AFP - Usain Bolt was crowned the world's fastest man when he raced to victory in the blue riband Olympic men's 100 metres final in a world record time of 9.69 sec Saturday.

Reuters - Wireless operator Softbank Corp (9984.T) said on Tuesday it would offer mobile phones from Casio Computer Co (6952.T) by the end of the year, broadening a handset lineup that already includes Apple Inc's iPhone.

Reuters - China's huge state banks are poised to report strong profit growth for the first half in 2008, thanks to wider margins and strong fee income, but funding costs are expected to rise in the second half, eroding growth.

Reuters - U.S. automaker Chrysler LLC has filed a lawsuit in a Michigan court alleging supplier Johnson Controls Inc. charged inflated prices for batteries, and is seeking more than $15 million in damages, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

Reuters - The worst of the global financial crisis is yet to come and a large U.S. bank will fail in the next few months as the world's biggest economy hits further troubles, former IMF chief economist Kenneth Rogoff said on Tuesday.

Reuters - U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc is considering options, such as selling all or part of its asset management unit, with an aim of reaching a deal by the time it releases third quarter earnings, sources said.

Reuters - Bankrupt home furnishings retailer Linens 'n Things has devised a plan to emerge from bankruptcy early next year, the New York Post reported.

AFP - US stocks closed narrowly mixed Friday as falling oil prices tamped down inflation worries and the dollar continued to rally on mounting signs of a slowing global economy.

Reuters - Electronic Arts Inc will drop its hostile $2 billion bid for rival video game publisher Take-Two Interactive Software Inc on Monday and instead pursue private talks with the company.

Reuters - Stocks tumbled on Monday as uneasiness about the prospect of more losses from the mortgage crisis bruised shares of banks and the two big U.S. home finance companies.

Reuters - General Motors Corp will offer employee-level pricing on nearly 90 percent of inventory for its main Chevrolet brand as part of a new nationwide sales promotion, a dealer briefed on the plans said on Monday.

Reuters - Home builder sentiment was stuck at a record low in August, as stringent lending and a flood of foreclosed homes dragged on the real estate market, according to data from the National Association of Home Builders released on Monday.

Reuters - Retailer Lowe's Cos reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday as U.S. consumers spent tax rebate checks on spring projects, but it forecast third-quarter results below Wall Street estimates.

AFP - Leading shares closed lower Friday as commodity stocks dragged down the FTSE despite better-than-expected US data.

Reuters - U.S. automaker General Motors Corp. has pulled out of its longtime sponsorship of the Academy Awards, one of the biggest annual events on broadcast television, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.