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AP - Greek police fired tear gas to disperse protesters throwing rocks and firebombs outside Parliament as more than 20,000 people marched through central Athens during a nationwide strike against the government’s harsh new austerity measures.

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AP - Information on 24,000 HSBC customers with Swiss accounts has been stolen, the British bank said Thursday, potentially exposing large numbers of international clients to prosecution by tax authorities in their home countries.

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Reuters - Ten years ago today, before the dot-com bubble burst, the Nasdaq composite index hit a record 5,132.52 points — a peak that the technology-heavy market shows no sign of scaling again any time soon.

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AP - China’s inflation spiked higher in February, adding to pressure on Beijing to prevent overheating and keep the recovery in the world’s third-largest economy on track.

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AP - German carmaker BMW AG said Thursday its 2009 net income fell 36 percent to euro210 million ($286 million) because of lower demand for its cars and motorcycles during the economic downturn as well as a higher tax rate.

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AP - Meat processor Smithfield Foods returned to a profit in the third quarter, partly due to strength in its packaged meats business and higher sales overseas.

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AP - Oil company BP PLC said Thursday it will pay $7 billion to acquire exploration rights from US-based Devon Energy Corp. that will strengthen BP’s dominant position in the Gulf of Mexico and give it access to a promising region off Brazil.

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Reuters - The Senate on Wednesday passed a $149 billion package of jobless aid and tax breaks, as Democrats continued efforts to lower the 9.7 percent unemployment rate before congressional elections in November.

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AP - The Treasury Department sank billions into auto finance giant GMAC Inc. without an exit strategy or proof the company was viable — a decision that could cost taxpayers $6.3 billion, a new watchdog report says.

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AFP - Japan will oppose a proposed global trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna, which has won EU and US backing ahead of an international conference, the top government spokesman said Thursday.

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