Business News

Toyota to Launch Six New Hybrids by End of 2012

All of the hybrids will be new and not next-generation versions of existing models. More ... Read More

Biotech company to patent fuel-secreting bacterium

A biotech company plans to announce Tuesday that it has won a patent on a genetically altered bacterium that converts sunlight and carbon dioxide into ingredients of diesel fuel, a step ... Read More

Frito-Lay will buy 176 Smith Electric Vehicles delivery trucks

Frito-Lay North America is betting big on Smith Electric Vehicles U.S., planning to deploy 176 of the company’s all-electric delivery trucks during the next year. The company, a division of PepsiCo ... Read More

Unilever Invests in Algae

As food and consumer-goods companies face problems obtaining the key ingredient palm oil without damaging the environment, Unilever is betting on a promising low-life alternative: algae. More ... Read More

3M Continues Deal Spree, Buying Arizant

3M said Thursday that it had agreed to buy Arizant, which provides ways to warm patients to prevent hypothermia, for $810 million in cash. More ... Read More

U.S. Manufacturing posts unexpected growth

Beating most analysts’ expectations, manufacturing in the U.S. grew for the 13th month in a row. The Institute of Supply Management said its manufacturing index rose to 56.3 points, from 55.5 ... Read More

Midwest Research Institute gets $1.6M to study potential biological weapon

Midwest Research Institute won a $1.6 million federal contract to study a virus that could be used as a biological weapon. Mor. ... Read More

Exelon to buy Deere’s wind energy business

Electric utility Exelon Corp. said it will buy Deere & Co.’s wind power business for about $860 million, expanding its portfolio of carbon-free electricity generation. Chicago-based Exelon, the largest U.S. nuclear ... Read More

Mercy opens new data center

Sisters of Mercy Health System will officially launch its new $60 million data center in Washington, Mo., on Monday. More ... Read More

3M to Buy Cogent Systems in $943 Million Deal

3M said Monday that it had agreed to buy Cogent, a maker of biometric recognition systems, for $10.50 per share in a deal worth $943 million. More ... Read More