Dodd unveils slimmed-down financial reform proposal

With memories of the financial crisis already fading, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher J. Dodd tried to jump-start the stalled effort...

Sony's timing tricky for God of War III

The opening scene for Sony Corp.'s God of War III video game shows a muscle-bound ancient Greek warrior named Kratos vowing, "My vengeance is now."

FDIC seizes New York's Park Avenue Bank and LibertyPointe Bank

In the current wave of failures of federally insured banks, none occurred in New York City until late last week, when two small Manhattan financial...

Gasoline prices rise slightly at pump

Gasoline prices at the pump rose slightly last week, the Energy Department said Monday, as oil futures fell to their lowest levels in March.

Ford's ubiquitous police car is getting pulled over

The Ford Crown Victoria police car, which for nearly three decades has been the star of high-speed chases and an unwelcome sight in rearview mirrors,...

Tests on Prius cast doubt on Sikes' runaway-acceleration story

A federal probe into a Toyota Prius that took a wild ride on a San Diego County freeway last week is casting doubt on the driver's account of...

New York Stock Exchange bell takes celebrity turn

KISS guitarist Paul Stanley fluffed his thick, shaggy hair as bassist Gene Simmons fidgeted in the background, their eyes looped in black makeup,...

U.S. pushing companies to go after global market

Uncle Sam wants more of the nation's small-business exporters to step up their international sales as part of an ambitious goal to double U.S. exports...

Wacky business names in Los Angeles

When William Eskandari decided to change the name of his family-run liquor store in Glendale, he wanted something that would stand out from dozens...

Comcast Entertainment Group to stay in Miracle Mile building

In one of the largest office leases of the year in Southern California, broadcaster Comcast Entertainment Group has agreed to continue renting...

Salvation Army is a residential real estate powerhouse

By day, Henry Graciani oversees a 54-bed treatment center for alcoholics and drug addicts who come to him broke and hopeless. After work, he makes a...

Deceptive arguments are being made in California's water wars

Who needs absinthe, vodka or even a six-pack of beer? Judging from the quality of our debate on natural resource policy, all it takes to addle the...

Toyota is just the latest automaker to face auto safety litigation

On a summer day in 1911, Donald MacPherson was driving his Buick runabout to Sarasota Springs, N.Y., when the wooden spokes snapped on a rear wheel,...

Identity theft may be prelude to more serious crime

Identity theft may be the financial world's equivalent of a staph infection. Just when you thought you had a handle on protecting your identity from...

Before filing for bankruptcy, try living within your means

Dear Liz: I am a 49-year-old single father with two boys, 17 and 12. I had my own business for five years, which I finally gave up last year....

A gushing combination of showbiz, engineering

The gig: Don't call Mark Fuller, 58, a fountain maker. He prefers "feature creator." But he does make fountains -- spectacular ones. The...

Internet fraud's U.S. price tag put at $550 million

U.S. citizens reported losing more than $550 million in 2009 in Internet fraud, falling prey to a variety of increasingly sophisticated scams,...

Immigrants are drawn to mid-size metro areas

Recently arrived immigrants flocked to smaller metropolitan areas during the first half of the last decade, lured by less competition for jobs and...