Stimulus money sometimes goes to private companies to hire workers, instead of funding public projects.

The government plans to sell only minority stakes in the companies, retaining control while letting investors share a larger part of the risks and profits.

Amazon.com, the maker of the Kindle e-reader, is introducing two new smaller, lighter versions with high-contrast screens and crisper text.

The Swiss drug giant will give away up to 250,000 bottles of a liquid medicine to woo parents frustrated by the recall of liquid children’s Tylenol.

Regulators in Washington State are attempting to stem what some see as the excessive use of prescribed narcotics.

The French pharmaceutical company is said to be considering an $18.6 billion bid for the U.S. biotechnology firm Genzyme.

Siemens, a bellwether for the global and German economies, said Thursday that profit rose 9 percent as a weaker euro and strong growth in emerging markets offset declines in Europe.

After banks refused loan requests, some small businesses in the United States turned to microloans like those offered in the third world.

President Obama and the Democrats are vying with Republicans for the right to claim they are the true friends of small-business owners.

TOKYO (AP) -- Most Asian markets retreated Thursday after fresh evidence of slower U.S. growth blunted appetite for riskier assets like stocks.

Growth has become uneven in recent weeks, the Federal Reserve said in its latest regional report. In some regions, the Fed said, economic activity had started to slow.

The Pentagon is slowing spending, but orders for commercial airlines are recovering.

At least $28 billion owed to survivors of fallen soldiers is held by insurers that are receiving interest on the money.

The Avis offer, which amounts to $46.50 a share, challenges Hertz’s $1.2 billion deal to acquire Dollar Thrifty.

The $9.75 billion deal should end a dispute between Telefónica and Portugal Telecom over their joint cellphone operation in Brazil.

Under pressure to find new revenue sources, Congress is reconsidering legalizing, and taxing, Internet gambling.

There has been progress in stopping companies from bribing officials to win contracts, Transparency International said, but some nations still lag.

The company Nuance offers a new version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, proving that even near-monopolies like to tinker with their products.

A new television series will be seen by Vanity Fair readers, cruise line passengers, hotel guests and iPad owners before its network premiere.

The Internet is changing the way many people learn languages. Books, tapes and CDs are being replaced by e-mail, video chats and social networks.

There is no evidence that they would reduce available credit or hurt growth or employment, an economist writes.

In pricing the Chevrolet Volt at $41,000, General Motors is distinguishing the plug-in hybrid from the Nissan Leaf, an upcoming electric car to which the Volt is often compared.

The apps work best when analyzing bar codes, labels and other inanimate objects that are easily found in images on the Web.

The Deal Professor examines the legal action that Carl C. Icahn filed against Lions Gate Entertainment in British Columbia.

When filing an insurance claim, you may want to avoid using certain words that set off alarm bells and may result in your claim being delayed or denied.