The Ford Motor Company has reported the largest full-year loss in its history but says it still will not seek government aid in the form of an emergency loan.  The US automakerÔÇÖs net loss for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $5.9 billion, up from a loss of $2.8 billion in the same quarter a year ago.  Ford's worldwide vehicle sales plunged 31 percent from a year ago, to 1.1 million. Total sales dropped 36 percent, to $29.2 billion. For the year, the loss amounted to a record $14.6 billion. Its previous record was a $12.6 billion loss in 2006.

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US drugmaker Pfizer is to buy rival Wyeth in a deal worth $68 billion, making it the biggest merger announced on Wall Street since the credit crunch and creating what both companies call "the worldÔÇÖs premier biopharmaceutical company."┬á  The acquisition will also be the largest merger in the pharmaceutical industry since Pfizer purchased Warner-Lambert for $93.4 billion in 2000.

Endless possibilities┬áThe University of Calgary is enjoying the biggest phase of expansion in its 43-year history. Steve Dantzer talks to Gay Sutton about the revolutionary digital library project and why multidisciplinary facilities could stimulate groundbreaking research. In recent years the population of the province of Alberta has been increasing at a tremendous rate, driven by the expanding needs of the regionÔÇÖs huge oil and gas exploration industry.

Internet search engine Google saw revenue rise and profit fall in the final quarter of last year in what have been seen as positive year-end results, while rival Microsoft prepares to cut up to 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months.┬á  Total revenue for Google was $5.7 billion, up 18 percent compared with the same quarter the previous year, and net profit for the period was $382 million, a 68 percent fall from $1.21 billion for the same period in 2007.

Riding high┬áCaravan Logistics is poised for double-digit growth even in the face of a slowing economy. Keith Regan learns how the company is using hard data and a well-trained and carefully selected staff to drive that growth. For many businesses, outsourcing transportation and logistics is a logical way to contain costs and focus resources on core activities.   The decision to contract out those operations can also be a risky one if the logistics partner doesnÔÇÖt share the same values.

Going west┬áFirst West Properties proves that real estate investment can still be profitable in western Canada, despite current economic conditions, reports Brendan A. Smith. When First West Properties changed its name from Aveiro Investment Corporation in February of 2007, president Eric Wesling knew the direction he wanted to take the real estate investment firm. ÔÇ£We changed our name to First West Properties Ltd.

Golden opportunity┬áGolden Band Resources of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has found a successful strategy in focusing solely on gold exploration and production, even during down markets. President & CEO Rodney Orr tells Linda Seid Frembes why it works. Located in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, the Saskatoon area is well known for farming and mining. The region produces half of CanadaÔÇÖs export crops and is the worldÔÇÖs largest exporter of uranium and potash.