IBT Staff Reporter

Global stocks headed for their best week in over two years Friday, bolstered by EU leaders' efforts to contain the euro zone debt crisis which have stoked appetite for riskier assets, while the euro held just below a seven-week high.

Actor Charlie Sheen, fired from his previous role on TV's Two and a Half Men, will return to television in summer 2012, in his new Anger Management on FX, the network announced on Thursday.

Japanese factory output fell in September for the first time since the devastating March earthquake, a sign the economy's recovery from the disaster is tailing off in the face of slowing global growth, the strong yen and Europe's lingering debt woes.

Japanese factory output fell in September for the first time since the devastating March earthquake, a sign the economy's recovery from the disaster is tailing off in the face of slowing global growth, the strong yen and Europe's lingering debt woes.

The global cellphone market grew 12.8 percent in the third quarter, showing the second-lowest growth rate over the past two years due to conservative consumer spending and delayed smartphone purchases, research firm IDC said on Friday.

Occidental Petroleum Corp expects to have drilled 195 shale oil wells in its home state of California by the end of this year, although it would like to drill far more if the permitting process allowed it.

Asian stocks headed for their best week in nearly three years after a long-awaited plan to resolve the European debt crisis sparked a huge relief rally in riskier assets, while the euro took a breather after jumping to a seven-week high.

IFC Films has acquired U.S. rights to Edwin Boyd, the bank-robber movie that won Best Canadian First Feature at this year's Toronto International Film Festival.

Besides being the familiar appellation for a potent alcoholic liquor, the word rum can also mean -- it's a colloquial Briticism -- that something is a little off, a tad peculiar.

Two labor groups say that satellite radio company SiriusXM is proposing a blatantly anti-artist and anti-union deal that would make it difficult for artists to recoup their royalties.

Two labor groups say that satellite radio company SiriusXM is proposing a blatantly anti-artist and anti-union deal that would make it difficult for artists to recoup their royalties.

Paramount Pictures is laying off about 120 people in a reorganization of its global theatrical division, the company announced Thursday.

During its run, NBC's To Catch a Predator was typically in the position of stopping crime. But now the show has found itself in its own legal entanglement.

Redbox announced that its famous -- or infamous, if you happen to work for a major studio -- $1-night-rental price is being upped to $1.20.

With India set to host its first Formula One race this weekend, here's a look at some pictures which caught the eye.

- Top Chinese search engine Baidu Inc forecast strong sales that topped Wall Street estimates, after reporting robust quarterly earnings, shrugging off concerns that a weak economy could hit advertisers.

Third-quarter profit at Canadian Oil Sands Ltd (COS.TO: Quote), the biggest partner in the Syncrude Canada Ltd joint venture, rose 25 percent on higher oil prices and increased production, the company said on Thursday.

Canadian patent licensing company Mosaid Technologies (MSD.TO: Quote) said late on Thursday that it agreed to be bought by U.S.-based private equity firm Sterling Partners for C$590 million ($596 million), which trumped a hostile bid from rival Wi-Lan Inc (WIN.TO:Quote) for C$532 million.

Canada's murder rate in 2010 fell to a 44-year low of just 1.62 per 100,000 people, official data showed on Wednesday, just a day after the government said it would ease the country's strict gun laws.

The Toronto Maple Leafs rallied for a 4-2 victory over the Rangers Thursday, taking advantage of two disallowed goals to ruin New York's chances of winning their home opener.

Elected a year ago on a populist promise to stop the spending gravy train, Toronto's mayor has become Canada's second least popular big-city politician on growing disillusionment after a series of public blunders and fear of service cuts.

Asian stocks are poised for their best week in nearly three years after a long-awaited plan to resolve the European debt crisis encouraged investors to put money back into riskier assets such as the euro and commodities.

Research In Motion has parted ways with a senior executive involved with the company's move into cloud-based services, adding to a string of high-level departures from the BlackBerry maker.

Samsung Electronics Co surpassed Apple Inc as the world's top smartphone maker with more than 40 percent shipment growth, and forecast strong sales in the fourth quarter, as it aims to consolidate its lead against rivals.

Shares of Chinese search engine Baidu Inc surged more than 7 percent on Thursday after the company topped Wall Street financial targets, shrugging off concerns that a weakening Chinese economy could hamper its growth.

Some customers are moving money away from struggling futures brokerage MF Global Holdings Ltd, according to hedge funds, rivals, and analysts, though the extent of the outflows is unclear.

Electronic Arts Inc's second-quarter results beat Wall Street estimates and the video game maker raised its earnings forecast because of the upcoming holiday title Star Wars: The Old Republic, which it expects to be a hit.

Samsung Electronics Co, the world's top technology firm by revenue, reported a 13 percent fall in quarterly profit, as the stellar performance of its handset business was overshadowed by a slump in its mainstay chip division.

Samsung Electronics Co, the world's top technology firm by revenue, reported a 13 percent fall in quarterly profit, as the stellar performance of its handset business was overshadowed by a slump in its mainstay chip division.