Business news 2011

Here are some of the major business news stories from 2011:

Global Economy

• The global economy continued to recover from the 2008 financial crisis, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting a 4.2% growth rate for 2011.
• The European sovereign debt crisis remained a major concern, with Greece, Ireland, and Portugal requiring bailouts and Italy and Spain struggling to stay afloat.

Financial Markets

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed at 12,217.56 on December 30, 2011, up 5.5% from the previous year.
• The S&P 500 index closed at 1,257.64 on December 30, 2011, up 2.1% from the previous year.
• The NASDAQ composite index closed at 2,648.28 on December 30, 2011, up 11.4% from the previous year.

Corporate News

• Apple (AAPL) became the most valuable company in the world, surpassing ExxonMobil (XOM) in August 2011.
• Facebook (FB) went public in May 2011, raising $16 billion in one of the largest initial public offerings (IPOs) in history.
• Google (GOOG) acquired Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in August 2011.
• Bank of America (BAC) agreed to pay $8.5 billion to settle claims related to its role in the financial crisis.

Industry Trends

• The rise of mobile devices and e-commerce continued to transform the retail industry, with online sales growing by 15% in 2011.
• The solar industry experienced a surge in growth, with solar panel prices falling by 50% in 2011.
• The shale gas revolution continued to transform the energy industry, with the United States becoming the world's largest producer of natural gas.

Notable Business Leaders

• Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple, passed away on October 5, 2011, at the age of 56.
• Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, stepped down as CEO in August 2011, but remained chairman of the board.
• Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, became the first female CEO of a major global automaker in January 2011.

Major Business Events

• The Arab Spring protests and uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa had a significant impact on global business, particularly in the energy and financial sectors.
• The Japanese earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 caused widespread damage and disruption to the country's economy and supply chains.
• The Occupy Wall Street protests began in September 2011, with demonstrations and protests spreading to cities around the world.

These are just a few of the many business news stories from 2011. It was a year marked by significant economic and financial developments, as well as major changes in the business landscape.