LyondellBasell gets bid from India's Reliance - at MarketWatch - Sun 3:39 am ET
LyondellBasell Industries received a nonbinding proposal under which India's Reliance Industries Ltd. would acquire a controlling interest in the closely held Rotterdam producer of polymers, petrochemicals and fuels when it emerges from its reorganization.

Senate moves health care bill forward for debate - at MarketWatch - Sun 2:05 am ET
The Senate votes to advance a sweeping health-care reform bill to the full floor for debate, vaulting a key procedural hurdle and handing an early legislative victory to Democrats and President Barack Obama on his top domestic priority.

Israel stocks steady; BarCap sees no rate change - at MarketWatch - Sun 1:37 am ET
Israeli stocks were steady on Sunday, with strength in the drugmakers and the telecom companies offset by weakness in the banks and Israel Chemicals.

Economic Preview: Do weaker data show recovery is stalling? - at MarketWatch - Sun 12:01 am ET
The economic data to be released in the holiday-shortened week ahead could provide a few more "what-were-we-thinking?" moments. All in all, though, the data shouldn't kill hopes for modest growth while we wait for the private-sector to start hiring again.

China mine explosion kills 87 - at MarketWatch - Sat 10:04 pm ET
At least 87 miners are dead after gas exploded Saturday at a coal mine in northern China, and rescue workers are continuing their efforts in frigid weather on Sunday, media reports say.

LyondellBasell gets bid from India's Reliance - at MarketWatch - Sat 8:39 pm ET
LyondellBasell Industries received a nonbinding proposal under which India's Reliance Industries Ltd. would acquire a controlling interest in the closely held Rotterdam producer of polymers, petrochemicals and fuels when it emerges from its reorganization.

[video] H1N1 Mutation Found in Norway [0.8 min] - at MarketWatch - Sat 5:51 pm ET
A potentially significant mutation in the H1N1 influenza strain could be responsible for causing more serious illness. Video courtesy of Reuters.

Commerce Bank of Southwest Florida fails - at MarketWatch - Fri 5:12 pm ET
Commerce Bank of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers, Florida was closed by financial regulators on Friday, becoming the 124th bank to fail in 2009 and the 12th in the state of Florida.

Mexico Q3 GDP contracts less than expected - at MarketWatch - Fri 4:19 pm ET
Mexico's economy was on the mend in the third quarter, with a year-over-year contraction coming in less than anticipated by analysts, as well as growth from the previous quarter. Gross domestic product contracted 6.2% in the third quarter from the same period a year ago, according to Inegi, Mexico's statistics agency.

UPS to hike prices by 4.9% for ground packages - at MarketWatch - Fri 4:12 pm ET
UPS said late Friday that it will hike its rates by about 4.9% for ground packages in 2010. It will also implement a net increase of 4.9% on its air express and international shipments originating from the United States.

Stocks end week mixed; lack of conviction reigns - at MarketWatch - Fri 4:08 pm ET
U.S. stocks on Friday tallied mild losses to finish mostly lower for the week, as disappointing results from computer maker Dell Inc. dented the technology sector. "Investors are dating this market, they are not married to it.

U.S. stocks pare losses in late-session rebound - at MarketWatch - Fri 3:39 pm ET
U.S. stocks pared losses late Friday, bringing the Dow Industrial Average into positive territory. "A characteristic of this rally for several months is we've had a hard time selling to the downside, as new money comes into the market," said Howard Ward, chief investment officer for GAMCO Growth fund.

Crude drops for second day as dollar strengthens - at MarketWatch - Fri 2:59 pm ET
Crude futures fell Friday for a second session, reducing their weekly gains as a rebounding dollar and weaker stock markets continued to weigh on commodities trading. Crude for December delivery, which expired Friday, fell 74 cents, or 1%, to $76.72 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Moody's cuts Sprint Nextel rating to 'Ba2' - at MarketWatch - Fri 2:28 pm ET
Moody's Investors Service on Friday downgraded its corporate family rating on Sprint Nextel Corp. to Ba2 from Ba1, saying the wireless-services provider's ability to stem the deterioration of its earnings is taking longer than it had originally anticipated.

Gold rises for sixth session on inflation worries - at MarketWatch - Fri 1:56 pm ET
Gold futures rose Friday for a sixth straight session to a new record high, marking their third weekly gain, as continued worries over a weaker dollar and global inflation encouraged investors to buy gold as a safe asset.

Company debt sales top annual record already - at MarketWatch - Fri 1:48 pm ET
With more than a month to go until 2009 ends, companies have already sold more debt this year than in any previous year, analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a report released Friday.

Norway finds mutated version of H1N1 virus - at MarketWatch - Fri 12:44 pm ET
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health said Friday that it has found a mutated version of the H1N1 virus in three patients in Norway, two of whom died. The institute suggested this is normal and "most of these mutations will probably have little or no importance."

Dr Pepper Snapple declares first-ever dividend - at MarketWatch - Fri 11:07 am ET
Dr Pepper Snapple Group said Friday its board approved a quarterly dividend of 15 cents a share, the first from the company. The dividend will be paid on Jan. 8 to shareholders of record on Dec. 21.