Chrysler exec tweets a rebuff about Donald Trump comment on Jeep jobs, as UAW leads ethics complaint vs Romney over auto rescue remarks.

Apple's iPad Mini launches globally to shorter than expected lines; secures Lion trademark.

Barclays facing a $470 million fine for alleged energy market manipulation, and a corruption probe.

Australian court rejects free range trademark move.

BlackBerry 10 is on schedule for early next year, RIM says.

Bloomberg Businessweek pins Sandy on global warming in cover story.Continue reading...

American Airlines faces record safety penalty, tests hotel baggage delivery service.

Amazon sees pay-off from locker service, looks to acquire more patents.

Apple shelves "Genius" TV campaign, puts former designer on the stand against Samsung and plans to beef up security.

AT&T sees 20,000 employees go on strike.

Bank of America brings discounts to bank statements.

Chiquita seeks new CEO as Undercover Boss star exits.

Chrysler’s Dodge pulls out of NASCAR.Continue reading...

Kiip (pronounced "keep") has opened a new mobile doorway for advertisers to reward gamers. The premise underlying the seven month-old start-up: beat a level or get a high score and Kiip sends you free food and goods from brand partners for games you’re already playing. It's like Vegas for gaming high-rollers! Without the Vegas or high-roller part.Continue reading...

Aon plans to spend much of its big cash hoard to buy back shares.

Audi takes aim at toppling BMW.

Bank of America says home-loan business is recovering.

Barbie hits $3 billion in global annual sales as brand shutters China flagship.

Boeing gets a boost from China orders.

Cap’n Crunch gains guerrilla-fueled “success” in social media.

CBS, Warner Bros. and Charlie Sheen are at war, as Sheen apparently plans to sue post-firing.Continue reading...

AGL to buy Nicor in huge natural-gas deal.

AT&T deals with failing grade by Consumer Reports.

Bank of America tops mobile banking apps in new study.

BP weighs sale of North Sea assets to help pay for Gulf clean-up.

Bright Food of China nears purchase of GNC.

DecorMyEyes Google-abuser arrested as Google boosts "nicer" advertisers.Continue reading...

* Apple is close to a deal with Disney to rent ABC TV shows via iTunes, the Wall Street Journal reports. It's also looking to trademark several of its mobile app icons.

* Burger King reported slumping sales.

* AARP research finds brand-name drug prices increased 8% last year.

* Barnes & Noble reported a tough quarter and increased legal costs due to proxy fight with investor.

* Best Buy named Aura Oslapas its new chief design officer.Continue reading...

Gatorade took a huge step in the revitalization of its brand today by revealing a new structure for its mainstream product line, the G Series: three functionally complementary types of drinks to meet the various relevant need states of consumers, and an alliance with GNC for the launch of “G-Series Pro” products with a similar structure for serious athletes.

Gatorade’s chief marketing officer, Sarah Robb O’Hagan, shared the rationale behind the new brand architecture with financial analysts in New York this morning and on a webcast of the meeting.

Gatorade “is a formidable franchise,” said the former Nike marketing executive, who joined the PepsiCo-owned brand nearly two years ago. “But we haven’t had the right performance the last few years.” In 2009, she said, “We started a multi-year journey to turn this brand around.”Continue reading...

General Nutrition Centers (GNC) has always sold mainstream nutrition products. But the retail chain is better known for its protein-packing, body-shaping supplements, a mostly masculine domain.

Now, a new GNC ad campaign promises something for the ladies: a product line called WELLbeING, whose names all begin with the verb “be”: be-Refreshed, be-Wholesome, be-Hot. They may sound like daily-affirmation reminders rather than actual supplements, yet GNC is banking on them to tap a market currently serviced by Bath & Body Works and the Body Shop – part of the category I call “mall stores my wife shops at while I kill time at Game Stop.”Continue reading...