Microsoft won’t launch iPhone rival: report

Microsoft (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) will not launch a product that competes directly with Apple’s (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) iPhone, Chairman Bill Gates said in an interview with Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
“No, we won’t do that. In the so-called smart phone business we will concentrate solely on software with our Windows Mobile program,” Gates was […]

Lenovo tanks as recession fears hurt PC outlook

Shares in Lenovo (0992.HK: Quote, Profile, Research), which bought IBM’s ailing personal computer business in 2005, dived more than 14 percent on Wednesday after a broker cut the Chinese firm to sell on growing fears of a U.S. recession.
The fall, which wiped $1 billion off its market capitalization, brought the world’s No. 4 PC maker […]

Citigroup and Merrill in talks for foreign capital: report

Citigroup Inc. (C.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Merrill Lynch %26 Co Inc. (MER.N: Quote, Profile, Research) are in discussions to receive more capital from investors, primarily foreign governments, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
Citigroup could get as much as $10 billion, likely all from foreign governments, while Merrill is expected to get $3 billion […]

Consumers sour on employment outlook: survey

Consumers anticipate the least favorable growth in employment this year since the closing months of the 2001 recession, according to a new survey released on Friday.
Of the three most frequently cited triggers for recession — changes in employment, real income and housing wealth — employment expectations are now the most important indicator of a potential […]

Lockheed helicopter contract in trouble: report

A large Lockheed Martin (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) contract to build a fleet of helicopters for the president could be in trouble, the Wall Street Journal said on Friday, citing people familiar with the situation.
The newspaper said John Young, the Pentagon’s top weapons buyer, has called for a meeting with the company on Saturday to […]

Mercedes comes to Motown with “modest” SUV

By Marcel Michelson
DETROIT (Reuters) - German luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz unveiled a small sports utility vehicle (SUV) on Saturday to pursue a profitable niche market as more carmakers target upgrades in off-road models for urban drivers.
The Mercedes Vision GLK Freeside is a concept car. But a vehicle similar to it will be launched in Europe […]

Fed pledges to act to counter market turmoil

Federal Reserve officials on Friday said falling home prices and financial market turmoil are big risks to the U.S. economy but pledged that the central bank would not shrink from taking bold steps to support growth.
At a symposium in New York, Fed Governor Frederic Mishkin said the central bank “has been acting and will continue […]

Merrill’s stock pay play could make Q4 loss bigger

By Tim McLaughlin
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merrill Lynch %26amp; Co Inc’s (MER.N: Quote, Profile, Research) move
to accelerate vesting on previously awarded stock-based pay to
employees could add to the huge fourth-quarter loss already
expected by analysts.
Merrill’s financial statements show the company entered
2007 with $1.9 billion in unrecognized expenses related to
stock-based pay that had not […]

Fed pledges to act to counter market turmoil

Federal Reserve officials on Friday said falling home prices and financial market turmoil are big risks to the U.S. economy but pledged that the central bank would not shrink from taking bold steps to support growth.
At a symposium in New York, Fed Governor Frederic Mishkin said the central bank “has been acting and will continue […]

UK picks new Northern Rock boss

By Steve Slater and Mark Potter
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has lined up respected executive Ron Sandler to run Northern Rock (NRK.L: Quote, Profile, Research) should the stricken bank be nationalized, fuelling expectations the government could announce a move to state control within days.
“I’ve been invited by the government to go in as executive chairman in […]