WSJ.com: US Business

Secretive Culture Led Toyota Astray

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:42:40 EST

New details from the crisis enveloping Toyota reveal a growing rift between the auto maker and U.S. regulators. The heart of Toyota's problem: Its secretive corporate culture clashed with U.S. requirements that auto makers disclose safety threats.

International Sales Boost Coca-Cola

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:25:24 EST

Coca-Cola posted a 55% gain in profit amid strong soda sales in developing economies, but its North American business remained under pressure.

Google Adds 'Buzz' to Gmail

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:46:22 EST

Google launched a new service to bring social updates such as photos and Web links into Gmail and some Google mobile products, in a challenge to Facebook and other sites where people go to check up on their friends.

McDonald's Sales Rise Abroad

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:22:22 EST

McDonald's recorded a 2.6% rise in January sales, with strength overseas offsetting weakness in the U.S.

Ore Increases Boost Steel Prices

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:51:14 EST

Higher raw materials and metals prices are expected to lift earnings this year at the world's biggest steel and mining companies. BHP Billiton reported first-half profit of $6.14 billion, but cautioned about short-term demand.

Customer Caution Restrains Disney

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:05:27 EST

A nascent recovery in cable-television advertising and cost-cutting at its movie studio helped boost Disney's key divisions in the latest quarter. Overall, though, revenue and profit were essentially flat.

Deal Boosts Carbon Trading in China

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:15:25 EST

Citigroup and OAO Gazprom closed a small but pioneering deal in China that could lay the foundation for a bigger nationwide market in carbon trading.

Good Times Ahead for Unibail

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:32:22 EST

Despite a profit warning by CEO Guillaume Poitrinal, Paris-based property company Unibail-Rodamco is poised for better times.

Honda Widens Airbag Recall

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:38:16 EST

Honda said it will recall another 378,000 vehicles to fix potentially faulty airbags.

Ruling Goes Against Bear Stearns

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:36:51 EST

A Georgia-based chain of service stations that lost money with one of the now-defunct firm's hedge funds that collapsed in July 2007 has won a $3.4 million arbitration award.

Micron to Buy Numonyx in $1.27 Billion Stock Deal

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:35:03 EST

Micron Technology said it will pay about $1.27 billion in stock to acquire Numonyx, a spinoff from Intel and STMicroelectronics that adds new varieties of memory chips to Micron's portfolio.

Palmer: China Deal is Binding

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:33:48 EST

But Australian resources developer Clive Palmer said that some details of a coal sales agreement unveiled last weekend are yet to be finalized.

Carr: Takeover Rules May Hurt Companies

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:27:13 EST

The Cadbury takeover saga has amplified concerns about whether current U.K. rules on mergers and acquisitions work against the long-term interests of British business, former Chairman Roger Carr said.

Suntory Lays Out Growth Plan

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:29:42 EST

A day after scrapping a big merger, the Japanese brewer said it aimed to boost group sales 30% to $22.4 billion within three years and double overseas sales.

US Airways Incident Raises Pilot-Focus Issues

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:12:07 EST

A fundamental breakdown of pilot discipline, including personal conversation in the cockpit, apparently was the major reason a US Airways commuter plane ran off the end of a West Virginia runway last month, according to industry officials.

Commonwealth Bank Profit Rises

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:46:52 EST

Australian bank says first half was lifted by strong loan growth and a decline in bad debt charges. CEO is cautious about global economy.

BHP Posts Solid Profit

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:27:14 EST

The miner's net profit for the half was $6.14 billion, beating forecasts. But it gave a cautious outlook about short-term commodities demand. Revenue fell 17%.

European Airlines Seek Loan Access

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:13:52 EST

Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa and other European airlines are lobbying to shake up how airplane sales are financed so they can get access to government export guarantees that most other airlines around the world now use.

Options Market Fights Tax Plan

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:56:51 EST

The Obama administration proposes eliminating the 60/40 rule, which would raise taxes on market makers by more than 70% and raise $2.6 billion in revenue.

Mall Heirs Battle Over Will

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:25:53 EST

Before Melvin Simon died, the ailing shopping-mall magnate altered his $1 billion will under the assistance of an adviser, sparking a challenge from his daughter.

GM Details Plans in Europe

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:42:26 EST

General Motors laid out a rescue plan for its Opel unit, including fresh cost cuts and efforts to increase vehicle sales and market share.

Kraft Closes Cadbury Plant

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:45:26 EST

Kraft said that it will close Cadbury''s Somerdale plant by 2011, despite an earlier pledge to keep the factory open.

Pepsi, Coke Support Calorie-Labeling Effort

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:41:08 EST

The beverage industry, including Pepsi and Coke, unveiled new labeling plans that will move the calorie content to the front of containers by the end of 2012.

Baidu Posts 48% Jump in Profit

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:09:24 EST

While Google explores whether it can continue to do business in China, the country's biggest Internet player, Baidu, posted quarterly results that showed how quickly Web use and online advertising is growing in China.

UBS Swings Back to Profit

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:22:51 EST

UBS reported its first quarterly profit in more than a year, but its private-banking business continued to hemorrhage wealthy clients spooked by assaults on Swiss bank secrecy.

Small Businesses Slightly More Optimistic

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:18:33 EST

Small businesses grew slightly more optimistic last month, while wholesalers decreased inventories and posted higher sales in December, separate indexes showed.

Delta, US Airways May Drop Slot Swap

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:27:37 EST

Delta Air Lines and US Airways said they may drop a planned asset swap after U.S. regulators requested they sell airport slots to new entrants to win approval.

AMR Ramps Up Challenge to Delta

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:05:21 EST

The global race between the two largest U.S. airlines is tightening again after Delta had been threatening to leave AMR's American Airlines in the dust.

Game Makers Push Beyond Christmas

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:03:15 EST

Videogame publishers are set to release more than a dozen major titles in coming months as the companies attempt to spark demand outside the crowded holiday season and reverse an industry-wide sales slump.

Japan Seat Maker Falsified Data

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:57:33 EST

Japanese manufacturer Koito Industries said it falsified safety testing data for some 150,000 airplane seats installed on about 1,000 Boeing and Airbus planes operated by 32 airline carriers around the world.

China's Auto Sales Rise Sharply

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:23:14 EST

China's vehicle sales more than doubled in January to a monthly record of 1.66 million autos, bucking forecasts for weaker growth.