The Federal Trade Commission has begun to examine complaints by rivals of Google Inc. that the Internet giant abused its power in the market for selling online-graphical and video ads.

In a potential major setback for Apple, a federal judge who will preside over a coming antitrust trial that will determine whether it engaged in a conspiracy to raise prices for e-books said the government is likely able to prove its case against the computer maker.

A move by regulators that put the biggest bank merger of 2012 on ice is sending a chill through midsize financial institutions.

Deadly accidents in Bangladesh factories have triggered questioning about the costs of "fast fashion," a design trend pioneered by Spanish labels that relentlessly rotate collections to keep new styles on store racks.

Procter & Gamble said A.G. Lafley has rejoined the company as president and chief executive, succeeding Bob McDonald.

A $2 billion pipeline project intended to ship oil from West Texas's booming oil fields to California has failed to pique the interest of several big refiners in the Golden State. The culprit: the growing popularity of railroads.

Nokia filed two new complaints against Taiwanese rival HTC for alleged patent infringement, continuing a battle in the fiercely competitive smartphone market.

Exxon is in talks with Houston-based InterOil to invest in gas assets owned by the latter in Papua New Guinea, a move that could cement the country's outlook as a new energy exporter.

A plan to ban refillable containers on restaurant tables died amid ridicule from Europe's chilly North, over the protestations from the sunny South.

Minnesota's move to raise $2.1 billion in new taxes, largely from the wealthy, to fund government programs puts it among a handful of states controlled by Democrats that are adopting more liberal fiscal policies.