COMPANIES

American Honda Motor Co on Wednesday reported that its US auto sales data rose 16.1 percent, led by by strong sales of cars and sports utility vehicles alike.

Hyundai Motor America on Wednesday reported that its US auto sales soared 45 percent, led by strong gains from its Sonata, Tucson and Genesis models.

Kia Motors America on Wednesday reported that its US auto sales soared 48.2 percent, led by strong sales of Sorento models and recently introduced vehicles - the Soul, Forte and Forte Koup, and the Sorento, Sportage and all-new Optima.

Volkswagen of America Inc. on Wednesday reported that its US auto sales rose 24 percent on strong sales of its Jetta family of cars and wagons.

Chrysler Group LLC on Wednesday reported that its US auto sales surged 17 percent over last year, as demand for pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles gained momentum.

Riding on strong sales across its various families of cars, Mercedes-Benz USA on Wednesday reported a 13.3 percent Year on Year (YoY) rise in November sales.

BMW Group on Wednesday said its US auto sales shot up 27.1 percent over last year driven by strong demand for all-wheel-drive vehicles, the X5 and X6 in particular, and the 5 Series with AWD.

Nissan Motors on Wednesday said its US auto sales in November rose 26.8 percent over last year, led by sales of its various lines of cars and sports utility vehicles, such as Versa and Rogue model.

Toyota Motors on Wednesday said its US auto sales in November dropped by 3 percent over last year, making it the only major automobile maker to report a sales drop for the month.

Ford Motors on Wednesday said its US auto sales in November rose 24.3 percent from a year earlier, led by big increase in sales of trucks and small cars.

General Motors on Wednesday said its US auto sales in November rose 11.4 percent over last year led by a balanced contributions from Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac cars, crossovers and trucks.

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has boosted its tax practice by appointing London-based Colin Hargreaves as its new global head of tax.

Hershey Co., producer of Reese's chocolate candies, has filed a lawsuit against Mars Inc., complaining that the wrapping of the latter's Dove line of peanut butter and chocolate bars copy its packaging.

Del Monte Foods, one of the country's largest producers, distributors and marketers of branded food and pet products for the U.S. retail market, has agreed to be acquired by an investor group led by private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) for $5.3 billion, including debt.

A Danish company is planning to build fuel cells that can be used in the home, powered by natural gas.

A U.S. district court jury has returned a verdict that business software maker SAP AG has stolen software from rival Oracle Corp. and must pay the latter $1.3 billion in damages.

The U.S. government had been secretly sheltering Nazi war criminals for several years and has clashed with other nations over their fate, a 600-page report, which the Department of Justice has tried to keep hidden from the public, reveals.

Apple has been accorded a U.S. patent that related to a technology that allows multiple users to view 3D images on a screen sans a 3D glass.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) stormed into offices of three large hedge funds in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts and seized documents in a string of raids that is being billed as a crackdown on insider trading by hedge funds, mutual funds and investment bankers.

European researchers have shown that the world's fastest camera - Megaframe Imager - could potentially be a powerful technology in biosensing.

The U.S. Air Force's unmanned space shuttle is set to return to earth by next week, after spending seven months in the planet.

After Google announced plans to launch Google Editions in 2009, the much-awaited but delayed buy anywhere read anywhere digital book distribution channel is to hit the market by the end of December.

General Motors' South Korean unit, GM Daewoo Auto & Technology on Wednesday announced it will repay its $1 billion loan from the Korea Development Bank, ending its row with the creditor over the issue of extending the loan's maturity.

General Motors will add 1,000 engineers and researchers in Michigan over the next two years to significantly expand its vehicle electrification expertise and lead in the development of electric vehicles from hybrids to electric vehicles.

Tata Motors reported 1 per cent increase in its sales at 54,622 units sold during November compared to 54,108 units sold during the same period year ago.

General Motors India on Wednesday said its sales climbed 17.67 per cent to 8,376 units in November this year compared to 7,118 units during the same month year ago.

Car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Wednesday reported sales of 112,554 vehicles in November, translating into a 28.18 per cent increase compared to same period year ago.

Standpoint Research has downgraded American Eagle Outfitters to hold from buy, expressing concerns over the apparel retailer's store count.

Toyota Motors has filed a law suit for damages against General Motors Co.'s against bankruptcy estate over the closure of their joint manufacturing plant in California.