St. Louis-based CPI Corp. sued for allegedly misleading investors

A pension fund has sued St. Louis-based CPI Corp., alleging that the portrait studio operator broke federal securities laws by misleading investors about the company’s financial health.
The suit, filed by IBEW Local 98 Pension Fund, is seeking class action status for shareholders who purchased the company’s common stock between April 20, 2010 and December 21, […]

Irish-Backed Bank Bonds Tempt Buyers Again - Bloomberg

Ireland, whose financial system came closer to collapse than that of any euro nation, may now entice investors back to its bank bonds.
Bank of Ireland Plc (BKIR)

Japan to Double Sales Tax by 2015 as Noda Fights Off Ruling Party Revolt - Bloomberg

Japan

Japan OKs aid for tsunami-hit nuke plant operator

Japan’s government Friday approved spending $11.5 billion of public money to help the operator of the tsunami-hit nuclear power plant decontaminiate the site and dismantle the reactors.
Japan’s nuclear minister, Goshi Hosono, says the aid is meant as a preliminary installment to help cash-strapped Tokyo Electric Power Co. cover the massive cost of the work.
The 900 […]

UnitedHealth 3Q profit slips as medical costs rise

UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s third-quarter net income edged slightly lower as medical costs climbed and some health care use picked up, but the insurer’s revenue grew and it raised its 2011 earnings forecast.
The Minnetonka, Minn., managed care company’s medical claims paid rose 7 percent to $18.41 billion compared to last year’s quarter, mainly due to price […]

Italian ship attacked off Somalia

State TV in Italy says pirates have attacked an Italian cargo ship carrying 23 crew members in waters off Somalia.
The ship’s owner, D’Alessio Group, said five armed men conducted the attack Monday morning. But to protect the crew, the company said it would not provide any other details.
Therefore, it was not known if the pirates […]

Wall Street protest functions like a small city

It looks like a rock festival the morning after, a tangle of tattered sleeping bags. But the demonstrators taking part in the three-week-old protest against Wall Street have created a functioning city within the city, a small, working democracy.
There are task forces in charge of food, security, first aid, sanitation, legal help and Internet access. […]

Photos: Steve Jobs through the years

A look back at the life of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who died Wednesday at the age of 56. View the gallery

Express Scripts, Medco defend merger plan to lawmakers

Express Scripts Inc. and Medco Health Solutions Inc., facing congressional scrutiny over their plan to form the biggest U.S. pharmacy-benefit manager, told lawmakers the deal would preserve competition and lower costs while improving patient care.
The combined company would control less than one-third of U.S. pharmacy benefit sales, Express Scripts Chief Executive George Paz said Tuesday […]

Pay $10m fire claim, insurer told

Chubb Insurance of Canada has again been ordered to pay a Mississauga divorcee for the loss of her home, art and jewelry in a 1997 house fire. With interest and her legal fees, the cost of denying the near $4.5 million claim will be nearly $10 million.
When Bridgette Sagl claimed nearly $4.5 million in losses […]