COMPANIES

Germany could provide 4.5 billion euros ($6.35 billion) in state aid for carmaker Opel if General Motors chooses Canada's Magna, Berlin's favored suitor, as the buyer, a minister said.

BHP Billiton won't accept the iron ore prices reached between Chinese steel mills and Fortescue, Local media reported on Tuesday, citing senior officials of BHP China.

Jack Henry & Associates Inc shares rose as much as 8 percent on Wednesday to their highest in more than a year, following a better-than-expected quarterly earnings and strong outlook for fiscal 2010.

U.S. electric car start-up Tesla Motors Inc said on Tuesday that it is opening a new manufacturing facility that will produce powertrain components for its vehicles.

General Motors Co said on Tuesday it is increasing production in North America for the second half of 2009 after a surge in sales ignited by the U.S. government's

The credit crunch may have dented some motorists' dreams of owning a Ferrari but the rental market for luxury cars in many countries, including Australia, is gathering speed as the rest of the auto industry splutters.

German carmaker Volkswagen and Dutch investment company Fleet Investments BV won approval from European Union regulators on Wednesday to take joint control of Dutch car leasing firm LeasePlan Corporation NV.

Industrial manufacturer Raven Industries Inc reported better-than-expected quarterly results, helped by strength in its electronic systems segment.

General Motors GM.UL board of directors will discuss on Friday the sale of its European business Opel, for which both Magna (MGa.TO) and RHJ (RHJI.BR) are in the hunt, several sources close to the deal said.

Semiconductor gear maker Photronics Inc forecast a wider-than-expected loss for the fourth quarter, hurt by higher interest costs, sending its shares down 8 percent.

Toyota Motor Corp will buy hybrid-car batteries from Sanyo Electric Co, a source familiar with the matter said, as the automaker struggles to meet growing demand for the fuel-sipping vehicles due to a shortage of battery supply.

KKR has hired Morgan Stanley as its financial advisor for the bid and Permira has appointed JPMorgan, said the sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Macquarie Group Ltd, Australia's top investment bank, agreed to buy U.S. asset manager Delaware Investments for $428 million in cash from Lincoln National Corp, continuing a trend of consolidation in the fund management business.

AIG'sTaiwan unit Nan Shan Life must settle a pay dispute with employees before a new owner can be allowed in, the island's financial regulator said on Wednesday, potentially disrupting its ongoing sale.

Canada is not likely to block Nortel Networks' planned $1.13 billion sale of wireless assets to Sweden's Ericsson, the Globe and Mail reported on its website.

Deere & Co said on Wednesday its earnings in the latest quarter fell 27 percent as ongoing weakness in its construction and forestry equipment business offset strength in demand for its tractors and harvesters, especially in North America.

Deere & Co said on Wednesday its earnings in the latest quarter fell 27 percent as ongoing weakness in its construction and forestry equipment business offset strength in demand for its tractors and harvesters, especially in North America.

British American Tobacco, the world's second-biggest cigarette maker, has recruited Richard Burrows, the former chairman of Bank of Ireland , to be its new chairman.

Macquarie Group Ltd , Australia's top investment bank, agreed to buy U.S. asset manager Delaware Investments for $428 million in cash from Lincoln National Corp , continuing a trend of consolidation in the fund management business.

Three detained Chinese employees of Australian miner Rio Tinto appeared healthy and calm, their defense lawyers said on Wednesday after visiting their clients for the first time early this week.

Microsoft Corp has confidently described its planned search advertising deal with Yahoo Inc as a win-win, but the software company's legal chief is prepared to concede that the outcome is not certain.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch said on Tuesday it hired banking veteran Brad Cameron to head its Canadian mergers and acquisitions team, the latest sign a capital markets pick-up may be in the making in Canada.

General Motor is to wrap up its Hummer deal with China's Tengzhong at the end of September, the Beijing Youth Daily reported on Monday.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc has replaced its chief executive, Harry Sloan, with a team that includes a turnaround expert and its production boss, Mary Parent, as the storied Hollywood studio grapples with reducing a massive debt load.

No. 1 home improvement chain Home Depot Inc is banking on a slow-but-steady growth strategy and cost cuts to fight lackluster demand for big-ticket remodeling projects.

Only three Manhattan office buildings worth more than $30 million were sold in the first half of year, as buyer and sellers failed to agree on pricing and credit stayed tight, according to a report by real estate services company CB Richard Ellis Group Inc.

General Motors Co said on Tuesday it is increasing production in North America for the second half of 2009 after a surge in sales ignited by the U.S. government's Cash for Clunkers incentives program.

Henry Kravis, co-founder of private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co , said on Tuesday the market for initial public offerings has improved in recent months and the firm would monetize assets in its portfolio as opportunities arise.

Russia's Evraz Group has abandoned plans to acquire control of Chinese steel maker Delong Holdings Ltd after a $1.5 billion option to raise its stake to 51 percent lapsed on Tuesday, the company said.