Moody’s Investors Service downgrades Liberty Media LLC ratings

Moody’s downgrades Liberty Media LLC ratings

Good news for home heating: With the most natural gas in storage, prices plunge by 12 percent

Natural gas plunges 12 percent this month

NEW YORK — Natural gas prices have dropped by more than 12 percent in the past month as the country continues to sip at its energy reserves and a balmy November allowed homeowners to leave the heat off.

Hormel Foods profit expected to rise in fiscal 4Q as hog costs ease

Earnings Preview: Hormel Foods Corp.

MILWAUKEE — Hormel Foods Corp. reports results for its fiscal fourth quarter on Tuesday before the market opens. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

Fitch lifts Bon-Ton Stores outlook, cites amended credit agreement, Moody’s to review ratings

Fitch boosts outlook on Bon-Ton Stores

NEW YORK — Fitch Ratings raised its outlook for Bon-Ton Stores Inc. on Friday from “Negative” to “Stable,” citing the department store operator’s reworked credit agreement.

Oprah Winfrey says prayer, careful thought influenced decision to end her show after 25 years

Winfrey: Prayer, careful thought influenced exit

Winfrey says show will end in 2011, decision came ‘after much prayer and careful thought’

Winfrey: Show will end in 2011 after 25 seasons

Good news for home heating: With the most natural gas in storage, prices plunge by 15 percent

Natural gas plunges 15 percent this month

NEW YORK — Natural gas prices have dropped by more than 15 percent in the past month as the country continues to sip at its energy reserves and a balmy November allowed many homeowners to leave the heat off.

Winfrey set to announce “The Oprah Winfrey Show” will end in 2011 after 25 seasons on the air

End of an era: Winfrey ending show after 25 years

Taiwan designer uses recycled newspaper to make shoes, bags

Taiwan firm uses recycled paper in shoemaking

Product recalls: cookware, ski bindings

Recalls: cookware, ski bindings

The following recalls have been announced:

Feds charge firms with stealing millions from fund to help deaf people make phone calls

US charges firms defrauded deaf phone fund

Google adding automatic captioning on YouTube to aid the deaf and hearing-impaired

Google adding automatic captions to YouTube videos

New apps, Web sites offer holiday shopping help; here’s how to know what’s useful for you

Smart Spending: Online help for holiday shopping

Anika Therapeutics receives European approval for wrinkle treatment Elevess Light

Anika gets European approval on wrinkle product

Diversified manufacturer Raven Industries reports 13 percent drop in 3Q profit

Raven Industries reports 13 percent 3Q profit drop

Palin and fans call Newsweek’s leggy cover shot sexist; magazine defends it as relevant

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American Express to buy Revolution Money, created by AOL co-founder Case’s company, for $300M

American Express to buy Revolution Money for $300M

Vivus shares rise as erectable dysfunction drug avanafil meets late-stage study goal

Vivus shares rise on positive avanafil study data

Obama sets aside time to meet with half brother during his trip to China

Sears Holdings hopes to keep momentum in second quarter

Earnings Preview: Sears Holdings Corp.

CHICAGO — Sears Holdings Corp. reports its results for the third quarter on Thursday. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

Business Highlights

Business Highlights

More states add jobs, but many for temporary staff

Business events and economic reports scheduled for the coming week

Business events scheduled for the coming week