TOKYO — Volkswagen will buy a 20 percent stake in Suzuki for $2.5 billion, forming a broad alliance that could give a boost to the automakers in fast-growing Asian markets.

Suzuki, which makes small cars such as the Swift and the Splash, said today it also will purchase shares in Volkswagen worth up to half the amount the German maker buys, solidifying the partnership through cross-holding of equity.

The Japanese automaker said the companies plan to complete the deal by mid-February. Business newspaper Nikkei said the combined sales of the two companies would exceed those of Toyota, the world's No. 1 automaker.

The alliance will encompass product development, production and sales and focus on hybrid and electric cars, Suzuki said.

Suzuki, which is smaller than domestic peers such as Toyota and Honda, said it was difficult to stay competitive given quickly developing automotive technology and the need for cost cuts, making a partnership necessary.

The tie-up will allow the two companies to concentrate on each other's strengths while compensating for each other's weaknesses, Suzuki said.

LOS ANGELES — MySpace's online music venture with recording labels completed its purchase of song streaming site imeem on Tuesday, scooping up its 16 million users and mobile phone applications for less than $1 million.In a blog post, MySpace Chief Executive Owen Van Natta said the deal would allow the MySpace Music venture to integrate imeem's offerings over time.One of imeem's functions MySpace lacks is a mobile phone application that streams songs on Apple's iPhones and devices using Google's Android operating system, such as the new Droid phone."In the coming weeks, our team will be working to take the aspects of imeem that users love and migrate them to MySpace Music," he wrote.The music industry continues to experience falling sales of CDs, while digital revenues have not yet made up the difference, in part because consumers tend to buy singles rather than full albums when they do pay for music.Efforts such as MySpace Music and imeem are meant to allow people to listen and share music freely online, with revenue generated from advertising.San Francisco-based imeem launched its free music business in 2007, but advertising revenues were unable to support debt and music royalty payments.The price tag of less than $1 million represents a bargain for MySpace and is an indication of how difficult the free music business remains.

BICKMORE, W.Va. — Consol Energy will lay off nearly 500 workers and idle a mountaintop removal mining operation near Bickmore, W.Va.Pittsburgh-based Consol notified workers Tuesday. The action affects 104 miners at Little Eagle Coal and 378 at Fola Coal. The layoffs will begin Feb. 7 and be completed within 14 days.Consol blames the shutdown on a legal challenge the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition mounted to permits granted under the federal Clean Water Act.U.S. District Judge Robert Chambers recently suspended Fola's permit for the Ike Fork portions of its operations. The order is effective Jan. 23.Consol said it is unfortunate energy producers are being attacked with what it calls "nuisance lawsuits" and court appeals.