COMPANIES

Wal-Mart had already heard from its customers about the successful reintroduction of its layaway program. Last week, it heard from its rival.

Consumers have spent $9.67 billion with online retailers in the first 20 days of November, according to digital research firm comScore. The firm expects a 15 percent increase in e-commerce sales this holiday season compared with last year.

Crude oil inventories decreased by 6.2 million barrels for the week ending Nov. 18. when compared to last week, according the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly report.

Nokia Siemens Networks plans to eliminate 17,000 jobs worldwide by the end of 2013 in an effort to streamline business operations, the company announced Wednesday.

Analysts predict natural gas harvesting from shale deposits will constitute at least half of the country's natural gas production by 2030.

Fifth Third Bancorp and the Securities and Exchange Commission settled on Wednesday allegations the bank failed to adequately notify all investors of a material event. The bank neither admitted nor denied the allegations but agreed not to violate disclosure rules.

Julius Genachowski's decision to call the hearing could spell trouble for the $39 billion transaction.

A Qantas Airlines Twitter competition could be the greatest PR failure in Australian history.

Shares are down more 14 percent at mid morning trading, as the company joins the ranks of this year's initial public offerings that are currently underwater.

Renewable energy technology is becoming increasingly cost competitive and growth rates are in line to meet levels required of a sustainable energy future, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report on Wednesday.

Retailers face the official beginning of holiday shopping season on Black Friday, which falls on Nov.25, a day after Thanksgiving.

James Murdoch has resigned from the boards of the companies that publish its British newspapers including the now-defunct News of the World tabloid at the center of the phone hacking sandal, regulatory filings show.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that it intends to effectively block AT&T's (NYSE:T) proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile by referring the matter to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) for review.

Cigna Corp. (NYSE:CI), which recently received antitrust clearances for its $4 billion acquisition of HealthSpring, Inc. (NYSE:HS), has now three distinctive growth drivers for 2012-2013.

The hikes are expected to increase operational efficiency of the U.S. Postal Service and help keep it afloat.

Skoda Auto launched its C-segment sedan Rapid last week.The car comes with a price tag starting with Rs 6.75 lakh for the base petrol variant. The top of the line diesel model will cost Rs 9.19 lakh.

The online holiday shopping season got off to a solid start, according to data released on Tuesday by ComScore Inc.

Former customers of MF Global Holdings Ltd got some good news on Tuesday, as the bankruptcy trustee secured more assets and the CME Group Inc expanded a guarantee to speed the return of frozen funds.

Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) has reached a settlement with former Countrywide Financial Corp institutional investors who decided not to join a $624 million class-action case that won court approval in February.

Cyber Monday is quickly approaching. Here are some guidelines for your shopping pleasure.

Small wireless carriers, such as U.S. Cellular and MetroPCS, provide low-cost alternatives to companies such as AT&T and Verizon. However, companies and industry experts are split on how the AT&T/T-Mobile merger will affect the smaller companies.

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission plans to seek an administrative hearing on AT&T's proposed $39 billion deal to acquire T-Mobile USA.

Nearly three years into his Oval Office tenure, President Barack Obama issued his first commutation to a woman who has served 10 years of a 22-year sentence for cocaine distribution.

Revelations that Donald Trump's brand value is $3 billion of his total net worth of around $7 billion underscored the mogul's shift away from real estate.

A mixed-use building at 21-23 Maiden Lane in Lower Manhattan has been sold for $14.5 million, according to New York City records.

Jack in the Box Inc. reported earnings of $22.7 million (49 cents per share) Monday, a sharp increase from the same fourth-quarter period one year ago. In last year's fiscal fourth quarter, Jack in the Box posted earnings of $4 million (7 cents per share).

The Los Angeles Dodgers bankruptcy case judge appointed a mediator to try and sort out the dispute between the baseball team and Fox Sports regarding the sale of the team's television telecast rights.

U.S. retailers trying to woo shoppers with early deals and longer hours this week, and throughout the holiday season, could be putting their profits at risk as shoppers search for bargains and not much else.

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc, a leading contractor in Canada's oil sands, sees the Keystone XL delay as a political decision, not technical, and expects the $7 billion pipeline will eventually be approved.