Young Silicon Valley social network Pinterest buys Punchfork, a site that made its mark offering cooks the ability to easily share and discover popular recipes.

Former U.S. diplomat Bill Richardson said Friday he and Eric Schmidt will make the North Korea trip partly aimed at securing the release of an American detainee there.<br />

Former U.S. diplomat Bill Richardson said Friday he and Eric Schmidt will make the North Korea trip partly aimed at securing the release of an American detainee there.

With millions of baby boomers reaching retirement age, fears are mounting of the economic impact if they follow the pattern of previous generations by curbing spending and draining Social Security and Medicare benefits. But the 78 million boomers -- born from 1946 to 1964 -- have always broken the mold in terms of setting trends, and some investors and business and community leaders see their retirement as no different.

Parents and students say online classrooms eliminate social pressures and place emphasis on learning, but some educators question whether kids benefit from 'virtual schools.'

Here's what the FTC announced Thursday: -- Google's (GOOG) efforts to highlight its own search-related products may hurt some rival online services, but the FTC said this doesn't amount to unfair competition because the changes serve consumers.

FICO, the company that invented the credit score, is moving its headquarters from Minneapolis to San Jose to be closer to Silicon Valley’s engineering talent pool.<br />

North Korea watchers were scratching their heads Thursday as word spread that Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt was planning to visit that country, even as the U.S. State Department expressed its displeasure and Google indicated Schmidt was not traveling there on company business.

Today: The FTC comes to an agreement with Google on some charges, but says its core search business does not break U.S. antitrust laws. Also: SunPower zooms higher after selling solar projects, helping the entire sector, as markets trend down.

While Google users should not see dramatic changes in their searches, clear winners -- and losers -- emerged from Thursday's announcement of a settlement between Google and the Federal Trade Commission over some of Google's practices.

Google will no longer "scrape" reviews from competitors to use as its own and also will make it easier for businesses to advertise with competing search engines, the FTC said.

Global clean technology venture investment was $6.46 billion in 2012, down 33 percent from the $9.61 billion invested in 2011

While Google (GOOG) users should not see dramatic changes in their searches, clear winners -- and losers -- emerged from Thursday's announcement of a settlement between Google and the Federal Trade Commission over some of Google's practices.

The U.S. State Department said on Thursday the time was not right for Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and former diplomat Bill Richardson to travel to North Korea.

The first acquisition for young Silicon Valley social network Pinterest is a site that made its mark offering cooks the ability to easily share and discover popular recipes.

Google will no longer 'scrape' reviews from competitors to use as its own and also will make it easier for businesses to advertise with competing search engines, the FTC said.

The Federal Trade Commission is expected to announce the results of its long antitrust investigation into search giant Google at 10 a.m. Pacific time Thursday.

The Federal Trade Commission is expected to announce the results of its long antitrust investigation into search giant Google at 10 a.m. Pacific time Thursday.

San Francisco-based Gap expanded into the thriving luxury market with its purchase of women's apparel retailer Intermix Holdco for $130 million.

Forget about losing weight or saving money. Go on a digital diet. By using software to limit our time online and drawing a picture when the urge to Instagram hits, experts say we can slim down our tech habit for better health and relationships in the new year.

Safeway announced Wednesday that CEO Steve Burd, who led the nation's second-largest supermarket chain for two decades, will retire in May.

Congress did not extend a 2 percent payroll tax cut

We may not realize it, but most of us have merged with out digital devices. As a result, technology is making us lonely, depressed, even addicted, according to research.

It may seem presumptuous for me to tell companies what they should do for 2013 but it's only fair, because they'll undoubtedly reciprocate by trying to tell me and everyone else what we should buy this year.

Nine out of 11 House members of the Bay Area's Congressional delegation -- all Democrats -- voted in favor of the American Taxpayer Relief Act that kept the U.

As I'm sure you noticed, no one 'owns' the Internet. We all have a stake in it and it's time for all of us to take some personal responsibility when it comes to how we manage what we do on the Web.

Congress did not extend a 2 percent payroll tax cut

The deal means the production tax credit for wind energy is extended until the end of 2013.

Safeway announced Wednesday that chief executive Steve Burd, who led the nation's second-largest supermarket chain for two decades, will retire in May.

Today: After months of waiting, investors boost stocks in response to 'fiscal cliff' deal that could be especially beneficial to tech stocks, with Apple, Facebook, HP and SunPower showing big gains. Also: Zipcar sold to Avis.