Total sales at U.S. retailers in August fell for a second month in a row, according to a government report on Friday that showed consumers were coming under increasing pressure amid rising prices. Sales dropped 0.3% in August to a seasonally adjusted $381.17 bln after a sharply revised 0.5% drop in July that previously was

Deutsche Bank swooped on rival Deutsche Postbank with a deal worth up to $13 bln that could give it control of Germany's biggest retail lender within three years. It is the second bumper all-German banking deal in as many weeks after Commerzbank bought Dresdner Bank. The sale promises a windfall for shareholders in Deutsche Post,

Expectations that a deal will emerge to save Lehman Brothers mounted on Friday after its plunging share price prompted intensive talks with U.S. officials about rescue options. Lehman's shares added 4% to $4.40 in pre-market trading in New York as talk swirled that the bank would put out a statement before Wall Street opens. Lehman

European shares advanced on Friday as commodities stocks tracked a rise in crude and metals prices, while banks gathered strength on talks about a possible sale of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers. By 1135 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.9% at 1,151.28 points, after falling 0.65% in the previous

Japan's Matsushita said it would launch the world's smallest digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, targeting female users who want a high-performance machine that does not weigh too much. SLR cameras, high-end models with interchangeable lenses, are the fastest growing and most lucrative segment of the digital camera market. But some compact camera users are reluctant

Amazon.com Inc has appointed a senior Microsoft Corp executive to head its U.S. advertising sales as the global Internet retailer ramps up its online ad business, The New York Post reported. Lisa Utzschneider, who worked at Microsoft for 10 years, will become senior vice president of national ad sales for Amazon, the Post said citing