SAN FRANCISCO — Apple Inc. launched a version of its Safari Web browser for Windows-based PCs on Monday, pitting it against Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer and Mozilla's Firefox.

The free program is the latest move by Apple to expand its reach beyond its Macintosh computer and, at the same time, attract converts to its products. It's previously made its iPod media player and iTunes Store compatible with Windows.

Safari, which was released a few years ago for Apple's Macintosh computers, has captured about 5 percent of the world's browser market share with more than 18 million users, Jobs said.

Internet Explorer is the predominant browser with a 78 percent share, while Firefox has rapidly climbed to gain about 15 percent of the market, he said. Like the other Web browsers, Safari is available at no charge.

JUSTICE APPROVES CME, CBOT MERGER

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Monday concluded Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc.'s proposed acquisition of CBOT Holdings Inc. would not substantially reduce competition in futures markets.

The agency's approval gives CME a boost in its bidding war against InterContinental Exchange Holdings Inc., which is also seeking to buy CBOT Holdings, the parent company of the Chicago Board of Trade.

The Justice Department said CME and CBOT account for most of the financial futures contracts traded in the United States, particularly interest rate futures. However, Justice said their specific products differ and do not directly compete with each other.

BARCLAYS RISES ON HEDGE FUND REPORTS

LONDON — Shares in Barclays PLC rose Monday following reports that a U.S. hedge fund had bought a stake in the bank and was opposing Barclays' bid to take over ABN Amro Holding NV.

The Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times reported that New York-based hedge fund firm Atticus Capital LP acquired shares and also met with the bank to discuss whether it should drop its friendly 62.6 billion euro ($83.7 billion) all-share bid for ABN Amro.

The Dutch bank is also the target of a hostile bid from a three-bank consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland PLC worth about 69.9 billion euros ($93.5 billion), mostly in cash.

Barclays declined to say whether any meetings had been held, but confirmed that Atticus had acquired a stake.

CHINA'S TRADE SURPLUS NEAR RECORD HIGH

BEIJING — China's politically sensitive trade surplus soared in May to the third-highest monthly level on record, according to government figures released Monday, amid growing pressure from U.S. lawmakers for sanctions against Beijing.

The surplus hit $22.5 billion (16.9 billion euros), up 73 percent from last May, the Chinese customs agency said on its Web site. Exports jumped 28.7 percent to $94 billion (70 billion euros), while imports rose 19.1 percent to $71.6 billion (53.6 billion euros).

China has promised to narrow its yawning trade gap under pressure from Washington and other governments, but economists say multibillion-dollar surpluses are likely to continue.

JEAN-PAUL GUT CONFIRMS RESIGNATION

PARIS — EADS Deputy Chief Executive Jean-Paul Gut, tasked with overseeing the plans and strategies of Airbus' parent, is quitting following "a divergence in views," the company said Monday.

Gut, the chief operating officer for marketing, strategy and global development, will step down on Oct. 1 with 2.8 million euros ($3.74 million) in pay, representing two years of salary. EADS and Gut said the payoff complies with the terms of his employment contract — a month of pay for each year with the company.

The company was criticized widely after co-chief executive Noel Forgeard was ousted with an 8.5 million euro ($11.35 million) severance package.

European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. NV, the parent of Airbus, has been wracked by financial problems caused by delays to the A380 superjumbo and by strife over planned job cuts.

MISSISSIPPI AG SUES STATE FARM

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood sued State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. on Monday, claiming the company failed to honor an agreement for a mass settlement of claims over Hurricane Katrina damage.

In January, Hood agreed to drop State Farm from a lawsuit his office filed against several insurance companies for refusing to cover damage to homes from Katrina's storm surge.

Hood did that after State Farm settled with lawyers for homeowners on a $50 million payout to about 35,000 southern Mississippi policyholders who hadn't sued the company but could have their claims reopened.

But the pact fell apart after a federal judge refused to endorse it. Hood has said he didn't negotiate the terms of that settlement and shared the judge's concerns about the deal.

OIL, GASOLINE FUTURES BOUNCE BACK

Oil and gasoline futures rebounded Monday as depressed prices following the previous session's big declines drew traders back into the market.

Prices received some support from Middle Eastern members of OPEC. Iran's petroleum minister said there's no reason for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to boost production and Saudi Arabia told customers in Asia and Europe that July shipments would be kept below contracted levels.

Analysts also attributed some of the gains to short covering, where traders who previously bet the market would fall bought futures to cover their positions.

At the pump, prices continued their decline. The average national retail price of a gallon of gas fell to $3.081, down a cent overnight and off nearly 15 cents from its late May peak.

QWEST CEO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

DENVER — Richard Notebaert, who pulled a troubled Qwest Communications Inc. from the brink of bankruptcy amid a multibillion-dollar accounting scandal, announced plans Monday to retire as chairman and chief executive officer. Qwest shares fell 8 percent.

Notebaert, 59, said he will leave the Denver-based telecommunications company after the board of directors selects a replacement, although no timetable has been established. He is the third top-ranking executive to announce plans to leave Qwest this year.

Notebaert was tapped to head Qwest Communications International Inc., the main telephone service provider in 14 mostly Western states, after ex-CEO Joe Nacchio resigned in June 2002 amid the scandal that forced the company to restate at least $2.2 billion in revenue.

COURT RULES AGAINST PHILIP MORRIS

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Monday that Philip Morris Cos. Inc. cannot move a lawsuit by cigarette smokers into federal court.

The unanimous decision came in a case that consumers filed against the cigarette company in state court in Arkansas.

Philip Morris, a part of Altria Group Inc., moved the case to federal court in Little Rock, Ark., saying it could do so because the company was pervasively regulated by the Federal Trade Commission.