US drugmaker Pfizer is to buy rival Wyeth in a deal worth $68 billion, making it the biggest merger announced on Wall Street since the credit crunch and creating what both companies call "the worldÔÇÖs premier biopharmaceutical company."┬á  The acquisition will also be the largest merger in the pharmaceutical industry since Pfizer purchased Warner-Lambert for $93.4 billion in 2000.

Endless possibilities┬áThe University of Calgary is enjoying the biggest phase of expansion in its 43-year history. Steve Dantzer talks to Gay Sutton about the revolutionary digital library project and why multidisciplinary facilities could stimulate groundbreaking research. In recent years the population of the province of Alberta has been increasing at a tremendous rate, driven by the expanding needs of the regionÔÇÖs huge oil and gas exploration industry.

Internet search engine Google saw revenue rise and profit fall in the final quarter of last year in what have been seen as positive year-end results, while rival Microsoft prepares to cut up to 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months.┬á  Total revenue for Google was $5.7 billion, up 18 percent compared with the same quarter the previous year, and net profit for the period was $382 million, a 68 percent fall from $1.21 billion for the same period in 2007.

Riding high┬áCaravan Logistics is poised for double-digit growth even in the face of a slowing economy. Keith Regan learns how the company is using hard data and a well-trained and carefully selected staff to drive that growth. For many businesses, outsourcing transportation and logistics is a logical way to contain costs and focus resources on core activities.   The decision to contract out those operations can also be a risky one if the logistics partner doesnÔÇÖt share the same values.

Going west┬áFirst West Properties proves that real estate investment can still be profitable in western Canada, despite current economic conditions, reports Brendan A. Smith. When First West Properties changed its name from Aveiro Investment Corporation in February of 2007, president Eric Wesling knew the direction he wanted to take the real estate investment firm. ÔÇ£We changed our name to First West Properties Ltd.

Golden opportunity┬áGolden Band Resources of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has found a successful strategy in focusing solely on gold exploration and production, even during down markets. President & CEO Rodney Orr tells Linda Seid Frembes why it works. Located in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, the Saskatoon area is well known for farming and mining. The region produces half of CanadaÔÇÖs export crops and is the worldÔÇÖs largest exporter of uranium and potash.

An eagles view┬áAs British ColumbiaÔÇÖs largest bridge construction project in over 20 years nears completion, project director Norm Tennock talks to Gay Sutton about the surprises and challenges of building an aesthetically pleasing structure that will ease congestion and complement the beauty of the surrounding area. Just to the east of Vancouver and set into a landscape of forests, meadows, watercourses and majestic mountains, the communities of Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge to the north and Langley and Surrey to the south are separated by the mighty F

Many icons risk being overthrown by the global financial crisis. Firms which once could be relied upon to make steady profits are now losing money and shedding jobs. The technology sector in particular has seen its fair share of doom and gloom as demand for electronics and computer products continue to decline, and Sony and Intel are the latest to tell their tales of woe. ┬á  For the financial year ending in March, Sony said it expected to make a net loss of $1.7 billion, making it the companyÔÇÖs first annual loss in 14 years.

While other technology firms have fared less well, technology services firm IBM brings light to the sector with a 12 percent increase on its latest quarterly profits and a rosy forecast for 2009.┬á  IBM boss Samuel Palmisano said it had been an "outstanding year," with IMBÔÇÖs net profit in the fourth quarter reaching 4.4 billion and a profit margin of 47.9 percent, up three percentage points from a year earlier.┬á The news boosted IBM's share price 4.5 percent to $85.64 in after-hours trading in New York.

Italian automaker agrees to take a 35 percent stake in the struggling American auto company; in return, Chrysler will get access to FiatÔÇÖs fuel-efficient vehicle technologies.  The deal, announced in a joint statement by the two companies, would allow Chrysler to use FiatÔÇÖs technology and vehicle platforms to build smaller and more fuel-efficient cars in its factories and sell them in North America.  Fiat would give Chrysler access to distribution networks in Europe and other parts of the world.