New York?s attorney general ordered an overhaul of the way insurers decide what to pay for out-of-network care.

The agreement, which was not yet confirmed by Ukraine, came after a deal to deploy pipeline monitors.

Wall Street gave up nearly all the gains from a year-end rally that had lifted battered shares more than 7 percent.

Italy's troubled national carrier begins a new lease of life with Air France-KLM holding a 25% stake in the firm.

China's exports see their biggest decline in a decade, December figures show, as factory closures and staff layoffs accelerate.

Reuters - Fears of steep losses at corporate bellwethers from Citigroup to Sony hit Asian shares on Tuesday, signaling the extent of the global economic slowdown and bolstering less risky assets such as government debt.

Reuters - Oil fell below $36 a barrel on Tuesday, extending its near 8 percent overnight loss, as investors grew more pessimistic about energy demand on predictions that the world economy will slow down sharply.

New York?s attorney general ordered an overhaul of the way insurers decide what to pay for out-of-network care.

Russia began limited exports of gas to Europe on Tuesday, a day after Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement with the European Union.

The Borders Group book chain plans to name a hedge fund executive as its chairman as part of its effort to stay afloat, a person with knowledge of the announcement said.

China?s exports and imports shrank at an accelerating rate last month, a trend likely to set off more job losses in the country?s export-oriented coastal regions.

News reports projected that Japan?s leading electronics companies would see an operating loss in the current financial year as plummeting demand and a strong yen take their toll on sales.

Russian gas giant Gazprom orders supplies through Ukraine to Europe to resume, after they were cut for nearly a week.

Eurostar ticket sales rise by almost 11% in 2008 with passenger numbers up to a new high, helped by the weak pound.

Supermarket Tesco reports UK sales growth of 2.5% over the Christmas period after seeing 'challenging trading conditions'.

UK food producer Premier Foods says a successful relaunch of the Hovis bread brand helped to lift sales in 2008.

Reuters - Fears of steep losses at corporate bellwethers from Citigroup to Sony hit Asian shares on Tuesday, signaling the extent of the global economic slowdown and bolstering less risky assets such as government debt.

Reuters - Japan's Sony Corp (6758.T) will likely suffer an annual operating loss of about $1.1 billion, its first such loss in 14 years, due to sluggish sales and a stronger yen, a person with knowledge of the matter said.

Reuters - Spanish prosecutors are investigating Banco Santander's loss of more than 2.3 billion euros of its clients' money by investing with alleged swindler Bernard Madoff, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Russian gas giant Gazprom resumes some supplies through Ukraine to Europe, after they were cut for nearly a week.

Minding giant Rio Tinto suspends development of a copper and gold mine, a day after postponing an iron ore development.

An economic slowdown in China is one of the biggest risks the world is facing this year, the World Economic Form warns.

How should a nation react to tough times?

Reuters - Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Tuesday on mounting fears over corporate results, while a drop in oil prices is likely to weigh on energy stocks.

Reuters - Fears of steep losses at U.S. bank Citigroup and Asian industry giants such as Sony pummeled shares on Tuesday and bolstered government debt.

AP - German retailer Metro AG said Tuesday its fourth quarter sales grew 3 percent, contributing to overall sales growth of nearly 6 percent for 2008.

A deal to restore Russian gas shipments to Europe appeared to be unraveling just hours after it took effect.

Senate leaders signaled that they would support the release of the second half of the $700 billion fund.

Russian gas giant Gazprom says Ukraine has blocked deliveries of gas to Europe, scotching hopes of an end to the crisis.

Oil explorers Heritage and Tullow report a 'world class discovery' of oil in Uganda.

Nigeria misses new deadline to stop 'toxic' gas flares

The UK's trade deficit with the rest of the world reached a record a level in November, official figures show.

Russian gas giant Gazprom resumes some supplies through Ukraine to Europe, after they were cut for nearly a week.

Reuters - Royal Bank of Scotland is selling about $2.4 billion worth of shares in Beijing-controlled Bank of China (3988.HK) on Tuesday, according to market sources and a term sheet for the deal seen by Reuters.

Banks including Barclays, Banco Santander and Royal Bank of Scotland took a beating amid fears for the global economy.

More capital injections into the banking sector might be needed for a lasting recovery, the Fed chairman said.

Julius Genachowski, 46, was a major fund-raiser for the Obama campaign who also played a leading role in the campaign's highly successful online strategy.

The deficit plunged to the lowest level in five years in November as a deepening recession slashed demand for oil and imports from China fell by the largest amount on record.

The suicide of the German billionaire Adolf Merckle shocked the nation as much as it angered his tiny town, where he was eulogized at a service that overflowed the church.

President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan would be a 'significant boost', says Federal Reserve boss Ben Bernanke.

Company bankruptcies in Japan jump 24.7% in December as the financial crisis pummels the world's second largest economy.

The pension scheme of the former Leyland DAF van company has been bought up by the Pension Corporation insurance company for £230m.

Reuters - Stocks edged lower at the open on Tuesday as mounting fallout from the worldwide economic slump fueled a global sell-off in equities and investors worried about the outlook for Citigroup .

Reuters - Citigroup Inc said on Tuesday it is in talks with Morgan Stanley about a possible combination of its retail brokerage business operated under Smith Barney name and a wealth management business operated by Morgan Stanley.

Reuters - The U.S. trade deficit shrank 28.7 percent in November, the biggest contraction in 12 years, as weak consumer demand and plummeting oil prices caused a record drop in imports, a U.S. Commerce Department report showed on Tuesday.

More capital injections into the banking sector might be needed for a long-term recovery, the Fed chairman said on Tuesday.

Despite skepticism from some senators, party leaders signaled that they would support the release of the second half of the $700 billion fund.

The new editors are Elizabeth Spayd, who has held top posts in the paper?s digital and print newsrooms, and Raju Narisetti, who spent years at The Wall Street Journal.

A deal to restore Russian gas shipments to Europe seemed to be unraveling hours after it took effect.

The US deficit dropped to its lowest level in more than five years in November, official figures show.

US banking giant Citigroup says it is in talks with Morgan Stanley about a potential tie-up of their brokerage operations.

Reuters - Stocks were little changed on Tuesday as investors followed a two-day slide by snapping up energy shares on a recovery in oil prices while hopes for more funds to stabilize credit markets offset worries about Citigroup's outlook.

Reuters - Citigroup Inc confirmed it is in talks with Morgan Stanley about merging their brokerage operations.

Reuters - U.S. auto sales in 2009 should fall about 13 percent and reach their lowest level in 27 years, pressuring the U.S. economy and pushing some automakers closer to the verge of collapse, industry analysts said on Tuesday.

More capital injections into the banking sector might be needed for a long-term recovery, the Fed chief said.

The deficit plunged to the lowest level in five years in November as a deepening recession slashed demand for oil and imports from China fell by the largest amount on record.

The drug company plans to reduce its global research staff by 5 percent to 8 percent in an effort to refocus disappointing research efforts and cut its overhead.

Barclays is to cut more than 2,100 jobs across its investment banking and investment management businesses.

Reuters - Stocks were little changed on Tuesday as comments by Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke fueled bets that the government could take toxic assets off bank books, pushing up financial shares and offsetting worries about the fourth-quarter earnings season.

Reuters - Yahoo Inc plans to name former Autodesk Chief Executive Carol Bartz as the Internet network's next chief executive, The Wall Street Journal reported on its website on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the situation.

Citigroup is moving to dismantle large parts of its troubled financial empire, undoing the landmark merger that created the company a decade ago.

After fluctuating for much of the morning, Wall Street slipped in the afternoon as crude oil futures settled slightly higher.

A high-profile task force concluded that the sexual solicitation of children online is not a significant problem.

The downturn in the economy is a boon for retail tenants, who may be able to negotiate lower rents.

Reuters - Stocks edged lower on Tuesday, as worries about the quality of upcoming earnings from economic bellwether General Electric offset a gain in financials chalked up on bets that the U.S. government could take toxic assets off bank books.

Reuters - Yahoo Inc plans to name longtime Silicon Valley executive Carol Bartz as its next chief executive, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the situation.

Yahoo said that it had named Carol Bartz, the chairman and former chief executive of the software maker AutoDesk, as its new leader, succeeding its co-founder Jerry Yang.

The cuts in the bank?s investment banking and wealth management units are a stark sign that the global financial crisis continues to deepen.

Timothy F. Geithner, the nominee for Treasury secretary, failed to pay tens of thousands of dollars in taxes earlier in the decade.

Internet portal Yahoo has named Silicon Valley veteran Carol Bartz as its new chief executive to replace Jerry Yang

Reuters - Citigroup Inc agreed on Tuesday to merge its Smith Barney brokerage with Morgan Stanley's wealth management unit, a big step in what could be a dismantling of what was once the world's largest bank.

Reuters - The Dow fell for the fifth straight day on Tuesday as investors fretted over what many expect will be a gloomy earnings season, overshadowing a boost in financials on bets U.S. authorities will take toxic assets off banks' balance sheets.

Reuters - Yahoo Inc said on Tuesday Carol Bartz is joining Yahoo as chief executive officer. Highlights:

Reuters - JPMorgan Chase & Co shares climbed nearly 7 percent on Tuesday after the company said late Monday it is bringing forward its results by six days.

This week AT&T has sent out text messages to 75 million customers ? urging subscribers to tune into Tuesday night?s season premier of ?American Idol.?

A device intended to prevent strokes provides a case study of how the actions of many can combine to undercut the gathering of reliable medical evidence.

Senator Bob Corker, who voted against a carmaker bailout last month, spent several hours touring the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The downturn in the economy is a boon for retail tenants, who may be able to negotiate lower rents.

The deficit plunged to the lowest level in five years in November as a deepening recession slashed demand for oil and imports from China fell by the largest amount on record.

Intel is hiring Venables Bell & Partners in San Francisco as its lead global creative agency, replacing McCann Erickson Worldwide.

A top executive at UBS was declared a fugitive, two months after he was indicted in connection with an investigation of UBS?s offshore private banking services.

Citigroup and Morgan Stanley agree a tie-up of their brokerage operations in a deal that nets Citi $2.7bn.

The EU tells Russia it is disappointed that little gas has flowed into Europe from Ukraine, despite a deal to resume supplies.

The challenges facing the new Yahoo boss

A plan to guarantee up to £20bn of loans to small businesses to help them survive the downturn is set to be unveiled later.

Reuters - Citigroup Inc agreed to merge its Smith Barney brokerage with Morgan Stanley's wealth management unit, a big step in the possible dismantling of what was once the world's largest bank.

Reuters - Automakers received more bad news at the world's largest auto show on Tuesday as forecasts for a 27-year low in sales this year and auto bailout politics threw cold water on hopes for a speedy industry recovery.

A close look at one bank?s handling of its bailout money demonstrates the conflicting challenges that banks across the U.S. are confronting.

The company behind Botox plans to introduce the first F.D.A. approved drug for growing longer eyelashes.

Yahoo said that it had named Carol Bartz, the chairman and former chief executive of the software maker AutoDesk, as its new leader, succeeding its co-founder Jerry Yang.

The I.R.S. is undertaking a major effort to learn more about whether academic institutions are improperly using their nonprofit status to avoid paying certain taxes.

The Screen Actors Guild appeared determined to go ahead with a strike authorization vote after a group of board members failed in an attempt to oust the union?s lead contract negotiator.

Reuters - Citigroup Inc agreed to merge its Smith Barney brokerage with Morgan Stanley's wealth management unit on Tuesday, and is expected to make further asset sales to raise capital and to isolate toxic assets from the rest of the bank.

Even some of the bailout program?s harshest critics acknowledge that things most likely would be even worse without it.

A close look at one bank?s handling of its bailout money demonstrates the conflicting challenges that banks across the U.S. are confronting.

Several states are considering the rare step of raising gasoline taxes to help fill growing budget gaps and potholed roads.

Timothy F. Geithner, the president-elect?s choice for Treasury secretary, failed to pay more than $34,000 in taxes early this decade.

The president-elect appeared to enjoy some success at a meeting with Senate Democrats, but it was clear that tough talks lie ahead.

Denny?s, the restaurant chain, is becoming a Super Bowl advertiser for the first time.

Joseph Moinian, one of country?s largest commercial real estate magnates, has several loans coming due.

Burdened with debt, Mecom sells its German newspapers for $204 million.

Julius Genachowski was a major fund-raiser for the Obama campaign and played a leading role in the campaign?s highly successful online strategy.

Mr. Rattner co-founded a private equity firm, the Quadrangle Group, and manages the blind trust of his longtime friend Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Bank of America will call its securities brokerage business Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and continue to use the bull logo, the bank said on Tuesday.

A British doctor called a medical device flawed in an online publication.

The Yankees have hired a division of a residential real estate brokerage, Prudential Douglas Elliman, to help sell unsold premium seats and luxury boxes at their new stadium.

MSNBC will simulcast its coverage in movie theaters and Starbucks stores, and other screenings are being planned across the nation.

After searching for a direction for much of the morning, the Dow ended the day marginally lower, while crude oil futures moved slightly higher.

Block trades ? those that occur when an institution wants to sell a large amount of stock, and fast ? are back.

Mr. Snyder started Biocraft Laboratories in Elmwood Park, N.J., an early and highly successful manufacturer of generic equivalents for brand-name pharmaceuticals.

Mr. Ellis was a founder of the international real estate company Grubb & Ellis and a leader in the consolidation of small neighborhood brokerage companies into major national chains.

Reuters - Asian shares recovered on Wednesday from a steep five-day sell-off, though the mood remained cautious given nagging worries about the economy and earnings, while oil rose on Saudi Arabia's plans to cut output.