WSJ.com: What's News US

BP-Plaintiff Talks Focus on Fund

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 04:00:46 EST

Settlement talks between BP and lawyers for thousands of individuals and businesses who say they were damaged by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are focused on roughly $14 billion left in a $20 billion compensation fund.

Pipeline Gets Jump With Gulf Route

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:18:58 EST

TransCanada will move ahead with the U.S. Gulf Coast leg of the Keystone oil pipeline even as Washington delays a decision on the bigger project until after the presidential election.

Wal-Mart to Help Hollywood

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:27:27 EST

Wal-Mart is on board to help with a movie-industry effort to get people to register their DVDs in an online library that consumers can access at home or on mobile devices.

Germany Approves Greek Aid

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:37:36 EST

German lawmakers approved a second Greek bailout package by a wide margin on Monday, but the vote in the Reichstag took a twist when the final tally showed that Chancellor Angela Merkel didn't receive full backing from her own coalition for the rescue.

Japan Pressured to Legalize Gambling

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:12:14 EST

The Japanese government is moving toward opening the country to casino gambling for the first time.

Barclays Tax Schemes Targeted

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:31:44 EST

Barclays will have to make a payment of more than £500 million after the U.K. government closed down two "aggressive" schemes it used to avoid taxes, a person familiar with the matter said.

European Stocks Sneak Higher

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:47:49 EST

European stock markets were marginally higher, with banking stocks leading the gains ahead of the ECB's second long-term refinancing operation.

Asian Markets Mostly Gain as Oil Retreats

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:29:15 EST

Most Asian stock markets rose as oil prices retreated, with a weakened yen and strong retail sales lifting Japanese stocks despite tech weakness following Elpida's bankruptcy filing; Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 1.7%

Shanghai Links Sick Kids to Factory

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:17:31 EST

Shanghai authorities for the first time directly linked lead pollution that they said had sickened local children to a Johnson Controls battery plant there and indicated the plant won't be allowed to process lead in the future.

Cooper Tire Workers Approve Contract

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:47:05 EST

Cooper Tire & Rubber workers in Ohio approved a new contract, ending a three-month plant lockout that cost the company millions of dollars and left more than 1,000 workers walking the picket lines.

The Sun Accused of Bribe 'Culture'

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 06:06:13 EST

The U.K. police official leading criminal probes into alleged wrongdoing at News Corp.'s U.K. newspaper operations said that The Sun had a culture of illegal payments to an array of public officials.

Card Issuers to Test Mobile Wallets

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:19:57 EST

J.P. Morgan, Capital One and Barclays plan to let customers use a mobile-payments service being developed by wireless carriers as part of a trial set to begin this summer.

HSBC Net Rises, but So Do Costs

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:20:35 EST

HSBC reported a 27% rise in 2011 full-year net profit, boosted in part by accounting gains for a decline in the value of its debt. But efforts to cut costs have so far been unsuccessful.

Fake Cancer Drug Contained Solvents

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:45:33 EST

Fake versions of Avastin that were found in Europe and exported to the U.S. contained chemicals used in animal feed, plastics and cleaners.

Michael Dell Talks Up Software Moves

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:38:13 EST

The chief executive and founder of computer company Dell said he plans to expand his company's portfolio of software products, but that won't likely happen through a single big acquisition.

AOL Tech Officer Leaves

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:11:23 EST

AOL disclosed that its chief technology officer, Alexander Gounares, resigned, the latest in a series of departures