Memorial Day weekend could soar with 'Hangover,' 'Panda' sequels

The release of two sequels — one a lewd comedy for adults, the other an animated film for a family audience — could make this Memorial Day...

Blue Shield CEO Bruce Bodaken earned $4.6 million last year

For the first time, California's largest nonprofit health insurer has released the salaries of its 10 highest-paid executives in response to a new...

California investigates Florida firm that processes foreclosures for major banks

California Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris is investigating an obscure Florida firm that processes foreclosures for many of the nation's major financial...

Universal Music partners with Tommy Hilfiger

As CD sales have declined, bands have turned to something that was once relegated to the back of the auditorium next to the beer and hot dogs:...

Universal to tap Sony's Josh Goldstine to run movie marketing

Universal Pictures is bringing in a veteran of rival Sony Pictures to run its movie marketing department, the second change in the studio's top...

Whistleblower rule clears divided SEC

Corporate whistleblowers could score multimillion-dollar payouts for reporting financial wrongdoing under a new program approved by U.S. securities...

Google apps store serves as launch pad for software start-ups

At Google Inc.'s annual developer conference a year ago, three executives of software start-ups that build business applications for the Internet...

Disney withdraws bid for SEAL moniker

Faced with a public relations firestorm, Walt Disney Co. said it had withdrawn its application to trademark the moniker "SEAL Team 6" for use on...

Twitter purchases TweetDeck

Twitter Inc. is taking over TweetDeck Inc., a popular application that allows users to access the microblogging service and sort posts into customized...

Watson Pharmaceuticals buys generic drug developer Specifar

Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. has acquired privately held generic drug developer Specifar Pharmaceuticals for $562 million in cash to expand its...

Banks team up for online payment system

Online and mobile customers of three major banks will be able to instantly zap funds from their accounts to other depositors at the banks under a...

Martha Stewart Living hires Blackstone, triggering speculation of sale

NEW YORK — Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. said Wednesday that it had hired investment company Blackstone Advisory Partners to explore...

Wal-Mart thinks small with grocery stores in urban neighborhoods

Latasha Jones visits the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Indianapolis several times a week to stock up on fresh produce and baked goods.

Stocks close higher as crude oil tops $100 a barrel

The oil rally is on again.

Google invests $55 million in Mojave Desert wind farm

Google Inc. is investing $55 million in a large Mojave Desert wind farm, pumping fresh air into California's struggling wind power industry.

Forever 21 embraces stores that seem to go on forever

Forever 21 Inc. built a retail empire by selling the latest fashion trends, but when it comes to running its own business, the Los Angeles company...

AIG stock sale raises $8.7 billion

U.S. taxpayers got their first look at the potential payback from the bailout of giant insurer American International Group Inc., and so far it...

Private firm HB Capital Resources has rich role in municipal bonds

Stephen Hamill and Gerald Burke do jobs normally reserved for public employees. They just make a lot more money doing it.

'Avatar' sequels to be produced in Manhattan Beach

Over the din of buzz saws and beeping forklifts, producer Jon Landau can barely contain his excitement as he strides into a 45-foot-tall soundstage...

Elizabeth Warren and House Republicans clash over consumer agency

House Republicans have been adamant since last year that they don't like the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — and they also made it...

Former Universal Pictures co-Chairman David Linde launches new film company

Former Universal Pictures co-Chairman David Linde has unveiled his new independent film finance and production company, the latest Hollywood venture...

Yandex shares rise 55% on first day of trading

Another Internet stock offering got a rousing reception from investors.

L.A. rises to No. 2 destination in U.S. for overseas visitors

Los Angeles has overtaken Miami as the U.S. city with the second-highest number of overseas visitors, behind only New York.

U.S. sues oil traders for price manipulation

U.S. regulators launched one of the biggest ever crackdowns on oil price manipulation Tuesday, suing two well-known traders and two trading firms...