Bear Stearns unit agreed to pay $28 million to settle federal charges it had deceived subprime borrowers and had engaged in abusive loan practices before the investment bank’s collapse. Read more..

By BLOOMBERG NEWS - The New York Times

In struggling industries like automobiles and airlines, the bargaining power of unions has been limited by the weak positions of their employers. By contrast, Boeing is strong. Read more..

By MICHELINE MAYNARD - The New York Times

Putting men in gray business suits and women in aprons sends a demeaning message, a European Parliament report says. Read more..

By DOREEN CARVAJAL - The New York Times

Left mostly vacant in a corporate restructuring, the Altria Group’s lavish but quirky Midtown skyscraper is looking for new tenants. Read more..

By J. ALEX TARQUINIO - The New York Times

The agreement was part of a settlement of claims that they misled consumers about loan terms and benefits. Read more..

By JONATHAN D. GLATER - The New York Times

Mexico’s inflation accelerated to the fastest annual pace in more than five years last month on higher costs for gasoline, electricity and eggs. Read more..

By BLOOMBERG NEWS - The New York Times

The Tribune Company said that a link to a six-year-old article on the United’s 2002 bankruptcy filing had appeared on the South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Web site before another news organization mistakenly presented the article as new. Read more..

By BLOOMBERG NEWS - The New York Times

The same economic woes that are sending buyers to thrift stores are causing donors to hand over fewer items, so that many stores are running low on inventory. Read more..

By STEPHANIE ROSENBLOOM - The New York Times

The hiring of a veteran antitrust lawyer represents the clearest indication that the Justice Department could be planning to mount a legal challenge to the deal, some analysts said. Read more..

By MIGUEL HELFT and STEPHANIE CLIFFORD - The New York Times

Investors were gripped by fears that another big financial institution might founder — and that the government might not come to the rescue. Read more..

By JENNY ANDERSON and BEN WHITE - The New York Times