Business News

CUPERTINO, Calif., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Apple Computer Inc. told the U.S. government Friday it exonerated Chief Executive Steven Jobs of any wrongdoing in a stock options backdating probe.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- AT&T Inc. Friday won U.S. approval to complete an $85 billion takeover of BellSouth Corp. after it made a series of consumer-friendly concessions.

NEW YORK, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. stock indexes fell in the year's final day of trading Friday, but the Dow Jones industrial average still finished its best year since 2003.

FRANKFURT, Germany, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The euro hit a fresh record high against the Japanese yen Friday.

BOSTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A New York real estate firm has bought Boston's iconic John Hancock tower for about $1.3 billion.

AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. union workers at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. have voted to end a 12-week strike, ratifying a contract that will save the tire maker as much as $610 million.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. and Iraqi troops have cleared a small city in Iraq of residents and erected a 12-foot high dirt wall.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The agency that would process millions of applications from new guest workers under immigration reform proposals is crippled by antiquated technology.

BAGHDAD, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Reports from Baghdad citing U.S. officials say that Saddam's execution could take place within the next few days, if true, the timing could not be worse.

MILAN, Italy, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The Italian government Friday invited bids to purchase as much as 49.9 percent of ailing Alitalia, the country's flagship carrier.

TORONTO, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Wal-Mart was among the top 50 best employers in Canada, a nationwide survey showed.

GIBRALTAR, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Gibraltar's PartyGaming online poker company has agreed to buy two gambling Web sites to replace revenue lost when it was forced to stop accepting U.S. wagers.

NEW YORK, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Wireless companies will soon use New York's taxicabs to improve their cell phone signals in the city.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- An influential left-of-center think tank says Democrats should demand new Congressional authorization before any additional U.S. troops are sent to Iraq.

GROTON, Conn., Dec. 28 (UPI) -- General Dynamics' Electric Boat subsidiary received major submarine contracts this week.