A hearing was ordered over Bank of America?s plan to pay $33 million to resolve a case with the S.E.C.

The Topps Company will become the exclusive trading card maker of Major League Baseball in a deal that appears to hurt Upper Deck, its primary competitor.

Lenovo, the world's fourth-largest personal computer maker, reports a loss and says it has not seen the bottom of the downturn.

The Bank of England considers whether to extend its quantitative easing scheme - as it prepares to hold rates.

ITV sells Friends Reunited to Beano-owner DC Thomson for £25m as it announces losses for the first six months of the year.

Sportswear giant Adidas reports a fall in profits as consumers buy less sportswear during the economic downturn.

House prices could rise over the course of 2009, but there is little chance of a quick return to a housing boom, surveyors report.

Asian stocks were narrowly mixed after weak economic data sent Wall Street lower, while worries about tighter monetary policy dragged China shares down more than 2 percent.

Deutsche Telekom said that its second-quarter profit rose 32 percent and the company confirmed its outlook for the rest of the year.

News Corp is set to start charging online customers for news content across all of its websites.

Germany's Commerzbank reports further losses as it struggles to recover from the financial crisis and integrate Dresdner Bank.

Deutsche Telekom reports a big rise in quarterly profits, largely due to the integration of Greek acquisition OTE.

Chinese authorities say they are extending a scheme to provide a pension for hundreds of millions of rural workers.

£125bn thrown at the UK economy... But is it helping?

Reuters - The European Central Bank and Bank of England appeared set on Thursday to keep interest rates unchanged, prompting equity investors to extend their five-month rally but keeping currency and bond markets edgy.

Reuters - The European Central Bank is expected to keep interest rates on hold at a record low on Thursday as it waits to see the impact of efforts so far to revive the economy and credit flows.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- After reporting losses for three straight quarters, insurance and investment company Prudential Financial Inc. on Wednesday posted a second-quarter profit as it benefited from improving financial markets.

Deutsche Telekom said that its second-quarter profit rose 32 percent and the company confirmed its outlook for the rest of the year.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp is set to start charging online customers for news content across all of its websites.

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma announces a $300m training scheme to help workers facing redundancy.

With-profits policyholders at the Aviva insurance company are voting overwhelmingly to accept a cash payout from the firm.

Reuters - Stock index futures pointed to a higher opening on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.22 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.26 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.08 percent at 4:45 a.m. EDT.

Reuters - (Reuters)- Costco Wholesale Corp on Thursday reported a bigger-than-expected 7 percent fall in July same-store sales hurt mainly by a strong U.S. dollar.

Britain?s central bank extended its asset-purchasing plan, and the European Central Bank kept its key rate steady.

Mall-based chains continue to be hit hardest as consumers focus on necessities, but the warehouse club operator Costco?s results also missed analyst estimates.

Solid corporate earnings sent markets in Europe and Asia higher, but the pound slid after the Bank of England said it plans to pump more money into the British economy.

The move by workers who had occupied a factory for more than two months ends the violent, fiery clashes with police and management.

The Bank of England decides to pump another £50bn of new money into the economy and keeps interest rates unchanged.

A US judge refuses to approve the $33m (£19m) fine that Bank of America agreed to pay to settle charges that it misled investors about bonuses.

Russia's prime minister is in Ankara to discuss a major pipeline aimed at boosting Russian gas exports to Europe.

Reuters - U.S. stock index futures edged slightly higher on Thursday with investors eyeing a government report on weekly jobless claims and more corporate earnings, one day after Wall Street ended a four-day rally,

Reuters - Some U.S. retailers reported sales declines for July that were not as steep as expected, suggesting that more shoppers may be buying discretionary items.

Reuters - The European Central Bank kept interest rates on hold at a record low on Thursday as it waits to see the impact of efforts so far to revive the economy and credit flows.

Initial claims for jobless benefits dropped to a seasonally adjusted 550,000 last week, the government reported.

The firm said that it has paid $950 million to buy back a warrant it issued to the federal government as part of the broad financial rescue plan rolled out last fall.

Stocks were moderately higher in early trading on new evidence that layoffs are stabilizing. But gains were muted amid sluggish July sales reports from retailers.

The move by workers who had occupied a factory for more than two months may end the violent, fiery clashes with police and management.

Cost controls and a tax gain helped the cable operator, but it lost basic video subscribers amid the weak economy and competition from phone and satellite operators.

The news and financial data publisher said second-quarter underlying operating profit rose 11 percent to $793 million and affirmed its 2009 outlook.

Second-quarter profit fell 11 percent, but revenue climbed as the digital and satellite TV provider signed up new subscribers in the United States and Latin America.

One-time charges offset growing revenue at the satellite-radio operator, which has been struggling amid the slide in auto sales.

The restaurant group made $14.9 million in the second quarter, a reversal in fortunes driven mostly by the performance of the Wendy?s hamburger chain.

Losses tied to foreign currency translation and a charge from selling its stake in Orc Software hurt the exchange operator, which earned $69 million in the second quarter.

CenturyLink, which changed its name from CenturyTel last month, says second-quarter profit fell 25 percent, but the telecommunications company still beat analysts? Street estimates.

Is 10-year-old Friends Reunited a bargain at £25m?

Foreign investors snap up African farmland

Reuters - U.S. stocks erased their initial advance and turned lower on Thursday as declines in telecoms and biotech stocks offset optimism from a sharp fall in the number of workers filing new claims for jobless benefits.

Reuters - U.S. crude prices fell below $72 on Thursday on oversupply worries, retreating after hitting the highest level since late June, and North Sea Brent crude briefly touched a record for 2009.

AP - The federal agency that regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac named Thursday an interim replacement for its director, who is stepping down at the end of the month.

In the suit, regulators accused Maurice R. Greenberg, the former chief of A.I.G., of overseeing deals that fraudulently overstated the company?s financial position.

The Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule that it said would prohibit fraud or deceit in wholesale petroleum markets.

The popular microblogging site crashed on Thursday morning after unknown attackers flooded the site with data requests. Service is still spotty.

The prime ministers of Turkey and Russia sign a series of agreements to cooperate on major oil and gas projects.

General Motors has said it is still considering the pros and cons of both bids for its European business, Opel.

The European Central Bank (ECB) keeps interest rates on hold at 1% and says growth should return next year.

Will people accept charges for news on the web?

Reuters - Stocks slipped on Thursday as drops in telecommunications and biotechnology stocks offset optimism about the economy spurred by a sharp fall in the number of workers filing new claims for jobless benefits.

Reuters - U.S. crude prices fell nearly $1 to around $71 a barrel on Thursday on oversupply, retreating from the highest level since late June, and North Sea Brent crude briefly touched a record for 2009.

AP - Rates on 30-year mortgages dipped this week after economic reports came in better than expected, Freddie Mac said Thursday.

Reuters - U.S. retailers reported their 11th straight month of sales declines in July, as shoppers continued to search for bargains and basics in the downturn.

Maurice R. Greenberg was accused of overseeing deals that fraudulently overstated A.I.G.?s financial position.

Many economists worry that too much of China?s growth has been fueled by aggressive, state-directed lending that could eventually result in a soaring government debt.

The firm said it agreed to pay $950 million to buy back a warrant it issued to the federal government as part of the broad financial rescue plan rolled out last fall.

Turkey has agreed to offer Russia the use of its territorial waters in constructing a gas pipeline under the Black Sea, a move that will help Moscow maintain its energy dominance in Europe.

Clashes between the police and workers ended after the company agreed to reduce the number of layoffs by half.

Gary Gensler, chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, says domination by a few big institutions is not a good thing.

Barnes & Noble?s e-book store has a lot of promise, but is saddled with filler, missing some top books and has some awkward details.

Tens of thousands of cars traded in under Germany's scrappage scheme have been illegally sold abroad instead, police say.

The energy regulator tells the big six UK household suppliers to come clean about the cost of bills this winter.

Reuters - U.S. stocks fell for the second day on Thursday as Cisco's cautious outlook for a recovery and falling telecom stocks offset optimism about the economy spurred by a steep drop in the number of workers filing new claims for jobless benefits.

Reuters - A U.S. federal judge has refused to approve a settlement between regulators and Bank of America Corp related to the acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co, stating that it could be unfair to the public.

Reuters - U.S. retailers reported their 11th straight month of sales declines in July as shoppers continued to search for bargains and basics in the downturn.

The program offers rebates of $3,500 to $4,500 for trade-ins of cars getting less than 18 miles a gallon.

One expert said the disruption may have originated in Georgia or Russia, which have been engaged in a cyber propaganda conflict.

Guy Hands, the British private equity financier, has decamped to Guernsey to escape taxes, but the British authorities have started to crack down on such practices.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Thursday as investors turned cautious before the government's crucial July jobs report, and took profits after a recent rally.

Reuters - The Nasdaq Stock Market and BATS Exchange said in separate statements on Thursday they will 'voluntarily' stop offering so-called flash orders, a controversial service that gives certain firms an advance look at market-bound trading orders.

Philanthropists tell how they adjusted to the recession

Reuters - Stocks fell on Thursday as investors turned cautious a day ahead of a crucial government report on July employment, and took profits after recent strong gains.

Reuters - President Barack Obama is unlikely to tip his hand as soon as financial markets would like on whether he plans to name Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to another term.

Reuters - The Obama administration will soon have another $2 billion to spend on consumer rebates for car purchases, but automakers are saying little about production increases and experts see only a short-term boost to the economy overall.

Reuters - AIG's former CEO Maurice 'Hank' Greenberg agreed to pay $15 million to settle government accusations that he altered AIG's financial records to inflate its earnings between 2000 and 2005, U.S. securities regulators said on Thursday.

Reuters - A federal judge refused to approve a settlement between a top U.S. regulator and Bank of America Corp over executive bonuses, the latest twist in the bank's star-crossed takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co.

AP - Fannie Mae is seeking an additional $10.7 billion in government aid after posting another massive quarterly loss as the taxpayer bill from the housing market bust keeps growing.

AP - Investors' appetite picked up this month for a government program aimed at spurring lending to consumers and small businesses at lower rates.

The American International Group, the embattled insurance giant, said Thursday afternoon that its board has picked Harvey Golub, the former chief executive of American Express, as its new chairman.

The program offers rebates of $3,500 to $4,500 for trade-ins of cars getting less than 18 miles a gallon.

Ford said it would replace or revamp models that accounted for up to 90 percent of its sales in North America and other regions by 2012.

Guy Hands, the British private equity financier, has decamped to Guernsey to escape taxes, but the British authorities have started to crack down on such practices.

Many economists worry that too much of China?s growth has been fueled by aggressive, state-directed lending that could eventually result in a soaring government debt.

An initial rise in stocks quickly lost steam, as new evidence that layoffs are stabilizing was offset by sluggish retail sales reports.

One expert said the disruption might have originated in Georgia or Russia, which have been engaged in an online propaganda conflict.

Eliminating Saturday delivery is one money-saving solution, but lawmakers hesitate to endorse it.

Apparition will nurture independent movies at a time when the niche is being buffeted by a harsh economic environment.

The Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule that it said would prohibit fraud or deceit in wholesale petroleum markets.

Biogen says its partner, Elan, has violated their deal to share ownership of the drug Tysabri. Elan says it has not.

Turkey has agreed to offer Russia the use of its territorial waters in constructing a gas pipeline under the Black Sea, a move that will help Moscow maintain its energy dominance in Europe.

Fiddling with the books to make earnings forecasts, side deals to inflate profits.... Where have we heard this before?.

TV, radio and outdoor advertising all fell sharply, but the company says declines in ad revenue were starting to moderate.

The Blackstone Group reported a $180.8 million second-quarter profit on Thursday, as the alternative-investment giant reported gains in assets under management in several main businesses -- but added that its core business of leveraged buyouts has yet to fully recover.

The cable television giant said higher prices helped lift its second-quarter earnings.

Beazer Homes USA Inc. said Thursday it cut its fiscal third-quarter loss sharply, largely because of a gain from a reduction in its debt load, and the homebuilder noted new home order trends showed signs of improvement.

A watchdog calls for more protection for shoppers who pay for goods in advance but lose money when a firm collapses.

Reuters - The U.S. Senate approved and sent to the White House on Thursday a $2 billion extension of the 'cash for clunkers' autos sales incentive program.

Reuters - Fannie Mae, the largest provider of U.S. home mortgage funding, on Thursday reported a $14.8 billion quarterly net loss that it said would force it to go to the U.S. Treasury trough a third time for money to stay in business.

AFP - Troubled state-backed mortgage firm Fannie Mae took a massive 14.8-billion-dollar loss in the second quarter, and asked the US Treasury for another 10.7 billion dollars in aid, the company said Thursday.

Some states have passed laws requiring prospective employers to show that a credit check has some relevance to the nature of the job.

A bleak jobs report is expected on Friday, and that could give ammunition to critics of the stimulus plan.

Citigroup may be considering a deal that would give control of its Phibro commodities business to Andrew J. Hall, whose nine-figure salary has become a political hot potato.

The Senate voted to extend the ?cash for clunkers? program, adding another $2 billion to the program.

A worry that Congress will give the states expensive new Medicaid obligations without providing enough new money to pay for them.

Ford said it would replace or revamp models that accounted for up to 90 percent of its sales in North America and other regions by 2012.

General Electric is adding new operations at two of its manufacturing hubs, underlining what the company says is a new commitment to producing in the United States.

Jean-Pierre Mustier is a former head of the investment banking unit, where a trader cost the bank $7.2 billion.

Britain?s central bank extended its asset-purchasing plan, and the European Central Bank kept its key rate steady.

An initial rise in stocks quickly lost steam, as new evidence that layoffs are stabilizing was offset by sluggish retail sales reports.

Mall-based chains continue to be hit hardest as consumers focus on necessities, but the warehouse club operator Costco?s results also missed analyst estimates.

Twitter, the popular microblogging site, was out of service much of the day Thursday as it worked to defend itself against a Web attack, but service appeared to have been restored by late evening.

Eliminating Saturday delivery is one money-saving solution, but lawmakers hesitate to endorse it.

With the repayment of a warrant, Morgan frees itself of help that came with strings attached, like oversight over salaries and bonuses.

Initial claims for jobless benefits dropped to a seasonally adjusted 550,000 last week, the government reported.

The National Football League is using a new camera to create a broad, unified campaign to promote the N.F.L. brand, the 2009 season, the league?s youth programs and other initiatives.

Turkey has agreed to offer Russia the use of its territorial waters in constructing a gas pipeline under the Black Sea, a move that will help Moscow maintain its energy dominance in Europe.

For the first time since the decade began, Americans are having fewer babies, and some experts are blaming the economy.

The senators, from Midwestern and coal-producing states, warn in a letter that new climate legislation must protect domestic manufacturing.

At issue in a trial in federal court in Manhattan is use of a gasoline additive, MTBE, which enhanced engine performance .

Morgan Stanley also negotiated a bit harder with Treasury, while Goldman Sachs took the government?s opening offer, even though it was higher than the firm had proposed paying.

The cable television giant said higher prices helped lift its second-quarter earnings.

The Senate voted to extend the ?cash for clunkers? program, adding another $2 billion to the program.