Business Highlights
NEW YORK (AP) — Companies around the world spent a record $5.04 trillion on acquisitions in 2015, according to Dealogic, as slow worldwide economic growth and low interest rates pushed companies to combine forces.
Low interest rates since the Great Recession have made it cheaper for companies to borrow money to pay for acquisitions, and because the global economy only grew slowly this year, companies decided it made more sense to buy their competitors instead of trying to boost their sales on their own.
There are some downsides to a credit freeze to consider — it blocks you from opening new lines of credit, so if you plan to take out a mortgage or apply for a new credit card you'll need to remember to unfreeze it each time, which may involve a fee.
The problem is, patent and trademarks are largely regulated by the federal government, which considers marijuana an illegal drug and therefore ineligible for any sort of legal protection.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer people signed contracts to purchase homes in November, as the real estate market appears to have cooled after sales gains for much of 2015.
The Russian economy has been suffering from the effects of Western economic sanctions and oil prices, the backbone of the country's economy, which are currently hovering around 11-year lows.
NEW YORK (AP) — Carl Icahn is acquiring Pep Boys for $1 billion, ending his weekslong bidding war with the Japanese tire company Bridgestone.
NEW YORK (AP) — KaloBios, the troubled drugmaker taken over by Martin Shkreli last month, is seeking bankruptcy protection less than two weeks after his arrest for securities fraud.
The weight loss company's shares soared Wednesday as a TV commercial starring Winfrey began to air.
Prosecutors contend he persuaded people, including NBA players, to invest in his company but used their money to pay off earlier investors.
The Orlando-based McDonald's building, which looks like a giant