The latest Call of Duty videogame had sales of more than $500m in the first 24 hours of its release, a new record, game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc said yesterday.

The net worth of the richest Americans grew by 13% in the past year to $1.7 trillion (€1.3tn), Forbes magazine said, and a familiar cast populated the top of the annual list, including Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Larry Ellison and the Koch brothers.

Apple has taken the wraps off its fastest, thinnest iPhone, packing a much larger screen and 4G capability on the fifth version of the smartphone that helped it become the world’s most valuable corporation.

It has been a chaotic week for investors, with shocks coming from major companies on both side of the Atlantic.

Microsoft Corp ratcheted back growth expectations for its internet and search engine unit last night as it took a $6.2bn writedown on the value of an online advertising company it bought five years ago.

Microsoft Corp took another step toward its goal of turning the Xbox into the nexus of household entertainment, unveiling software to let users view extra content, control games and surf the internet from their tablets and smartphones.

Microsoft Corp has claimed a victory in efforts to combat online banking fraud, saying it had confiscated several servers used to steal login names and passwords, disrupting some of the world’s most sophisticated cybercrime rings.

Hewlett-Packard shares experienced their worst fall in five months after the firm’s fiscal second-quarter profit forecast fell short of analysts’ estimates as consumers curtailed personal-computer purchases.

Yahoo chairman Roy Bostock and three long-time board members are stepping down, fulfilling the wishes of many frustrated shareholders who believe the directors have been part of the problem that has dragged down the internet company’s revenue and stock price.

THE world’s biggest technology trade show will feature razor-thin laptops, powerful smartphones and flat-screen TVs, but talk in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) halls, which kicked off last night, may focus on whether the show itself has a long-term future.

Microsoft Corp, the world’s largest software maker, reported fourth-quarter profit and sales that exceeded analysts’ predictions as demand from corporations outweighed lacklustre buying from consumers.

Skype said a software glitch caused the internet calling and messaging service’s major outage last week.

SONY CORP yesterday launched a music streaming service in a bid to boost sales of its consumer electronics and break Apple’s dominance of the online music business.

MICROSOFT Corp is trying to make Hotmail cool again.

Wall Street turned in another stunning finish today and extended its unprecedented streak of volatility - this time, to the upside - as investors spent a fractious session again struggling with fears about a recession but giving in to a last-hour wave of buying.

Wall Street ended its second straight winning week with a moderate advance today, overcoming investors’ concerns about consumer confidence and inflation.

Wall Street pulled back today, retreating from record levels following disappointing results from longtime favourites Caterpillar Inc and Google Inc. The Dow Jones industrials fell nearly 150 points.

Wall Street pulled back today, retreating from record levels following disappointing results from longtime favourites Caterpillar Inc and Google Inc. The Dow Jones industrials fell nearly 150 points.

A VIOLENT computer game blocked by the Irish censor from entering the market here earlier this week is looking unlikely to be released anywhere as more countries ban it for its extreme content.

Starbucks coffee drinkers will get a non-stop dose of Paul McCartney’s Memory Almost Full today as the coffee company’s new record label releases its first CD.

Stocks surged higher today as another round of corporate takeovers prodded investors to continue a largely uninterrupted months-long buying streak.

NINTENDO announced yesterday that it will replace 3.2 million straps for its popular Wii computer game controllers after receiving a rash of reports that the device flew out of players’ hands.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation took its support of AIDS-related research and care to a new level today, announcing a €385.1m grant to a global fund that provides AIDS assistance in poor countries.

MICROSOFT Corp, the world’s largest software maker, said fourth-quarter profit fell 24% after the company spent more on its Xbox video-game console.

Microsoft Corp filed a formal complaint with EU antitrust regulators today, alleging the European Commission withheld documents and secretly colluded with rival companies and an independent monitor shortly before the EU charged the Microsoft had not obeyed an earlier ruling.

THE European Parliament has rejected a law on patents for software, ending a three-year effort by companies including Nokia Oyj and Siemens AG to counter US domination of Europe’s $60 billion (€50.3bn) market.

Calyx plc has been confirmed as a Microsoft Gold Partner by Microsoft.

Conflicting signals on inflation kept stocks mixed in the United States today as investors abandoned riskier stocks and moved to safer blue-chip companies.

Wall Street welcomed a surprisingly forthright statement on interest rates from Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan today, with investors sending stocks higher in acceptance of his tough stand on energy prices and inflation.

Intel Corp, the world’s biggest chipmaker, said it is under investigation by Japan’s Fair Trade Commission, six weeks after the regulator raided Microsoft Corp offices seeking evidence of anti-competitive activities.

EU competition commissioner Mario Monti has said that the European Commission's decision to fine Microsoft Corp €497.2m for abusing its market power in the EU is in the interest of innovation and consumers.

EU competition commissioner Mario Monti will announce the European Commission's ruling in its antitrust probe into Microsoft Corp at around 1.15 pm tomorrow, according to EU spokesperson Amelia Torres.

The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT), which supports Microsoft Corp, has said it is disappointed at the breakdown of settlement talks between the European Commission and the world's number 1 software company.

Microsoft Corp, the world's number one software company, has said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Ministry of Information Industry (MII), under which it will set up Windows .NET-based technology laboratories in China.

Tokyo: Japanese PC makers will co-operate with authorities in Japan investigating Microsoft Corp, the world’s largest maker of PC software, for suspected violation of the anti-monopoly law.

It has been reported in the French press that the European Commission will discuss draft conclusions to its Microsoft Corp antitrust probe with representatives of competition authorities from all 15 member states on March 15.

The MyDoom Internet worm claimed its first scalp yesterday, paralysing the Web site of American software firm SCO Group with a massive data blitz.

EMC CORP, the world's third-largest maker of data-storage computers, had a fourth-quarter profit of $220.1 million as acquisitions helped boost sales 25%.

Tech stocks extended their decline today as United States investors locked in gains following disappointing results from Computer Associates.

The New York Times has reported that the European Union is preparing to enact a sweeping intellectual property law.

IBM, the world’s biggest computer maker, said it won one of its biggest server-computer contracts this year by charging less than Hewlett-Packard Co.

SHARES of Hewlett-Packard Co, the world’s second-biggest computer maker, fell as much as 12% after the company said it missed analysts’ third-quarter sales and profit estimates and cut personal computer prices too much.

With $100m a week to invest, Warren Buffett resorted to the law to close his latest deal, writes DAVID PLUMB

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Microsoft Corp has plans to inject stronger financial management into each of its seven business units.