citibank?s worldwide commodities trading desk was sentenced to 15 months in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to conspiracy.

Kansas City Power and Light and the Sierra Club announced a deal on Monday under which the utility will take steps to cut carbon dioxide output.

The company gave no reason for the departures nor did it say if the company had chosen successors for the directors.

The American Medical Association asked the Justice Department to block the UnitedHealth Group?s proposed purchase of Sierra Health Services.

Detroit?s automakers are getting some help from the federal government, at least in terms of their efforts to find flaws in the new pickup built by their Japanese rival Toyota Motor.

Shares of the biotechnology company AtheroGenics fell sharply yesterday after its lead experimental heart disease drug failed a late-stage clinical trial.

ServiceMaster said it had accepted a $4.7 billion takeover bid from a group led by the private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.

Jury selection began on Monday in the $101 million insider trading trial of the former chief executive of Qwest Communications.

LOS ANGELES, March 19 (AP) ? Fremont General said Monday that it had notified some of the 2,400 employees in its subprime lending unit that they would lose their jobs by May 18.

The oil and gas drilling rig company Hercules Offshore said it had agreed to buy a larger rival, Todco, for $2.3 billion in cash and stock, giving it a stronger position in the Gulf of Mexico.

The British bank confirmed that it was in exclusive talks with ABN Amro Holding about a possible takeover that could be the biggest in the financial services industry.

Rondra J. Matthews, who assumed the position in October, said she was stepping down for personal reasons.

Pitney Bowes Inc. announced Monday that it would shift its top leaders, naming a new chief executive and adding him to the company?s board.

Quanta Services Inc. said it would buy InfraSource Services Inc. for $1.26 billion to expand its services and increase its national presence.

Mississippi?s largest insurer said it would work through state regulators to speed the flow of money to storm victims, losing the court?s oversight.

EGL Inc., the parent of Eagle Global Logistics, said yesterday that it had agreed to be acquired by its chairman and chief executive, James R. Crane.

Companies are expected to spend more on mobile technology and business travel.

Mr. Backus assembled and led the I.B.M. team that created Fortran, the first widely used programming language.

Patients who have trouble paying their medical bills do significantly worse in the year after heart attacks than patients under less financial pressure, a new study finds.

With a salary cap of $109 million this season, teams have spent lavishly on players who in past years would have been second-tier free agents at best.

China Mobile Communications invited bids for contracts worth as much as 24 billion yuan ($3.1 billion) to build the country?s first high-speed phone network. The company asked equipment makers to submit bids for the network, based on a homegrown standard, said Chen Haofei, the secretary general of an industry group backing the standard. China Mobile, based in Beijing, will spend 4 billion yuan on subsidies for third-generation handsets, and the network will cover eight cities in China, including Beijing and Shanghai.

A budget released by the minority Conservative government on Monday would phase out special tax concessions for investors in oil sands projects by 2015. The current system dates back to 1972 and allows oil companies to depreciate capital investments in oil sands operations at a highly accelerated rate. Intended as a method of promoting oil sands developments, it effectively postpones all taxation on income from the projects until their billions of dollars in investment costs are fully written down. The left-leaning New Democrat Party has said that the current rush to develop the oil sands makes special tax concessions unnecessary.

Sanyo Electric said its chairwoman, Tomoyo Nonaka, resigned yesterday, ending her career as one of the few top female executives at a major Japanese company. The resignation came as the company was facing an inquiry into possible accounting problems and was headed for its third consecutive annual loss because of revamping costs and sluggish sales. Ms. Nonaka, left, 52, a former journalist, took the post as chief and chairwoman in June 2005, becoming the first woman to head a major Japanese electronics company. The position of chief was eliminated last year.

Reuters - Honda Motor Co. said on Tuesday it would recall about 166,000 vehicles in the United States of the Accord, Odyssey and five other models to fix a faulty component in the fuel pump.

Japan's central bank keeps interest rates on hold at 0.5% following last month's hike, as recovery continues.

Surging passenger numbers help lift Air China's profits by 11.7% in 2006, despite an increase in fuel costs.

Call centres run by phone firms are among the least focussed on customers, a survey suggests.

The media watchdog Ofcom is to investigate the pay TV industry following requests from several firms.

Reuters - President George W. Bush will get a chance on Tuesday to smooth over hard feelings that arose last year when he twice postponed meeting with executives of U.S. automakers.

Reuters - Continental Airlines Inc. and AMR Corp.'s American Airlines are balking at providing extra rest periods and other special safety measures for pilots who fly their longest international routes, four months after rival Delta Air Lines Inc. agreed to such steps, industry and government officials said in The Wall Street Journal.

Having landed on US soil for the first time, the Airbus A380 prepares for a tour of the country.

Chinese regulatory authorities introduce new rules intended to cool activity on the Shanghai stock market.

The UK inflation rate rose in February 2.8%, after January's unexpectedly big fall.

Japanese internet boss Takafumi Horie springs to the defence of one of his co-accused in the continuing Livedoor trial.

Pakistan opens a port on the Arabian Sea which it hopes will handle large volumes of Gulf shipping traffic.

BAE Systems is reported to have made a bid for the Devonport naval Dockyard without private equity group Carlyle.

Reuters - British bank Barclays Plc and Dutch rival ABN AMRO aim to agree a tie-up within 30 days, a source close to the matter said on Tuesday, as shares of both firms jumped on news of the takeover talks.

Reuters - Subprime lender Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. , trying to avoid a cash crunch, said on Tuesday it had received a five-year, $200 million loan with an annual interest rate of 13 percent.

Reuters - The pace of U.S. home construction rose 9 percent in February, beating analysts' predictions and running against dismal news in the subprime home financing sector, a government report showed on Tuesday.

Reuters - Palm Inc. could be sold for at least $20 per share this week, and private equity firm Texas Pacific Group and at least three other bidders are interested, according to unnamed sources cited by technology news Web site Unstrung.com.

Reuters - Affiliated Computer Services Inc.'s founder Darwin Deason said on Tuesday he and investment fund Cerberus Capital Management have offered to buy the computer services company for about $5.9 billion.

BP is heavily criticised by US safety investigators over a refinery disaster that killed 15 of the UK oil firm's workers.

Rosneft borrows $22bn in low-interest loans from western banks, to secure the remaining assets of Yukos.

A private bank aimed at the ranks of China's super rich is set up by Royal Bank of Scotland and Bank of China.

Child poverty campaigners say the Chancellor should use his Budget to spend more on reducing child poverty.

Reuters - Dutch bank ABN AMRO NV and British bank Barclays Plc have agreed on some of the main issues on a possible merger, a source close to the negotiations told ANP-Reuters on Tuesday.

Reuters - Affiliated Computer Services Inc.'s founder said on Tuesday he and investment fund Cerberus Capital Management plan to take the computer services company private with a $5.9 billion buyout.

Reuters - Blockbuster Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive John Antioco will leave by year-end after agreeing to a smaller 2006 bonus and resolving a dispute over his pay package, the video rental chain said on Tuesday.

Differences between John F. Antioco and the company?s board over his compensation package have dragged on for nearly two years.

The US housing market got a boost after figures showed that new home building rose by 9% in February.

Millions of people are flocking to inhabit virtual online worlds, says research by analysts Screen Digest.

A private bank aimed at the ranks of China's super rich is set up by Royal Bank of Scotland and Bank of China.

Reuters - New Century Financial Corp. , a struggling mortgage lender to people with poor credit histories, said on Tuesday it can no longer sell mortgage loans to Fannie Mae or act as the mortgage financier's primary servicer of mortgage loans.

Reuters - President George W Bush used the backdrop of visits to struggling U.S. automakers on Tuesday to pitch his energy agenda, promoting passenger vehicles that use less or no gasoline as a way to reduce oil consumption.

Reuters - People's Choice Home Loan Inc., a California-based mortgage lender to people with poor credit histories, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday, according to court papers.

Differences between John F. Antioco and the company?s board over his compensation package have dragged on for nearly two years.

Company deficiencies ?at all levels? were responsible for an explosion and fire that killed 15 workers at BP oil in Texas City, a federal safety panel reported today.

Lord Conrad Black is accused of stealing $60m while he was chief executive of Hollinger International.

Reuters - New Century Financial Corp., once the largest independent provider of subprime mortgages, was dealt a fresh setback when Fannie Mae said it would no longer buy its loans to borrowers with poor credit, while another big subprime lender files for bankruptcy on Tuesday.

Reuters - Federal Reserve policy-makers opened a two-day meeting on Tuesday likely to feature discussions about rising mortgage defaults and softer economic growth, but no change in U.S. interest rates.

Reuters - British bank Barclays Plc and Dutch rival ABN AMRO said a merger of their companies would be listed in London, have headquarters in Amsterdam, and would split the top two jobs.

Reuters - Jewelry and accessories retailer Claire's Stores Inc. said on Tuesday that it would be acquired by private equity firm Apollo Management LP for about $3.1 billion.

AP - Costume jewelry retailer Claire's Stores Inc. said Tuesday it agreed to a $3.1 billion takeover proposal from New York-based private equity firm Apollo Management LP.

Company deficiencies ?at all levels? were responsible for an explosion and fire that killed 15 workers at BP oil in Texas City, a federal safety panel reported today.

Reuters - Business software maker Oracle Corp. posted quarterly profit and revenue on Tuesday that topped Wall Street forecasts as new software license sales rose, sending its shares up 4 percent.

Reuters - Software maker Adobe Systems Inc. posted on Tuesday a rise in quarterly net profit despite declining sales ahead of an upgrade to its Creative Suite software bundle for Web, video and mobile device content.

Reuters - New Century Financial Corp., once the largest independent provider of subprime mortgages, was dealt a fresh setback on Tuesday when Fannie Mae said it would no longer buy its loans made to borrowers with poor credit, while another big subprime lender filed for bankruptcy.

Reuters - President George W. Bush used visits to struggling U.S. automakers on Tuesday to pitch his energy agenda, promoting cars that use less or no gasoline as a way to cut oil use and tailpipe emissions.

AP - Mutual fund investors hoping to mimic the success of Wall Street's best-known prognosticator don't need a crystal ball perhaps as much as an iron stomach.

Barclays says it will move its HQ to Amsterdam to help smooth its £80bn takeover of Dutch rival ABN Amro.

The Fed will announce its interest rate decision amid concerns about the economy and mortgage market.

Chinese regulatory authorities introduce new rules intended to cool activity on the Shanghai stock market.

Reuters - Business software maker Oracle Corp. posted quarterly profit and revenue on Tuesday that topped Wall Street forecasts on strong sales of new software applications, lifting its shares by 3 percent.

Reuters - A federal judge on Tuesday postponed the trial of a $40 billion lawsuit filed by Enron Corp. investors, a day after an appeals court ruled the complaint could not proceed as a class-action claim.

If there is another puzzle craze after sodoku, chances are it will spring from a Japanese company called Nikoli.

The Bush administration has been warning energy companies that penalties are possible if they pursue oil and gas deals with Iran.

Differences between John F. Antioco and the company?s board over his compensation package have dragged on for nearly two years.

Two different portraits of Conrad M. Black were presented in opening arguments at the criminal trial against the former newspaper baron.

At Ford and General Motors plants, President Bush told workers they would help national security by reducing the nation?s dependence on foreign oil.

Virgin America would add a major new player in the market for flights between the East Coast and West Coast, potentially pushing fares down.

Lawrence J. Ellison?s three-year buying spree as chief executive of Oracle appears to be paying off.

Consumer Reports said its quest for independence kept it from reaching out to experts who might have helped it avoid one of its biggest mistakes.

The company said it would expand a test of a system that allows advertisers to pay only when an ad spurs a consumer to take an action.

ABC is considering changes in the decades-old way it interrupts programs for commercial breaks.

Americans seem to take on more of it than any other society, but, boy, do we like to beat ourselves up about it.

Whether Ira Glass?s new show can be made visible without losing its old charms is a question that will be answered on Thursday night.

The Russian state oil company Rosneft has lined up $22 billion in financing from a consortium of Western banks to buy assets from its bankrupt rival.

An investigation found that safety measures fell victim to cost cutting ? even after 23 accidental deaths in the 30 years before the explosion.

Two executives of private equity firms clashed with lawmakers over the role of state regulators in approving the proposed $45 billion purchase.

LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) ? The British bank Barclays and a Dutch rival, ABN Amro, said Tuesday that after a merger, their company would be listed in London, have its headquarters in Amsterdam and would split the top two jobs.

New Century Financial, once the nation?s largest independent provider of subprime mortgages, was dealt a fresh setback yesterday when Fannie Mae said it would no longer buy its loans made to borrowers with poor credit.

Pfizer, the drug maker, won a court ruling yesterday blocking a rival company, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, from marketing a generic version of the painkiller Celebrex, the world?s top-selling arthritis drug, until 2015.

The Government Accountability Office had recommended that a $15 billion contract for rescue helicopters be reopened to competitors.

The founder of Affiliated Computer Services, a provider of corporate computer services, said Tuesday that he and the investment fund Cerberus Capital Management are bidding $5.9 billion to take his company private.

The company said its first-quarter profit would fall below estimates because of decreased drilling in parts of North America.

DENVER, March 20 (AP) ? The former chief executive of Qwest Communications, Joseph P. Nacchio, deceived investors and the public when he secretly sold $101 million in stock before its share price fell sharply, a federal prosecutor declared during opening statements Tuesday in Mr. Nacchio?s insider trading trial.

Michael R. Milken, the former junk bond chief who served prison time for securities fraud, plans to sell a $1 billion stake in educational companies.

Claire?s Stores said Tuesday that it agreed to a $3.1 billion takeover proposal from the private equity firm Apollo Management.

Beacon Rock Capital has been charged with defrauding mutual funds of $2.4 million, the United States attorney in Philadelphia said.

Shares rose yesterday as takeover activity in the technology sector reassured investors about equity valuations and offset apprehension about a monetary policy meeting under way at the Federal Reserve.

WASHINGTON, March 20 (AP) ? Construction of new homes rebounded in February after a steep slide in January, but a further decline in building permits was seen as worrisome for the troubled housing industry.

Powell?s Books, the venerable independent bookstore in Portland, Ore., is planning a new series of short films featuring authors, to be shown at bookstores, movie-premiere style.

With big names putting up luxury apartment buildings, developers are now focused on a mixed-use area near the city center.

The number of dead animals included five family pets and nine animals that died as a result of taste tests administered by the manufacturer.

The United States will make a final attempt at clearing barriers to trade in automobiles, medicines and rice as part of a free-trade agreement with South Korea by sending a trade official to Seoul next week. Deputy Trade Representative Karan Bhatia, who will make the trip, said it is the last chance to get a pact. American and Korean negotiators must reach an accord this month to get it to their legislatures before President George Bush?s ?fast-track? trade negotiating authority ends July 1. An agreement would be the largest American trade deal since the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994.

Toshiba and Hynix Semiconductor agreed to end patent disputes over flash memory chips used to store data in electronic devices like digital cameras and MP3 players. Financial terms were not disclosed. Each company will get a license to the other?s semiconductor technology and signed product supply agreements. The accord settles all patent-related litigation in Japan and the United States, including three disputes before the International Trade Commission in Washington. The legal battles between the companies began in November 2004 when Toshiba, which is based in Tokyo, sued Hynix, based in Ichon, South Korea, after the companies failed to extend a licensing agreement.

Commerzbank, a German banking company, is selling its Jupiter Asset Management unit to an investment group that includes TA Associates, a private equity firm in the United States, and managers of the unit, for more than 1 billion euros ($1.33 billion). Commerzbank said it expected to book a gain of 300 million euros ($400 million) from the deal, which it described as part of an effort to focus its asset management activities more strongly on its core German market. Jupiter Asset Management is based in Britain.

The main French business federation said that the French economy would be unable to grow at its full capacity under programs put forth by the existing candidates for president and announced an economic program of its own. The federation, Medef, called for looser labor rules, lower taxes and incentives to bolster investment and innovation. Laurence Parisot, left, president of Medef, said there was little hope of achieving what she called ?an ambitious but realistic goal? with the platforms of the three leading presidential candidates: Nicolas Sarkozy, Ségolène Royal and François Bayrou. ?If you look at the three principal programs, none of them is proposing what we believe is right,? she said at a news conference. The first round of voting in the election is scheduled for April 22 with a runoff set for May 6.

The Delphi Corporation, the auto parts maker, said it had filed for bankruptcy protection for a Spanish unit as part of a plan to close a money-losing plant in Cadiz, Spain. The parts maker will spend about $70 million this quarter for severance costs for the 1,570 workers at the plant, which makes steering mechanisms. Delphi, based in Troy, Mich., disclosed the measure in a report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company has not yet reached a severance agreement with the Spanish union. The Cadiz plant is the primary asset of Delphi Automotive Systems España, Delphi said.

China approved four foreign banks to begin local currency services to individual Chinese customers, opening up access to the country?s 30 trillion yuan ($3.9 trillion) in household savings and surging demand for credit cards and other financial services. The four banks approved are the locally incorporated entities of Citigroup, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation unit of HSBC Holdings, Standard Chartered and Bank of East Asia, the China Banking Regulatory Commission said. Branches of the four will be able to offer a full range of yuan services to Chinese clients once they register their licenses, it said.

China?s securities regulator barred companies from using proceeds from share sales to invest in stocks in an attempt to damp speculative buying. Companies are also banned from buying derivatives and convertible bonds with share sale proceeds, the Securities Regulatory Commission said. ?Regulators are concerned that proceeds are fueling the stock market frenzy,? said Gabriel Gondard, a money manager at Fortune SGAM Fund Management, a venture of Société Générale in Shanghai.