COMPANIES

Google is in talks to acquire Yelp Inc, an Internet local search and review provider, according to published reports.

The energy, finance, technology and healthcare industries are expected to be the hottest areas in a dealmaking market that in 2010 is likely to expand gradually from this year's depressed levels.

A City of the Dead, indoor soccer pitches and a buy one, get two offer for new homes are just some of the ideas for reviving Ireland's construction sector at a Dublin exhibition.

Irish airline Ryanair said it had pulled out of talks to buy 200 aircraft from Boeing and would now trim investment from 2011 to cut costs and free up cash to pay to investors, lifting its shares.

Bargain-hunting shoppers are expected to flood stores on Super Saturday weekend -- the last before Christmas -- and deliver retailers the highest holiday weekend sales so far this season.

Nike Inc forecast a return to sales growth this quarter as it expands market share and rides stronger consumer spending, and on Thursday pledged to stand by Tiger Woods, the face of Nike's golf brand.

FedEx Corp forecast on Thursday profit for the current quarter below analysts' expectations, raising concerns that the U.S. economy was not recovering as fast as had been expected, and sending its shares down more than 6 percent.

On a national level, eight out of the top 10 projects in terms of costs recouped were exterior replacement projects that cost less than $14,000. Certain types of door and siding replacements, as well as wood deck additions all returned more than 80 percent of project costs upon resale.

U.S. mortgage rates rose for a second consecutive week but remained below 5 percent, a closely watched mortgage survey showed on Thursday, a key level that may boost home loan demand and help the housing market recover.

nk of America Corp's successor for retiring Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis said on Thursday the company has no plans to sell its U.S. Trust unit.

Opel labour leader Klaus Franz said talks with management over an upcoming plan from General Motors for the future of its European unit Opel should be finished by mid-February.

U.S. lithium-ion battery maker A123 Systems Inc said it is forming a joint venture China's top carmaker SAIC Motor Corp to develop, make and sell battery systems for electric vehicles.

The head of Japan's auto-making lobby said on Thursday he feared that the U.S. market would remain weak and would not reach total sales of 11 million vehicles next year.

Chrysler will keep open through 2011 its Sterling Heights, Michigan, plant near Detroit that it had once planned to close at the end of 2010, a United Auto Workers vice president said on Thursday

General Motors Co said on Thursday that Brian K. Sweeney would be the new general manager of its Buick and GMC brands after his predecessor lasted nine days on the job.

German carmaker Daimler AG expects to use short working hours in response to weak demand for passenger cars in the first quarter of next year, Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche told Reuters on Thursday.

French carmaker Renault is in talks with German rival Daimler and others about partnerships to cut costs as the industry tries to become more efficient exiting the downturn.

U.S. mortgage rates rose for a second consecutive week but remained below 5 percent, a closely watched mortgage survey showed on Thursday, a key level that may boost home loan demand and help the housing market recover.

Loss-making bank VTB (VTBR.MM) expects to return to the black next year, with full-year 2010 net profit seen at around 50 billion roubles ($1.66 billion), Chief Financial Officer Herbert Moos said on Thursday.

A U.S. court of appeals has stayed a bankruptcy court's decision that approved television station owner ION Media Networks Inc's (IIONQ.PK) reorganization plan, Cyrus Capital, a creditor of the company, said.

Savings and loan companies OceanFirst Financial Corp (OCFC.O) and Central Jersey Bancorp (CJBK.O) said they agreed to end their merger agreement, citing lack of regulatory approval, sending shares of Central Jersey down 26 percent to a new 8-year low.

Jitters in the financial sector prompted by tough new proposed regulations sent banks sliding on Thursday while commodity stocks also retreated on weaker raw material prices, pulling the FTSE 100 down 1.9 percent by close

Merger & acquisition (M&A) activity is set to pick up in European pharmaceuticals, mining and telecoms with deal volumes to climb in 2010 as balance sheets improve and borrowing costs stay close to long-term lows.

Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) is interested in bidding for commodity trading joint venture RBS Sempra as part of plans to strengthen its commodities business and is one of several suitors remaining, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) said it can pull out of its $30 billion acquisition of XTO Energy (XTO.N) if U.S. lawmakers pass legislation on a controversial drilling technique used to tap oil and gas fields.

Hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones turned away potential investors this year, deciding to limit the size of his BVI Global Fund Ltd to better invest the money he already has.

The old-style sales rep may have had his day thanks to shifts in the pharmaceutical market and a cost-cutting drive by drug companies.

U.S. motorhome maker Winnebago Industries Inc said its quarterly loss narrowed as demand for its biggest and most profitable vehicles showed signs of life, and it announced plans to boost production.

Aria, the flagship casino-hotel of MGM Mirage's $8.5 billion CityCenter development, is set to open late on Wednesday, adding about 4,000 high-end rooms to the hotel glut on the Las Vegas Strip.