A little more than a year after developing and moving into the 40,000-square-foot Eisenhower Park off the Veterans Expressway, Hills & Associates will have to change the sign outside. The engineering company, founded in 2003, merged Wednesday with the Tampa office of the national land development consulting firm Atwell-Hicks, creating a new company under the Atwell-Hicks banner.

Stetson University College of Law will more than double the number of credit hours offered at its Tampa Law Center, creating better course opportunities for part-time students.

The U.S. economy was much stronger in the spring than first thought, with GDP rising 3.3% compared to the initial projection of 1.9% growth, because of better exports and less inventory liquidation by businesses.

Stock futures were little changed as investors kept an eye on rising oil prices. Crude crossed $119 a barrel on fears that Gustav could disrupt oil production.

Tiffany doubled its quarterly net income as the upscale jeweler continued to see strong sales growth in the Asian-Pacific and Europe regions.

In Hillsborough County’s second largest deal of the year, a residential real estate investment trust paid $43.7 million for an upscale apartment complex nearing completion in West End Tampa. (UDR)

Sears reported a 62% drop in fiscal second-quarter net income on weakness at the retailer's U.S. stores.

Samsung Electronics said profit in the third and fourth quarters is shaping up worse than expected and its full-year profit will likely be below last year's, as weaker global economic conditions damp demand for consumer-electronics products.

China voiced unease about Russia's recognition of two Georgian separatist regions, weakening a pillar of Putin's policy of forging close ties with Beijing as a counterbalance to Washington.

Diageo said full-year net income rose 2.1%, but cut its profit guidance amid a more challenging global environment and rising cost pressures.