American Airlines and US Airways finalize merger details.

Comcast buys balance of GE's stake in NBCUniversal for $16.7 billion.

Yahoo CEO Mayer looks to focus mobile, expresses disappointment in Microsoft search deal.

Adidas will reveal Boost running innovation at New York event.

Apple CEO Cook feels brand's stores are too small; a Google payday might help.

Barclays CEO pressured to get moving on revamp.

BBC Worldwide appoints global editorial director.

Blockbuster UK closes 164 more stores.

Dior sees former designer John Galliano re-offend Jewish community.

Facebook eyes books, movies and TV content as Zuckerberg's full philanthropy revealed.

Ford assures dealers on Lincoln MKZ supplies.Continue reading...

Green Bay Packers defend title to win NFL kickoff game, while Bud Light kicks in as NFL sponsor, and Coors Light debuts new campaign.

President Obama presents $447 billion jobs stimulus plan to tough audience.

American Apparel search for plus-size models backfires.

Aquascutum among brands finding new life in China.

Bank of America could shed up to 40,000 jobs.

Facebook complaints can't get an employee fired, judge rules while site adds five languages.

John Galliano  found guilty in anti-racism case.

Glenn Beck launches web TV network.

Google details electricity usage.Continue reading...

Dior invites viewers to play spot-the-dead-celeb in its latest commercial. Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and filmed in the stunning Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, it broke Sunday night on French TV. (Versailles was the setting for Dior's 60th anniversary celebration in 2007, under ousted design head John Galliano.)

The new 90-second ode to Hollywood glamour for Dior J'Adore perfume features Charlize Theron — not to mention (spoiler alert!) digitally integrated footage of Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich and Grace Kelly. Check out Theron's earlier spots for the perfume below.Continue reading...

ANA weighs FDA lawsuit over graphic cigarette pack warnings.

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon-backed ISIS brings NFC swipe-and-payments to Austin, TX.

Barnes & Noble digital plan pays off (but at a cost).

Facebook seeks pre-IPO feedback from marketers.

Glen Campbell announces he has Alzheimer's.

GM woos owners of defunct car brands.Continue reading...

Accenture strikes outsourcing agreement with Nokia.

Adidas faces French inquiry.

Adobe sales exceed estimates, but challenged in Europe.

Airbus racks up orders at Paris Air Show while Boeing dazzles with latest version of its venerable jumbo jet.

Amazon expects to sell 4 million tablets this year.

AOL UK relaunches homepage with Tesco sponsorship.Continue reading...

American Express forms venture with French luxury e-tailer, vente-privee.com.

Ashton Kutcher tipped to fill Charlie Sheen void on Two and a Half Men.

Bing continues to capture more searches as Microsoft's antitrust saga comes to an end.

BlackBerry product placement on BBC version of The Apprentice raises eyebrows.

BMW and Audi vie for luxury auto lead.

Bravo TV star Bethenny Frankel sued by former manager for a piece of her just-sold business.

Chevron criticized for corporate citizenship campaign in California.

Facebook claims no smear campaign intended by PR firm Burson-Marsteller vs. Google.Continue reading...

US attorney shuts down online poker sites, while FTC goes after fake news sites hawking acai berry and other diets.

President Obama calls for secure online ID system, as VP Joe Biden calls piracy "outright theft."

Cablevision brings Hulu, iTunes and web video to TV.

John Galliano fired by his namesake fashion label.

Google frustrated by music label talks.

J&J eyes buying Swiss firm, Synthes, for $20B.Continue reading...

It's getting to the point where one might consider LVMH the European Union of brands.

The French conglomerate, which legitimately calls itself a "world leader in luxury goods," owns 60 upper echelon brands, many of which have the kind of global cachet most brands can only dream about. These brands accounted last year for more than 20 billion euros in sales and 3 billion euros in profit.

The LVMH stable includes Dom Perignon, Krug and Hennessy in wine and spirits; TAG Heuer and DeBeers in watches and jewelry; Celine, Givenchy and Louis Vuitton in fashion; Christian Dior, Emilio Pucci and Fendi in perfumes and cosmetics; and beauty products purveyor Sephora in specialty retailing.

Add the one billion-euro Italian luxury jewelry brand, Bulgari to the list, acquired this week by LVMH.Continue reading...