WSJ.com: US Business

Citi Denies Theft ReportCitigroup denied a report in The Wall Street Journal that federal authorities are investigating the theft of tens of millions of dollars from customer accounts by hackers, and sought to reassure its clients that their funds are safe.Brisk Bidding for Failed-Bank LoansInvestors are jostling for the chance to buy a $1.1 billion package of commercial real-estate loans extended by failed banks, as these once-toxic assets attract growing interest. Volatility Dip Speaks VolumesA return to calm in the stock market is likely to bruise results at firms that got boosts from panic-induced trading surges. Wells Finishes TARP PaybackWells Fargo said it completed its repayment of $25 billion in aid received from the government at the height of the global financial crisis.Start-Ups Set to Get Cash in 2010Venture capitalists are preparing to ramp up their investments and their technology returns next year, following a dismal 2009. 3Com's Earnings Climb3Com's earnings rose on a tax benefit and lower write-downs than a year earlier. The networking-gear maker's sales fell less than expected.Ford Settles Details in Volvo SaleFord said it is close to selling its loss-making Volvo unit to China's Geely and expects a final deal in the first quarter of 2010.Infusion Hints at Glencore IPOGlencore opened up its equity capital to a group of investors by issuing up to $2.2 billion convertible bonds, a cash infusion that could be a precursor to an initial public offering.Allied Irish to Raise CapitalThe chief of Allied Irish said the bank needs to raise more capital within the next year and that the level of capital required will be decided over the next three to six months.AstraZeneca to Buy France's NovexelU.K. drug maker AstraZeneca said it has agreed to acquire Novexel of France for at least $350 million, in a deal that broadens its pipeline of anti-infection drugs.American Greetings Posts ProfitAmerican Greetings posted better-than-expected earnings amid higher sales as the greeting-card company returned to the black in its fiscal third quarter. Morgan Stanley Promotes 212Morgan Stanley named 212 new managing directors, a sign that it's feeling a bit more comfortable since the financial crisis sideswiped Wall Street last year. Agrium Agrees to Sell Some AssetsAgrium agreed to sell some fertilizer assets to settle antitrust issues with the FTC regarding its $5.2 billion bid for rival fertilizer maker CF Industries.Berkshire Sells More of Moody'sThe $2.4 million share sale is the third time this month that Warren Buffett's company has cut its stake in the credit-ratings firm.Home Sales, Prices BrightenNew housing data provided fresh signs of a stabilizing market, but a continuing flood of foreclosures threaten that trend.Email Outage Strikes BlackBerry UsersResearch In Motion said users of its BlackBerry device are experiencing delays in the delivery of messages and it is working to remedy the problem. Novartis Bets on Heart DrugNovartis said it is paying up to $620 million for the world-wide rights to an experimental heart drug in a deal that boosts the Swiss drug maker's portfolio of cardiovascular medicines. Nordstrom Sits Pretty for RecoveryNordstrom, which acted earlier than many retailers on signs of the recession, appears poised to come out of the downturn faster than some of its more luxurious rivals.Gulf News Tones Down Dubai CoverageGulf News, a newspaper part-owned by a senior government minister in the U.A.E., told its journalists to avoid using the words "bailout" and "default" when writing about Dubai's debt crisis.U.K. Clears Ticketmaster DealThe U.K.'s competition regulator made a U-turn and cleared the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, paving the way for the creation of the world's biggest live entertainment company.Fiat Unveils Its Plans for ItalyFiat on Tuesday unveiled plans for its Italian operations and said it will invest more than €8 billion ($11.39 billion) overall in the next two years as it works to capitalize on its alliance with Chrysler. Australian Banks Pay $1.5 Billion to New ZealandAustralia's four major banks agreed settle a long-running tax dispute surrounding structured finance transactionsSal. Oppenheim Sells Derivatives UnitPrivate bank Sal. Oppenheim said it has sold its derivatives business to Macquarie as part of a restructuring related to Oppenheim's takeover by Deutsche Bank. Toyota Revs Up Cost-Cutting EffortsThe Japanese auto maker is intensifying efforts to review procurement and shift design techniques in an effort to turn a profit in its next fiscal year.Tokyo Gives Mixed Signals on JALJapanese officials indicated that the government might not guarantee loans to Japan Airlines, in comments that could put pressure on the airline's retirees to accept reduced benefits. U.S. Pushes for Tough Sentence for ButlerFederal prosecutors said former Credit Suisse broker Eric Butler should face at least 15 years in prison on charges he was part of an alleged scheme to mislead clients about the nature of auction-rate securities.Swiss Watchmakers Await Bonus UptickSwiss watchmakers hope holiday shoppers will regain their taste for self-indulgence, giving them a short in the arm, but it may take the return of big bank bonuses to reignite luxury-watch sales.GM Taps Microsoft's Liddell as CFOGM has picked Microsoft's Chris Liddell as its new chief financial officer and vice chairman, the latest step in the auto maker's ongoing executive shake-up.Lloyds Settles Case Over TransactionsLloyds Banking Group became the latest bank to reach a settlement with American authorities over the handling of funds for countries under U.S. sanctions such as Iran.Injunction Against Microsoft AffirmedA federal appeals court on Tuesday affirmed a $290 million patent infringement judgment that will bar Microsoft from selling current versions of its flagship Word software.

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