Business news for Mon, 24 Dec 2007 & with word play. 4 news.

THE yuan climbed to the strongest since a link to the US dollar was scrapped two years ago after the central bank said exchange-rate flexibility will rise, spurring speculation it plans to widen the daily trading band. The yuan rose 0.3 percent to 7.3475 per US dollar at 5:30pm in Shanghai, bringing gains this month to 0.7 percent. The central bank set the reference rate at 7.3315 yesterday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. The rate touched 7.3405 yesterday, the highest since the peg ended in July 2005. The People's Bank of China said in a statement last Friday that it will let the market play a bigger role in setting the exchange rate.

When Booz Allen Hamilton, the big McLean technology and consulting firm, wants to demonstrate the art of the possible, it invites visitors into a room it calls the "technology petting zoo."

RALEIGH -- Even as state lawmakers begin tallying up the multibillion-dollar cost of corporate incentives now in play, an influential Anson County legislator has launched a campaign to stop cutthroat business recruiting practices among states.

In Germany, shoppers are enjoying a novelty this year: pre-Christmas sales. In contrast to the U.S., where such price cuts play a key part in retailers' strategies -- and shoppers' buying plans -- holiday sales mark a small revolution in European retailing.