Business News

Canada woman to fight insurance co. over Facebook

MONTREAL - A Canadian woman on sick leave for depression said Monday she would fight an insurance company's decision to cut her benefits after her agent found photos on Facebook of her vacationing, at a bar and at a party.

Obama picks Xerox CEO Burns for education role

NORWALK, Conn. - President Barack Obama on Monday tapped Xerox Chief Executive Ursula Burns to help lead an education initiative aimed at helping students excel at science, technology, engineering and math.

Dollar and precious metals at a glance

NEW YORK - Key currency exchange rates Monday, compared with late Friday in New York: Dollar vs.

AP Poll: Debt stress turns shoppers into Scrooges

WASHINGTON - A lot more Americans are feeling stressed out by debt this holiday season, raising the glum likelihood they'll behave like Scrooge rather than Santa.

iBasis agrees to sweetened offer from Royal KPN

BURLINGTON, Mass. - Dutch telecommunications company Royal KPN NV said Monday it has agreed to buy the outstanding shares of iBasis Inc., a Massachusetts-based wholesale international long distance carrier, for $3 each in cash.

Experts offer tips for beating career blues

DENVER - You drag yourself out of bed, head reluctantly to work and watch the minutes tick off the clock.

Man pleads guilty to fraud scheme against Haitians

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A Florida man accused of running a Ponzi scheme that scammed more than $14 million from Haitian-American investors has pleaded guilty.

CO2 curve ticks upward as key climate talks loom

Sarah Palin's book tour his NC's Fort Bragg

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Sarah Palin brought her book-signing tour to North Carolina's Fort Bragg on Monday and hundreds greeted the former Republican vice presidential candidate in a campaign-like gathering.

USTA tax forms show ex-CEO paid $9.15M in 2008

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - U.S. Tennis Association tax forms show that former CEO of professional tennis Arlen Kantarian received more than $9 million in total compensation in 2008, his last year running the U.S. Open.

Roper Industries boosts dividend by 15 percent

SARASOTA, Fla. - Roper Industries Inc., which makes products for water and energy companies, said Monday it has increased its quarterly cash dividend by 15 percent to 9.5 cents.

SAIC receives $25 million IT Navy contract

MCLEAN, Va. - Defense contractor Science Applications International Corp. said Monday it has received a Navy contract potentially worth $25 million for information technology systems.

BJ Services posts 4Q loss

HOUSTON - Oil services company BJ Services Co. said Monday it posted a fiscal fourth-quarter loss as drilling plunged.

BAE Systems receives $61 million Army contract

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Defense contractor BAE Systems has been awarded Army contract modifications worth $60.6 million for Bradley fighting vehicles, launch rocket systems and ambulances.

Indy Racing League VP John Griffin resigning

INDIANAPOLIS - Indy Racing League Vice President of Public Relations John Griffin is resigning, effective Dec. 18.

Anadarko well win could spell 'next mega project'

NEW YORK - Anadarko Petroleum Corp. on Monday said success from an exploration well drilled offshore Brazil signals better potential for an area that could become the company's "next mega project."

Oklahoma unemployment rate hits 21-year high

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma's unemployment rate climbed to 7.1 percent in October, the state's highest rate in more than 20 years, officials reported.

Slight rise in construction cost of London Games

LONDON - The projected final cost of construction for the 2012 London Olympics has risen slightly, but the overall budget for the games remains unchanged.

Kimbo Slice to make UFC debut Dec. 5

LAS VEGAS - Kimbo Slice will make his official Ultimate Fighting Championship debut on Dec. 5 in Las Vegas.