COMPANIES

Toyota Motor Corp has not adequately supported its contention that it has rigorously evaluated electronic throttle systems for possible problems, lawmakers said on Friday.

Relatives of a California state trooper and three family members whose fatal car wreck helped spark Toyota's wide-ranging safety recall have sued the automaker for defects they say caused the vehicle to speed out of control and crash.

An electric car developed by French financier Vincent Bollore and Italian car designer Pininfarina SpA may be available by autumn, Bollore told Reuters at the Geneva auto show.

Ford Motor Co, aiming to take back the top spot in U.S. sports car sales, will tout the improved fuel economy of the Mustang in a marketing blitz to correspond with the release of 2011 model this spring.

IPOs don't get much larger than the $12 billion offering from Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Co, Japan's second-biggest insurer, and optimism is running high.

The Office of Fair Trading said it was considering whether Procter & Gamble's acquisition of Sara Lee's air freshener unit should be investigated by European authorities.

Britain's Prudential Plc may quit some countries in Asia should it seal a $35.5 billion buy of American International Group's AIA.

US salt maker Morton Salt, part of German potash miner K+S since October, surpassed its internal targets for 2009 operating profit, K+S told staff in an in-house publication.

Swiss-based commodity trader Glencore bought back its prized Prodeco coal operations in Colombia from mining group Xstrata and it was still talking to possible partners.

Giant private equity fund Blackstone Group hopes to close its first Australian deal this year and is looking at a deal in Japan and South Korea.

Toyota Motor Corp said a partial review of complaints of unintended acceleration after vehicles were repaired for accelerator pedal problems, had found no evidence of failure in the electronic throttle system or in the repairs.

U.S. regulators said they were reviewing more than 60 complaints that fixes made on recalled Toyota Motor Corp vehicles.

Two AIG units settled federal charges that they discriminated against black home buyers on fees for mortgages and will pay $7.1 million for restitution and education efforts, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday.

U.S. regulators on Wednesday reviewed 10 complaints that fixes made to recalled Toyota Motor Corp vehicles did not resolve unintended acceleration.

Mukesh Ambani, India's richest man, is faced with a prospect he has only rarely encountered: not getting what he wants.

Canon Inc declared its $1 billion offer for Oce NV, sending a clear message to shareholders holding out for a better deal it is set to tie up the acquisition.

Anheuser-Busch InBev forecast a challenging start to 2010 with US volumes under pressure after mixed fourth-quarter results.

Asian shares failed to hold on to their early gains, slipping into negative territory as worries about Greece and the outlook for the global economy made investors cautious.

Starbucks Corp said that its cafes in UK and Japan will soon sell its Via instant coffee, which helped boost same-store sales at U.S. outlets in the latest quarter.

The U.S. agency that insures corporate pensions will assume plans covering 5,800 workers and retirees of a joint venture in California between Toyota Motor Corp and General Motors Co that closes at the end of the month.

General Motors Co Vice Chairman Bob Lutz will retire from the automaker effective May 1, people briefed on the plans said on Wednesday.

Hybrid and electric cars are the stars of motor shows, but the expensive technologies could take a decade to really hit European roads as automakers improve petrol and diesel cars to meet short-term emissions targets.

Luxury carmakers say 2010 will not be the year of full recovery for their sector, which was hit by the crisis and did not benefit from government incentives.

Allied Capital Corp, which is selling itself to rival Ares Capital Corp, plans to declare a special dividend of 20 cents a share if shareholders approve the merger deal.

Investment fund Elliott Associates offered to buy business software maker Novell Inc for $2 billion, sending its shares up 28 percent as investors hoped for a better bid.

SouthWest Water Co said it agreed to be acquired by institutional investors led by J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Water Asset Management LLC.

Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp and France's PSA Peugeot Citroen failed to agree terms for a capital alliance.

General Motors Co is giving responsibility for U.S. sales to North America President Mark Reuss.

Warehouse club operators Costco Wholesale Corp and BJ's Wholesale Club Inc posted quarterly earnings below Wall Street estimates, hurt by falling food prices.