Reuters - Microsoft Corp kicked off a $300 million marketing campaign on Thursday, aimed at improving the image of its Windows Vista operating system and strike back at Apple Inc's "Mac vs. PC" ads.

Reuters - U.S. private equity house Lone Star is seriously considering suing the South Korean government if it delays approval beyond September of the firm's $6.3 billion sale of shares in a local bank, a newspaper reported on Friday.

Reuters - Less than a day after voting to strike, Boeing workers expressed frustration and anger on Thursday at the decision by union leaders to postpone a walkout and negotiate further with the company.

Reuters - U.S. discounters, led by Wal-Mart Stores Inc , remained a bright spot in a weak retail industry in August, as shoppers sought back-to-school deals, while department stores and luxury chains disappointed.

Reuters - Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda investment firm settled a regulator's allegations that it was misleading about its plan to cut its stake in General Motors Corp , the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Wednesday.

Reuters - The Energy Information Administration said on Thursday it is unaware of any investigation by federal market regulators of the agency's weekly report on oil inventory levels.

Reuters - Boeing Co's largest labor union said its members had rejected the plane maker's contract offer and voted to strike, but the union agreed to postpone a walkout for 48 hours to allow more time for negotiations.

Reuters - Stocks plummeted on Thursday, with the Nasdaq slumping more than 3 percent, as investors grew anxious over more signs of weakness in the U.S. labor market and sluggish growth overseas.

Reuters - The dominant U.S. service sector improved last month and businesses boosted productivity in the second quarter but the labor market continues to struggle, government reports on Thursday showed.

AFP - Europe's leading stock exchanges fell on Wednesday after Wall Street had closed lower overnight, dragged down by concern over falling oil prices.

Reuters - Major U.S. retailers are expected to post softer August sales as consumers spent less on back-to-school items, with the results helping to set analysts' expectations for the all-important holiday season.

Reuters - The U.S. service sector likely shrank modestly in August, as a pullback in consumer spending pinched retailers and other non-manufacturing industries for a second straight month.

Reuters - Boeing Co's largest labor union said its members rejected the plane maker's contract offer and voted to strike, but the union agreed to postpone a walkout for 48 hours to allow more time for negotiations.

Reuters - Global equities stabilized on Thursday after hitting a two-year low while the dollar trimmed recent gains ahead of European interest rate decisions and the British pound touched a trade-weighted 12-year low.