FOX News: Business

BlackBerry Ltd would consider exiting its handset business if it remains unprofitable, its chief executive officer said on Wednesday, as the technology company looks to expand its corporate reach with investments, acquisitions and partnerships.

Venture capital funding for U.S. start-ups hit its highest mark since 2001 during the first three months of the year and 11 companies were valued at $1 billion or more, underscoring the increasingly pricey environment for entrepreneurs, according to a report on Thursday from consultancy CB Insights.

The convenience store operator will cut jobs and shut about 370 underperforming stores, while also lowering prices on about 1,000 basic items.

Wal-Mart struck a deal to sell Wild Oats brand food at non-organic prices in a move to help those on a budget buy more organic products.

U.S. stock-index futures wavered on Thursday after a rally in the last session as traders broadly shook off a round of very disappointing China trade data.

The world's second-largest gold miner by market value raised its offer to buy Osisko Mining for about $3.30 billion.

Stocks across Europe pulled back, easing away from positive territory carved out after dovish monetary policy signals from the Fed.

Greece's first bond sale since its bailout in 2010 will raise 3 billion euros ($4.15 billion) at a yield of 4.95%, according to media reports Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

China plans to allow overseas investors to directly trade 13 billion yuan ($2.1 billion) of mainland-listed shares per day via the Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearings (HKEx), said the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on Thursday in a joint statement with Hong Kong's securities regulator.

Costco Wholesale Corp. said on Thursday total same-store sales rose 5% for the five-week period ended April 6.

Stocks across Europe gained Thursday, keying off advances overnight in Asia and on Wall Street following dovish signals in minutes from the Federal Reserve's March meeting.

Deutsche Bank is considering raising the fixed pay of its management board members by more than a third in response to new EU regulations, a German paper reported on Thursday.

The U.S. economy, aided by the Federal Reserve's easy monetary-policy stance, is beginning to look healthier, Federal Reserve Gov. Daniel Tarullo said Wednesday.

BlackBerry Ltd would consider exiting its handset business if it remains unprofitable, its chief executive officer said on Wednesday, as the technology company looks to expand its corporate reach with investments, acquisitions and partnerships.

Ally Financial Inc. priced its initial public offering late Wednesday at $25 a share, according to reports.

The Treasury Department said it's going to sell its Ally Financial stake at $25 per share, which will raise $2.375 billion for the government.

Ally Financial's initial public offering has been priced at $25 per share, an underwriter said, valuing the bailed-out auto lender at about $12.04 billion.

Bed Bath & Beyond's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings fell 11% as the home-furnishings retailer recorded a drop in sales.

Abercrombie & Fitch named Joanne C. Crevoiserat, a long-time senior manager at Kohl’s, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Ford Motor opened a 400 million reais ($181 million) engine factory in northeastern Brazil on Wednesday, ramping up potential output even as many warn of excess capacity weighing on profits in the country's auto industry.