AP - Oil prices fell toward $82 a barrel Thursday in Asia, paring two days of gains that were fueled by signs U.S. crude demand may be improving.

AP - The union that represents workers at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., known as Nummi, have voted in favor of a proposed severance package for the 4,600 workers about to lose their jobs when the plant closes, according to a United Auto Workers official.

Support for a planned walk-out by British Airways cabin crew grows, with overseas unions backing the action.

The UK's largest bakery chain, Greggs, reports an increase in full-year profits and says it is cautiously optimistic for 2010.

AP - Asian stock markets were mostly lower Thursday while the euro weakened after Greece said it might seek international assistance to resolve its debt crisis.

AFP - IBM Japan on Thursday denied it had evaded taxes after news reports said authorities were probing whether it had failed to declare more than 4.4 billion dollars in income.

AFP - Nissan Motor on Thursday said it would start building its zero-emission Leaf electric car at its Sunderland plant from 2013, saving more than 2,000 jobs in one of England's most deprived regions.

Support for a planned walk-out by British Airways cabin crew grows, with overseas unions backing the action.

Australia's prime minister tells China the world will be watching the trial of Rio Tinto employees, which begins next week.

The former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank is being questioned by Irish police about alleged financial irregularities.

UK mortgage lending increased in February as the fluctuation in the housing market continues, lenders say.

A damning verdict on the UK's £24bn secondhand car market is published by the fair trading watchdog.

The Co-operative Group reports 'record sales and profits' in 2009, after buying Somerfield and merging with Britannia.

AP - Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou said Thursday his country needs a firmer eurozone bailout plan to lift market pressure on his government and lower its borrowing rates.

AP - Banks weren't the only ones giving big bonuses in the boom years before the worst financial crisis in generations. The government also was handing out millions of dollars to bank regulators, rewarding 'superior' work even as an avalanche of risky mortgages helped create the meltdown.

AP - World stock markets fell Thursday and the euro weakened after Greece said it might seek international assistance to resolve its debt crisis.

AP - Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it will make its electric vehicle, the Leaf, in England from early 2013 as the automaker gears up for global sales of the zero emission car.

AP - Greek taxi drivers and many gas station owners are striking against a proposed overhaul of tax laws under the government's efforts to overcome its debt crisis.

AFP - Nissan Motor on Thursday said it would start building its zero-emission Leaf electric car at a plant in Britain from 2013, saving more than 2,000 jobs in one of England's most deprived regions.

The American ambassador to China said negotiations in the coming weeks were possible.

Greece's prime minister warned his European Union partners that he would not be able to make planned deficit cuts unless the country can borrow money more cheaply.

European indexes were mixed as doubts arose that the European Union would give Greece concrete financial support, leaving it to potentially seek help from the International Monetary Fund.

British Airways' boss and the joint leader of the Unite union, Tony Woodley, hold face-to-face talks to avert this weekend's strike.

The industrial giant Siemens says it is cutting more than 10% of its IT workforce, but also promises extra investment.

A Belgian sex shop owner's attempt to cut the VAT bill for his cinema customers under 'cultural' exemptions has been told by the European Court of Justice that solo viewings are excluded.

Life in eurozone's four most debt-laden countries

More than 300 customers who suffered chemical burns from leather sofas lose their High Court battle for compensation.

New rules come into force aimed at stopping phone companies stealing custom by mis-selling landline deals.

AP - World stock markets fell Thursday and the euro weakened on concerns the European Union will not agree to give Greece concrete financial support, leaving it to potentially seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund.

AP - FedEx is indicating the global economic recovery is gaining steam.

AP - Porsche shot to the top of a closely watched study of long-term vehicle dependability, overtaking U.S. and Japanese rivals, J.D. Power and Associates said Thursday.

AP - Bookseller Barnes & Noble announced a CEO switch Thursday, elevating the president of its Web site to lead the company and replace Steve Riggio.

BusinessWeek - Last year, as the world economy teetered on the edge of economic abyss, there was a simmering panic in business school circles about where the next set of MBA jobs would come from. The collapse of mighty institutions such as Lehman Brothers, coupled with recruitment freezes across much of the financial sector, seemed to rule out one traditional home for graduates while another preferred industry -- management consultancy -- also looked shaky. Fortunately, while 2009 wasn't the best year for business education, it didn't turn out to be the Armageddon many predicted. ...

BusinessWeek - Tinashe Chinyanga describes his childhood in Zimbabwe as fairly standard, working in the fields every morning before walking to school in a nearby village. But the rest of his education has been a world away from his village friends: boarding school, then a medical degree, and now the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (GSB). Education was his ticket out of an early grave, says 28-year-old Chinyanga. 'Most of my peers have HIV, if they're not already dead.' Chinyanga owes his more fortunate path in part to his father, who was a teacher and pushed him to succeed. ...

The acquisition of Ratiopharm catapults Teva, the global leader in generic drugs, from fifth place among German generic players to the No. 2 spot.

The government?s report indicated that there was little sign of inflation, which enables the Federal Reserve to keep the short-term interest rate at a record low.

European indexes were mixed as doubts arose that the European Union would give Greece concrete financial support, leaving it to potentially seek help from the International Monetary Fund.

The arrest was made in connection with an investigation into financial fraud at Anglo Irish bank.

Dai-Ichi Mutual Life plans the world?s largest stock market debut since Visa?s listing two years ago, which should provide a welcome boost for the Japanese market.

The package deliversy company also raised its forecast for full-year earnings on expectations of ?a continued modest recovery in the global economy.?

A Belgian sex shop owner attempting to cut the VAT bill for his film screenings under cultural exemptions is told by the European Court of Justice that solo viewings are excluded.

UK business lending weakened in January, giving a record annual fall of 9.3%, according to the latest Bank of England survey.

AP - A gauge of future economic activity rose 0.1 percent in February, suggesting slow economic growth this summer.

AP - Israeli drug maker Teva has beaten out rivals Pfizer and Actavis to acquire German generic drug maker Ratiopharm GmbH — in a deal announced Thursday worth some euro3.6 billion, or nearly $5 billion.

AP - Stocks are trading in a narrow range Thursday after reports showed inflation remains benign and new claims for unemployment fell last week.

AP - Greece warned Thursday that it will be forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund if the EU can't agree to a bailout plan next week that will help reduce its market borrowing rates.

The American ambassador to China said negotiations in the coming weeks were possible.

The onus for resolving the Greece's financial crisis moved closer to the International Monetary Fund on Thursday, as Berlin distanced itself from any bilateral or European support for the Greek government.

Siemens said it wanted to have the conditions in place for its information technology unit to be a standalone operating business by the start of the next fiscal year on Oct. 1.

A Congressional Budget Office report will show the bill reducing the federal deficit significantly, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said Thursday.

US consumer prices showed no increase between January and February, according to Labor Department figures.

Barclaycard confirms its decision to relocate its loan centre in Glasgow, which employs about 350 staff, to other UK sites.

The biggest issuer of credit card cheques in the UK - MBNA - is to stop issuing them to customers from 31 March.

One of the biggest claims management companies, Cartel Client Review, has been shut down by the Ministry of Justice.

Benefit claimants owe £1.85bn in overpaid money but the government is recovering less than £300m a year, MPs say.

AP - House Democrats are pushing to the brink of passage a landmark, $940 billion health care overhaul bill that would simultaneously deliver on President Barack Obama's promise to expand coverage while slashing the deficit, a strategy aimed at winning over the party's fiscal conservatives.

AP - FedEx says the global economic recovery is broadening, as Asia continues to see strong growth and the U.S. economy gains steam.

Reuters - Winnebago Industries posted its first quarterly profit in nearly two years as sales of its largest and most expensive motorhomes rebounded modestly.

AFP - The European Commission said on Thursday it was 'natural, logical and prudent' for Greece to keep all options open as Athens considers the possibility of going to the IMF.

AP - Motorists are paying the highest prices for gas since October 2008. Retail gasoline prices rose on Thursday on an expected increase in demand and as more expensive spring and summer blends of gasoline make their way to the pumps.

AP - Apple Inc. says board member and former auto industry executive Jerome York has died.

The onus for resolving Greece?s financial crisis moved closer to the I.M.F., as Berlin distanced itself from any bilateral or European support for the Greek government.

But in his most detailed examination of the causes of the financial crisis, the former Fed chairman says the policy of low interest rates was not to blame.

Mr. York warned General Motors of a looming financial disaster and aided the billionaire investor, Kirk Kerkorian, in efforts to drive up the price of Chrysler stock.

Wall Street shares were mixed after reports showed that inflation remained benign and new jbless claims fell last week. The data was tempered by concerns about debt problems in Greece.

The former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, Sean FitzPatrick, was said to be in custody in connection with an investigation into financial fraud.

Israeli generic drugs giant Teva buys German firm Ratiopharm for 3.6bn euros (£3.2bn, $4.9bn).

How China dominates the quirky gift industry

Marks and Spencer's chief executive and chairman Sir Stuart Rose will give up his executive role in July and take a 25% pay cut.

Iran has announced it will cut the volume of its cheap petrol ration by 25% to 60 litres per vehicle per month from 21 March.

AP - It's tax season, and the IRS is being particularly generous to some of the nation's largest homebuilders.

AFP - Greece warned on Thursday it could call on the IMF for help unless European leaders offered financial aid next week, with Germany now appearing 'open' to the idea as the Greek debt crisis hit the euro.

Reuters - Canada took a gloomy look at what could go wrong with the global economy on Thursday, warning of prolonged recession or a deflationary spiral unless countries push ahead with economic and financial reforms.

AP - Men's clothing seller Casual Male Retail Group Inc. on Thursday reported earning a profit in the fourth quarter as it cut costs to compensate for sales being weak.

But the latest Russian effort to capitalize on the green reputation of nuclear power is drawing criticism as potentially dangerous.

The charge was one of many made by Viacom in newly released filings in its $1 billion copyright lawsuit against YouTube and Google.

Steve Riggio steps down as chief executive of Barnes & Noble and will be replaced by the head of the company's Web division.

The former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, Sean FitzPatrick, was said to be in custody in connection with an investigation into financial fraud.

Siemens said it wanted to have the conditions in place for its information technology unit to be a standalone operating business by the start of the next fiscal year on Oct. 1.

Some argue that severe cuts in public spending to whittle down euro-zone deficits could send unemployment rates surging and bring down governments.

President Obama will stay in Washington to concentrate on the health care bill, which a Congressional Budget Office analysis said would bring significant cost savings.

A platform called Google TV will bring the Web into the living room through televisions and set-top boxes.

As Apple builds its electronic bookstore, Amazon is trying to use its clout to hold on to its early lead in the market.

In a House hearing, Ben S. Bernanke, the Federal Reserve chairman, waged a fresh battle against efforts to scale back the Fed?s role in overseeing banks.

For tax officials, indirect levies ? or stealth taxes ? are stable, less prone to be avoided and easy to collect.

Christopher P. Liddell also said that a public offering for G.M. was possible this year, but that the company would first need to make a profit.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a Johnson & Johnson unit, laid out the actions it would take after the Food and Drug Administration criticized its quality control program.

The Japanese government has urged the monetary authorities to stimulate the economy further by flooding the banking sector with cash.

Members are anticipating that a pickup in demand later in the year will mop up extra barrels of oil already being pumped.

After Jane magazine folded, Brandon Holley, its editor in chief, took her work online.

Four European financial institutions will stand trial for their handling of interest rate swaps acquired by the city of Milan.

The unit of Wells Fargo will pay $160 million to settle accusations that it laundered Mexican drug money.

Susan Merrill, an overseer of the brokerage industry, did not announce when she would leave.

The online payment company PayPal would continue to grow if its parent, eBay, let it leave the nest.

A new phone earpiece strives to be smaller and more stylish than its predecessors. Does it succeed?

AP - Stocks ended mixed after reports signaled that the economy is slowly regaining strength.

Reuters - An Illinois hospital lost its property tax exemption on Thursday, ending a long-fought battle watched by nonprofit hospitals concerned about greater scrutiny of their charity care.

The Motley Fool - Proponents of diversification extol the virtues of spreading your investments over different assets, sectors, and geography. The last part in this holy trinity geography is particularly captivating to a growing cadre of investors.

AP - As banks gambled on the risky mortgages that helped create the worst financial crisis in generations, the U.S. government handed out millions of dollars in bonuses to regulators at agencies that missed or ignored warning signs that the system was on the verge of a meltdown.

But in his most detailed examination of the causes of the financial crisis, the former Fed chairman says the policy of low interest rates was not to blame.

The company will test whether lower prices ? $10 or less ? will attract consumers who have cut back on buying CDs.

But the revenue for the quarter exceeded Palm?s own gloomy forecast.

Stocks flipped between gains and losses for much of the day as traders weighed a batch of mostly positive economic reports.

Talks between British Airways and the Unite union aimed at averting strike action have continued into the night.

Deutsche Bahn, the German national rail company, has confirmed its bid for Arriva, the UK transport group.

Duncan Bannatyne accuses fellow dragon and non-dom James Caan of having an 'unfair' advantage in business.

AP - For the super-rich and everyone else, the economic recovery is taking place in two very different gears.

AP - The dollar rose Thursday as Greece warned that it will be forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund if the European Union can't agree to a bailout plan.

U.S. News & World Report - Negative equity--what you have when you owe more on your home loan than the property is worth--is one of the defining features of the still-unfolding mortgage crisis. It's a particularly nasty problem because it can lead to all sorts of unpleasant outcomes for the real estate market and the economy as a whole. Having negative equity, which is also known as being 'underwater' on a mortgage, makes homeowners more likely to end up in foreclosure. It restricts a borrower's ability to refinance or buy another home, which in turn stifles demand for housing. ...

AFP - India on Thursday urged the United States to take the lead in resuming global free trade talks after the EU trade chief lashed out at 'protectionism' by President Barack Obama's administration.

PR Newswire - WASHINGTON, March 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Texas-based pipeline company has agreed to pay a $450,000 civil penalty to the United States to settle allegations that it failed to prepare and maintain proper facility response plans to deal with spills and environmental accidents at eight of its oil storage terminal facilities in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.

The acquisition of Ratiopharm catapults Teva, the global leader in generic drugs, from fifth place among German generic players to the No. 2 spot.

Regulators and Toyota engineers examining the crash of a Prius in New York saw no evidence that the driver had tried to brake.

Marketers are using Web video along with ? rather than in place of ? television.

ABC has been seeking a replacement for George Stephanopoulos, who shifted from ?This Week? to ?Good Morning America.?

The international package-shipping business jumped 18 percent, outweighing an anemic increase of 1 percent in American package volume.

The offering by Dai-Ichi Mutual Life is expected to raise $12 billion, but the market for new listings has been unpredictable.

A newspaper article has reawakened a controversy over whether provincial authorities improperly stored vaccines, rendering them ineffective, and then let them be administered to children.

A judge in Australia denied JPMorgan 31 million Australian dollars ($28.6 million) of fees it claimed for defending a company from a takeover that turned into a bidding war.

Talks between British Airways and the Unite union aimed at averting strike action will resume on Friday morning.

How feeding tourists tarantulas helped street children

Can richer sports learn from Gaelic games?

AP - COST OF LIVING FLAT: The price of clothing, shelter and other goods was unchanged last month, the government said, as a drop in energy prices offset a rise in food costs.

After backing a European rescue for Greece, Germany signaled that help should come from the I.M.F.

American economic leaders and the Basel Committee expressed support for developing contingency plans.

Some environmentalists said the nuclear industry was risking its green record if it adapted smaller nuclear reactors, like those once used in submarines, to light a city.

The Medicines Company is disputing whether it really did miss a deadline in applying for a patent extension for its blood thinner Angiomax.

In a speech, the American ambassador reiterated the stance of the United States as China polled manufacturers on the issue.

The appointment of William Lynch, president of the Web division, to succeed Stephen Riggio was seen as a move toward a digital future.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is mining arbitration records and advertisements promising ?unrealistically high? returns.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg?s decision to end giving through the Carnegie Corporation set off worries among New York?s arts and social services groups.

Lawrence B. Salander, a noted art dealer on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, admitted he had bilked clients like the tennis star John McEnroe.

Investor's Business Daily - When Paul Gabrail and two partners snag a foreclosed home on the cheap, neighbors have good reason to cheer.

Investor expectations of a steady global economic recovery lift markets.

Land acquisition for expanding cities and industry has created pockets of instant wealth, creating a new economic caste in India: nouveau riche farmers.

Illegal immigrants would have to admit breaking the law before they could gain legal status and all workers in the United States would have to carry a biometric identity card.

AP - Asian stock markets turned in a mixed performance Friday, fluctuating as uncertainty over debt-laden Greece weighed on investors.