UNITED STATES

Trade unions urged G20 leaders on Wednesday to respond decisively to the specter of 59 million job losses and slammed banks for awarding bonuses worth more than 20 percent of the taxpayer money spent bailing them out.

Chrysler Group LLC will present a five-year business plan by the end of November that will outline numbers and the path out of two years of difficulties, its chief executive said on Wednesday.

A majority of Americans believe Wall Street executive compensation is unreasonable, and that bankers fared better than others during the financial crisis, a poll conducted for Reuters shows.

Top U.S. movie rental chain Blockbuster Inc, which is facing tough competition from Netflix Inc and Coinstar Inc's Redbox, plans to close up to 960 stores by the end of next year.

Chrysler's new business plan will be presented by the end of November and will show numbers and the path out of years of difficulties, the company's chief executive said on Wednesday.

President Barack Obama's decision to restrict tire imports from China shows a more activist approach to enforcing rights Washington has negotiated in trade deals, as well as making good on a promise to labor groups that helped elect him.

As debate rages on how to reform the U.S. healthcare system, many of the one in six Americans now without medical insurance are hoping that reform brings at least one thing -- affordable coverage.

World equities rose on Wednesday to new 11-month highs, after upbeat U.S. data boosted faith in an economic recovery, persuading more investors to sell their low-yield dollars to buy growth-oriented stocks and commodities.

The U.S. economy will emerge from recession by growing more than 2 percent in the current and fourth quarters on a dramatic reversal in inventories, but growth next year will be tepid, a UCLA Anderson Forecast said on Wednesday.

Oil shed early losses and hovered near $71 on Wednesday as the dollar's fall to one-year lows and Asian equities' climb to 2009 highs drew investors back to risky assets on brightening signs of a U.S. economic recovery.

Asian shares swept to their highest levels for 2009 on Wednesday after upbeat U.S. economic news boosted riskier assets leveraged to global growth, while the U.S. dollar slipped to a one-year low.

Asian shares hit their highest levels for 2009 on Wednesday after upbeat U.S. economic news gave riskier assets leveraged to global growth a boost, while the U.S. dollar slipped to a one-year low.

SEC's Options Tough; Adobe's Gamble; Lehman's Complaint

New York cable TV operator Cablevision Systems Corp said on Tuesday it is rolling out a service to enable subscribers to interact with commercials by clicking on their remote controls.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc said on Tuesday that Barclays Capital Inc got a $8.2 billion windfall profit from excess assets it took control of in the fire sale of Lehman's U.S. brokerage business a year ago.

Stung by a federal judge's rejection of settlement efforts with Bank of America Corp, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has a few ways to proceed in the case. None is good.

Many people outside of China have never played the online video games operated by Shanda Games.

The Australian Dollar opens higher today at 0.8625 and is buoyed by improved risk sentiment after the release of stronger than expected U.S. economic data overnight.

China has started investigation procedures on auto and chicken products originally produced in the United States, Yao Jian, spokesman with the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), told a press conference on Tuesday, adding to a string of trade disputes with Washington including a recent decision to raise tariffs on Chinese-made tires.

Macquarie Group Ltd, the Australian investment bank best known for privatizing public roads and airports, is making a big investment in Wall Street.

Stocks rose on Tuesday to 2009 highs after stronger manufacturing and retail sales data boosted commodity prices and shares of materials companies.