Business briefs

Intel settles fair-trade complaint

Intel Corp., the world's largest computer chip maker, cannot use threats or bundled prices to block customers from buying competitors' products under a settlement of antitrust charges, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said in a deal announced Wednesday. The settlement covers graphics and central processors, the FTC said. The agency sued in December, accusing Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel of forcing computer makers into exclusive deals and blocking rivals from making their chips work with Intel's. The company accounts for more than 80 percent of global computer-chip sales.

Indonesia mulls BlackBerry ban

Indonesia said Wednesday that it is considering following the lead of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in banning BlackBerry services, adding to pressure on device maker Research in Motion Ltd. to give governments greater access to data. The Ministry of Communication and Information wants RIM to set up a server locally so encrypted information sent by the phones will not have to be routed through the Canadian company's overseas computers. In 2008, Indonesia blocked service until RIM agreed to set up sales service centers for users inside the country.

Treasury scales back borrowing

The Treasury Department said Wednesday that it has scaled back its annual borrowing capacity by $232 billion since April and plans further gradual cuts in coming months. Treasury officials said that the reductions can be achieved because the improving economy is boosting tax receipts and many of the emergency programs enacted to deal with the deep recession and financial crisis are being phased out.

Mexican airline in bankruptcy

Debt-ridden Mexicana de Aviación, Mexico's largest airline, announced Tuesday that it filed for bankruptcy protection in Mexico and the United States after pilots and flight attendants rejected a deal to cut pay and staffing. Mexicana said it filed in a Mexico City court "to restructure its cost and ensure the viability of the company." Mexico's insolvency law will allow Mexicana to keep operating while it tries to solve its financial problems, the company said. The airline has proposed pay cuts of 41 percent for pilots and 39 percent for flight attendants, along with a 40 percent reduction in employees.

Geithner: End tax cuts for rich

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Wednesday that extending the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy would be a $700-billion mistake. In a speech at the Center for American Progress, Geithner said cuts for families making more than $250,000 annually should be allowed to expire on schedule at the end of the year. But the administration believes tax cuts for the 95 percent of taxpayers making less than $250,000 should be extended, he said.

- From wire reports