Bad Paper

TOKYO (Reuters) – Asian shares fell on Thursday after a surprise drop in manufacturing in the U.S. heartland cast doubts on the strength of a global recovery, while the dollar was on the back foot against higher-yielding currencies.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Bank of America Corp CEO Kenneth Lewis announced he was retiring, after months of being dogged by a series of government investigations into the company’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch last year that had become a major distraction for the biggest U.S. bank.

Ken Lewis, the embattled chief executive of Bank of America, will step down at the end of the year, putting an end to a turbulent eight-year tenure

General Electric has sounded out Comcast, the US cable operator, over the sale of at least part of NBC Universal if Vivendi decides to divest its 20 per cent holding in the television and movies group that it controls

The US intends to take a flexible approach to interpreting global guidelines on bankers’ bonuses, a move likely to frustrate European nations that want clearly defined standards to be applied globally

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Bank of America Corp CEO Kenneth Lewis announced he was retiring, after months of being dogged by a series of government investigations into the company’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch last year that had become a major distraction for the biggest U.S. bank.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks fell on Wednesday after a surprising contraction in an index of Midwest business activity, but buying of technology bellwethers like Cisco Systems Inc at the end of a strong quarter limited losses.

Ken Lewis, the embattled chief executive of Bank of America, will step down at the end of the year, putting an end to a turbulent eight-year tenure

Corruption investigators plan to press criminal charges over BAE Systems’ arms deals if last-ditch efforts to force the company to accept an agreed guilty plea fail, the Financial Times has learnt

Penske Automotive Group, the listed dealership chain, walked away from a deal to acquire GM’s Saturn unit in a decision that spells the end for the brand and threatens thousands of jobs

China unveils details of plans to curb overcapacity in industrial production that has been made worse by the country’s vast stimulus package

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks were mostly flat on Wednesday, on a volatile last day of a strong third quarter, as a disappointing report on Midwest business activity was offset by gains in commodities and tech.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – CIT Group Inc is planning to offer its unsecured debt holders two options: either to exchange their debt voluntarily, or agree to a prepackaged bankruptcy, people close to the matter said on Wednesday.