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Russia announced a 12-month extension of its grain export ban, raising fears about a return to the food shortages and riots of 2007-08 which spread through developing countries dependent on imports

Wall Street is backing the right-hand man of Elliot Spitzer, its previous scourge, in the race for one of the most powerful financial law enforcement jobs in the US, the New York attorney-general, according to new analysis of campaign contributions

Foreign companies are losing market share in China across a broad range of industries because of discriminatory treatment by the government and regulators, according to the European Chamber of Commerce in China

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed to negotiate a “framework” for peace talks and to hold a second direct meeting in two weeks’ time

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The S&P 500 and Nasdaq advanced on Thursday, building on their best day in eight weeks in the previous session as data showed an improvement in pending home sales and a drop in initial jobless claims.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Pending sales of previously owned U.S. homes rebounded unexpectedly in July and new claims for jobless benefits fell last week, helping dampen fears the economy could face a double dip recession.

Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve chairman, expressed regret for not being “more straightforward” with Congress in 2008 when he avoided saying that the central bank had no means to save Lehman Brothers.

Hewlett-Packard appeared to have won the bidding battle for data storage technology company 3Par after Dell said on Thursday it would not raise its offer and was ending talks

Traders are again adding to risky bets following a batch of supportive US data, though the mood is less ebullient than witnessed in Wednesday’s session

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks rose on Thursday, building on their best day in eight weeks in the previous session, as data showed pending home sales improved and initial jobless claims declined.

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Reuters) – Burger King Holdings Inc , the No. 2 U.S. fast-food chain, agreed to sell itself to investment firm 3G Capital for about $3.26 billion in a deal analysts said would give the restaurant breathing room to fix its business.

Retailers are turning in surprisingly strong monthly sales reports in August, as sales-tax-free holidays and discounting coaxed shoppers to open their wallets and stock up on back-to-school items.

European bourses are treading water as traders take a more critical view of the previous session, which saw US and China factory data power a move into risk

New claims for jobless benefits in the US fell last week but still remain above the level economists say is necessary to create jobs.