IBT Staff Reporter

U.S. auto sales have been slipping as domestic automakers have struggled to boost sales amid high gas prices this year - a trend that will continue into next year, industry executives and analysts said.

High-level talks to jump start negotiations on a global trade agreement won't be possible until the end of the year or early next year, European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said Monday.

Campbell Soup Co. reported Monday that its profit fell 54 percent in its fourth quarter, largely because of expenses related to the sale of its British business.

Samsung Electronics on Monday announced its new system-on-chip (SoC) that will enable relatively cost-effective making of so-called hybrid disk drives (HHD).

Volkswagen of America Inc. is the greenest automaker according to a survey released on Monday, which ranked the Golf, Jetta and the new Beetle as the lowest emission-releasing vehicles.

Altium Limited, a developer of electronic development solutions, announced the appointment of a new President and Chief Operating Officer on Monday.

The flashy accessories that accompany top designs on fashion runways are well beyond the budgets of many a fashionista, but even the most cash-strapped consumer has one way to copy the looks - rent it.

China's mainland manufacturers plan to raise their export prices by 70 percent within the next year, according to China supplier survey.

Cortina Systems Inc. said Monday it completed the purchase of chip maker Intel Corp.'s optical networking components business for an undisclosed sum.

According to the research released on Monday, rap and hip-hop ring tones are among the most popular type downloaded, accounting for nearly a quarter of the market.

The Knot Inc., an online wedding planner, on Monday said it completed its acquisition of the WeddingChannel.com for $61.7 million in cash and 1.2 million shares of company stock.

The online unit of Time Warner, AOL, announced that it will offer NBC programs on its website days before they are aired on television.

Software publisher Grove Games has formed a new development studio, aiming to create original interactive software titles.

Oil dropped $1 on Monday as OPEC looked set to keep pumping at high rates to ensure world consumers were well supplied despite a 20 percent fall in prices since mid July.

Motorists who unwittingly buy poorly maintained second hand cars are paying out 238 million pounds a year to have their new purchases fixed

Bristol-Myers Squibb's board faces pressure to show investors it is addressing the fallout from sudden competition to the drug maker's top product and a stock that has lost more than half its value since early 2002

The board of Dutch retailer Ahold is divided over whether the group should spin off key parts of its operation

Warplane maker Irkut said it would list shares in London only after the formation of the United Aviation Company, a holding company planned by the Russian government

Unilever may have to pay up to 400 million euros (273 million pounds) compensation to former preferred shareholders after a court investigation

Northern Irish broadcaster Ulster Television Plc, which has been in merger talks with Scottish based media company SMG Plc, said it had outperformed rivals during its first half.

Shares in Volkswagen fell more than 2 percent on Monday ahead of a vote by German metalworkers union IG Metall on whether to reopen its contract with Europe's biggest carmaker.

The top U.S. trade negotiator said on Sunday before meeting a group of developing nations the United States was committed to a successful outcome of current world trade talks.

Anglo Danish security services firm Group 4 Securicor reported half year core earnings close to market expectations on Monday

After a barrage of lawsuits accusing it of overcharging customers, H&R Block Inc. on Thursday said it will slash fees on loans to people waiting for tax refunds.

Nasdaq International said on Sunday it was focusing on the China market as strong economic growth creates a broad range of companies that are seeking overseas listings.

Welcome to campus, college freshmen. Back in the day, all those people staked out in front of the Student Union were pushing fraternities, or protest petitions or - depending on your era - T-shirts or Frisbees or water bottles or tie-dyes. Now those folks are stuffing credit card applications into the goodie bags of newbie students.

National Semiconductor Corp., a maker of analog and power management chips, posted a 40 percent rise in quarterly earnings on Thursday, but its outlook for the current quarter disappointed Wall Street.

Associated British Foods Plc, the refiner of Silver Spoon sugar and owner of Primark stores, warned its second half earnings will fall

Second Life, the fast-growing online site where hundreds of thousands of people play out fantasy lives online, has suffered a computer security breach that exposed the real-world personal data of its users.