Some of the largest companies in the US, including General Electric, Wal-Mart and PepsiCo, will today launch a drive to improve ethical standards in business in an attempt to stem the decline in corporate America's public standing. The move by 17 companies, with nearly $1,000bn in sales, to commit to key principles of good business conduct comes as the financial crisis and recession are fuelling a political and public backlash against the corporate world.. Read the entire article at FT.com.