Yahoo closer to finding new leader

It's believed that Yahoo is closer to naming its new chief executive, with at least two of the three candidates on the shortlist thought to be women.

People close to the recruitment drive told the Financial Times that the announcement is scheduled for January 27.

Bloomberg reported that Carol Bartz, former chief executive of the design software company Autodesk, was one candidate and Yahoo's current president, Sue Decker, another. The identity of the third candidate is unknown.

Arun Sarin, former Vodafone CEO, made it plain he wasn't interested some weeks ago.

In the meantime, Microsoft is waiting in the wings, no doubt hoping Jerry Yang's successor will be much more receptive to its overtures.