COMPANIES

MTN is spending $348,9m to bump up its shareholding in MTN Nigeria by buying out some of the minority investors. It will pay $287,8m in cash and issue 6-million shares in the parent company to take an extra 6,98% in the Nigerian subsidiary, giving it an 81,87% share.

General Motors, the world's largest carmaker, said together with Renault and Nissan on Wednesday, that they have collectively agreed to end talks on a possible alliance. While significant synergies could be realized, the companies could not agree how best to distribute the benefits of their cooperation.

The Malaysian flag carrier, Malaysia Airlines, has expressed disappointment following the latest delay of the Airbus A380 jumbo jet. The airline said it is now considering all available options.

Chevron Corp and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory will work together to further develop the research of renewable energy fuels.

The British power plant unit stake is a bigger buy than the Japanese firm's original plan.

Verizon is expected to hold talks with state regulatory officials on Wednesday regarding the company's plans to bring the company's new fiber-optic television service, FiOS TV, to Rhode Island.

Kia Motors Corp. said on Tuesday that its overseas retail sales of passenger cars and light trucks in September represented a 6.5 percent year-on-year decrease. In the United States, Kia sales rose 2 percent to 23,877 vehicles.

American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp., said on Tuesday that its September traffic fell 1.4 percent from 10.74 billion revenue passengers miles last September, to 10.6 billion revenue passengers miles. Each revenue mile is one paying passenger flown one mile.

Boeing said on Tuesday that the largest private airline company in the Czech Republic, Travel Service, has ordered two next-generation 737-900ERs for $150 million.

Gap Inc. and Banana Republic are expanding their relationship with F J Benjamin Holdings Ltd. by opening new stores in Indonesia.

Pepsi Bottling Group Inc., the largest bottler of Pepsi drinks, on Tuesday said quarterly net profit rose about 1 percent, helped by strong sales in Europe, and raised the bottom end of its full-year earnings forecast. Pepsi Bottling said net income increased to $207 million, or 86 cents per share, for the third quarter ended September 9, from $205 million, or 82 cents per share, a year ago.

Gilead Sciences Inc., the world's third-biggest biotechnology company, said on Monday it has agreed to acquire Myogen Inc. for $2.5 billion in a surprise transaction that gives Gilead access to Myogen's experimental hypertension drugs.

EXCO Resources, Inc. said on Monday it had acquired Winchester Energy Company, Ltd. and its affiliated entities from Progress Energy, Inc. for an estimated $1.16 billion.

China World Trade Corporation said on Monday it has struck a deal to acquire 25 percent in a business travel investment company, CWT International Excursion Investment Ltd.

Gulf Arab countries will account for about 20 percent of the world's ethylene production by 2010 as they expand petrochemical output capacity, the secretary general of a Gulf petrochemicals lobby said on Monday.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is pushing to create a cheaper, more flexible work force by capping wages, using more part-time workers and scheduling more staff on nights and weekends, The New York Times reported on Monday.

The battle for control of UK water firm AWG Plc heated up on Monday despite the company's agreement of a 2.2 billion pound ($4.1 billion) offer from an investment group called Osprey.

Morgan Stanley said on Monday it has acquired China's Nan Tung Bank, a deal that would give the Wall Street giant a coveted onshore commercial banking license in China ahead of U.S. investment bank rivals. The deal allows Morgan Stanley to apply immediately to offer yuan-denominated products.

As more and more people turn to the Internet to pay bills and shop for goods and services, Dutch financial services group ING has carved out a lead in what was once considered the most elusive of online services: banking.

An investment group is expected to announce Monday that it has struck a deal to buy British water utility AWG PLC for about $4.12 billion (2.2 billion pounds), a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Sunday.

China Network Systems, Taiwan's largest cable TV operator, has decided to sell itself to MBK Partners, in a deal expected to fetch up to $1.6 billion, according to media reports on Monday.

Top women executives do slightly better at U.S.-based healthcare and pharmaceutical companies than in other industries, but 35 percent of big drug companies do not have a single female director, according to a new survey.

European aerospace group EADS will unveil restructuring measures aimed at saving 2 billion euros ($2.53 billion) a year this week after new delays in deliveries of its A380 superjumbo, financial daily Les Echos reported, without quoting sources.

Changes could be coming for retailers like Gap Inc. and Pier 1 Imports Inc. that have struggled with falling same-store sales, while other retailers, like jeweler Zale Corp. will be watched to see if they can rebound from missteps during last year's holidays.

Citigroup Inc. has all but ended talks to purchase assets or a stake in stricken hedge fund manager Amaranth Advisors LLC, a person familiar with the situation said on Friday, making the chances more remote that the fund will survive. Citi held talks this week that could have kept afloat the hedge fund, which lost more than $6 billion in investments recently.

Imagine your car warning you of an icy road ahead, reading aloud the text messages arriving on your phone and sending you an e mail that your fuel pump needs replacing soon.

A new faith-based mobile phone company is began offering a new service on Friday, combining faith and family content with mobile phone services.

Europe's largest low-fares airline, Ryanair, announced on Friday an order for 32 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 jets valued at $2.25-billion.

Textechnologies Inc. said on Friday it has acquired UK printing company, Centrabell Ltd.