Business notebook

Final approach: Boeing Co. is nearing a final settlement with federal prosecutors to resolve investigations into its acquisition of proprietary documents from Lockheed Martin Corp. in the 1990s and the recruitment of a senior Air Force contracting official in 2002, The Wall Street Journal said.

Upping the ante: Aztar Corp. called a $1.7 billion buyout offer from Ameristar Casinos Inc. superior to a bid from Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., and gave Pinnacle until Friday to respond.

EU destinations: Google Inc. added maps and satellite photos of European countries including France, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and Belgium to its website to generate more advertising revenue from local businesses. The site also provides driving directions between European cities.

New tracks: Rocker Neil Young won a bankruptcy court ruling to form a joint venture with Lionel LLC, the model train maker operating under protection from creditors. The venture, known as Liontech Trains LLC, will develop the latest version of Lionel's Trainmaster control system. Lionel is partnering with Young's Creative Trains Co., and was to contribute $1.5 million. Young owns about one-fifth of Lionel.

Ring tones: Skype, eBay Inc.'s Internet phone unit, revealed a deal with music publishers to provide audio clips from artists such as Madonna as ringtones.

Sued: The Securities and Exchange Commission sued hedge fund manager Nelson Obus for insider trading, claiming his Wynnefield Capital funds made $1.34 million from a tip about the merger of Allied Capital Corp. and SunSource Inc.

Possible sale: JPMorgan Chase's private-equity group may sell Brand Services, the largest US provider of industrial scaffolding, for as much as $1 billion, said people familiar with the matter.

Plane talk: Brazilian unions say European investors are willing to buy bankrupt carrier Varig and two units for as much as $1.9 billion.

(Globe wire services)