MARKETS / FINANCE

Charles Schwab Corp said on Thursday its quarterly profit fell 34 percent, meeting expectations, as fee waivers and lower trading by clients continued to weigh on the leading U.S. online brokerage.

South Korea's LG Telecom said on Thursday that its board had approved a plan to merge with LG Dacom and LG Powercom on January 1, 2010.

As the recession takes a bite out of video games sales in the stores, consumers are opting to download more games to save money while keeping themselves entertained.

Hon Hai Group, parent of Hon Hai and Foxconn, will invest more than $1 billion to build a production facility in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, sources and the company said.

The New York Times Co said it has given up its plan to sell The Boston Globe and related businesses after drastic cuts it imposed on the daily newspaper earlier this year improved its financial position.

Wall Street fell on Thursday after quarterly results from Goldman Sachs Group and Citigroup Inc failed to live up to expectations of some investors a day after major indexes rallied to yearly highs.

British firm OMG announced it had received licensing from Microsoft to launch a small digital camera aimed at helping people with memory loss, boosting its shares on Thursday.

Citigroup Inc posted a quarterly per-share loss as it suffered $8 billion of credit losses, raising questions about when the bank can return to sustained profitability.

Oil rose toward $76 a barrel on Thursday, its sixth straight session of gains in spite of a brief midsession stumble as the euro fell on disappointing Q3 earnings reports, traders said.

Stocks fell on Thursday after a survey showed regional factory activity grew less than expected in October, and quarterly results from Goldman Sachs Group and Citigroup Inc underwhelmed investors.

U.S. mortgage foreclosure filings fell for a second straight month in September, but remained near a record high, amid ongoing and sweeping efforts to keep borrowers in their homes, a report released on Thursday showed.

Citigroup Inc posted a quarterly per-share loss as it suffered $8 billion of credit losses, raising questions about when the bank can return to sustained profitability.

U.S. mortgage foreclosure filings fell for a second straight month in September, but remained near a record high, amid ongoing and sweeping efforts to keep borrowers in their homes, a report released on Thursday showed.

Wall Street was set for a lower open on Thursday after quarterly results from Goldman Sachs Group and Citigroup Inc failed to live up to expectations some investors had for financial sector shares.

Oil fell back from a year high on Thursday but stayed above $75 a barrel, reversing its sixth straight positive session after European shares pared gains and the euro fell on disappointing Q3 earnings reports, traders said.

U.S. consumer prices rose marginally in September and the number of workers filing new claims for jobless insurance hit a nine-month low last week, more proof the economy was healing after a protracted recession.

U.S. consumer prices rose marginally in September and the number of workers filing new claims for jobless insurance hit a nine-month low last week, more proof the economy was healing after a protracted recession.

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless insurance unexpectedly fell last week to the lowest level since January, according to a government report on Thursday that hinted at stabilization in the labor market.

Capital One Financial Corp's U.S. credit-card defaults rose in September as more Americans lost their jobs, in another sign that consumers remain under stress.

If you're looking for work, don't look in California.

A gauge of manufacturing in New York State jumped unexpectedly this month to its highest in five years on surging new orders, shipments and employment in the sector, the New York Federal Reserve said in a report on Thursday.

Citigroup Inc (C.N) posted a quarterly loss to shareholders as it suffered $8 billion of credit losses, raising further questions about the future of the bank that is one-third owned by the U.S. government.

U.S. Treasuries prices trimmed losses as U.S. stock index futures turned lower after Goldman Sachs Group (GS.N) reported its third-quarter results.

Stock futures fell on Thursday after quarterly results from Goldman Sachs Group and Citigroup Inc failed to live up to expectations some investors had for financial sector shares.

Describing the proliferation of fraudulent mortgage rescue schemes as an epidemic on Sept. 17, the U.S. Treasury, Department of Justice, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the FTC announced they would work together to target investigations and increase their efficiency.

Consolidation in the private banking industry picked up pace on Thursday, creating fresh players in the Asian and British wealth management sectors and reshaping how the rich manage their money around the world.

Spanish infrastructure firm Abertis (ABE.MC) is eyeing projects in China and India to boost growth beyond its stronghold in southern Europe, but is not in a hurry for any deals, its chairman said on Thursday.

Oil fell back below $75 a barrel from year-highs and reversed its sixth straight positive session on Thursday after European shares pared gains and the euro fell on disappointing Q3 earnings reports, traders said.

Bruce Wasserstein, the legendary Wall Street deal maker identified with an era of no-holds-barred takeover battles, has died at the age of 61. His death leaves major questions about the future direction and leadership of Lazard Ltd., the investment bank he headed.