GTE in Oversees Expansion Talks

NEW YORK, Jan 13 (Reuter) - GTE Corp is in talks to establish joint ventures in China and Spain and intends to double its international business to $5 billion annually, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

Tobacco Companies Seek To Stop Suit

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Reuter) - The nation's largest tobacco companies Monday asked the Florida Supreme Court to prevent the state from going forward with a lawsuit that could cost the industry up to $4.5 billion for smoking related illnesses.

S&P Affirms General Motors Senior Debt

NEW YORK, Jan 23 (Reuter) - Standard and Poor's Corp said it affirmed the senior debt rating of General Motors Corp at BBB-plus.

Talking Point/IBM Corp Reorganization

NEW YORK, Jan 9 (Reuter) - International Business Machines Corp's sweeping reorganization Monday aims to grow its huge but problematic software business and streamline the sales force as IBM heads into the second phase of its restructuring.

S&P Removes Sony, Units from Negative Creditwatch

TOKYO, Dec 13 (Reuter) - Standard & Poor's Corp said it affirmed its ratings of Sony Corp and three Sony units and had removed their ratings from negative CreditWatch.