The automaker said it would spend $1.43 billion to build two plants, even as the U.S. and German companies prepare for a possible divorce.

The results led some analysts to question whether the wireless phone maker would be able to return to profitability this year.

The company is accused of abetting the commission of torture by helping Chinese authorities identify political dissidents who were later beaten and imprisoned.

Sharp Electronics has embarked on a six-month campaign to teach homeowners how solar energy works.

AOB Media, a small two-year-old company, produced a Chinese TV show that might only otherwise be achieved by vast multinational entertainment companies.

The evidence suggests that married people ? especially married men ? are better off than the unmarried.

Dell?s personal computer sales continued to decline in the first quarter in the United States and across the world.

The United Steelworkers will seek to merge with two large British unions, a move that would form the first trans-Atlantic labor group.

Paul D. Wolfowitz?s efforts to quell discontent over his leadership suffered a blow when one of his aides urged him to resign.

The surge reflected strength across most of its primary businesses lines, especially investment banking.

The Dow recovered from Wall Street?s steep decline in February as investors rewarded companies that showed strong earnings.

First-quarter results beat projections, but the brokerage firm warned that recent market turbulence would dent earnings for the year.

Europe?s biggest carmaker said its first-quarter net profit more than doubled on solid global sales gains.

Clear Channel agreed to a sweetened takeover bid of $19.4 billion but the deal may yet fail to win shareholder approval.

Freddie Mac said it would buy as much as $20 billion in subprime mortgages and Washington Mutual offered to refinance $2 billion in loans.

First-quarter profit dropped 19 percent but results exceeded estimates because of the company?s fast-growing drug business.

Double-digit growth at Otis elevator and a comeback by Sikorsky Aircraft moved the company to almost a 7 percent increase in first-quarter profit.

Investment gains offset a decline in revenue from property-liability insurance premiums.

The parent of American Airlines swung to an $81 million profit from a loss a year ago as it filled more seats, charged higher fares and paid less for fuel.

Kraft did manage to beat Wall Street?s expectations despite continuing challenges in its turnaround effort.

Taxpayers in the Northeast swamped by a powerful storm just before the filing deadline can delay filing their federal returns for another week, the I.R.S. said.

TXU will go ahead with a $32 billion sale to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Texas Pacific Group after no better offers surfaced this week.

Dean S. Barr resigned as head of the bank?s hedge funds less than a week after the bank agreed to buy another hedge fund, Old Lane Partners.

A petrochemical complex in Libya will be expanded and operated by a joint venture formed by the Dow Chemical Company and Libya?s state-owned National Oil Corporation, the two companies said. Dow Chemical said it was the first global chemical company to take part in the economic development of the petrochemical industry in Libya since the North African nation recently embarked on a policy of attracting foreign expertise and investment to help diversify its domestic economy. Enhancements at the petrochemical complex, which was built in the 1980s in the Mediterranean coastal port of Ras Lanuf, will position the joint venture for growth as a world-class supplier of polyethylene and polypropylene, Dow said. The plastics are used in the manufacture of a wide array of products including packaging materials, plastic bottles and automobile interiors.

Europe?s trade chief said that he could start more litigation against China as part of a new push to bring down barriers around the world to European exports and investments. The trade chief, Peter Mandelson, left, said if Chinese authorities failed to bend on intellectual property rights and other market issues, ?Europe?s patience could wear thin.? European companies have complained in the past that the European Commission is not as aggressive as the United States in tackling obstacles to exports or investment in countries, including China. Although China has made some progress, protection of intellectual property rights remains ?patchy and uneven,? Mr. Mandelson said, adding that the European Union companies lose an estimated 20 billion euros ($27.18 billion) a year because of Chinese trade barriers.

The Canadian National Railway lifted a lockout against striking workers in five cities after a special labor law, passed Tuesday by the House of Commons through a special accelerated process, was approved by the Senate and swiftly signed into law by Governor-General Michaëlle Jean, the formal head of state. An arbitrator will now impose a settlement. The United Transportation Union began rotating strikes against Canadian National last week after its workers overwhelmingly rejected a tentative contract. That proposed contract had ended a 15-day general strike in February that had caused industrial disruption in Canada and shipping delays to the United States. The dispute focuses on work rules, particularly those concerning older employees.

Telefónica, the Spanish phone operator, has agreed to sell its Airwave O2 unit, Britain?s police and emergency services radio network, to Macquarie Bank of Australia for £1.9 billion ($3.8 billion). The Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group and Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund II, both managed by the bank, which is based in Sydney, will each own 50 percent of Airwave, they said in a statement. Marquarie is the world?s largest manager of infrastructure. Telefónica, based in Madrid, which has more debt than any other major European phone operator, is selling Airwave after shedding its phone directory business last year.

The European Commission will announce a big increase in numbers of risky goods withdrawn from sale.

Striking coca farmers in Peru give the government a 24-hour ultimatum to negotiate with them.

Reuters - Benchmark Brent oil held steady on Thursday, after rebounding from the previous day's three-week low as renewed fears over Iran making nuclear fuel, was offset by the restart of a pipeline carrying oil from Canada.

Microsoft plans to offer a stripped-down version of Windows, Office and other software for $3 to people in developing nations.

A few urban areas of the former Communist bloc are transforming into outsourcing centers for corporations in the U.S. and Europe.

Investment gains offset a decline in revenue from property-liability insurance premiums.

China's economy accelerates again, growing at an annual rate of 11.1% in the first three months of the year.

Iraq's oil reserves are significantly untapped and production could be doubled in five years, a study says.

Unions urge DaimlerChrysler not to sell its struggling North American Chrysler business despite its recent losses.

The European Commission will announce a big increase in numbers of risky goods withdrawn from sale.

Unemployment rose in the three months to February, the first rise since September 2006, official figures show.

WH Smith says it is to open Post Office franchises within 70 of its 540 UK High Street stores.

Supermarket chain Sainsbury's has said it will ban disposable carrier bags in its stores for one day later this month.

Reuters - Benchmark Brent oil edged lower and U.S. prices fell on Thursday after a major Canadian pipeline was restarted, but losses were checked by a revival of concern over Iran's nuclear program.

AFP - British retailer Tesco PLC has set up a South China headquarters in the city of Guangzhou, to help boost the group's presence in that wealthy part of the country, state media reported Thursday.

China's economy picks up pace, stoking fears it may be overheating and sending shares sharply down.

Essar Global, the Indian conglomerate, is expanding in the US by buying a leading steelmaker.

O2's parent firm sells a business that runs a digital radio network for the UK emergency services for £2bn.

Reuters - Benchmark Brent oil edged lower and U.S. crude fell on Thursday after a major Canadian pipeline was restarted, but renewed concern over Iran's nuclear program lent some support to prices.

The European Commission will tackle 'hidden' global trade barriers in a fresh effort to develop export markets.

Lenders start to withdraw their fixed-rate mortgage products ahead of a possible interest rate rise.

Reuters - Altria Group Inc. on Thursday posted higher first-quarter profit, excluding the Kraft Foods Inc. business and the reversal of tax reserves last year, helped by strength in its international tobacco business.

Reuters - Bank of America Corp. , the second-largest U.S. bank, said on Thursday that first-quarter profit rose 5 percent, helped by growth in fee income.

Reuters - Schering-Plough Corp. on Thursday posted a 55 percent rise in first-quarter earnings, beating analysts' estimates on sharply higher sales of its prescription drugs, including two cholesterol fighters sold in partnership with Merck & Co.

Reuters - Movie theater company AMC Entertainment Inc., formerly known as Marquee Holdings Inc., on Thursday set its planned initial public offering at 39.47 million shares for an estimated price of $18 to $20 each.

Reuters - China's economy grew in the first quarter by 11.1 percent from a year earlier, fuelled by booming investment and exports and adding to speculation that interest rates would need to rise again soon.

AP - China's Cabinet promised to rein in a sizzling economy that surged 11.1 percent in the first quarter as Asian markets tumbled on concerns that authorities will raise interest rates to keep China's economy from overheating.

With an 11.1 percent annualized growth rate in the first quarter of this year, Beijing is likely to step up its efforts to cool down the economy.

Sterling eases slightly against the dollar but still remains above $2 and trading close to 26 year highs.

Russia's economy has accelerated in the first three months of this year, a top government official claims.

Microsoft software will sell for just $3 in some parts of the world in an attempt to double the number of global PC users.

Only one of Britain's top five richest people was born in the UK, the Sunday Times Rich List 2007 reveals.

Reuters - Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. , the world's largest brokerage, said on Thursday that first-quarter earnings jumped, helped by a surge in trading revenues.

Reuters - Merck & Co. on Thursday said quarterly earnings rose as booming sales of newer medicines offset declines in older products, and said it plans to seek U.S. approval in 2009 for a migraine-headache treatment now entering late-stage trials.

Reuters - Altria Group Inc. said on Thursday strength in its Philip Morris International tobacco business helped lift first-quarter earnings, excluding the recently spun off Kraft Foods Inc. and a tax-related benefit last year.

AP - China's sizzling economy surged 11.1 percent in the first quarter, causing the country's Cabinet to declare Thursday it will take steps to keep the economy from overheating.

With an 11.1 percent annualized growth rate in the first quarter, China may step up efforts to slow the economy.

British aerospace firm Rolls-Royce is to pull out of Sudan in light of the worsening humanitarian situation in Darfur.

A bid to buy Clear Channel, the leading US radio station operator, is raised in an attempt to win over key investors.

The new owner of a UK emergency services radio firm Airwave O2 is to close its final salary pension scheme.

Reuters - Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. , the world's largest brokerage, posted a higher-than-expected increase in first-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by a surge in trading revenues.

Reuters - Altria Group Inc. posted quarterly earnings below analysts' average forecast on Thursday as weakness in its Philip Morris USA tobacco business offset improved results abroad.

AP - A barometer of future economic growth rose a tepid 0.1 percent in March, hinting that the U.S. should expect only a meager expansion in the coming months, a private research group said Thursday.

Mobile phone firm Nokia reports higher quarterly sales after it tapped into emerging markets and cut prices.

Reuters - Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. , the world's largest brokerage, posted a higher-than-expected increase in first-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by a 42 percent increase in trading revenues.

Reuters - Merck & Co. , Schering-Plough Corp. and Wyeth all rode strong drug sales to quarterly profits that topped Wall Street expectations on Thursday, adding to the wave of good news for investors in major pharmaceutical companies.

Reuters - Manufacturing activity in the Mid-Atlantic region stalled in April, with a factory activity index unchanged from the previous month, a survey showed on Thursday.

Reuters - Altria Group Inc. posted quarterly earnings below expectations on Thursday as weakness in its Philip Morris USA tobacco business overshadowed improved results abroad.

Amgen said today that its anemia drug Aranesp did not increase the death rate of lung cancer patients in a closely watched clinical trial.

Reuters - Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. , the world's largest brokerage, posted a higher-than-expected increase in first-quarter profit on Thursday, as trading revenue rose 42 percent.

Reuters - General Motors Corp.'s global sales rose 3 percent in the first quarter but its market share fell slightly as declines in North America offset strong demand in emerging markets, the automaker said on Thursday.

Reuters - DaimlerChrysler (DCXGn.DE) could wrap up a sale of its ailing U.S. arm Chrysler as early as next month, a source familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

Academic research offers insights into how the very equity-based incentives that were supposed to make managers think like owners have instead encouraged them to overpay for acquisitions.

Google has seen quarterly profits soar 69%, beating expectations, boosted by strong advertising revenue.

Reuters - Google Inc. reported on Thursday its quarterly net profit rose 69 percent, topping expectations, driven by market share gains in its Web search business, sending its stock up 2.8 percent after-hours.

Reuters - A vote is expected on Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives on a bill that would let shareholders cast non-binding ballots on corporate executive pay levels, a measure opposed by the Bush administration and most Republicans.

Reuters - Lockheed Martin Corp. has been cleared to start building F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production models for the U.S. military, a watershed for the costliest weapons procurement ever, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Reuters - Sunglasses maker Oakley Inc. said on Thursday that first quarter net profit tripled, beating analysts' estimates, as results were helped by a 31 percent rise in sales and an income tax benefit.

Reuters - Gap Inc. on Thursday named Gary Muto, a 19-year veteran at the apparel retailer, as president of Gap Adult and GapBody, the latest senior executive change at the company intended to help reinvigorate merchandise to better appeal to consumers.

The jury convicted Joseph P. Nacchio on 19 of 42 insider trading counts and he faces up to 10 years in prison.

The company?s core search and advertising business continued to outpace that of Microsoft and Yahoo.

Heinrich von Pierer said he hoped a successor could steer the scandal-plagued company into ?calmer waters.?

The surge in growth is almost certain to force Beijing to step up efforts to cool down the economy.

Reuters - Joseph Nacchio, the former chief executive of Qwest Communications International Inc. , was found guilty on Thursday of insider trading on stock sales worth millions of dollars in April and May of 2001.

Reuters - American Express Co. said on Thursday that quarterly profit rose 21 percent, as the fourth-largest U.S. credit card company cut marketing costs.

The company?s core search and advertising business continued to outpace that of Microsoft and Yahoo.

UK food and drink exports hit a record in 2006, the first time they have hit such levels since the BSE crisis.

Reuters - Joseph Nacchio, former CEO of Qwest Communications International Inc. , was found guilty on Thursday of 19 counts of insider trading, capping the last major trial in a spate of scandals that tarnished Corporate America over the last decade.

Reuters - Google Inc. reported on Thursday a 69 percent rise in quarterly net profit, easily beating expectations, helped by market share gains and a lower tax rate, sending its stock up 3 percent.

Investor's Business Daily - Americans invented the mutual fund. U.S. investors have embraced them.

Rather than loathing their periods, women evidently carry on complex love-hate relationships with them.

The jury convicted Joseph P. Nacchio on 19 of 42 insider trading counts related to his sale of Qwest stock in 2001.

Google, Microsoft and Yahoo have trained their sights on cellphones as the next great battleground in the Internet search wars.

Complaints over British Gas have more than doubled since last year, with billing to blame for most of them.

Reuters - An executive of South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (005930.KS) has agreed to plead guilty to price-fixing in the U.S. government's long-running investigation of the computer memory chip business, the Justice Department said on Thursday.