U.S. chocolate maker Hershey is considering launching a bid of at least $17 billion for British chocolatier Cadbury as it seeks to trump a hostile offer by Kraft Foods Inc, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Stocks finished lower Friday, despite a last-ditch attempt to rally, as technology shares took yet another hit — this time it was weak earnings from PC maker Dell. Still , for the week, the Dow gained about 50 points.

Stocks declined Friday as technology shares took yet another hit — this time it was weak earnings from PC maker Dell. Merck was among the few gainers today as investors moved into classically safe bets like health care, consumer staples and utilities.

Stocks opened lower Friday as technology shares took yet another hit — this time it was weak earnings from PC maker Dell.

European Union regulators have extended their review of plans by U.S. software firm Oracle to buy Sun Microsystems for $7 billion, giving Oracle more time to tackle concerns the deal may be anti-competitive.

Stock index futures were slightly lower ahead of trading Friday, with technology shares pressured by a weak earnings report from PC maker Dell.

Supermarket mogul Ron Burkle and his investment arm, Yucaipa, have purchased a large amount of U.S. luxury retail chain Barneys New York's debt, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

General Electric and Vivendi are at least $1 billion apart in their valuation of the French group's stake in NBC Universal, the Financial Times said on Thursday.

U.S. carmaker General Motors will present a new viability plan for Opel in mid-December as it aims to reduce capacity across Europe by about 20 percent, a top executive said on Thursday.

Reckitt Benckiser and Colgate Palmolive both say there is no truth to the speculation of their linking up, CNBC has learned.

Vivendi is close to selling its stake in U.S. media group NBC Universal (NBCU) but its board has not yet made a decision as the situation is "complex," its chief financial officer said on Thursday.

Blackstone Group's Pinnacle Brands is expected to buy U.S. frozen vegetable company Birds Eye Foods for more than $1.3 billion, a source familiar with the matter said Thursday.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is beefing up in Europe by buying the half of Cazenove it does not already own in a deal valuing the 190-year old UK stockbroker at 2 billion pounds ($3.4 billion).

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs rejected a $2.15 billion bid for the island's biggest life insurer Nan Shan Life Insurance by China Strategic Holdings and Primus Financial, the South China Morning Post reported on Thursday, citing four people with direct knowledge of the decision.

Stocks snapped a three-day winning streak on Wednesday after a report showed housing starts fell sharply in October. Techs took a hit after weak outlooks from two software firms.