Business - Page 7

AFP - Europe's main stock markets rose on Friday, with the energy sector lifted by higher crude oil prices.

Reuters - A lawyer representing employees of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. who are suing the world's largest retailer for sexual discrimination is seeking information on whether his clients were among the targets of the company's controversial surveillance activities, according to a letter seen by Reuters. More Info...  

Reuters - Apple Inc. said on Thursday it was delaying the release of its new computer operating system, sending its shares down 3 percent.

Business

Reuters - Dow Chemical Co. , the largest U.S. chemical company, fired a top executive and a board member on Thursday, accusing them of engaging in unauthorized discussions to sell the company.

Reuters - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless aid jumped to the highest level in two months last week, while retailers warned of softer sales in April after a stronger-than-expected March, suggesting some weakness in the economy.

Reuters - Countrywide Financial Corp. , the largest U.S. mortgage lender, said on Thursday the share of its mortgage portfolio that faces foreclosure nearly doubled in March from a year earlier in a difficult housing market.

Reuters - Internet phone company Vonage Holdings Corp. said on Thursday its chief executive had stepped down and it plans to cut jobs and marketing costs, seeking to revive a business that investors worry may collapse.

FT.com - London equities fell in opening trade on Thursday, tracking Wall Street lower on renewed fears of inflationary pressure and the outlook for interest rates in the world's biggest economy. More Info...  

Business

Reuters - Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. has made an 23 billion Swedish crown ($3.33 billion) bid for its Nordic peer OMX , Swedish business daily Dagens Industri quoted sources as saying on Thursday.

Reuters - The Federal Reserve could yet raise interest rates if needed to quell inflation, but cut a reference to possible hikes from its March statement due to economic uncertainty, meeting minutes released on Wednesday show.

Reuters - BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. reported a sharply higher fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday, adding about a million subscribers and forecasting more growth for the upcoming quarter. More Info...  

Reuters - Nestle SA is expected to announce a $5 billion deal to acquire baby-food maker Gerber, a household name in the United States, from Novartis AG , sources familiar with the situation said on Wednesday. More Info...  

Reuters - The largest U.S. student loan company reached a settlement with New York's attorney general on Wednesday, and federal lawmakers called for further investigation of the widening scandal in the $85 billion-a-year industry.

FT.com - Wall Street stocks were lower at mid-morning on Wednesday, as investors were unmoved by a major cost-cutting plan from Citigroup (NYSE:C) and awaited further earnings results. More Info...  

Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications declined for the fourth straight week, as falling demand to refinance home loans outweighed a rise in applications to buy houses, an industry group said on Wednesday.

Reuters - Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. is in talks to buy the Philadelphia Stock Exchange to gain a stake in the fast-growing options business, according a report on the Wall Street Journal Web site on Tuesday.

Reuters - Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Plosser said on Tuesday that the U.S. economy is not as strong as the Fed had expected two months ago and prices remained higher. More Info...  

Business

Reuters - Alcoa Inc. , the world's largest aluminum company, said on Tuesday first-quarter profit rose 9 percent, driven by higher metal prices and strong demand from aerospace and industrial customers.

Reuters - D.R. Horton Inc. , the largest U.S. home builder, said on Tuesday orders for new homes tumbled 37 percent last quarter and the spring selling season has been slower than usual, suggesting the U.S. housing market has not yet hit bottom.

Reuters - Morgan Stanley and Bank of New York Co. shareholders rejected proposals on Tuesday that would give them an advisory vote on executive pay, but supporters for "say on pay" said it was a strong start.