Microsoft has put aside $1.5 billion to keep on Yahoo employees should their proposed takeover succeed, reports Reuters.

Yahoo currently employs 13,800 staff after laying off around 1,000 of its workforce in February. (more…)

Google believes a partnership with search rival Yahoo would not pose problems with regulators, according to a source close to the company.

Although any move by Google to purchase Yahoo outright would likely face opposition over competition concerns, a non-exclusive business arrangement remains a distinct possibility. (more…)

Google has been named as the planet’s most powerful brand for the second year running in a recent study.

According to research firm Millward Brown’s “Brandz” report, which ranks the value of the world’s largest brands, Google’s branding is now worth an estimated $86 billion. (more…)

Google has shrugged off the faltering global economy to post higher than expected earnings.

On Thursday the company announced first quarter income has risen over $300 million to $1.31 billion, causing shares to surge 18 percent. (more…)

Yahoo has received a much needed boost with news that its share of the search advertising market rose in the first quarter.

According to figures from SearchIgnite, Yahoo’s share of search spending by sampled advertisers climbed to 23 percent, up from 18 percent previously. (more…)

As the Yahoo takeover saga rumbles on, there are fresh reports of alternatives to a Microsoft takeover being discussed.

Anonymous sources close to the situation say that in addition to the $42 billion Microsoft offer, a Microsoft-News Corp. and a News Corp. only deal are on the negotiating table. (more…)

Online advertising expenditure in the UK hit £2.8 billion in 2007, according to trade body the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB).

Total year on year spend was up 38% from 2006 and the IAB predict that online ad revenues will go on to exceed those of television in 2009. (more…)

Microsoft has given Yahoo’s board of directors a time limit of three weeks to agree to its proposed $44.6 billion takeover.

If Yahoo management continue to hold out for a higher offer, Microsoft have threatened to take the deal directly to Yahoo shareholders. (more…)

Yahoo’s CEO says that the company has had to strike a difficult balance when operating in foreign markets.

Speaking at Georgetown University, Jerry Yang, himself a Taiwanese immigrant, said legal “grey areas” complicated the practice of doing business overseas. (more…)

A leading Google executive has decided to depart the search provider for pastures new.

It has been announced that Douglas Merrill, Google’s Chief Information Officer, is leaving later this month to take up a new position at British music firm EMI. (more…)