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CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Jan 13- Hopes for overhauling the federal tax system are fading in Washington, but in some state capitals, tax reform experiments- some far-reaching- are fast taking shape.

*China December inflation rise may curb stimulus efforts. NEW YORK, Jan 11- Crude oil futures fell on Friday on concerns about lackluster economic growth, tepid demand and weak U.S. gasoline futures, while a U.S. crude oil pipeline expansion narrowed the spread between Brent and U.S. crude futures.

MANCHESTER, England, Jan 13- The boss of Britain's biggest retail bank struck a chord with the public when he complained of getting unsolicited calls from claims management firms promising him compensation from his own and other banks.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 13- When video game developer Brenda Brathwaite Romero started her career in the 1980 s, she could count the number of female developers in the industry on one hand.

*Up to 15 pct of China's iron ore mines stay shut. SINGAPORE/ SHANGHAI, Jan 11- China's harshest winter in nearly three decades has hit iron ore output and driven up prices just as demand from steel mills revives in a resurgent economy.

WASHINGTON, Jan 4- The pace of hiring by U.S. employers eased slightly in December, pointing to a lackluster pace of economic growth that was unable to make further inroads in the country's still high unemployment rate. Payrolls outside the farming sector grew 155,000 last month, the Labor Department said on Friday.

NEW YORK, Jan 7- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman cannot stop a $115 million settlement between American International Group Inc shareholders and the insurer's former chief executive and others, a U.S. judge ruled on Monday.

*Group seeks to slow spending on Medicare, Social Security. Donohue, in the chamber's 2013 "state of American business" address, said the upcoming budget fights in Congress should be addressed mainly by "controlling deficit spending through common sense entitlement reform."

*Heathcare costs may provide Medicare debate common ground. WASHINGTON, Jan 6- President Barack Obama could seek common ground with Republicans in the looming battle over Medicare spending by broadening the debate over entitlement reform to encompass the spiraling healthcare costs that confront a wide range of Americans.

*Buffett's SunPower deal to have limited spillover effect. LOS ANGELES/ FRANKFURT, Jan 8- Solar stocks kicked off 2013 with a sharp rally, prompted in part by last week's news that a company controlled by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc would pay up to $2.5 billion for two SunPower solar projects in California.

Jan 9- Nissan Motor Co will introduce a lower-priced version of its electric car, called the Leaf S, as it rolls out the 2013 models, the company said on Wednesday. Leaf cars sold in North America for the past two years have been made at Nissan's plant in Japan.

DETROIT, Jan 11- This year's Detroit auto show, which opens next week, has a decidedly "green" theme. An aura of luxury pervades many of the show's new models as automakers from Europe, Asia and the Motor City itself strive to bring more affluent consumers in to showrooms.

*Software stolen from Microsoft, Oracle, Siemens, others. WILMINGTON, Del., Jan 8- Xiang Li was proud of his growing business, his lawyer said.

NEW YORK, Jan 11- An improving economic outlook held world shares near a 20- month high on Friday, while the euro rose to its highest against the dollar since April in the wake of encouraging remarks from the head of the European Central Bank.

SAO PAULO, Jan 8- Brazil's tax agency has in recent weeks slapped more than $3 billion in fines on leading companies which it says owe back taxes, in what some experts describe as an aggressive play for cash as the government struggles to meet its budget targets.

China plans to allow eligible securities houses, insurers' asset management units and private equity funds to develop and manage mutual funds in a bid to reinvigorate an industry struggling to produce returns for investors. The CSI300 of the top Shanghai and Shenzhen listings closed up 1.6 percent on the day at 2,523 points.

SEOUL, Jan 13- German designer Peter Schreyer, known as the creative brain behind the Audi TT, will oversee both Kia and Hyundai's designs, the Hyundai automotive group said on Sunday, as the carmaker seeks to outdo German rivals Volkswagen and BMW.

*Delays commercial production at Mountain Pass to mid-2013. Jan 10- Shares of Molycorp Inc tumbled on Thursday after the rare earth producer said 2013 revenue would come in lower than previously expected due to a drop in selling prices and a delay in achieving full production at its California processing plant.

*Documents appear to contradict Wal-Mart statements. WASHINGTON/ CHICAGO, Jan 10- U.S. lawmakers on Thursday released emails that appeared to show Wal-Mart Chief Executive Mike Duke knew as far back as 2005 of allegations that company representatives had bribed Mexican officials.