Some of Friday’s top business news stories:
The Wall Street Journal
DuPont, Dow Chemical agree to merge, by David Benoit, Jacob Bunge and Chelsey Dulaney
Volkswagen blames ‘chain of mistakes’ for emissions scandal, by William Boston, Hendrik Varnholt and Sarah Sloat
Bloomberg
Rate destination unknown as Fed countdown to liftoff approaches, by Craig Torres
Can Elizabeth Holmes save her unicorn?, by Sheelah Kolhatkar and Caroline Chen
The Associated Press
U.S. budget deficit widened in November, by Martin Crutsinger
VW staff began working on cheat in 2005 to crack U.S. market, by David Rising and Kerstin Sopke
Reuters
U.S. jobless claims at five-month high; Import prices fall, by Lucia Mutikani
U.S. fines Fiat Chrysler $70 million over safety reporting lapses, by David Shepardson
TheStreet
Walmart takes on Apple and Google with its own mobile payment system, by Rebecca Borison
Why Yum! Brands is spinning off its China division, by Brian Sozzi
News about business journalism:
Axel Springer considering paywall for Business Insider
WSJ’s energy editor Eaton leaving paper
CNBC’s “Worldwide Exchange” moves to HQ
International Business Times undergoes redesign
Longtime business journalist Jelter dies from cancer
Louisiana paper names new business reporter
The WSJ City approach to mobile news
This date in business journalism history:
2014: The media’s lack of labor reporting
2013: Challenges facing young business journalists
Business journalism birthdays:
Dec. 11: Kara Swisher with Re/code