IBT Staff Reporter

China's economy is showing some signs of improvement, but a big fall in wholesale prices in Japan suggested the world's second-largest economy was sliding back toward deflation.

Express Scripts Inc has agreed to buy WellPoint Inc's NextRx subsidiaries for $4.68 billion, the companies said in a statement.

U.S. banks that received money under the Troubled Asset Relief Program are facing a probe over increases in rates and fees, the Wall Street Journal said. The Congressional Oversight Panel, the body named by Congress to oversee the federal bailout, is working on a report examining instances of potentially inappropriate lending by banks that got taxpayer capital, according to the paper.

The controversy surrounding American International Group Inc's bonuses to employees could make the process of winding down the insurer's financial products unit more costly for taxpayers, the Wall Street Journal cited the unit head Gerry Pasciucco as saying.

Satyam Computer Services Ltd , the company snared in India's biggest corporate scandal, is set to announce a winning bidder for a controlling stake, and its shares jumped to a two-month high in anticipation on Monday.

WASHINGTON, April 12 - The U.S. Treasury Department is directing General Motors to lay the groundwork for a bankruptcy filing by June 1, even though the automaker has publicly stated it could reorganize outside of court, The New York Times reported on Sunday.

WASHINGTON, April 12 - The U.S. Treasury Department is directing General Motors to lay the groundwork for a bankruptcy filing by June 1, even though the automaker has publicly stated it could reorganize outside of court, The New York Times reported on Sunday.

Anheuser-Busch InBev , the world's largest brewer, is considering selling its Rolling Rock brand, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Credit-card company American Express Co has ample liquidity and less credit risk than its rivals, and its shares could double, Barron's said in its April 13 edition.

If Wells Fargo's strong first-quarter preliminary performance is any sign, stocks could rally further this week on any reassuring news when three other big banks post quarterly results.

Shares of Wells Fargo & Co, which rose by about a third last week, could head even higher as the bank's acquisition of Wachovia begins to pan out, Barron's said in its April 13 edition.

Drugmakers should deliver a solid set of quarterly results but investors will be watching for any signs of recession choking demand for more expensive treatments.

Britain's PZ Cussons has made it onto the shortlist of bidders for the European household and personal care business of U.S. consumer goods group Sara Lee , the Sunday Times reported without citing sources.

If Wells Fargo's strong first-quarter preliminary performance is any sign, stocks could rally further this week on any reassuring news when three other big banks post quarterly results.

Swiss bank UBS will announce more job cuts soon, with staff in Switzerland and departments like marketing to be hit hard, newspapers reported on Sunday.

Swiss bank Credit Suisse has started closing down the offshore accounts of U.S. clients who have not declared the money to the U.S. authorities, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

Toyota Motor Corp's operating loss could balloon to over 500 billion yen ($5 billion) in the year to March 2010, as the global economic crisis hits car sales, the Nikkei business daily said on Sunday without citing sources.

Toyota Motor Corp's operating loss could balloon to over 500 billion yen ($5 billion) in the year to March 2010, as the global economic crisis hits car sales, the Nikkei business daily said on Sunday without citing sources.

A summit of Asian leaders in Thailand was canceled on Saturday after anti-government protesters swarmed into the meeting's venue, renewing doubts about the durability of the government.

Fraud-hit Satyam Computer Services Ltd has used 3 billion rupees ($60 million) of the 6.85 billion bank funds that it has arranged, The Economic Times said on Saturday citing documents from a highly placed source in the company.

More than three months into a medical leave from Apple, Chief Executive Steve Jobs remains closely involved in key aspects of running the company, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.

BNP Paribas will abandon its attempts to buy the assets of Fortis if shareholders of the stricken Dutch-Belgian group reject the latest revised deal this month, BNP's chief executive said.

Japan's government is finalizing plans to provide Pakistan with up to $1 billion in economic aid over the next two years, the Nikkei business daily reported Saturday.

President Barack Obama said on Friday the recession-hit U.S. economy was showing glimmers of hope despite remaining under strain and promised further steps in coming weeks to tackle the financial crisis.

The U.S Treasury Department, on Friday, released the budget details for March 2009 showing a deficit of $192.27 billion, sharply higher than budget deficit of $48.8 billion reported in the corresponding period last year.

More than three months into a medical leave from Apple Inc, Chief Executive Steve Jobs remains closely involved in key aspects of running the company, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Wine tourists are a growing breed as wineries around the globe step up their game and offer visitors better services and gourmet food alongside wine tasting.

U.S. regulators on Friday closed New Frontier Bank of Greeley, Colorado, and set up a temporary bank so depositors can open accounts at other insured institutions.

The founders of Web telephone service Skype, currently owned by eBay Inc, are interested in bidding for the company they sold some four years ago, according to a media report.