Business news for Mon, 31 Dec 2007 & with word international. 12 news.

Transmeridian Exploration agreed to be acquired by its chief executive's Trans Meridian International in a deal that values the energy company at $350 million.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- International stock funds enjoyed a rising tide in the past 12 months that lifted most portfolios, and fund managers predict that 2008 will be the seventh consecutive year in which foreign-stock funds top their U.S. rivals.

Houston never has been a leading convention city. But Greg Ortale hopes to change that by playing on the city's strengths to draw more medical conferences, energy meetings and international visitors.

Class action lawyers pursuing Tyco International on behalf of shareholders have been awarded nearly half a billion dollars in fees, the largest legal payday in history.

Greece, Romania and Canada had the best privacy records of 47 countries surveyed by the rights group Privacy International.

A BOOM in US tourists to Ireland has helped CIE Tours International generate revenue of ?63 million this year, an increase of 13% over 2006 levels.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - International Business Machines Corp is in advanced talks to buy Israeli start-up XIV Information Systems for $300 million to $350 million, financial daily Globes reported on Monday.

TEL AVIV (MarketWatch) -- International Business Machines Corp., the Armonk, N.Y., tech giant, is in advanced talks to buy an Israeli storage-technology startup, XIV, for $300 million to $350 million, the Israeli business daily Globes reported in its online edition. Citing sources, Globes said the company is chaired by Moshe Yanai, a former executive with EMC Corp., the Hopkinton, Mass., technology-infrastructure provider. Yanai laid out the $3 million that's funded XIV from its founding in 2002 to date, Globes reported.

Reuters - International Business Machines Corp is in advanced talks to buy Israeli start-up XIV Information Systems for $300 million to $350 million, financial daily Globes reported on Monday.

At the beginning of 2007, Marriott International was dazzling Wall Street, with the firm's shares hitting all-time highs in February after beating analysts' expectations -- yet again -- for quarterly earnings.

Pittsburgh International is considering replacing one of its most prominent pieces of art, Peter Calaboyias' Silver Grid Wall, ...

THE Australian share market has started the week in subdued fashion, as holidays and international volatility keep investors on the sidelines.