The deal, if accepted, would create a union of the two largest beer brewers in the world.

Taking another look at three new small businesses and how they’ve fared in the last several months.

Wall Street fell sharply Wednesday as oil prices rebounded, aggravating concerns that inflation may lead the world’s central banks to raise interest rates.

The Federal Reserve’s regular “Beige Book” report sent a reminder that growth remains a hurdle for the central bank even as it steps up efforts to fight inflation.

Sprint’s new Samsung Instinct is an iPhone wannabe, but it has its own personality.

A steady rise in energy prices has fueled an inflationary psychology in the United States and could be a problem if it does not reverse, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Donald Kohn said Wednesday.

Oil prices were trading higher at midday on a sharp fall in crude oil stocks. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman said he would attend a meeting this month in Saudi Arabia to discuss record oil prices.

The chief executive of BP said that the company continued to discuss management concerns with shareholders of its Russian venture, but does not expect the disagreements to be resolved soon.

Susan Lyne, who served as president and chief executive of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia for four years, will be succeeded by Robin Marino and Wenda Harris Millard.

Citing lower prices because of competition in the memory chip sector, a trade group said it now expected 2008 chip sales to grow 4.3 percent, down from a growth forecast of 7.7 percent.