Business briefs

NEW YORK. Dell Inc. said Monday it has agreed to buy the information technology services company Perot Systems Corp. for about $3.9 billion as it looks to expand beyond the personal computer business. Round Rock, Texas-based Dell said it will offer $30 per share in cash for Perot, which is based in Plano, Texas. That represents a 68 percent premium over Perot's closing share price Friday, and Perot shares shot up 66 percent in premarket trading Monday.

WASHINGTON. Despite predictions the Great Recession is running out of steam, the House is taking up emergency legislation this week to help the millions of Americans who see no immediate end to their economic miseries. A bill offered by Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., and expected to pass easily would provide 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits for more than 300,000 jobless people who live in states with unemployment rates of at least 8.5 percent and who are scheduled to run out of benefits by the end of September.

LONDON.The dollar climbed against the euro and yen on Monday as the market looked ahead to a meeting of the US Federal Reserve as well as a Group of 20 summit this week. The European single currency fell to 1.4656 dollars from 1.4740 dollars late in New York on Friday. Against the Japanese currency, the dollar rose to 92.06 yen from 91.35 yen on Friday.

GEORGETOWN.President Bharrat Jagdeo confirmed on Friday that Guyana received the promised $15 million from the regional Petroleum Fund. The money is to be used to assist Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO)-Guyana, which is a subsidiary of now Insolvent CL Financial based in Trinidad and Tobago. This money, according to the head of state, will assist in meeting the local liabilities of CLICO , especially with regards to payments of small policy holders.