A report to be released Friday questions the Bush administration?s decision to rescue ?a company that apparently posed no systemic risk to the financial system.?

Asian stocks fell on Thursday as investors fretted over tighter monetary policy in China on the back of strong loan growth and quickening inflation.

With new devices making it easy to stream Internet content to a television, more people are watching cable shows for free.

When the software mogul Mitch Kapor won planning approval for his 10,000-square-foot house in Berkeley, Calif., neighbors were surprised that it will qualify as ?green.?

An industry campaign to aggressively court designers results in a fur rebound on the runway.

Proceeds from an electric rate increase would be earmarked for renewable energy purchases and programs.

Gov. Patrick J. Quinn?s proposal to raise the tax by one percent was just one measure aimed at closing a budget deficit that some now estimate at $13 billion.

House Democrats were desperately trying to prevent a sweeping overhaul of student loan programs from becoming a casualty of the health care battle.

PepsiCo is raising prices on its Tropicana orange juice because of the deep freeze that hurt much of Florida?s citrus crop, the company said Wednesday.

The revelation that Barclays, the British bank, is interested in buying a United States bank suggests it wants to become a familiar face on America?s Main Street, too.

Public and transport services grind to a halt in Greece as workers stage a second strike in protest at austerity measures.

AP - For the want of a better two-second picture of a tachometer, ABC News has called into question its reporting on acceleration problems with Toyota vehicles.

AFP - Japan will oppose a proposed global trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna, which has won EU and US backing ahead of an international conference, the top government spokesman said Thursday.

Investors bought shares of firms bailed out by the government amid speculation that their balance sheets would substantially improve.

Oil giant BP announces a $7bn (£4.7bn) deal that will allow it to begin exploring for oil off the coast of Brazil.

Carmaker Daihatsu, a subsidiary of Toyota, is recalling 274,551 vehicles in Japan because of a number of possible defects.

Japan's economy grew by less than first estimated in the final quarter of 2009, revised government figures show.

Union leaders representing British Airways cabin crew will meet later to decide whether to announce dates for a strike.

Chinese inflation hit a 16-month high in February, leading to calls for the government to take measures to cool the economy.

Brazil exploits potential as web use spreads

Plans for a new high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham are to be published by the government later.

The UK's fourth biggest supermarket group, Morrisons, reports a 30% rise in annual profits after it opens more stores.

AP - China's inflation spiked higher in February, adding to pressure on Beijing to prevent overheating and keep the recovery in the world's third-largest economy on track.

AP - Greek public transport was halted, flights grounded and state hospitals left with emergency staff only on Thursday as workers held yet another general strike to protest painful spending cuts.

AP - German salt and fertilizer company Kali+Salz AG said Thursday that its fourth-quarter net income plunged 93 percent to euro16 million ($22 million) as the downturn significantly affected demand in global agricultural markets.

AFP - Daihatsu Motor Co., a subsidiary of embattled Toyota, said Thursday it was recalling almost 275,000 vehicles due to possible defects, the latest in a raft of problems hitting Japanese carmakers.

The year-on-year rise in February was partly attributable to the Lunar New Year holiday but also to rising inflationary pressures in China?s economy.

Japan?s economy grew less than initially estimated in the fourth quarter, and a measurement of price trends hit a record low, adding to pressure on the Bank of Japan to ease monetary policy further next week.

The International Air Transport Association said passenger traffic was increasing due to a stronger-than-expected economic recovery in emerging markets.

The Red Knights group eyeing a possible bid for Manchester United says investment bank Nomura will advise it.

A Welsh MP echoes concerns of a former UK sports minister on the benefits of the London Olympics to the rest of the country.

Department store group John Lewis reports a 9.6% rise in annual pre-tax profits to £306.6m.

AP - British bank HSBC says information on 15,000 customers with accounts in Switzerland has been stolen.

AP - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he regrets that a major defense contractor has pulled out of the contest to build a badly needed new Air Force plane.

AP - Europe's biggest carmaker Volkswagen AG says its 2009 net income declined 80 percent to euro960 million ($1.3 billion), confirming its preliminary estimate released in February.

Reuters - U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has written to the European Commission warning that plans to regulate hedge funds and private equity firms could cause tensions with Washington, the Financial Times reported.

AFP - Japan vowed Thursday to fight a global trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna, the pricey mainstay of sushi and sashimi, as Europe and the United States step up moves to protect the species.

AFP - Oil prices slipped under 82 dollars on Thursday as investors took profits on gains made followed data that showed stronger US energy demand, analysts said.

HSBC said the theft of Swiss client data at the heart of a recent tax dispute with France was vastly larger than it had previously acknowledged, involving at least 15,000 clients.

For the second time in two weeks, a general strike closed public services, halting all flights and most transport across the debt-plagued country.

The year-on-year rise in February was partly attributable to the Lunar New Year holiday but also to rising inflationary pressures in China?s economy.

BP is paying Devon Energy $7 billion for oil and gas assets in Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico and Azerbaijan.

Officials are investigating whether the buyers are funded by China, a historical foe of the island nation.

Bank of China said it wants to issue more shares in Hong Kong soon, an offering that could strengthen its balance sheet by some $7.7 billion.

Bayerische Motoren Werke said sales stabilized in established markets and grew in emerging countries like China and Brazil.

The global airline industry will recover strongly this year, as passenger and freight numbers improve, its trade body says.

Bank of America has apologised to a woman in Pennsylvania after one of its contractors entered her house and confiscated her parrot.

The validity of Portsmouth's administration will not be challenged by HM Revenue & Customs, the BBC learns.

Brazil exploits potential as web use spreads

Plans for a new rail line capable of carrying trains of up to 250mph between London and Birmingham are announced by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis.

Department store group John Lewis reports a 9.7% rise in annual profits to £306.6m as staff share a bumper bonus.

Network Rail maintenance workers vote in favour of strikes, bringing about the possibility of action over Easter.

Photographer Annie Leibovitz does a deal with Colony Capital to clear huge debts that meant she may have lost her library of famous pictures.

Insurers paid out £650m from 335,000 claims made as a result of damage caused by the wintry weather in the UK.

AP - AstraZeneca PLC announced a supply partnership with India's Torrent Pharmaceuticals on Thursday, its first such link with a generic drugmaker as it seeks to boost its presence in emerging markets and counter patent losses on blockbuster medicines.

AP - Meat processor Smithfield Foods returned to a profit in the third quarter, partly due to strength in its packaged meats business and higher sales overseas.

AP - Information on 24,000 HSBC customers with Swiss accounts has been stolen, the British bank said Thursday, potentially exposing large numbers of international clients to prosecution by tax authorities in their home countries.

AP - German carmaker BMW AG said Thursday its 2009 net income fell 36 percent to euro210 million ($286 million) because of lower demand for its cars and motorcycles during the economic downturn as well as a higher tax rate.

AP - Greek police fired tear gas to disperse protesters throwing rocks and firebombs outside Parliament as more than 20,000 people marched through central Athens during a nationwide strike against the government's harsh new austerity measures.

AFP - Oil prices held steady on Thursday as investors paused for breath following recent gains made after data that showed stronger US energy demand, analysts said.

The administration?s announcement comes as America?s trade deficit narrowed in January, largely because of a drop in spending on oil and cars and a decrease in exports like airplanes.

HSBC said the theft of Swiss client data at the heart of a recent tax dispute with France was vastly larger than it had previously acknowledged, involving at least 24,000 clients.

A new report on weekly filings for first-time jobless claims was the latest indication of a slow recovery in the labor market.

Indexes traded within a narrow range amid concerns of an overheating Chinese economy and as investors awaited more data from the United States.

Profits at German carmaker Volkswagen dropped 71% in 2009 hit by the falling demand for cars in the global downturn.

Union leaders representing British Airways cabin crew are meeting to decide whether to announce dates for a strike.

The energy company Scottish Power says its gas prices will fall by around £66 a year and vulnerable customers will get extra help.

Johnston Press, the owners of the Scotsman and Yorkshire Post, sees full year pre-tax profits fall by 56% to £43m.

A firm of solicitors which worked for a leading claims management company has been shut down by the solicitors' regulator.

AP - The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in January, reflecting a big drop in imports of oil and foreign cars. American exports also fell, a potential blow to hopes that the economic recovery will be aided this year by U.S. sales abroad.

AP - The Treasury Department has received $11.15 million from the sale of warrants it received from New York's Signature Bank as part of the support it provided during the financial crisis.

AP - Giant-screen movie technology company Imax Corp. posted a fourth-quarter profit Thursday, reversing a year-ago loss on a sharp jump in its movie theater equipment sales and rentals.

BusinessWeek - According to insiders at Prudential Plc , Tidjane Thiam, the chief executive of the insurer which said last week that it was bidding $35.5bn (23.6bn) to buy AIG's Asian insurance business is a firm believer in emotion over analysis.

A Republican on the Senate Banking Committee called Senator Christopher J. Dodd?s plan to proceed without more negotiations ?very disappointing.?

Indexes traded within a narrow range amid concerns of an overheating Chinese economy and after jobless filings in the United States fell less than expected.

About 24,000 clients of HSBC's private banking operation in Switzerland had personal details stolen, the bank admits.

The US trade deficit narrowed unexpectedly in January as fewer foreign cars and less crude oil were imported.

German carmakers Volkswagen and BMW report falling profits after the global downturn hit demand for cars.

AP - Stocks traded in a tight range for a fourth day Thursday after China reported a sharp jump in inflation. Mixed U.S. economic news also held the market back.

AP - China's inflation rose in February amid galloping growth and demand for scarce labor, increasing pressure on Beijing to ease off its stimulus while keeping a recovery going in the world's third-largest economy.

AP - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Thursday for a clampdown on the type of speculative trading that exacerbated Greece's debt crisis and undermined the euro in recent weeks.

Reuters - The head of the top U.S. futures regulator chided Wall Street on Thursday for resisting calls to make over-the-counter derivatives markets more transparent, arguing major reforms are required after the recent financial crisis.

AP - The Retail Industry Leaders Association spent $850,000 in the fourth quarter to lobby on a variety of issues from health care reform to consumer product safety, according to a recent disclosure report.

AP - A Dallas area company charges that Kroger Co. is ripping off its technology and methods in the grocery chain's popular gasoline discount rewards program.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will also explore whether data recorders should be mandatory in all cars.

The earnings suggest makers of the lower-priced cars that most people drive could struggle with meager profits for years to come.

The court ruling prevents the record company from selling single downloads on the Internet from the group's concept albums.

Barack Obama urges China to change its currency strategy, a move that would effectively raise the value of the yuan and benefit US exporters.

The union representing BA cabin crew says there will be no immediate announcement about strike dates.

Chancellor Alistair Darling warns people not to expect a 'giveaway' when he unveils his Budget later this month.

A free national financial advice service is being launched by the government.

AFP - A Swiss unit of global banking giant HSBC revealed Thursday that details on 24,000 bank customers may have been leaked in a major security breach that has helped fuel pressure on Switzerland over tax evasion.

AP - President Barack Obama sought Thursday to put some detail behind his lofty drive to double U.S. exports over the next five years, calling the effort imperative to putting people back to work. But doubts remain about how many net jobs his trade agenda will create — and how he will get it done.

AP - Willbros Group Inc., an engineering and construction company, reported Thursday a narrower fourth-quarter loss as it cut costs as its revenue fell by more than half.

The Motley Fool - After a down January, the stock market is again positive for the year. The much-fabled January effect barometer didn't work in 2009, and it remains to be seen if it will work in 2010. Economic data has continued its slow improvement, keeping stocks fairly calm. The wild action so far this year has been in the currency markets.

AP - FORECLOSURES UP: Foreclosure listing service RealtyTrac says the number of households facing foreclosure last month grew 6 percent from a year ago.

AP - Oil prices drifted below $82 on Thursday, as investors mulled demand uncertainties and a government report that showed the country's huge natural gas reserves shrank a little last week.

Reuters - U.S. traffic deaths in 2009 hit their lowest level in since the mid-1950s, according to preliminary data released ahead of a congressional hearing expected to take a critical view of auto regulators response to recent safety problems at Toyota Motor Corp.

Greece?s retirement plan, which lets 14 percent of its work force retire early, has become divisive in Europe.

HSBC said the theft of Swiss client data involved in a recent tax dispute with France was larger than had been acknowledged, involving at least 24,000 clients.

Indexes traded within a narrow range amid concerns of an overheating Chinese economy and after jobless filings in the United States fell less than expected.

About 24,000 clients of HSBC's private banking operation in Switzerland had personal details stolen, the bank admits.

AP - A conference bringing together more than 60 nations Thursday added $1 billion to the fight against deforestation and boosted the morale of those hoping to save the world's forests — a key defense against global warming.

AP - The ex-campaign manager for former U.S. Rep. Chris Shays pleaded guilty Thursday to tax evasion and to taking more than $250,000 in campaign money for car repairs, limousine rides, baseball tickets, furniture and other personal uses.

AP - Weak demand has hurt Smithfield Foods for some time, and the company cut production during its third quarter, which further hurt sales. But the company says trends are improving, and it saw gains in some areas.

AP - The head of the Federal Housing Administration is warning that boosting the minimum down payment borrowers must provide to qualify for home loans backed by the agency could threaten the housing market.

AP - Oil prices stayed put, just above $82 on Thursday, as investors mulled demand uncertainties and a government report that showed the country's huge natural gas reserves shrank a little last week.

The directors of Lehman Brothers did not breach their fiduciary duties in overseeing the firm as it acquired toxic mortgage assets that eventually sank the firm, a court-appointed examiner wrote in a lengthy report published Thursday.

The agency wants to ensure that customers do not lose TV access because of fee disputes between broadcasters and cable companies.

The European Union rebutted criticism by the U.S. of its plans to tighten the rules on hedge funds.

A new report on weekly filings for first-time jobless claims was the latest indication of a slow recovery in the labor market.

Indexes traded within a narrow range amid concerns of an overheating Chinese economy and after jobless filings in the United States fell less than expected.

AP - Citigroup Inc. is poised to return to 'sustained profitability' as it sheds risky assets and focuses on emerging markets, CEO Vikram Pandit said Thursday.

AP - The dollar eased against the euro and the pound Thursday as Greece announced additional salary cuts and tax hikes to deal with its ballooning deficit, while China reported a jump in inflation.

AP - A rally in financial stocks Thursday helped the market extend its grind higher to a third day.

AFP - A key US senator said he would unveil new legislation on Monday aimed at giving American financial rules their biggest overhaul since the Great Depression in the wake of the 2008 meltdown.

AP - Firearms maker Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. on Thursday reported almost flat third-quarter profit, hurt by lower gun demand but helped by an acquisition.

AP - Fannie Mae on Thursday said it will offer $6 billion of new 3-year notes due May 7, 2013.

AP - The Kroger Co., the country's largest grocery retailer, on Thursday declared a quarterly dividend of 9.5 cents per share payable June 1 to shareholders of record as of May 14.

AFP - Oil prices traded narrowly mixed Thursday as the market weighed prospects for global economic recovery ahead of an OPEC meeting next week.

AP - NHTSA'S ROLE: Congress is looking into whether the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did enough to hold Toyota accountable during its huge safety recalls.

Investors in CMKM Diamonds are suing the S.E.C. for $3.87 trillion for knowing about a fraud at the tiny firm but not stopping it.

New York and London have been ranked as the joint-top global financial centres according to new research.

The number of homes sold in England and Wales at the start of 2010 was at a low level, a survey says.

How to build confidence for later success

The amount of money paid as public sector pensions could more than triple in the next 50 years, says the National Audit Office.

AP - U.S. exports dipped in January, the government said Thursday, but economists weren't fazed. They predict export growth will be a bright spot for American manufacturers through the rest of 2010.

AP - Pall Corp. on Thursday posted a 28 percent rise in its fiscal second-quarter profit, but still fell short of Wall Street estimates.

AP - BULLISH OUTLOOK: Citigroup Inc. says its returning to 'sustained profitability' after losing billions on bad loans and taking a federal bailout. CEO Vikram Pandit says the bank is shedding risky mortgage assets and shifting focus to emerging markets like Latin America and Asia.

AP - BP is expanding its dominant oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico and dropping anchor off Brazil with a $7 billion deal to buy exploration rights from Devon Energy.

The Wall Street bank used accounting gimmicks to hide its financial weakness in the months before its bankruptcy, according to a 2,200-page report.

Senator Bob Corker, a Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, called Senator Christopher J. Dodd?s announcement on Thursday ?very disappointing.?

A Justice Department antitrust investigation of the seed industry is apparently focused on Monsanto.

Medicis has started a new marketing campaign that pits its wrinkle-smoother, Dysport, directly against Botox. It makes bioethicists squirm.

The brand?s sales and reputation have held up, analysts say, because Lexus has not been included in Toyota?s most serious recalls.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is considering whether data recorders similar to those on planes should be required on all new cars and trucks.

The administration?s announcement came as America?s trade deficit narrowed in January, largely because of a drop in spending on oil.

The agency wants to ensure that customers do not lose TV access because of fee disputes between broadcasters and cable companies.

The deal would give BP access to an area off the coast of Brazil that analysts expect to have great potential for oil discoveries.

HSBC?s private banking unit initially said that records on 10 or fewer clients were taken when the theft occurred three years ago.

On a day of hesitant trading, increasing confidence at a big bank helped offset concern about a spike in inflation in China.

The carmakers said that sales stabilized in established markets and grew in emerging economies in 2009, but the companies did struggle in certain areas.

While the military is trying to address the problems, congressional auditors said the program will probably become even more expensive and suffer more delays.

Analysts said the economy was not overheating and that interest rates would probably increase to keep inflation in check.

The European Union said its new hedge fund rules were in line with policies previously agreed upon by the world?s biggest countries.

Losses in its hog production segment hurt the company, but those diminished in the third quarter.

Gymboree said profit in its current quarter was likely to top expectations as well.

The International Air Transport Association predicted $2.8 billion in losses, down from the $5.6 billion predicted late last year.

The Department of Transportation credited its campaigns for seat belts and against drunken driving. Others suggest cars are safer.

Lobbyists and military contractors dependent on lucrative no-bid contracts were looking for ways to get around the new House ban involving commercial companies.

A vote kept a deal alive to pay $536 million for land from United States Sugar, but officials said they continued to struggle with whether the agency could afford it.

The decision to shutter 28 of its 61 schools reveals the depth of dysfunction in the chaotic, almost non-functioning Kansas City School Board.

Companies like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft let advertisers buy ads in the milliseconds between the time someone enters a site?s Web address and the moment the page appears.

The brand?s sales and reputation have held up, analysts say, because Lexus has not been included in Toyota?s most serious recalls.

The market for private-label mortgage bonds in the United States might be ready for revival. A handful of firms are working on deals that could hit the market by June.

AP - Asian stock markets were mixed in early trading Friday after the Standard & Poor's 500 index closed at a 17-month high with investors worried about inflationary pressures in China.

Investor's Business Daily - The end of the federal tax credit for homebuyers is fast approaching. That means crunch time for parents who want to help their kids buy a place as inexpensively as possible.

Reuters - Asian stocks edged up on Friday, heading for a fifth straight week of rises, with energy stocks firm as oil held above $82 a barrel and financials ticking higher after U.S. talks to force broad banking reform collapsed.