U.S. President George W. Bush said today 20 world leaders gathered here had agreed on a set of principles aimed at stabilizing the global economy and preventing future financial meltdowns.

Why do TVs, refrigerators and washing machines break down shortly after the warranty has run out? Readers flooded me with complaints about getting service for nearly new appliances in response to my Nov. 1 column.

Japan sank into recession in the third quarter, even before it felt the full force of the financial crisis, and world leaders at a weekend summit gave investors little hope they could rescue the global economy.

The Royal Bank of Canada expects to report a 15 per cent drop in fourth-quarter profit to $1.1 billion due to the global financial crisis when it releases its results next week.

Bank of Montreal officially kicks off the banks? fourth-quarter reporting season today, but a string of dour earnings previews and last-minute manoeuvring by its bigger rivals has already given the period an inauspicious start.

More stores are staying open 24 hours this holiday shopping season amid a softening economy, stiff competition and increasingly time-pressed consumers. But it may not do much to boost their bottom line.

The proposed offer would give EDF, the world?s largest nuclear utility, a solid foothold in the United States - the world?s biggest nuclear energy market - and represents a major plank of its global expansion strategy