- AP
Consumers apparently shook off their worries about higher gas prices during May, shopping with enthusiasm at stores and malls and giving many retailers surprisingly solid results. A big exception was Wal-Mart Stores Inc., whose low-income consumers are feeling the biggest financial squeeze from $3-a-gallon gas. Productivity Rebounds; Jobless Claims Rise - AP
The productivity of American workers rebounded at a rapid clip at the start of this year and wages posted a solid gain as well, the government reported Thursday. Study: Minorities Likely to Pay High Rates - AP
Black and Hispanic home buyers are more likely to pay high mortgage rates than white borrowers with similar credit ratings and income levels, an advocacy group found. Heinz Profit Falls, Plans 2,700 Job Cuts - AP
Food producer H.J. Heinz Co. on Thursday said fiscal fourth-quarter profit dropped 19 percent, and said it plans to cut 2,700 jobs, or 8 percent of its work force, and exit 15 plants this year as part of a plan to cut costs and resume earnings growth. Oil Prices Fall Ahead of OPEC Meeting - AP
Oil prices slipped Thursday as OPEC appeared set to maintain current crude output and a day after the United States signaled a willingness to hold direct talks with Iran on its nuclear program. GM to Expand Mich. Transmission Plant - AP
General Motors Corp. will spend $332 million to expand its Warren transmission plant, the automaker said Thursday. The investment will allow the factory to produce front-wheel-drive automatic transmissions for the 2007 Pontiac G6, the new 2007 Saturn Aura and three new crossover vehicles: the Saturn Outlook, GMC Arcadia and Buick Enclave. Judge OKs Delta Pilots' Concessions Deal - AP
A hard fought pay cut deal behind them, Delta Air Lines Inc. and its pilots will look to heal wounds that came with the battle that brought the nation's third-largest carrier to the brink of a devastating strike. Split Verdict in Enron Broadband Retrial - AP
Of two former Enron Corp. broadband executives to be retried on fraud and conspiracy charges in the wake of a hung jury last year, one faces prison and the other is free. Sun Microsystems to Cut Up to 5,000 Jobs - AP
Sun Microsystems Inc. CEO Jonathan Schwartz articulated his company's first major strategy shift since taking the reins five weeks ago, announcing a plan to shave up to $590 million in annual costs with as many as 5,000 job cuts. | 
