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Skilling denies cover-up at Enron

Former Enron chief Jeffrey Skilling has denied encouraging Enron workers to falsify profits at the firm.

In his second day of giving evidence at a trial in Houston he added prosecution witnesses had lied when they said he was part of such a cover-up.

“Did you ever have a single conversation where you sat down with anyone at Enron where you said in so many words, ‘Look we’re not cutting it, we need to break the law?'” Mr Skilling’s defence lawyer asked

Wal-Mart bank application probed

Public hearings into Wal-Mart’s proposed application for a US banking licence have begun in Virginia.

Its plan for an in-house bank known as an industrial loan corporation (ILC) is opposed by unions, consumer groups and many state-level banks.

They believe the move will threaten local businesses although Wal-Mart says it has no plans to open branches or offer banking services to consumers

I’m innocent says ex-Enron chief

Former Enron chief Jeffrey Skilling has said he is “absolutely innocent” of any charges linked to the firm’s collapse.

He made the comments as he began what is viewed by experts as his “make or break” testimony against charges of fraud and conspiracy.

“I’m absolutely innocent,” Mr Skilling said as he began his testimony at the federal court in Houston

Split ruling in latest Vioxx case

A US court has reached a split verdict in the latest case brought against the manufacturer of the painkiller Vioxx.

A New Jersey jury found that Merck & Co was liable for one user’s subsequent heart attack and ordered the firm to pay $4.5m (£2

Norton settles price fixing claim

Healthcare giant Norton has become the third company to agree a multi-million pound settlement with the British National Health Service (NHS) to end a claim for alleged price fixing.

Under the terms of its agreement, US-based Norton does not accept any liability but will pay the British NHS a total of USD$24m (GBP£13.5m) compensation

Key Enron witness ‘lied in court’

A key prosecution witness lied about taking part in Enron-related crimes, an assistant of former Enron chiefs Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling has said.

Joannie Williamson told defence lawyers Mark Koenig admitted he had pleaded guilty to crimes he did not commit.

The defence team has repeatedly claimed fear of prosecution had pushed many Enron executives to plead guilty

Ex-Westar CEO Wittig Gets 18-Year Sentence

A federal judge on Monday sentenced former Westar Energy Inc. CEO David Wittig to 18 years in prison for looting millions from the Kansas utility.

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Refco boss facing Austrian arrest

Authorities in Austria have issued an arrest warrant for Phillip Bennett, former head of US brokerage Refco.

The move came a day after prosecutors began an inquiry into fraud and related charges surrounding Mr Bennett.

A warrant was also put out for the son of the former head of Bank Fuer Arbeit und Wirtschaft (Bawag), Wolfgang Floettl Jnr

Ex-Halliburton staff in Saudi kickback

A former employee of a Halliburton subsidiary has pleaded guilty to taking kickbacks from a Saudi subcontractor that was awarded a $14.4 million U.S

Enron treasurer tells of ‘lies’

Former Enron executives lied to investors about its financial state because they knew the truth would destroy the company, a court has heard.

Testifying at the trial of Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, former Treasurer Ben Glisan Jr said his bosses were full aware of the firm’s growing debt.

He said Mr Lay asked him about managing the firm’s accounts in 2001 to avoid a cut in Enron’s credit rating