US retail sales rise 1% in May

Retail sales in the United States rose twice as much as forecast in May as Americans used their tax rebates to shop at electronics and department stores, and record gasoline prices swelled service-station receipts.

E.ON, Gaz de France face charges

European Union regulators charged Gaz de France SA and E.ON AG, Germany's biggest utility, with breaking EU antitrust rules by agreeing not to sell natural gas in each other's markets, stepping up an antitrust crackdown.

Stocks get a boost in Europe

European stocks rose for the first time in seven days and US index futures climbed after InBev NV offered a record $46.3 billion in cash for Anheuser-Busch Cos and banks rebounded from their cheapest in two months.

IN BRIEF (Page 17)

Business International

Corn jumps on cutback in US forecast

Corn rose for a sixth day to a record in Chicago, leading gains in soybeans, wheat and rice, after the United States cut its output estimate by 3.2 percent from a May forecast.

Euro up amid speculation of interest rate rise

The euro snapped a two-day decline against the dollar on growing speculation the European Central Bank will raise interest rates next month while the Federal Reserve leaves borrowing costs unchanged.

Stock-index futures climb

US stock-index futures advanced after Staples Inc won a fight to purchase Corporate Express NV and Biogen Idec Inc said it got a $15 billion buyout offer from Carl Icahn, fueling speculation takeovers may boost share prices.

IN BRIEF (Page 17)

Business International

US trade gap widens in April

The US trade deficit widened in April as the surging cost of oil boosted imports to a record, overshadowing the biggest gain in exports in four years.

Markets remain in the doldrums

US stock-index futures declined, following markets in Europe and Asia lower, after analysts said Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc must unload more mortgage loans and speculation mounted that interest rates will rise.