Google Finance Site Launches Today

Google Inc. plans to launch a website for financial information today. The Mountain View, Calif.-based Internet giant said it would introduce new features to the crowded genre, including executive profiles and stock charts that let users plot the effect of news events.

Google Finance will be free to users and will not carry ads, for now. The site will compete with the popular financial sites of Yahoo Inc., Microsoft Corp.’s MSN and America Online Inc.

Google shares rose $8.40 to $348.19.