Jobless claims fall sharply for the week

WASHINGTON -- New jobless claims last week fell much more sharply than expected, a reassuring sign that the damaging effects from Hurricane Sandy to...

HUD Secretary Donovan says he can't promise FHA won't need bailout

WASHINGTON -- A top Obama administration official said Thursday that he could not guarantee that efforts to shore up a key government housing agency...

Chinese really would rather have a Buick as GM sets sales record

Imagine a world where Buick outsells Chevrolet.

Small business hiring plans plunge to record low

The job outlook at America’s small businesses is the worst it’s ever been, according to new research.

T-Mobile reaches pact with Apple; iPhone coming soon

It looks like the iPhone may finally be coming to T-Mobile, the last major U.S. network without the flagship Apple device.

Darden won't slash full-timers' hours to cut 'Obamacare' costs

Darden Restaurants Inc., the parent of eateries such as Olive Garden and Red Lobster, said it will not bump any of its full-time employees down to...

Parents want more online protections for kids, privacy groups say

Parents object to the collecting of personal information from kids under 13 when they are online and using mobile devices, according to a new survey...

Stocks inch up as investors keep eye on Washington

The stock market is eking out a small gain as investors keep their eyes closely focused on budget talks in Washington.

Freddie Mac says typical 30-year mortgage rate up a hair at 3.34%

Mortgage interest rates edged higher from record lows this week, with lenders offering the 30-year fixed loan to solid borrowers at an average of 3....

Trade groups agree on steps to cut the pay-TV power bill

This post was updated, as indicated below.

BMW to recall X5 diesel SUVs to fix power steering problem

BMW is recalling about 35,000 X5 sport utility vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because a bolt could break in the steering system.

Samsung lawyers file copy of Apple patent settlement with HTC

Apple and HTC announced a surprise settlement to their patent litigation last month, but the details were kept tightly under wraps. Then a federal...

Standard Chartered to pay $330 million more in probe

Standard Chartered, the British bank under investigation in an Iranian money-laundering probe, expects its bill to U.S. authorities in the case to...

L.A. and Long Beach ports spring back to life

For eight long days, the usual lunch crowd was missing from Marcos Medina's restaurant.

Port strike was part of bigger fight

The eight-day strike that crippled two of the world's busiest ports reflected a clash that is playing out across the global shipping industry, as...

Facebook voters: Everything you need to know to cast your ballot

SAN FRANCISCO — You survived the U.S. presidential election. Now as citizens of Facebook, you are being asked to cast another ballot.

Tesco may sell all Fresh & Easy stores

British supermarket giant Tesco may soon be bidding bon voyage to its American problem child.

Citigroup's move to slash 11,000 jobs may presage bigger cuts

NEW YORK — Citigroup's move to sack more than 11,000 workers may foreshadow bigger cuts as its newly installed chief executive shakes up the...

Apple, Samsung to return to court in high-stakes patent case

Mobile rivals Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. return to a San Jose federal court Thursday to renew their high-stakes legal wrangling that could...

Starbucks to add 2,400 outlets by '15

Major expansion plans brewing at Starbucks Coffee Co. will stretch the Seattle java giant by adding about 2,400 outlets in two years to give it more...

Auction of battery maker A123 Systems raises concern

The auction of battery-maker A123 Systems Inc., scheduled for Thursday, is expected to draw both U.S. and foreign bidders against the backdrop of...

SEC accuses Wells Fargo banker, 9 others of insider trading

Federal regulators have accused a Wells Fargo investment banker of passing tips about pending mergers to nine others in an insider-trading ring.

Fitch cites California's 'notable progress' toward fiscal health

SACRAMENTO — California has made "notable progress" improving the state government's financial health since the economic downturn, according...

Netflix's Ted Sarandos: Disney deal a 'game changer'

Netflix's day-old deal to be the exclusive pay-TV home for new movies from Walt Disney Studios is a "game changer" for the streaming video company and...

New 'Call of Duty' fastest game in history to reach $1 billion

The newest "Call of Duty" is off to a faster start than many in the video game industry had thought -- and appears to have reached $1 billion in sales...

SpaceX to launch military satellites in 2014, 2015

Hawthorne rocket maker SpaceX announced it will launch its first two military satellites in 2014 and 2015.

Apple iPad's share of tablet market slips as demand grows, IDC says

First, the good news for Apple: The tablet market continues to surpass all projections as the iPad and iPad Mini are exciting consumers. That's...

Regulators target Carlos Slim's telecom empire in Latin America

Carlos Slim, the world's richest person, is confronting a mounting backlash that's coming from the same parts of Latin American that made him wealthy....

U.S. files complaint against maker of baby recliner

The government is taking action against the makers of a portable baby recliner, called the Nap Nanny, after five infant deaths.

Shipping stocks up after L.A., Long Beach port strike is resolved

NEW YORK -- Stocks of shipping companies rallied 1% after a deal was reached to end a strike at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.