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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Shares of Barnes & Noble soared 26% in after-hours trading Tuesday after the bookseller put itself on the block.

The board of directors believes Barnes & Noble shares are “significantly undervalued,” and has hired financial advisor Lazard to explore “strategic alternatives” that may include selling the company, Barnes & Noble said in a prepared statement.

Full Story at money.cnn.com

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Thursday’s $100 million settlement between Dell and the Securities and Exchange Commission was a reminder that the government is going after tech’s bad boys — and Intel is likely next on the feds’ list.

According to the SEC’s complaint against Dell, Intel paid the computer maker rebates as part of a deal in which Dell agreed not use microchips manufactured by Intel’s rival AMD. We’re not talking small change: The payments totaled $4.3 billion between 2003 and 2006.

Full Story at msnbc.com

An odd scene has been playing out lately in the offices of mortgage brokers and bankers around the country.

Mortgage rates have sunk to levels not seen in more than a half-century — a seductive 4.58 percent for an average 30-year fixed loan. Yet brokers and lenders report not a flood but a trickle of customers.

So what’s going on?

Call it a tale of the haves and have-nots.

Full Story at walletpop.com

Thanks to inflation, what cost just a buck in 2000 would cost $1.27 today. Happily, the price of some products has not kept up with that inflation; and in some cases, they are even cheaper today than ten years ago. What can you buy today that gets you more bang for your buck? WalletPop uncovered some of these treasures and teamed up with Mint.com to present this infographic on the top items on our list. See below for the raw data from the 20 most unusual items that cost less today:

Full Story at msnbc.com

NEW YORK – Wal-Mart is counting on $1 ketchup bottles and sub-$4 cases of Coke to re-ignite sales in America.

The sharp cuts at U.S. stores, which came ahead of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, have already pushed rivals such as Target into price wars. And the markdowns are expected to keep coming throughout the summer.

They’re one of the boldest moves the world’s largest retailer is making to turn around sluggish business at its U.S. namesake chain and win back shoppers from rivals.

Full Story at money.cnn.com

Gold posted its last record high on another volatile trading day, Dec. 3, 2009, when it settled at $1,218.30 an ounce.

What’s moving the market: Gold rallied 2% when the Dow plunged nearly 1,000 points on Thursday, with the precious metal closing that day at $1,197.30.

 

Full Story atmoney.cnn.com

LONDON (CNNMoney.com) — Kraft reached a $19 billion deal Tuesday to buy Cadbury, finally succeeding in its takeover of the 200-year-old British candy maker after sweetening its offer.

Cadbury’s board said it was unanimously recommending the bid to shareholders.

Full Story at CNNMoney.com

Honda is going “retro” with this hybrid model just introduced at the Detroit Auto Show. It goes on sale in the summer.

Back in the 1980s Honda sold a two seat car called the CR-X. The same trait that made it fun to drive — it was extremely light — also made it extremely fuel efficient. The way the EPA rated fuel economy in those days, it got an eye-popping 57 miles per gallon in highway driving. Using today’s EPA test, it would get about 51 mpg.

Full Story at msnbc.com

DENVER – Wind farms have no measurable effect on nearby property values, according to a government report published Wednesday.

In the latest study, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory spent three years examining nearly 7,500 sales of homes in 10 communities near two dozen wind farms in nine states.

The findings, however, are unlikely to cool the debate over the placement of massive wind turbines which to some represent progress, but to others an intrusion.

Full Story atmoney.cnn.com

NEW YORK (Money) — Question: I’m very worried that we may see another stock market correction. Since the market low of early March, my 401(k)’s value has risen 77%, which seems like an awfully large jump. So last week I moved the majority of my investments into bond and money-market funds, although I did leave 50% of my international holdings intact. Do you think I jumped too soon? –Rick G., Corona, Calif.

Answer: I don’t think the question is whether you jumped too soon, but whether you should be jumping at all.

Full Story atmoney.cnn.com

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — After balking at government imposed pay restrictions, American International Group’s chief executive Robert Benmosche has officially agreed to a $10.5 million non-compete contract, the company announced Tuesday.

Benmosche, who was named CEO in August, had expressed frustration with the constraints placed on AIG by the government after the global insurance company was bailed out last year.

He reportedly threatened to quit his post in board meetings earlier this month, before issuing a statement saying he is “totally committed” to staying on as CEO.

Full Story atBrainstorm Tech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com

Broadpoint AmTech’s Brian Marshall, who has replaced Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster as the most bullish of the mainstream Apple analysts, made several assertions of fact in an Bloomberg TV interview Friday that — if true — struck me as newsworthy. Chief among them:

* The contract that gives AT&T (T) exclusive access in the U.S. to Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone expires in June 2010.
* Apple is now getting a $450 subsidy from AT&T for each iPhone it sells; after June, that subsidy will be reduced to $300 for all carriers, domestic and international.
* The 4% of AT&T subscribers who use the iPhone consume roughly 40% of the network’s bandwidth.