Brazil is trying to restart its economic growth spurt

SAO PAULO, Brazil — The Brazilian government is hoping to get South America's largest economy kicking again.It has yanked down...

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Best Buy 4th quarter loss narrows

Best Buy Co. said Friday that its fourth-quarter loss narrowed as better sales in the U.S. helped offset weakness abroad, particularly...

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Initial jobless claims dropped last week to 344,000

WASHINGTON -- First-time jobless claims dropped more than expected last week to 344,000 and the number of people collecting...

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Legal battle between Cablevision and Viacom could rattle TV business

A New York cable company fired the opening salvo in a long-anticipated media war that could give consumers more choices in subscribing...

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NBC's Thursday lineup goes from 'Must See TV' to 'Must Flee TV'

Thursday was once the most profitable night of the week for NBC. But the network's prime-time ratings and fortunes have eroded...

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Most economists see 'sequestration' budget cuts as unavoidable

WASHINGTON -- With just a few days to go before new government spending cuts are set to take effect, what are the chances that...

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Jason Bateman gives Ernest Borgnine's estate a new identity

Markus Canter and Cristie St. James, who share the title luxury properties director at Prudential in Beverly Hills, like Jason Bateman's real estate sense. The actor got privacy, potential and a knoll location for $3 million. ...

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Southern California malls target Asian shoppers

The arrival of the Lunar New Year this month seems to have sparked an epiphany for area shopping centers: Asian and Asian American...

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Foreign tourists' spending in U.S. rises to new record

The U.S. continues to be a hot destination for big-spending tourists, setting a new record of $168.1 billion in foreign visitor...

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Consumer prices flat in January for 2nd month

U.S. consumer prices were flat last month, the latest sign inflation is in check. That could give the Federal Reserve leeway...

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Filmmaker blends vintage photos with green screen to make drama

Filmmaker Salvador Litvak knew he had a good story about the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and his longtime bodyguard...

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Former Obama campaign staffers parlay innovations into start-ups

WASHINGTON — As chief technology officer for President Obama's reelection effort, Harper Reed oversaw the development of projects...

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Samsung embarking on an aggressive expansion in Silicon Valley

Samsung Electronics Co.'s and Apple Inc.'s battle to dominate the world's smartphone markets has mostly been waged from their...

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A secret agent reveals her secrets of success

The prospect of a business book written by a former CIA officer fills one with dread at the inevitable 007 anecdotes and labored...

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L.A.'s 'Urban Outlaw' selling his custom Porsche 911 accessories

Magnus Walker steps between the scarred carcasses of Porsche 911s lining his garage wall. He pauses and points to a gaping hole...

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The trendy descend as British fashion royalty lands at the Grove

Star sightings are common at the Grove, but on Thursday the breathless anticipation was for the grand opening of fashion retailer...

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American Airlines-US Airways merger formally announced

The latest in a series of airline mergers and acquisitions was formally announced Thursday morning, creating a mega-carrier...

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'Bukowski' plays role in modest rise for local film production

Charles Bukowski, the hard-living poet, novelist and short-story writer who probed the cultural and social underbelly of Los...

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Nextdoor is homing in on the 'hyperlocal' market

SAN FRANCISCO — Nirav Tolia is trying to build the next big social network — block by block.Nextdoor is like Facebook but for...

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Dozens of airline fees rose or changed in 2012, study finds

Airline travel fees — including charges to check a bag and to board early — have become so prevalent that travelers almost need...

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