NEW YORK -- CIT Group was expected to announce a deal with key bondholders for $3 billion in funding that would stave off a bankruptcy filing for the cash-strapped lender, according to reports published Monday. The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, citing people familiar with the matter, said CIT's board approved the deal Sunday night. CIT did not return a call seeking comment. The le.. more

In August 2008, Mrs. Fields Famous, the parent brand of 1,200 TCBY and Mrs. Fields Cookies stores, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It didn't last long. In October, the company emerged, having restructured its $196 million in debt down to $50 million. Its franchisees kept operating throughout.By Emily Maltby NEXT: Rebuilding from the ground up LAST UPDATE: Jul 17 2009 | 3:21 PM ET.. more

Chrysler hasn't done well in these sorts of surveys in recent years, but this time the new Dodge Challenger beat out its competitors as the most-favored mid-size sporty car. (Also worth noting: The Dodge brand, overall, earned above average scores in this survey after posting the largest one-year improvement of any car brand.) And Hyundai, not known as a luxury brand beat out higher-priced mid-siz.. more

NEW YORK -- So far so good. The first week of major quarterly financial results has come and gone, leaving investors more confident about the economic outlook -- and stocks 7% higher. But the S&P 500's first up week in five has merely left stocks right back where they were a month ago. That's about 40% higher than the low point of 2009. "Investors are dipping their toes in the water, but not d.. more

NEW YORK -- Looking for an inexpensive change-up for your next backyard barbeque? Try lobster. "Per pound, it's less expensive than hot dogs right now," grumbles lobster-boat captain Mike Dassatt, who fishes the coast near Belfast, Maine, with his wife Sheila. You won't hear many complaints from lobster-loving tourists in Bar Harbor or Kennebunkport, but the Maine lobster fishery is coping with .. more

SAN FRANCISCO/SEATTLE -- Activist investor Carl Icahn spoke out in favor of a search deal between Yahoo Inc and Microsoft Corp, as talks between the two companies appeared to regain momentum. Icahn declined to comment on the state of any negotiations between Yahoo and Microsoft. He had tried to broker a partnership between the two companies last year, when talks on Microsoft's $47.5 billion take.. more

What was once a small, sleepy community is quickly transforming into a 21st century town, complete with a new helicopter pad in one of its exclusive gated communities. Bigger is better in Holmdel, where stately custom-designed homes sit on sizeable lots, but smaller, historical houses with beautiful fences and stained-glass windows showcase Holmdel's rich history as a 19th century rural community.. more

NEW YORK -- "Bankruptcy" isn't a word business owners want linked to their venture, but when a franchise company goes broke, independent operators get branded by association -- even if their own store remains healthy and profitable. It's a problem more franchisees will be facing in the coming months. The recession has hit retailers hard, and within the last year, major franchisors including Mrs... more

NEW YORK -- I've always thought that the guys running Goldman Sachs were really smart, not only about making money, but also about projecting a classy image to the world outside of Wall Street. Clearly, I overestimated them. If there was ever a firm with the motivation -- and the money -- to be gracious to the U.S. taxpayers who kept it alive when the financial markets were imploding, it's Goldm.. more

Benefits expired: July 2009 Filed in: Pennsylvania Age: 42 I was working as a store manager at a women's retailer called The Pink Turtle before the whole chain shut down. We did everything we could -- we cut employees' hours, slashed pricing -- but I was laid off in May 2008 when the store closed. I figured I'd be out of work for three to six months, max. Early in my career I'd been laid off, .. more