PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe’s second-largest carmaker, had its credit rating cut to junk by Moody’s Investor Services, which cited concern about the French company’s deteriorating finances and a jump in net debt. Peugeot’s long-term debt rating was lowered one grade to “Ba1” from “Baa3,” Moody’s said in a statement Thursday. Shares of the automaker, which announced a strategic alliance with General Motors Co., plunged as much as 7.7 percent. Peugeot’s fiscal year 2011 results were “well below Mo

 Google rolled out a new privacy policy Thursday allowing the firm to track users across various services to develop targeted advertising, despite sharp criticism from U.S. and European consumer advocacy groups.Google contends the move simplifies and unifies its policies across its various services such as Gmail, YouTube, Android mobile systems, social networks and Internet search.“The new policy doesn’t change any existing privacy settings or how any personal information is shared outside of Go

PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe’s second-largest carmaker, had its credit rating cut to junk by Moody’s Investor Services, which cited concern about the French company’s deteriorating finances and a jump in net debt. Peugeot’s long-term debt rating was lowered one grade to Ba1 from Baa3, Moody’s said in a statement Thursday. Shares of the automaker, which Wednesday announced a strategic alliance with General Motors Co., plunged as much as 7.7 percent. Peugeot’s fiscal year 2011 results were “well be

DELRAY BEACH, Florida (AP) ― Andy Roddick reached his second quarterfinal of the year with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championship on Thursday.The other time the fourth-seeded Roddick reached a quarterfinal this season was in San Jose two weeks ago. He lost that match to Istomin 6-2, 6-4 in their only other career meeting.Roddick is currently ranked No. 30, which is the lowest ranking he’s had since he ranked No. 30 on Aug. 13, 20

EU leaders to take final decision on Greek package on March 9 ...EU leaders cleared all but the final hurdles to an unprecedented new Greek bailout Thursday as they began debating ways to turn the page on the debt crisis and inject fresh life into strained economies.With recession returning to the eurozone after two years of austerity, EU president Herman Van Rompuy signalled the need for a new agenda arising out of a two-day European Union summit.“I’m not saying we are out of the rut but we hav

EU to focus on creating, saving jobsBRUSSELS (AFP) ― Europe’s leaders seek to turn the corner on the debt crisis Thursday by mapping out new routes to grow their economies just as a eurozone-wide recession kicks in.After two years in which government debt, bailouts and austerity became bywords for European Union summits, the latest two-day meet starting 6:00 p.m. (1700 GMT) sees the EU move to secure jobs.“I’m sure you will agree, a little less drama will do no-one any harm,” said the head of th

NEW YORK (AFP) -- Apple shares gained $1.31 percent on Wall Street on Monday and the California gadget-maker closed the day with a market capitalization of more than $500 billion.Apple shares ended the day's trading at $542.44, giving the Cupertino, California-based company a market cap --

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― Microsoft is scrambling to preserve what’s left of its kingdom.Since the company released its Windows operating system in 1985, most of the sequels have been variations on the same theme. Not that it mattered much. Regardless of the software’s quality, Microsoft managed to remain at the center of the personal computing universe.The stakes are much different as Microsoft Corp. puts the finishing touches on Windows 8 ― perhaps the most important piece of software the Redmond,

German reluctance to boost funds to prevent debt contagion pushed the EU on Tuesday into cancelling eurozone talks on the matter despite pressure from G20 ministers.The climate around the eurozone debt crisis blew hot and cold during the day with the EU Commission warning Spain that deficit targets will be applied despite slippage in Spanish progress on public finances.But Portugal passed an EU-IMF audit of its reforms, clearing the way for a new slice of debt rescue aid, although the country ag

U.S. businesses slashed spending on machinery and equipment in January after a tax break expired, pushing orders for long-lasting manufacturing goods down by the largest amount in three years.Orders for durable goods fell 4 percent last month, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.A big reason for the decline was demand for so-called core capital goods, which are viewed as a good measure of business investment plans, tumbled 4.5 percent. That‘s the biggest drop in a year.Economists attributed muc