Business news for Wed, 19 Dec 2007. 1325 news.

Nike Inc.'s second-quarter profit grew 10 percent, largely fueled by international sales growth, the athletic shoe and clothing company said Wednesday.

The architect of a push for 'velvet reprivatisation' says he has become a hostage to Kremlin power struggles

Gas guzzlers could become relics of the past and farmers may rival oil companies in producing motor fuels under a new energy law.

Congress acted in its final hours Wednesday to block growth of the alternative minimum tax, putting off an economic hardship affecting more than 20 million taxpayers and avoiding what would have been a political black mark for both parties.

Bolivia's vice-president warned leaders of four rebel conservative regions that the government will use "all its powers" to keep the country intact, though he hoped that a deepening constitutional crisis could be resolved

After a number of failed attempts to list, the Italian fashion house has hired Goldman Sachs, UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo as global co-ordinarors of the offering

Christmas is the season to watch reruns of old movies. But even before the holiday starts, financial markets are getting into this spirit

"Deeply disappointing" fourth-quarter writedowns have Morgan Stanley Chief Executive John Mack bypassing his year-end bonus — and he is unlikely to be the only CEO to do so.

(Reuters) -- Kraft Foods Inc. is expanding foods it says promote healthy digestion, but some analysts are not sure consumers are ready for prebiotic fiber -- the additive used in the new products. The company plans to expand the LiveActive brand in January with new Crystal Light drink mix ...

Foam maker Foamex International Inc. settled a lawsuit with Sleep Innovations Inc., a maker of memory foam bedding products.

Major indexes spent about half the day above and half below the break-even line, ending mixed on lower volume.The Nasdaq held to positive...

WASHINGTON -- The former chief executive officer of Fannie Mae says the Bush administration helped orchestrate an accounting scandal that cost him his job and that he wants to use White House documents to defend himself in a shareholder lawsuit.

Accenture posted higher profit and revenue, as the firm notched "strong demand" for its technology consulting and outsourcing services.

Toyota Motor Corp. has decided to invest $413 million at its plant in Georgetown, Ky., so it can build a new crossover vehicle there.

William Macaulay's energy-focused fund thinks there's a gusher in the U.K. drilling outfit.

WASHINGTON - The billions of dollars worth of airwaves being auctioned off next month have drawn a peculiar pool of bidders, including Chevron, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and the world's third richest man.

FT.com - Wall Street stocks seesawed wildly on Wednesday before closing mostly lower after a rating agency lowered its credit outlook on several bond insurers, and cut one to junk, raising fears of further turmoil in credit markets.

Wall Street ended a volatile session mixed Wednesday as investors wrestled with a troubling outlook for bond insurers, a $9.4 ...