COMPANIES

Richmond Federal Reserve President Jeffrey Lacker was quoted on Thursday as saying the U.S. economy was stabilizing after a painful recession and the shattered housing market will no longer be a drag on economic activity.

MILLIS, Mass. - As he finished packing corn, tomatoes and blueberries into shopping bags at a Massachusetts farm, software engineer Alex Lian said his new shopping habits had changed his attitude to food.

Harley-Davidson Inc (HOG.N) plans to start selling its motorcycles next year in India, the world's second-largest market for bikes, the U.S.-based company said on Thursday.

A recovery in air traffic is under way, according to latest data from a global industry body, in another sign the world economy is clawing its way out of recession.

NEW YORK - Stock index futures were little changed on Thursday ahead of data expected to show that the U.S. economy shrank further in the second quarter and the number of jobless claims improved slightly.

Morgan Stanley (MS.N), Looking to fortify its equity trading business in Europe, has hired Richard Evans, a former top trader with Citigroup Inc (C.N), as head of strategy in the region, the Wall Street Journal said on Thursday.

Airlines carried 11.3 percent less cargo and 2.9 percent fewer people in July than in the same month a year ago, a global industry body said on Thursday.

Time Warner Cable Inc has signed up at least seven large media companies for a test that will offer television programs on the Internet to paying subscribers, the Wall Street Journal said on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The U.S. Air Force has boosted the potential value of Northrop Grumman Corp's contract to support the radar-evading B-2 bombers by more than 50 percent to $9.5 billion.

Northrop Grumman Corp was awarded a U.S. Air Force contract boost, up to $3.4 billion, to support the radar-evading B-2 bomber, the Defense Department said on Wednesday.

China Sinopec Group's $7.24 billion acquisition of Swiss oil firm Addax Petroleum Corp was approved by the Iraqi government, a local paper quoted a senior Sinopec official as saying on Wednesday.

Two Sunbelt banks filed for initial public offerings on Wednesday to raise money that would be used in part to pay off money owed to the U.S. Treasury, setting the stage for the first U.S. IPOs by banks in more than two years.

U.S. banking regulators partially retreated from a much-criticized proposal to impose new rules on private equity investment in troubled banks, aiming to encourage investments in distressed bank assets.

Just two months out of bankruptcy, Chrysler Group has renewed the hunt for a manufacturing partner in China as it prepares to revamp its product lineup under the control of Italy's Fiat SpA (FIA.MI), three people with knowledge of the discussions said.

WASHINGTON - Japanese and South Korean automakers registered the biggest market share gains in the U.S. government's cash for clunkers program that ended this week with bankruptcy related inventory shortages hurting General Motors Co [GM.UL] and Chrysler.

The chief executives of the biggest U.S. health insurance companies were called to testify about industry practices before a congressional hearing examining coverage, costs and claim denials.

Investors stayed cautious on Wednesday after a rally, leaving stocks little changed despite solid reports on new home sales and durable goods orders.

National carrier Air New Zealand Ltd reported a 90 percent fall in full year net profit on Thursday, as the global recession and flu pandemic hit air travel.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday as it set aside more money to cover bad loans, sending its shares down more than 5 percent.

China's top offshore oil producer CNOOC Ltd said it will take a conservative approach to acquisitions as it reported its lowest half-year earnings since 2005 on weak crude oil prices.

Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) is recalling about 95,700 Toyota and Scion vehicles sold in the United States because ice could accumulate on their braking systems and make it harder for drivers to slow down.

A bankruptcy judge on Wednesday approved a plan of reorganization for luxury home builder WCI Communities Inc (WCIMQ.PK), according to court documents, helping clear the way for the company to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Robert McCann, former head of Merrill Lynch's wealth management unit, is in talks to settle a suit he filed Aug. 24 against Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) seeking to lift a noncompete clause, allowing him to join a chief rival, a source with direct knowledge of the situation said.

New U.S. home sales hit their highest level in 10 months in July and orders for long-lasting manufactured goods surged, fresh evidence a modest economic recovery was taking shape.

General Electric has put its security business up for sale in an auction that could fetch about $2 billion, sources familiar with the situation said on Wednesday.

How new rules meant to ensure the integrity of the appraisal process have infuriated appraisers and stymied sales from coast to coast.

Shares of ValueClick Inc (VCLK.O) have gained 66 percent in the past six months, but the online-advertising company has seen revenue declines over the past three quarters due to weakness at two of its major segments.

U.S. stocks were mixed on Wednesday as investors were cautious about making big bets after a rally this week, overshadowing solid data on durable goods and home sales.

If you know how to price a listing effectively, you're much more likely to succeed in selling that property and making your clients very happy.