IBT Staff Reporter

Central bankers are approaching a deal to set an explicit inflation target, a top Federal Reserve official said, part of a campaign to boost the economy by guiding expectations on interest rate policy.

Finnish cellphone maker Nokia has bought Norwegian technology startup Smarterphone AS to add more advanced features to its basic cellphone models.

Investors are about to find out if the economic woes in Europe are going to deliver a deep wound to U.S. company earnings instead of the mere scratch that many expect.

Investors are about to find out if the economic woes in Europe are going to deliver a deep wound to U.S. company earnings instead of the mere scratch that many expect.

Users of iPhone 4S demand nearly three times the data of iPhone 3G users, which could indicate problems on the horizon for wireless carriers selling the smartphones.

Employment growth accelerated last month and the jobless rate dropped to a near three-year low of 8.5 percent, the strongest evidence yet the economic recovery is gaining steam.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti warned the European Union on Friday not to let divisions over managing its debt crisis blow up into serious splits, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned that a euro collapse could trigger instability.

A few months before MF Global collapsed in bankruptcy, some top executives at the futures firm were talking about a plan code-named "Project Honeydew" as a way of freeing-up badly needed capital and cash.

A few months before MF Global collapsed in bankruptcy, some top executives at the futures firm were talking about a plan code-named Project Honeydew as a way of freeing-up badly needed capital and cash.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti warned the European Union on Friday not to let divisions over managing its debt crisis blow up into serious splits, and President Nicolas Sarkozy warned that a euro collapse could trigger instability.

Investors are about to find out if the economic woes in Europe are going to deliver a deep wound to U.S. company earnings instead of the mere scratch that many expect.

Two top Federal Reserve officials on Friday pushed the case for more stimulus from the U.S. central bank to help the economic recovery, each zeroing in on the country's weak housing market.

The futures regulator has been investigating whether the CME Group did enough to safeguard customer money before the collapse of MF Global last year, sources said on Friday.

Friday's stronger-than-expected December U.S. jobs growth figures drew a sharp contrast with European numbers, but staffing executives who track labor demand on both sides of the Atlantic caution Europe's impact on jobs in the United States may yet prove deeper than it has so far.

Stocks were slightly lower on Friday as investors were pulled in a tug-of-war between strong domestic data and continued concerns about Europe's debt crisis.

JAN 6 - Coca-Cola Co and Nestle SA said on Friday that Coke's license for the Nestea ready-to-drink tea brand would expire at the end of this year and that the companies' tea joint venture would now focus on Europe and Canada.

Japan's Sony Corp will promote its consumer business chief Kazuo Hirai to the role of president as early as April, taking the title away from Howard Stringer, who is expected to remain chairman and CEO, the Nikkei newspaper reported

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti warned the European Union on Friday not to let divisions over managing its debt crisis blow up into serious splits, and President Nicolas Sarkozy warned that a euro collapse could trigger instability.

The world's biggest technology trade show will feature razor-thin laptops, powerful new smartphones, and fancy flat-screen TVs, but talk in the cavernous halls of the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show may center on whether the CES itself has a long-term future.

European film subscription service Lovefilm has signed deals to give its members access to past BBC and ITV television shows including Doctor Who and Prime Suspect, it said ahead of an expected imminent launch of rival Netflix in Britain.

Louis Castle has been preparing for this moment for months.

Stocks were slightly lower on Friday as investors were pulled in a tug-of-war between strong domestic data and continued concerns about Europe's debt crisis.

Friday's stronger-than-expected December U.S. jobs growth figures drew a sharp contrast with European numbers, but staffing executives who track labor demand on both sides of the Atlantic caution Europe's impact on jobs in the United States may yet prove deeper than it has so far.

Rick Santorum defended his anti-gay marriage stance to college students in New Hampshire on Thursday, and to say it didn't go over very well would be an understatement. Watch the video here.

Stocks edged lower on Friday as investors were pulled in a tug-of-war between strong domestic data and continued concerns about Europe's debt crisis.

Employment growth accelerated last month and the jobless rate dropped to a near three-year low of 8.5 percent, offering the strongest evidence yet the economic recovery was gaining steam.

American Airlines and US Airways Group have joined other big U.S. carriers in adding surcharges to flights in the wake of a disputed European law requiring airlines to pay for aircraft emissions.

Some things haven't changed since 2008: for the second time, the largest newspaper in Massachusetts has endorsed someone other than former Gov. Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination.

U.S. stocks cut losses and the Nasdaq turned positive on Friday after a strong jobs report and strength in large-cap Internet stocks.