LONDON, Friday, 09-May-2008 14:23:58 GMT

WORLD BUSINESS: Top news stories from the BBC Weak dollar narrows US trade gap The US trade deficit shrinks by more than expected as the weak dollar leads to a surge in exports, figures show. Burma cyclone raises rice prices Rice prices rise for a sixth straight day as supplies continue to be stretched after cyclone damage in Burma. Supply worries send oil near $126 Crude oil has hit yet another all-time high in Friday trading, as strong demand and supply fears continue. OTHER TOP NEWS STORIES IN THIS SECTION WORLD BUSINESS: Other news stories Dr. Seuss Book Club... Ad - www.Scholastic.com/Dr.Seuss Google keen on greater Yahoo ties... BBC British Energy bid deadline looms... BBC Air Travelers Need to Pack More Money... New York Times Google execs hope for long-term deal with Yahoo... Business Week AIG plunges to record loss... Financial Times Wachovia splits two top jobs... Financial Times Repossession orders at a record high... The Times Questions of Rent Tactics by Private Equity... New York Times Coming soon: Citigroup's grand plan... Fortune RealNetworks to spin off casual games business... Business Week Thin times for lean car production... Financial Times Carphone and Best Buy hail shake-up... Financial Times Cablevision plans wireless broadband network... Business Week Will Google and Cable Firms Rejuvenate WiMAX?... Red Herring Unilever upbeat after brand price rises... Financial Times A Change in Tone for Ford Shareholders... New York Times Toyota's so-called tumble... CNN Money Stocks fluctuate on retail sales reports... Business Week European Banks Stand Pat on Rates... New York Times Warner Music quarterly loss widens... Financial Times Stocks head for higher open on sales reports... Business Week Toyota Feels Slowdown in U.S.... New York Times Gangmaster is stripped of licence... BBC Wal-Mart tops monthly sales forecast... Fortune Toyota profit tumbles on weak U.S. sales... Fortune Taco Bell's not-so-green grilling machine... CNN Money Sage's profits exceeds forecasts... Financial Times Carphone in 1.1bn US partnership... BBC Carphone and Best Buy in 1.1bn European link... Financial Times Papa John's passes $1B in online pizza sales... Business Week