The future of social networking? Competing with Facebook? All those e-mails from people wanting you in their network? Ask your question for Dan Nye, the C.E.O. of LinkedIn, in the comments to this post. Read more..

By SAUL HANSELL - The New York Times

Oracle’s unsolicited bid for the software maker, announced today, comes amid mounting competition from SAP of Germany and Microsoft. Read more..

By LAURIE J. FLYNN - The New York Times

Citigroup said it would combine its investment banking and alternative investment units, bringing both groups together under one leader, Vikram S. Pandit. Read more..

By LANDON THOMAS Jr. and ERIC DASH - The New York Times

Beijing says it has exported $878 billion in goods through the first nine months of 2007. Read more..

By DAVID BARBOZA - The New York Times

As delinquencies and foreclosures rise within Countrywide’s loan portfolio, the lender is increasingly finding itself at the center of the mortgage storm. Read more..

By CHRISTINA CRAPANZANO - The New York Times

When Oracle offered $6.7 billion for BEA Systems on Friday, one of the Street’s longest-running rumors finally turned into fact. Read more..

By DEALBOOK - The New York Times

With its latest redesign, BusinessWeek is looking for some magic to raise circulation and keep advertisers interested. Read more..

By LOUISE STORY - The New York Times

Dan Nye, LinkedIn’s chief executive, said the company will allow only outside applications that it approves, and it is interested in a share of the revenue of companies that use its platform. No food fights need apply. Read more..

By SAUL HANSELL - The New York Times

Snocap, a service started by Shawn Fanning, the Napster founder, that was meant to help music companies profit from file-trading systems, has laid off 60 percent of its staff and is preparing for a sale. Read more..

By SAUL HANSELL - The New York Times

Speaking to the especially wired group of executives and politicians at Google’s Zeitgeist conference, Yves Chouinard, the founder of the Patagonia outdoor clothing maker, said he has never used a keyboard and that technology tends to homogenize culture. Read more..

By MIGUEL HELFT - The New York Times