AT&T has asked the permission of the US Securities and Exchange Commission to allow the firm to exclude a request from shareholders asking for the details how it shares customer information with government agencies in its annual meeting.

After the government announced a ban on the use of Bitcoin for financial institutions, China's biggest search engine Baidu Inc announced that it would no longer be accepting the digital currency as payment.

Sallie Mae Corp, the largest student loan firm in the US, filed documents with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that will allow it to split into two companies. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2014.

US District Judge Mariana Pfaelzer gave final approval to the USD 500 million class action settlement between Bank of America's Countrywide unit and its investors.

Former Goldman Sachs Group Inc trader Matthew Taylor was given a prison term of nine months for concealing an unauthorized USD 8.3 billion trading position in 2007.

Critics of the new rules requiring short-sellers to report their positions said the European Union's requirements had not made the hedge fund industry more competitive.

Lawmakers of the Sejm or the Polish Lower House of Parliament approved changes in the country's pension system to takeover government bonds currently held by 14 privately-run pension funds.

Royal Philips and Funai Electric Co could find themselves in court over the failed deal involving the acquisition of the Lifestyle Entertainment business of the Amsterdam-based firm.

Investment firm Catalyst Capital Group is the fourth bidder to withdraw from the Canadian government's auction of a 700 MHz wireless spectrum. Canada seeks to break the stronghold of three dominant players in the country's mobile phone business.

Talal Shakerchi-backed hedge fund Meditor Capital Management is shutting down its equity fund, citing European rules that require hedge fund firms to disclose their bearish bets against companies.