IBT Staff Reporter

Boston Scientific Corp will pay $1.73 billion to Johnson and Johnson to settle three patent disputes involving heart stents that date back to 2003.

U.S. manufacturing expanded in January at its fastest pace since 2004 but consumers increased their spending only slightly in December, worried by job prospects and the state of the economy.

A new study finds an abstinence-only intervention for pre-teens was more successful in delaying the onset of sexual activity than a health-promotion control intervention.

Oil prices rose to $75 a barrel on Monday as support from a weaker dollar, higher U.S. stocks, and an oil spill in Texas which limited crude oil deliveries to some U.S. refiners.

Oil prices rose to $75 a barrel on Monday as support from a weaker dollar, higher U.S. stocks, and an oil spill in Texas which limited crude oil deliveries to some U.S. refiners.

This morning the AUD opens higher at 0.8906 against the greenback regaining more than 1% from an intraday low of 0.8787 on Monday.

Toyota Motor Corp's massive recall and sales halt of its best-selling vehicles will overshadow an expected industry increase in U.S. auto sales for January over the deeply depressed month a year ago.

Manufacturing expanded in January at its fastest pace since 2004, data showed on Monday, but consumers increased spending only slightly in December, worried by job prospects and the state of the economy.

The stock market started February with a strong rally as commodities stocks surged on signs of global demand for raw materials and semiconductor stocks received a boost from an industry report.

(Corrects to remove reference to specific percentage changes in paragraph 11)

Microsoft reminded customers on Monday that users of the free preview version of Windows 7 need to pay for a system update, otherwise the operating system will begin to automatically shut down PCs in one month.

President Barack Obama pledged on Monday to halve a record 2010 budget deficit by the end of his first term in office, but made tackling double-digit unemployment his immediate priority with a spending plan that risked public ire and a rough battle in Congress.

Citigroup Inc plans to sell or spin-off its $10 billion Citi Private Equity unit in order to cut its debt, Bloomberg reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Stocks rose on Monday as better-than-expected data on the manufacturing sector and earnings from Exxon Mobil revived bullish sentiment after stocks closed out their worst month in almost a year.

Stocks rose on Monday as investors scooped up beaten-down shares after the recent sell-off after reassuring manufacturing data and Exxon Mobil Corp's upbeat results fueled a strong start to February. The market's gains were broad-based.

Oil rose over 2 percent on Monday as stronger U.S. manufacturing data prompted optimism about economic recovery and a weaker dollar helped boost crude demand after oil prices fell to five-week lows on Friday.

Fifty-five nations accounting for almost 80 percent of world greenhouse gas emissions have set national goals for fighting climate change by a deadline in the Copenhagen Accord, the United Nations said on Monday.

Wrestling legend Jack Brisco died Monday at age 68, according to a report from wrestlingobserver.com. Brisco had been battling a number of health problems in recent years, including circulatory problems and emphyzema, according to the report.

Stocks rose on Monday as better-than-expected data on the manufacturing sector and earnings from Exxon Mobil reassured investors that economic growth is on track, after stocks suffered their worst month in almost a year.

Boston Scientific Corp said on Monday it will pay $1.73 billion to Johnson and Johnson to settle three patent disputes involving heart stents that date back to 2003.

On February 2, 2010 - halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox- will be celebrated the Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, an annual event in the United States that is said to predict the weather for the rest of winter.

The Obama administration must ensure U.S. housing market stability is retained as it reforms the nation's two largest providers of home mortgage credit, a top Treasury Department official said on Monday.

The Obama administration on Monday laid out credit provisions for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under its fiscal year 2011 budget proposal, but did not deliver a vision for the future of the money-losing mortgage finance giants.

Mortgage securities are not expected to return to any significant growth until 2011, despite efforts to restart the market that provided much of the residential credit during the housing boom, according to a industry survey released on Monday.

Oil rose on Monday as stronger U.S. manufacturing data prompted optimism about economic recovery and a weaker dollar helped boost crude demand after oil prices fell to five-week lows on Friday.

NASA will get nearly $6 billion to encourage private companies to launch their own spacecraft according to the US President's new budget proposed today

Wall St rose on Monday after closing its worst month in almost a year as U.S. manufacturing expanded the most in six years and Exxon Mobil Corp beat earnings estimates.

(Corrects to show Morgan Stanley comment on Warner Chilcott in paragraph 11 refers to only one of the company's products)

President Barack Obama has called NASA to cancel the $100 billion program that was to return humans to the Moon by 2020, and focus instead on new space technologies.