UK gaming software provider Playtech has taken a significant step into the global lottery market by signing a deal with the US-based gaming services provider Scientific Games.

Starbucks has posted earnings of $242 million for the last quarter of 2009, up from $64 million during the same period last year.

The number of people out of work in the UK fell by 7,000 to 2.46 millionÔÇöthe first decline in unemployment figures since the three months to May 2008, official figures have confirmed.

ConocoPhillips and Total are planning to quadruple capacity at their oil sands project near Fort McMurray in Alberta.  The second phase of the Surmont project will expand capacity from 27,000 to 110,000 barrels of bitumen per day by 2015.

The German automaker Volkswagen is building a plant in southern China to manufacture Seat brand cars, it has been reported.

Illinois-based Kraft Foods has confirmed it is finalizing a deal to take over the British confectioner Cadbury, bringing the four-month battle between the two companies to a close.

US conglomerate Kraft Foods has confirmed it is finalising a deal to take over the chocolate maker Cadbury, bringing the four-month battle between the two companies to a close.

Tullow Oil, the FTSE 100 oil exploration and production group headquartered in London, is seeking to take full control of two oil fields it discovered in Uganda with partner Heritage Oil.

Hershey is likely to make a bid of roughly $18 billion for the UK confectioner Cadbury, it has been reported.  According to the Wall Street Journal, Hershey is putting the finishing touches on a financial package that is based on a loan of approximately $10 billion from banks including JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.  The WSJ also says the offer is likely to include $5 billion in new Hershey shares and at least $3 billion from private investors.

Royal Dutch Shell and MalaysiaÔÇÖs state-owned oil company Petronas have signed a contract to develop IraqÔÇÖs Majnoon oilfield.