AP - A private business group says its index of leading economic indicators inched higher for the second month in another sign that higher fuel and food prices, tighter credit and a depressed housing market are stifling the economy.

Reuters - China raised retail gasoline and diesel prices on Thursday by up to 18 percent, a move that threatens to stoke domestic angst over decade-high inflation less than two months before Beijing hosts Olympics games.

Reuters - Citigroup Inc could take substantial write-downs for subprime mortgages, leveraged buyout loans and other assets in the second quarter, the company's chief financial officer said on a call with investors on Thursday.

Reuters - The Nasdaq rose on Thursday as top technology companies and other exporters benefited from tumbling oil prices, seen as easing strains on global economic growth.

Reuters - Two former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers were arrested and indicted on securities fraud charges on Thursday following a federal criminal probe into the collapse of two funds they oversaw.

AP - China's economy is weathering the global slowdown better than expected, the World Bank said Thursday as it raised its growth forecast for the Asian giant to 9.8 percent from 9.4 percent.

Reuters - Hewlett-Packard Co will reorganize its printer operations, trimming its five business units to three in a bid to become more efficient, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

Reuters - General Motors Corp is postponing redesigning its SUVs and full-sized trucks as it shifts its product portfolio toward more fuel-efficient vehicles, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition on Thursday.

Reuters - Huntsman Corp said on Thursday it would fight an effort by Apollo Management to back out of the planned $6.5 billion takeover of the Texas company by Apollo's Hexion Specialty Chemicals.

Reuters - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is expected to urge that the Federal Reserve be given new powers to regulate Wall Street after the collapse of brokerage Bear Stearns Cos. Inc., U.S. media reported on Wednesday.

AFP - UK blue chips closed higher on Tuesday, supported by gains from banks and miners and by hopes a spike in UK CPI may be temporary, but the FTSE 100 index ended well off the session peak as Wall Street fell back after poor US PPI data.

Reuters - Stocks dropped sharply on Wednesday, with the Dow slipping below 12,000 for the first time since March 18, when the market was reeling from the collapse of Bear Stearns.