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Software giant Microsoft Corp is discussing ideas for partnerships with Internet portal Yahoo but it is not interested in an acquisition, Yahoo's chief executive said.

Will it, won't it? If so, when? If not, why not? An entire cottage industry of speculation has built up around the public debut of Facebook

U.S. stocks rose on Monday, lifting the Standard & Poor's Index to a four-month high, after data suggesting the U.S. economy may not be in recession which helped to overcome concerns over record crude oil prices, while technology shares were boosted as deal talks between Microsoft and Yahoo have been resumed.

Microsoft and Yahoo are in talks for a less ambitious partnership, but neither side is discounting the possibility of another Microsoft takeover attempt of the Internet portal.

Technology shares gained ground on Thursday after Carl Icahn proposed to change the board of Internet giant Yahoo, saying the firm had completely botched negotiations with Microsoft.

Dear Mr. Icahn: We are in receipt of your letter with regard to your intention to seek control of Yahoo!'s board of directors.

It is clear to me that the board of directors of Yahoo has acted irrationally and lost the faith of shareholders and Microsoft. It is quite obvious that Microsoft's bid of $33 per share is a superior alternative to Yahoo's prospects on a standalone basis. I am perplexed by the board's actions.

Technology stocks advanced on Wednesday but lost earlier gains after a late session sell-off.

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn reportedly has decided to move ahead with plans to run a dissident board slate at Yahoo Inc in an attempt to pressure the company into restarting negotiations with Microsoft Corp.

Technology stocks rose slightly on Tuesday on as Hewlett-Packard shares sank after announcing it would acquire EDS and a report that activist investor Car Icahn is mulling a proxy fight for making changes to the board of directors at Yahoo.

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has bought as much as 3.6 percent of Yahoo and is considering mounting a proxy fight for the Internet portal, according to people who have spoken with him, CNBC reports.

Google Inc, in talks with Internet portal Yahoo Inc, is hoping that it can strike an advertising deal, according to a report.

Microsoft's bankers approached Facebook about a takeover of the social networking site, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Microsoft's failure to acquire Yahoo increased pressure on its executive to find better ways of catching up with Google Inc., which is currently leading the Internet advertisement business.

U.S. stocks fell as Yahoo dropped the most in almost two years after Microsoft Corp. abandoned its $50 billion bid for the company and Countrywide Financial Corp. tumbled on concern its suitor will abandon its pending takeover.

Shares of Yahoo fell as much as 20 percent on Monday but recovered slightly after Microsoft withdrew its buyout bid for the Internet portal over the weekend.

Microsoft Corp. abandoned its three-month-old bid to buy internet firm Yahoo on Saturday, after the two sides failed to agree on an acceptable sale price.

Technology sector stocks fell on Friday despite a strong gain from Yahoo as shares of Sun Microsystems and Netsuite sank.

Microsoft Corp. intensified talks with Yahoo Inc. as it may raise its original $31-a-share Friday in a last-minute effort to reach a friendly agreement, according to media reports.

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer outlined his options for moving forward with a Yahoo bid on Thursday and said an announcement would come very soon.

Microsoft's board of directors did not reach a final decision at a Wednesday meeting about what steps it should take in its bid for Yahoo, according to a report.

Microsoft's plan of buying Yahoo is still in suspense after the deadline of Saturday that the software maker had made for Yahoo, passed without the Internet giant accepting the take-over.

Whole Foods Market Inc says regulators will not recommend further action be taken regarding online message board postings by the company's chief executive.

CNET Networks and Yahoo announced a partnership on Friday that will allow CNET to provide content to Yahoo sites and cross-sell advertising.

Software giant Microsoft Corp. said Thursday its second fiscal quarter generally beat analysts by posting a quarterly profit. The company also predicted next year's earnings to rise between 13 percent and 18 percent.

Microsoft chief said on Wednesday that the firm was ready to abandon its $43.6 billion bid for Yahoo in case both companies fail to agree on a price.

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said on Wednesday he is willing to walk away from a merger with Internet portal Yahoo if shareholders don't accept his company's $44.6 billion offer.

Yahoo Inc.'s first-quarter performance was a little like Goldilocks' favorite soup _ not too hot and not too cold, and that has set the table for a bitter battle over Microsoft Corp.'s bid to take over the Internet pioneer.

Internet giant Yahoo announced a profit for the first quarter that more than tripled from last year, but most of the one-time gain was from its stake in Chinese business-to-business Web site Alibaba.