Mergers and acquisitions

Exxon Mobil is buying American firm XTO Energy in an all-stock deal worth $31 billion, with XTO's position on natural gas being the pull. Bill Radke explores the deal with trader Phil Flynn of PFG BEST in Chicago.

Apple is buying music content provider Lala. CNET.com's Erica Ogg talks with Kai Ryssdal about some of the possible reasons why Apple is buying the company.

Much has been written and said about Comcast's plan to buy a controlling chunk of NBC Universal from General Electric and what it will mean for NBC. But what about the impact on GE? Jeremy Hobson has that story.

Comcast will pay just under $14 billion for a majority share of NBC Universal. New York bureau chief Amy Scott talks about the deal with Steve Chiotakis.

A lot of charities have had to get together to survive. Kai Ryssdal has the story of two AIDS support groups that have joined forces.

Packaged food giant Pinnacle Brands is getting ready to buy Birds Eye Foods, the biggest frozen vegetable producer in the U.S., for more than $1.3 billion. Steve Chiotakis gets more details from Alisa Roth.

Hershey and Italian sweet producer Ferrero are in talks with banks to beat Kraft to a deal for British chocolate maker Cadbury. Christopher Werth explores why this partnership may make a lot more sense.

Financial Times columnist Kevin Allison talks with Steve Chiotakis about the European Commission's objection to Oracle's proposed deal to buy Sun Microsystems.

Kraft's bid for candy-maker Cadbury is below the price it initially offered in September. Why? European correspondent Stephen Beard talks the details with Bill Radke.

There are reports that Comcast and GE have agreed to value NBC at around $30 billion, which may bring the companies one step closer to a deal. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports public-interest groups are worried.