McDonald's franchise workers denied pay raise to join 200-city protest

With a national day of action over low wages in the US approaching, a move by McDonald’s to quell pay protests by giving raises to workers at its 1,500 company-operated restaurants appears to have backfired, infuriating employees at 12,500 franchisee-operated restaurants who were passed over by the plan.

Walmart to raise wages for 500,000 US workers

US retail giant Walmart - the nation's largest private employer - has announced plans to raise wages for more than 500,000 hourly employees at its US stores.

Target bans guns from its stores after demonstration

US retail giant Target has asked customers not to bring guns into its stores, after Texas gun rights activists demonstrated in a Texas shop with rifles slung over their shoulders.

Starbucks to pay college fees for US staff

US coffee chain firm Starbucks will pay college fees for US workers to complete a bachelor's degree online in a tie-up with Arizona State University.

AT&T to join rivals with 'transparency report'

Washington (AFP) - AT&T said Friday it would join rivals in the tech and telecom sector in publishing a "transparency report" about demands for information from law enforcement agencies.

JP Morgan in record $13bn settlement with US authorities

US bank JP Morgan Chase has agreed to a record $13bn (£8bn) settlement with US authorities for misleading investors during the housing crisis.

World leaders push big companies like Apple, Google to pay more taxes

ST. PETERSBURG: It's time to make Google, Apple and other multinational companies pay more taxes. That's the message from President Barack Obama and the leaders of the world's leading economies at a summit ending Friday.

Ford, General Motors, Chrysler urge 30-year tariff phase-out on Japan cars

WASHINGTON: Detroit automakers, following a failed effort to keep Japan out of regional free trade talks, outlined their fallback position on Tuesday, including a demand that U.S. auto tariffs be phased out in no less than 25 to 30 years.

Coal companies hit by oversupply, Obama

Coal company stocks have taken a hit lately, as a global oversupply and pending climate change rules from the Obama administration weigh on the sector.

Irish Want Obama to Keep Tax Breaks

The Irish government is preparing an intense lobbying campaign to persuade President-elect Barack Obama to keep almost 100,000 jobs in U.S. multinationals in Ireland.

Obama Budget Cuts Set to Squeeze Infosys’ Sales: Corporate India

nfosys Ltd. (INFO), the Indian software developer which plunged last week after forecasting sales that lagged estimates, may struggle to win clients as U.S. President Barack Obama’s $85 billion in spending cuts prompts companies to rein in spending.

US companies stash more cash abroad, tax likely factor: report

WASHINGTON: Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, PfizerBSE -0.04 % Inc and other big US multinational corporations boosted cash held offshore in 2012, likely in an effort to flee US taxes, said a report released on Tuesday.

US firms less optimistic, but will still invest in China: Survey

WASHINGTON: Many US companies are less optimistic about doing business in China even though sales there are still rising, and most of those firms are planning to increase investment, according to an annual survey of business executives released on Wednesday.

GM posts quarterly loss on weakening euro

US car giant General Motors (GM) has reported a fall in profits due to weak sales in Europe, where the debt crisis has weighed on the euro.

International hunger program relies on private sector

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama vowed Friday to accelerate efforts to relieve hunger and malnutrition in Africa and unveiled as part of his plan a $3 billion commitment from multinational companies to make it easier for small farmers to grow their own food.

Unions ought to alter strategies

As multinational corporations like McDonalds and Microsoft continue their global economic dominance, labor unions have lost their relevance within American politics.

Gulf on Foreign Profits Tax Threatens Deal on Corporate Rate Cut

President Barack Obama’s belief that the U.S. tax system pushes jobs overseas and Republican assertions that multinational companies are disadvantaged will make compromise on a new corporate tax code difficult.

After "lemming" exodus, manufacturers look to U.S.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Big U.S. manufacturers moved their production out of the country too quickly over the past decades and now see a competitive advantage in building up their footprints back home, top executives said on Monday.

Obama Finds Better Business Ties With Boeing in Asia-Pacific Trade Moves

President Barack Obama traveled to the Asia-Pacific region and found something that’s eluded him at home: accolades from the business community.

Apple now holds more cash than US government

Apple is now more cash-rich than the United States government, figures from the US Treasury department show.

The figures, released by the US Treasury department this week, show the country currently has a total operating cash balance of $73.7bn (£44.85bn).