IBT Staff Reporter

The U.S. housing market, once the epicenter of the global financial collapse that spawned today's European debt crisis, is on the verge of delivering some positive news.

Stephen Elop, the first non-Finn to run Nokia, on Sunday quashed rumors the cellphone maker could move its headquarters to the United States from Espoo, a suburb of the Finnish capital Helsinki.

CME Group Inc, which has given $22 million to Chicago-area schools and charities over the past five years, has stopped making grants through its main foundation, citing the collapse of MF Global Holdings Inc.

The euro zone will pursue measures to tackle its sovereign debt crisis this week by offering more cash to the IMF and long-term liquidity to banks, while moving towards tighter fiscal rules, after ratings agency Fitch cast doubt on it ability to forge a decisive response.

European champions Barcelona cruised to win their second FIFA Club World Cup with a 4-0 hammering of Brazilian side Santos in Yokohama, Japan.

CME Group Inc, which has given $22 million to Chicago-area schools and charities over the past five years, has stopped making grants through its main foundation, citing the collapse of MF Global Holdings Inc.

Americans are making progress in working down their heavy debt burden, but they are struggling to break out of another funk holding back the economy: their deep pessimism.

U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil Corp is mulling a 7 billion pound ($10.9 billion) takeover of Kurdistan-focused explorer Gulf Keystone Petroleum, the Independent on Sunday reported.

U.S. officials are offering 11 Swiss banks, among them Credit Suisse , a deal that allows them to avoid criminal prosecution in exchange for revealing full details of their U.S. offshore business to Washington, a paper reported on Sunday.

U.S. officials are offering 11 Swiss banks -- Credit Suisse among them -- a deal that would allow them to avoid criminal prosecution in exchange for revealing full details of their U.S. offshore business to Washington, a paper reported on Sunday.

The federal government's Home Affordable Modification Program is far from perfect, said Josh Zinner, an advocate with the Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project in New York, "but the biggest problem is servicers not doing their job."

Shirley Burnell, a community activist from Oakland, California, has been trying to get her subprime loan restructured since 2007.

China will keep appropriate investment growth in 2012 to help underpin the economy amid the global downturn, the country's top economic planner said in comments published on Sunday.

Teemu Selanne skated onto Winnipeg ice for the first time in 15 years to a hero's welcome from Jets fans Saturday, as the Finnish Flash returned to the city where he started his National Hockey League career.

Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc said it will explore options including sale of assets, strategic business combination, or partnerships.

If The Incredibles -- for my money, still the best superhero movie ever made -- somehow failed to convince you that Brad Bird is one of the great action directors of our time, check out Bird's live-action debut, Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol.

China's November housing inflation eased to its lowest level in the year, a victory for Beijing's campaign to ward off property bubbles as it steadily loosens monetary policy to ensure a soft landing in the world's second-largest economy.

China's November housing inflation eased to its lowest level in the year, a victory for Beijing's campaign to ward off property bubbles as it steadily loosens monetary policy to ensure a soft landing in the world's second-largest economy.

Average house price inflation in China's 70 major cities eased to 2.2 percent in November from October's 2.8 percent, according to Reuters calculations using official data published Sunday.

Police, prosecutors, and the Japanese securities watchdog may launch a raid on the offices of the disgraced Olympus Corp. this week on suspicion the company falsified financial accounts, Kyodo News has reported, citing investigative sources.

Senate Republicans claimed victory on Saturday for a bill that may force President Barack Obama to make a speedier decision on a Canada to Texas oil pipeline, but a White House official indicated quick approval of the project is not likely.

CME Group Inc., which has given $22 million to Chicago-area schools and charities during the past five years, has stopped making grants through its main foundation, citing the collapse of MF Global Holdings Inc.

CME Group Inc, which has given $22 million to Chicago-area schools and charities over the past five years, has stopped making grants through its main foundation, citing the collapse of MF Global Holdings Inc.

The World Trade Organization closed its biennial ministerial conference on Saturday with its chairman citing an improved atmosphere in the 153-member club but no concrete moves forward on the Doha round of world trade talks.

Bradley Manning, the suspected source of the largest leak of classified U.S. documents in history, spent his 24th birthday in military court on Saturday listening to investigators detail how they pieced together the case against him.

It's light on biographical details, but Encore's documentary Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis is a must-see for Lewis fans who want to hear from a who's who of the comedy world about how Lewis inspired them.

After the domestic box office's worst weekend since September 2008, the picture could be brighter entering this weekend, thanks to two strong showings Thursday night.

A top British sprinter desperate to run in his home London Olympics next year has raised 32,550 pounds ($50,500) in sponsorship by auctioning himself on eBay.

A key House vote on controversial anti-piracy legislation has been delayed.