Ralph Lauren's 4Q profit rises 35 pct
NEW YORK (AP) -- Ralph Lauren Corp. is reporting a 35 percent increase in fourth-quarter profit, but economic challenges here and abroad and certain strategic initiatives cut into sales....
US unemployment aid applications fall to 340K
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell by 23,000 last week, further evidence that the job market is slowly returning to health....
Japan gyrations underline economy's vulnerability
TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's financial markets gyrated wildly Thursday, underscoring the vulnerability of its economy to a loss of investor confidence as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attempts shock monetary easing to end two decades of stagnation....
US equities sell-off goes on; futures slump
NEW YORK (AP) -- The momentum of a late sell-off on Wall Street is carrying through for a second day, with U.S. futures and global stock markets in retreat....
Survey shows China manufacturing contracting
BEIJING (AP) -- A survey shows China's manufacturing contracted this month, adding to signs a fragile recovery in the world's No. 2 economy is slowing....
Markets roiled by Nikkei's 7.3 percent slide
LONDON (AP) -- Financial markets around the world were roiled Thursday after Japanese stocks suffered their biggest slide since the country was hit by a devastating tsunami more than two years ago....
Birth control coverage up for federal appeal
DENVER (AP) -- In the most prominent challenge of its kind, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. is asking a federal appeals court Thursday for an exemption from part of the federal health care law that requires it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morning-after pill....
House to vote on variable rate student loans
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House lawmakers are ready to pass legislation that links student loan rates to the financial markets in spite of a veto threat from President Barack Obama....
Review: Google music plan solid, serendipitous
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Google Inc.'s new music service offers a lot of eye candy to go with the tunes. The song selection of around 18 million tracks is comparable to popular services such as Spotify and Rhapsody, and a myriad of playlists curated along different genres provides a big playground for music lovers....
Median CEO pay rises to $9.7 million in 2012
CEO pay has been going in one direction for the past three years: up....
Target's 1Q profit drops 26 pct on weak sales
NEW YORK (AP) -- Target Corp. reported a 26 percent drop in first-quarter profit as cool temperatures and financial pressures limited customers' appetite for spending....
Lowe's 1Q profit rises, but results miss Street
NEW YORK (AP) -- Lowe's Cos. said Wednesday that its first-quarter net income rose nearly 3 percent, but results fell short of expectations as rainy weather hurt spring gardening sales....
Iceland forms new center-right government
REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) -- Progressive Party leader Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson has been chosen as Iceland's new prime minister....
US auto factories cutting back on summer downtime
DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit automakers are largely forgoing the traditional two-week summer break at their factories and speeding up production to meet buyers' growing demand for new cars and trucks....
First Look: New Xbox elegant, but much unknown
REDMOND, Wash. (AP) -- Will gamers want One?...
Sony mulls hedge fund's entertainment sale idea
TOKYO (AP) -- Sony's CEO Kazuo Hirai says the electronics giant's board will discuss a proposal by U.S. hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb to spin off up to 20 percent of its movie, TV and music division....
Apple case seen as possible spur to tax action
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Now that tech darling Apple Inc. has been dragged front and center into the debate over the U.S. tax code, lawmakers are hoping that the spotlight on such a high-profile company could be the catalyst for Congress to take action to close loopholes or reform the law....
Bernanke testimony to be studied for policy clues
WASHINGTON (AP) -- When Ben Bernanke testifies about the U.S. economy Wednesday, the Federal Reserve chairman's words will be examined for any clues that the Fed might soon taper - or increase - its support for the economy....
Vodafone annual profits up 1.9 percent
LONDON (AP) -- U.K.-based mobile telecoms company Vodafone has reported a 1.9 increase in annual profits despite a slowdown in much of its European operations....
Best Buy reports 1Q loss on restructuring costs
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Best Buy Co. is reporting a loss in its fiscal first quarter as it sold its stake in Best Buy Europe and works on a turnaround plan that includes cutting costs and closing some stores....