MARKETS / FINANCE

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said the world’s biggest software company will thrive in the exploding world of laptops, tablets and new applications.

China's exports and imports grew at their slowest pace in more than two years in December as foreign and domestic demand ebbed, data showed on Tuesday, bolstering expectations of more policy action from Beijing to support the world's number two economy.

Jan 9 - The Securities and Exchange Commission has urged banks to publish more details about their exposure to European sovereign debt, a factor in the recent bankruptcy of the futures brokerage MF Global Holdings Ltd .

U.S. consumer credit surged 10 percent in November, its biggest jump in a decade in a positive signal for the economy as consumers tapped their credit cards and the government doled out more student loans.

U.S. consumer credit surged 10 percent in November, its biggest jump in a decade in a positive signal for the economy as consumers tapped their credit cards and the government doled out more student loans.

As the government nears a deal with top banks to resolve mortgage abuses, the Justice Department has begun reaching out to other banks to gauge their interest in joining the wide-ranging settlement, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Hollywood movie producers would kill for the kind of buzz that surrounds the barely seen video that could be the next bombshell in the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

Apple Inc Chief Executive Tim Cook received a one-time stock award worth nearly $400 million, the largest given by a company in a decade.

Amazon.com Inc and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels unveiled an agreement on Monday that may mean that the world's largest Internet retailer starts collecting sales tax in the state in 2014.

The top U.S. communications regulator on Monday proposed measures to eliminate the waste and fraud plaguing a telephone subsidy for the poor, and broaden the program to bring high-speed Internet to more low-income households.

Amazon.com Inc and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels unveiled an agreement on Monday that may mean that the world's largest Internet retailer starts collecting sales tax in the state in 2014.

Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook took in almost $1 million of cash compensation in 2011 but also received a million restricted shares that, when they vest in 2016 and 2021, could net the head of the world's largest consumer electronics firm hundreds of millions of dollars.

Internet domain name regulators on Monday played down fears by the United Nations and other international bodies that a planned expansion of possible Website addresses could cause them problems, saying safeguards were in place.

The final result for 2011 is in: hedge funds posted one of their worst annual performances ever, according to data released on Monday.

Walgreen Co is going through the worst part of not being in Express Scripts Inc's network and, while the transition is difficult now, the drugstore should rebound as the year progresses, its top pharmacy executive said on Monday.

French bank Societe Generale is forecasting a significant drop in 2012 investment-bank revenue compared with 2011, weighed by higher funding costs and efforts to slash its balance sheet, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters on Monday.

Stocks ended slightly higher on Monday in a light-volume session as investors stayed cautious ahead of corporate earnings and key auctions for European debt this week.

AT&T Inc announced plans to launch seven new smartphones and a tablet computer early this year for a new wireless network it is building as it looks to catch up with bigger rival Verizon Wireless in high-speed wireless services.

Deutsche Telekom is overhauling its strategy for its U.S. wireless unit after AT&T last month dropped its planned $39 billion takeover of the unit, a person familiar with the strategy planning said on Monday.

Morgan Stanley has promoted Eric Grossman to chief legal officer as the current legal chief, Frank Barron, plans for retirement at mid-year, according to an internal memo viewed by Reuters.

Stocks ended slightly higher on Monday in a light-volume session as investors stayed cautious ahead of corporate earnings and key auctions for European debt this week.

AMR Corp , the bankrupt parent of American Airlines, on Monday said it would cut service between Chicago and New Delhi and between Dallas/Fort Worth and Burbank, California, a move that will eliminate 150 jobs.

Silver for March delivery, the most actively traded contract on the Comex, was up 25 cents to $28.93 and spot silver was up 10 cents to $28.85.

Stocks edged higher on Monday as investors showed caution ahead of corporate earnings and key auctions for European debt this week.

Gold prices closed modestly lower Monday but other precious metals posted gains as bargain hunters moved in to take advantage of discounts on silver, platinum and palladium.

The Federal Reserve cannot rule out additional monetary easing even if steady growth and acceptable inflation make it harder to justify fresh action, a top Fed official said on Monday.

Swiss National Bank Chairman Philipp Hildebrand resigned with immediate effect on Monday, saying he could not prove he had been unaware of a currency trade made by his wife and wanted to protect the integrity of the central bank.

Blue-chip names like Johnson & Johnson , Pfizer and Peugeot are among firms bailing out Europe's ailing banks in a reversal of the established roles of clients and lenders.

General Motors Co expects to have U.S. federal safety officials resolve their investigation of delayed fires in the Chevrolet Volt electric car sooner rather than later, a top executive said on Monday.