BUSINESS

The United Auto Workers union is soliciting signatures of support from workers at Volkswagen AG's U.S. factory, an escalation of its effort to establish a foothold outside the Detroit automakers.

A lawsuit from New York's attorney general accusing accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP of helping to hide financial problems at Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. has been sent from federal court to the New York state court where it was originally filed.

American International Group said on Thursday it has repaid the Treasury its remaining $1.5 billion preferred equity investment, but the insurer still owes taxpayers an estimated $45 billion for the bailout it received during the financial crisis.

The gap between the Federal Reserve's dovish core and its hawkish wing was on display on Thursday as a top Fed official said the economy is in better shape even as Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke focused on a source of weakness.

American International Group said on Thursday it has repaid the U.S. Treasury its remaining $1.5 billion preferred equity investment, but the insurer still owes taxpayers an estimated $45 billion for the bailout it received during the financial crisis.

EBay Inc agreed to sell its Rent.com unit to PRIMEDIA as the company shifts away from classified and listings businesses to focus on other e-commerce and payments efforts.

General Motors' Opel managers will present a business plan next Wednesday to the unit's board that likely will involve closing two plants in Europe to reduce manufacturing capacity by some 30 percent, people familiar with the company's thinking said on Thursday.

Twelve directors of Morgan Stanley have won dismissal of a shareholder lawsuit accusing them of letting the Wall Street bank overpay its employees even while accepting taxpayer-funded federal bailouts.

American International Group said on Thursday it has repaid the Treasury its remaining $1.5 billion preferred equity investment, but the insurer still owes the government and Federal Reserve $45 billion for the bailout it received during the financial crisis.

To power all of the new features in the new iPad on 10 hours of battery life, Apple upgraded the iPad 2's rechargeable battery and made it substantially bigger -- about 70 percent. Since the battery also drips when it's plugged in, we have four power cases for you that will recharge your new iPad on the go.

The number of Americans claiming new unemployment benefits dropped to a four-year low last week, bolstering hopes a recent pick-up in job growth will prove lasting.

Euro zone growth is stabilizing at low levels, ECB policymaker Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo said on Thursday, adding that the situation in the 17-country currency bloc nonetheless remains fragile.

Cyclical sectors led stocks lower on Thursday, setting the S&P 500 up for its first negative week in six, after factory data showed a slowdown in both the euro zone and China.

FedEx Corp will pay back wages and interest to more than 21,000 people rejected for jobs in a $3 million settlement of a bias case brought against two of the company's units by the U.S. Department of Labor.

GameStop Corp gave a fiscal-year outlook on the high end of analysts' estimates, saying it expects to boost sales of used videogames and to benefit from new hardware from Nintendo Co Ltd.

The chief lobbyist for the largest U.S. financial institutions will step down at the end of 2012, after more than a decade of waging regulatory battles, a trade group said on Thursday.

The economy is in much better shape and does not need further help from the central bank, a top Federal Reserve official known for his hawkish policy views said on Thursday.

The number of Americans claiming new unemployment benefits dropped to a four-year low last week, bolstering hopes a recent pick-up in job growth will prove lasting.

The Dow and the S&P 500 fell for a third straight day on Thursday on concerns about the global economy's growth outlook after manufacturing data showed a drop in new orders in both the euro zone and China.

Wall Street fell for a third straight day on Thursday after continued contraction in manufacturing in both the euro zone and China fueled worries about the global economy.

FedEx Corp will pay back wages and interest to more than 21,000 people rejected for jobs in a $3 million settlement of a bias case brought against two of the company's units by the U.S. Department of Labor.

NYSE Euronext said on Thursday it would not join Deutsche Boerse in appealing the European Commission's decision to prohibit the $7.4 billion merger between the two exchange operators.

The number of Americans claiming new unemployment benefits dropped to a four-year low last week, offering further evidence the jobs market recovery was gaining traction.

Volkswagen AG will add 800 jobs at its only U.S. plant to increase production of the Passat sedan, the company said on Thursday.

Not many know about Kulula Airlines, the South African low-fare airline that only travels in and around a handful of African countries, but by demonstrating its humor inside and outside its airplanes, maybe Kulula can turn some heads, gain some attention and even expand in the process.

Stocks fell at the open on Thursday as data on the U.S. labor market did little to counter concerns about weakness in the global economy after soft manufacturing data in the euro zone and China.

Stocks were set for a weaker open on Thursday as data on the domestic labor market did little to counter concerns about weakness in the global economy after soft manufacturing data in the euro zone and China.

Stock index futures briefly extended their losses on Thursday after the latest reading on jobless claims.

Stock index futures fell on Thursday after manufacturing data in the euro zone and China increased worry about a slowing global economy.