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How I Made It: Lou NovakThe president of Playmates Toys Inc. abandoned work on a PhD in psychology years ago to pursue a business career. But the son of Polish Holocaust survivors never thought he'd land in the toy world.The gig: President since 2001 of Playmates Toys Inc., whose 55 U.S. employees design and market toys manufactured by the Playmates Toys Ltd. branch in Hong Kong. The company went public in February after splitting from its 42-year-old parent, Playmates Holdings Ltd. of Hong Kong. Famous for producing toys based on the Disney princesses and on "The Land Before Time" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" franchises, the company is working on products to coincide with the summer 2009 release of the latest "Terminator" and "Star Trek" films. Playmates, known for its action figures and dolls, is also trying to expand into youth electronics. "It's competitive," Novak said. "We have to do what Mattel does with one-tenth the resources." Source: L.A. Times - Business | 7 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am How to determine your bank's financial healthA little digging will tell you whether it's a safe place for your cashHow can you tell whether your bank is in hot water? Source: L.A. Times - Business | 7 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am Medical pricing makes the head spinIt began with a dizzy spell. Before long, though, what really had my head spinning was the inscrutable way that healthcare providers and insurers put a dollar value on medical services -- and how that leaves patients unable to determine a fair price for any treatment.Source: L.A. Times - Business | 7 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am Key US lenders to face new curbsUS officials plan to put troubled mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae under strict federal control, media say.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 6 Sep 2008 | 10:21 am Auto Review: Best way to see the autumn foliage? With the top downThe fact that leaves are beginning to turn color, and the sighting of a very sharp New Beetle convertible with the top down, got us to thinking about what vehicles would be fun rides for viewing the show.Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 6 Sep 2008 | 10:00 am Zardari wins Pakistan election amid violenceAsif Ali Zardari, the widower of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, won Pakistan's presidential elections Saturday with a significant majority amid violence that killed at least 13 people and injured dozensSource: FT.com - US homepage | 6 Sep 2008 | 10:00 am DSG sought bid from Media Markt, but rebuffed: report (Reuters)Reuters - Germany's Media Markt, Europe's biggest electrical goods retailer, has rejected a request from DSG International Plc to consider a bid for its closest rival, the Financial Times said on its Web site.Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 9:32 am DSG sought bid from Media Markt, but rebuffed: reportLONDON (Reuters) - Germany's Media Markt, Europe's biggest electrical goods retailer, has rejected a request from DSG International Plc to consider a bid for its closest rival, the Financial Times said on its Web site.Source: Reuters: Business News | 6 Sep 2008 | 9:32 am Credit crunch will last another 18 monthsBritain’s credit crunch will last for at least another 18 months, according to the head of the country’s biggest mortgage provider.Source: Telegraph Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 9:30 am Boeing machinists strike as talks fail (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:31 am Boeing machinists strike as talks failNEW YORK/EVERETT, Washington (Reuters) - Boeing Co's 27,000-strong machinists' union walked off the job on Saturday after the plane maker failed to improve its contract offer after two days of emergency talks.Source: Reuters: Business News | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:30 am Unemployment tops 6% for first time in five yearsAugust's rate jumps to 6.1% from 5.7% in July, the Labor Department reports. Discuss The economy shoved its way to the front of the presidential...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am Fannie, Freddie takeover possiblePaulson discusses a rescue plan with the mortgage giants' chiefs, who may have to step down, sources say. Treasury...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am U.S. unemployment rate hits 6.1%, highest level in five yearsEmployers slashed 84,000 jobs in August, steeper cuts than analysts expected.The economy shoved its way to the front of the presidential campaign once again, as the nation's jobless rate shot to a five-year high -- escalating fears that the country is spiraling into a full recession. Source: L.A. Times - Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am U.S. unemployment rate hits 6.1%, highest level in five yearsEmployers slashed 84,000 jobs in August, steeper cuts than analysts expected. The economy shoved its way to the...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am Electronic Arts spawns Spore -- which may be a benevolent godThe unconventional video game could usher in a new golden age for the once undisputed industry giant, which has slipped in recent years. ...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am Boeing's talks with machinists union fail; strike scheduled to startThe walkout affects factories in Kansas, Washington and Oregon. It doesn't involve the aerospace giant's Southern California operations. ...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am Wanna buy some knockoff jeans?So does Chris Johnson, a denim detective who sniffs out fakes so that major designers can sue the people who sell and profit from them.In the midday heat of downtown Los Angeles, Chris Johnson squints at the jeans-clad plastic buttocks of mannequins lined up in Fashion District storefronts. Source: L.A. Times - Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am Stocks open lower after disappointing job dataNEW YORK AP) -- Selling swept across Wall Street for a second straight session today on news that the economy shed jobs for the eighth straight month in August and at a faster-than-expected pace.Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am Fannie, Freddie takeover possiblePaulson discusses a rescue plan with the mortgage giants' chiefs, who may have to step down, sources say.Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. called in top executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac late Friday to hammer out details of a rescue plan for the troubled mortgage giants that could go so far as a full government takeover, according to people familiar with the effort. Source: L.A. Times - Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am Microsoft to deploy 'gurus' to stores like Best Buy, Circuit CityThe company cites the Nordstrom experience. Then again, the customer service reps aren't unlike those at Apple Genius Bars . . . ...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am EA spawns Spore -- which may be a benevolent godThe unconventional video game represents a new era for the industry titan that once was undisputed. Spore lets...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am U.S. home foreclosures hit record level, boosted by CaliforniaA sharp drop in prices is cited, along with the resetting of ARM loans in California and Florida. The decline...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am Can Spore spawn a second golden age for EA?It remains to be seen whether the unconventional game, which goes on sale Sunday, will help the world's largest video game company emerge from its restructuring efforts on solid footing. ...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 7:00 am Boeing, machinists negotiations fail; strike is onDespite a 48-hour contract extension, negotiations between Boeing Co. and Machinists union officials have failed and the union declared: "The strike is on!" The Machinists bargain for...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 6:04 am Boeing, machinists talks fail; strike is onDespite a 48-hour contract extension, negotiations between Boeing Co. and Machinists union officials have failed and the union declared: "The strike is on!" The Machinists bargain for...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 5:50 am Talk of financial crisis sparks unease in S. KoreaHeadlines warn of a "September crisis." The currency falls to a four-year low and the stock market tumbles. Rumors swirl that foreign investors will pull out their money. A spasm of...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 5:26 am Start-up Miwok Airways offers a way to beat traffic with short-hop air serviceOn-demand flights from a choice of 40 airstrips in Southern California start in October at prices that depend on number of passengers and other factors.With airlines cutting back on flights and losing money by the billions, it may not seem like the right time to be starting one. But a former dot-com entrepreneur believes some traffic-weary Southern Californians are ready for a new way to get around. Source: L.A. Times - Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 5:21 am U.S. to take control of Fannie and Freddie: reports (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 5:04 am U.S. to take control of Fannie and Freddie: reportsWASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government plans to put government sponsored mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under federal control, the New York Times and Washington Post newspapers reported late Friday, in what could be the largest financial bailout in the nation's history.Source: Reuters: Business News | 6 Sep 2008 | 5:03 am Market Snapshot: U.S. stock indexes likely in for another wild ride in coming weekU.S. stocks are likely facing another wild ride in the week ahead, with the underlying trends decidedly bearish in the wake of Friday's unemployment report, which had the jobless rate spiking higher to 6.1%.Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 6 Sep 2008 | 4:01 am Citi could sell Primerica, Texas business: Ladenburg's Bove (Reuters)Reuters - Citigroup could sell its Primerica financial services unit and its First American banking subsidiary in Texas as the bank continues to restructure its business, Ladenburg Thalmann analyst Richard Bove said in a research note.Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 3:39 am Citi could sell Primerica, Texas business: Ladenburg's BoveNEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup could sell its Primerica financial services unit and its First American banking subsidiary in Texas as the bank continues to restructure its business,...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 3:39 am Citi could sell Primerica, Texas business: Ladenburg's BoveNEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup could sell its Primerica financial services unit and its First American banking subsidiary in Texas as the bank continues to restructure its business, Ladenburg Thalmann analyst Richard Bove said in a research note.Source: Reuters: Business News | 6 Sep 2008 | 3:39 am As unemployment spikes, companies weigh optionsU.S. companies have cut more than 550,000 jobs so far in 2008 as they try to preserve their profits in a slumping economy, but analysts say such downsizing must be done carefully for...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 3:37 am Union set to strike BoeingNearly two days of round-the-clock talks aimed at averting a strike at aircraft maker Boeing broke down Friday evening, setting the stage for what could be one of the nation's most disruptive strikes in more than a decade.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 6 Sep 2008 | 3:31 am U.S. to take control of mortgage giants: reportsWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government plans to put troubled mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under federal control, the New York Times and Washington Post...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 3:19 am Silver State Bank in Nevada is shutNevada regulators have shut down Silver State Bank. It was the 11th failure this year of a federally insured bank. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was appointed receiver of the bank,Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 3:16 am Hawaiian Airlines Reports August Traffic StatisticsHONOLULU, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: HA), today announced its systemwide traffic...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 2:53 am FDIC shutters Silver State Bank of NevadaRead full story for latest details.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 6 Sep 2008 | 2:43 am US Boeing workers set to strikeWorkers at the world's biggest aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, are to go on strike in the US.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 6 Sep 2008 | 2:40 am Zions Bancorporation's Subsidiary, Nevada State Bank Acquires Insured Deposits of Failed Silver State BankSALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zions Bancorporation (Nasdaq: ZION) announced today that its subsidiary, Nevada State Bank has acquired the insured...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 2:26 am Boeing machinists to strike as talks failThe 27,000-strong machinists' union at the plane maker declared it would strike at midnight on Friday, as Boeing failed to improve its contract offer after two days of emergency talksSource: FT.com - US homepage | 6 Sep 2008 | 2:09 am Gov't may soon back Fannie, FreddieFannie Mae and Freddie Mac are expected to be taken over by the government as soon as this weekend in a bold move designed to protect the mortgage market from the risk the companies could...Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 6 Sep 2008 | 2:06 am Jobless rate at 5-year highWASHINGTON (Reuters) - An unexpectedly steep 84,000 U.S. jobs were lost in August and the national unemployment rate hit a five-year high of 6.1 percent, fanning worry ahead of November's presidential vote about rising recession risks.Source: Reuters: Business News | 6 Sep 2008 | 1:37 am Treasury near plan for Fannie and Freddie - reportThe Treasury Department is close to finalizing plans for beleaguered mortgage buyers Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, according to a report published Friday afternoon.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 6 Sep 2008 | 1:30 am New York Times to consolidate paper's sectionsNEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Times Co plans to consolidate some sections in the metropolitan edition of its namesake newspaper to reduce costs, the publisher said on Friday.Source: Reuters: Business News | 6 Sep 2008 | 1:24 am Greenberg could pay fine of up to $100 million: report (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 1:22 am Greenberg could pay fine of up to $100 million: reportNEW YORK (Reuters) - Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, the former CEO of American International Group Inc , could face a fine of up to $100 million to settle three-year-old civil fraud charges brought by New York's attorney general, according to business news channel CNBC on Friday.Source: Reuters: Business News | 6 Sep 2008 | 1:22 am Business Briefs - FridaySanDisk rises on buyout report. SanDisk surged 31% to 17.64 on an unconfirmed report that South Korean chip giant Samsung Electronics is planning...Source: Investor's Business Daily: BUSINESS | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:48 am A Slippery Slope For Big Oil?A handful of missiles launched over the Persian desert July 9 set in motion crude oil's final assault on its loftiest price peak in history.Source: Investor's Business Daily: BUSINESS | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:48 am Trends & Innovations - FridayCell phones on call in classroomsSource: Investor's Business Daily: BUSINESS | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:48 am Stream Of New Products Drives Growth For Medical Device MakerMedical products makers thrive on innovation.Source: Investor's Business Daily: BUSINESS | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:48 am In Brief - FridayGeneral Electric (GE) said it had been notified by SEC that the agency is considering filing a civil complaint against the company following a...Source: Investor's Business Daily: BUSINESS | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:48 am Talk that QBE is lining up UBS for RSA bidBid talk sent RSA Insurance flying to the top of the blue-chip leaderboard, with the Australian insurance group QBE tipped as the potential suitor.Source: Telegraph Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:01 am FTSE 100 suffers worst week in six yearsLondon shares have suffered their worst week in six years following a slew of dismal economic news which apparently leaves Britain in the mouth of a recession.Source: Telegraph Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:01 am CurrenciesCurrenciesSource: Telegraph Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:01 am Russia aids rouble's recovery with floor to assure investorsThe Rouble recovered from a trough after Russia's central bank put a floor under the currency.Source: Telegraph Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:01 am Fresh and Wild closes store as consumers reject organic for cheaper dealsThe clothing departments of John Lewis stores are about to go a little bit rock 'n' roll, writes James HallSource: Telegraph Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:01 am The dos and don'ts of a debt crisisAre rising debts putting your home at risk? The following steps should help you manage your debts more effectively - and keep the roof over your head.Source: Telegraph Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:01 am Negative equity threat stalks housing downturnThe threat of negative equity stalks the worst housing downturn in 15 years, writes Philip AldrickSource: Telegraph Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:01 am BHP Billiton halts Australian ore mining after new fatalityBHP Billiton suspended all its iron ore mining in Australia yesterday, shutting a third of the country's production, after the second mine worker death in the past 10 days, raising broader safety concerns in its mines.Source: Telegraph Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:01 am Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailouts as America heads for recessionThe chances of the United States entering an economic recession heightened after the unemployment rate hit five-year highs and the number of new foreclosures rose to a 29-year high.Source: Telegraph Business | 6 Sep 2008 | 12:01 am Rescue plan near for Fannie and FreddieThe US Treasury has moved closer to a rescue plan for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two struggling government-sponsored mortgage groups whose fate is key to the future of the US housing industry and financial marketsSource: FT.com - US homepage | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:39 pm McCain speech outdraws TV audience for ObamaJohn McCain's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention Thursday night drew more TV viewers than Sen. Barack Obama's address a week earlier.Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:27 pm Boeing workers to strike at midnight -- reportsEleventh-hour labor talks between Boeing Co. and its biggest union have ground to a halt, paving the way for a strike by the union at midnight, according to media reports late Friday.Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:25 pm US rules out new economic packageWhite House says it does not see need for new measures to stimulate economy despite sharp rise in unemployment.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:19 pm US jobless rise fuels fears on economyThe US unemployment rate unexpectedly jumped to a five-year high of 6.1 per cent, according to Labor Department figures, suggesting a bleaker picture of the world's largest economySource: FT.com - US homepage | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:16 pm Why sterling is getting a real poundingIf the exchange rate is the measure of a nation's economic virility, then Britain is the skinny kid getting sand kicked in his face.Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:00 pm Development agencies to fund housing rescue schemeRegional development agencies, whose role is to boost investment, business and infrastructure, are being forced to help to fund the Government's recent housing rescue scheme.Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:00 pm Philips changes the mood with Warm Intimate MassagerPhilips, the venerable Dutch maker of lightbulbs, razors and X-ray machines, has chosen Britain for its most daring product launch in more than 100 years of technological innovation.Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:00 pm Job losses and falling house prices send FTSE spiralling towards 5,000The FTSE 100 finished its worst week in more than six years with a further 2 per cent slump yesterday, after a day of global gloom over job losses and sinking house prices.Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:00 pm HMV brings in Swannell Robert as chairmanHMV, the UK’s largest music retailer, has drafted in Robert Swannell, an investment banker with 31 years’ experience, as non-executive chairman.Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:00 pm Need to know: EasyJet lifts up ... SMG buyback ... B&B resignationEconomicsSource: Latest Business News from Times Online | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:00 pm Craig Silverstein lost in admiration for Google’s unexpected growth after eureka momentOnly one man has been with Google since the beginning, apart from Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the founders.Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:00 pm Union accuses Marks & Spencer of snooping on staff as whistle-blower holds conferenceA bitter war of words erupted between Marks & Spencer and the GMB after it emerged that the worker who blew the whistle on the group’s new redundancy terms will hold a press conference tomorrow.Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:00 pm Go-Ahead sees acceleration in passenger numbersCash-strapped commuters are choosing to travel by bus and train rather than fuel their cars, according to Go-Ahead, the rail and bus operator.Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:00 pm British Airways talks with Brussels Airlines could lead to Branson selling stake to rivalBritish Airways is in takeover talks with Brussels Airlines in a move that could lead to Sir Richard Branson, who owns 30 per cent of the Belgian national carrier, selling out to his fiercest rival.Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:00 pm GM: Fact and fictionSource: L.A. Times - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 10:58 pm Feds put restrictions on Downey until it boosts capitalSource: L.A. Times - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 10:54 pm Dell eyes plan to outsource and sell factoriesDell, the world's second-biggest personal computer maker, is considering a plan to sell its factories, according to people familiar with the matterSource: FT.com - US homepage | 5 Sep 2008 | 10:47 pm After Hours: Fannie, Freddie shares slump on bailout reportShares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac slump in late trading on concerns a possible government bailout of the mortgage giants might wipe out equity holders.Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 5 Sep 2008 | 10:42 pm Critics leave Google's Android phone on holdWhen the first of Google's long-anticipated Android mobile phones hit the stores in a matter of weeks, they will land with a fizzle rather than a bang, according to developers and executives who have followed the roll-out's progressSource: FT.com - US homepage | 5 Sep 2008 | 10:33 pm Stocks to Watch: Stocks in focus for MondayMonday will be a relatively quiet day as far as earnings go, but investors will have plenty to trade on as they mull over several major deals that are expected to take shape soon.Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 5 Sep 2008 | 10:28 pm More Cons Than Pros To 401(k) Loan (Investor's Business Daily)Investor's Business Daily - In the past year, the credit crunch has spread from mortgages to student loans and other types of debt. Home equity lines of credit have been reeled in.Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 10:25 pm Alabama group files suit over Jefferson County debtBIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Reuters) - An Alabama activist group has filed a lawsuit seeking to cancel $6.6 billion in debt and related swaps issued by Jefferson County, claiming the county faces financial disaster because of misdeeds by Wall Street firms, corrupt local politicians and others.Source: Reuters: Business News | 5 Sep 2008 | 10:24 pm Canadian Markets: Stocks eke out tiny materials-led gain in losing weekCanadian stocks eke out a tiny gain, as some materials shares rise in the aftermath of a week marred by sell-offs in energy and resource shares.Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 5 Sep 2008 | 10:23 pm Crude oil price drops below $106Oil prices dip below $106 as traders predict rising US unemployment will see consumers cutting back on petrol use.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 5 Sep 2008 | 10:16 pm Top Ten: MarketWatch's top stories of the week, Sept. 1-5Another political week, one in which the United States was forced to contemplate the opening of a new front in what have come to be known as the culture wars.Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 5 Sep 2008 | 10:04 pm GE gets "Wells notice" in SEC accounting probe (Reuters)Reuters - General Electric Co said on Friday it had been notified by U.S. regulators that a civil complaint could be filed against the company following a more than three-year-long probe into its use of hedge accounting for derivatives and other accounting matters.Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:55 pm GE gets "Wells notice" in SEC accounting probeCHICAGO (Reuters) - General Electric Co said on Friday it had been notified by U.S. regulators that a civil complaint could be filed against the company following a more than three-year-long probe into its use of hedge accounting for derivatives and other accounting matters.Source: Reuters: Business News | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:54 pm Rice buries enmity on historic step in LibyaUS secretary of state arrives in the Libyan capital Tripoli on what she describes as a 'historic visit' that is proof Washington has no "permanent enemies"Source: FT.com - US homepage | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:52 pm Stocks finish mixed at end of tough weekStocks ended mixed Friday after a tough session and week, as a rally in the hard-hit financial sector countered amplified recession fears that were sparked by a weak labor market report.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:47 pm Treasury rescue plan near for Fannie, Freddie?Source: L.A. Times - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:45 pm Rumor And The Death Of Fannie Mae (FNM)
Whether the stock should be down at all is anyone's guess. The news from The Wall Street Journal was terribly thin. WSJ.com reports that "The Treasury Department is close to finalizing a plan to help shore up mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac." It adds "Precise details of Treasury's plan couldn't be learned." Another way to put that is that no details are available and the intentions of the Treasury may not be known at all. Fannie and Freddie has both doubled from their recent lows. The stocks may give all of that back on Monday, and perhaps more. Or, the rumor could be wrong Douglas A. McIntyre Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:44 pm Global economy woes shake marketsWorsening US job figures heighten fears of a global economic slowdown - undermining stock markets around the world.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:35 pm Obama attacks Republicans over conventionBarack Obama tried to shift the struggling US economy back to the centre of the presidential campaign after a Republican national convention dominated by the politics of character and cultureSource: FT.com - US homepage | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:24 pm Dow, S&P end higher on financials, down for weekNEW YORK (Reuters) -The broader U.S. stock market edged higher on Friday, but still posted its worst week since May, as a rally in financial stocks helped reverse losses sparked by a government report showing the U.S. jobless rate rose to a five-year high.Source: Reuters: Business News | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:18 pm Wall Street bounces back from dismal jobs report (AFP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:14 pm Fancy-Food Phobia (Food & Wine)How to convince the squeamish that when it comes to food, weird can be wonderful.Source: SmartMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:13 pm Retail Stocks: Retailers edge higher; Abercrombie & Fitch downgradedAbercrombie & Fitch shares fall while most other retailers recover from earlier lows in the trading session.Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:06 pm Samsung considering M&A deal with SanDiskShares of SanDisk jump more than 30% after Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest producer of flash-memory chips, says it is considering buying the U.S. chipmaker.Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 5 Sep 2008 | 9:05 pm Wall St recovers after late rally in financialsWall Street stocks fell slightly, ending the week sharply lower, after a late rally in financials helped soften news that the unemployment rate reached a five-year high in AugustSource: FT.com - US homepage | 5 Sep 2008 | 8:46 pm The Greatest Vintage Ever? (Food & Wine)The hype on 2005 French wines has reached, well, hyperdrive. Time to call in the tasters.Source: SmartMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 8:41 pm Nokia expects market share lossNokia lowers its predicted market share for the third quarter, sending its shares plummeting.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 5 Sep 2008 | 8:38 pm Paulson's successor faces more crisesTreasury Secretary Henry Paulson has announced he will step down when the new president is sworn into office in January. Commentator Bill McConnell has some thoughts on what's in store for the next Treasury secretary.Source: Marketplace | 5 Sep 2008 | 8:38 pm Oil hits 5-month lowOil prices continued to decline Friday as investors worried that an economic slowdown could chip away at demand for energy.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 8:29 pm Storm, Economy Drag Down Energy ETFs (Daily ETF Wrap-Up)Commodity-related ETFs post losses over storm, economic worries.Source: SmartMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 8:26 pm Stocks End Week LowerThe major indexes remained in a funk, following up a broad selloff with a lackluster session Friday.Source: SmartMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 8:19 pm Discounts Make Some Closed-End Funds Tempting (Ticked Off)Though risky, deep discounts make some of these funds hard to resist.Source: SmartMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 8:16 pm Shiller Sees Subprime Crisis as Opportunity for ChangeSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 5 Sep 2008 | 8:16 pm 9 Ways to Save on Gas (Genworth Financial Fitness)Taking a road trip this summer? Here's how to save hundreds of dollars in fuel costs.Source: SmartMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:58 pm 9 Ways to Save on Gas (Deal of the Day)Taking a road trip this summer? Here's how to save hundreds of dollars in fuel costs.Source: SmartMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:58 pm 100 resumes later, Josh gets a jobIt took six months and hundreds of resumes, but Josh Hager has finally landed a job.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:55 pm The 52-Week Low Club 9/5/2008 (NOK)(EXC)(SSRI)(CIEN)
Exelon (EXC) Weal guidance. Sells off to $65.40 from 52-week high of $92.13. Silver Standard Resources (SSRI) Price of silver falling. Plunges to $19.10 from $48.16. Ciena (CIEN) Still falling after bad guidance. Drops to $12.39 from 52-week high of $49.55. Douglas A. McIntyre Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:46 pm Rules of Investing Don't Apply to Today's Market (Tradecraft)The old rules of investing don't apply to today's market. Tread carefully.Source: SmartMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:41 pm U.S. highway fund crushed by cutback in drivingAn unprecedented decline in driving will deplete the federal Highway Trust Fund by the end of September and prompted the Bush administration on Friday to ask Congress for an $8 billion emergency infusion.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:35 pm Betting on premium chocolate loversThese days, many Americans are saying good-bye to life's little luxuries. But one Minneapolis business owner is hoping consumers won't let the sinking economy beat their love of chocolate. Annie Baxter reports.Source: Marketplace | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:24 pm Big Story: Falling oil pricesOil has been a big story all week, as hedge funds and traders have tried to figure out what the falling prices mean. Tess Vigeland takes a closer look with Kai Ryssdal.Source: Marketplace | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:24 pm Chinese prefer paying with cashChina is in the middle of a huge boom in consumer spending, which would seem to be good news for credit card companies. But the Chinese haven't warmed to the idea of paying with plastic. Lisa Chow reports.Source: Marketplace | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:24 pm Value of U.S. assets worries ChinaChina's central bank is reported to be concerned about its relatively low capital base, which is partly a result of the economic problems in the United States. Ashley Milne-Tyte has more.Source: Marketplace | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:24 pm At $200, one laptop per everyone?The non-profit program called One Laptop Per Child will be teaming up with big business this holiday season to make it easier for anyone to buy one of its $200 models. Dan Grech reports.Source: Marketplace | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:24 pm Made-to-order no longer computesDell is looking to revamp its signature process of building its products to order. And it's reportedly talking about selling off most of its facilities and having somebody else make its computers. Mitchell Hartman reports.Source: Marketplace | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:23 pm Jobless rate's just the start of bad newsUnemployment hit 6.1% last month -- the highest in nearly five years. It was the 8th-straight month of fewer jobs, with a total drop of 600,000 jobs this year. But some economists believe the real story is even uglier. Steve Henn reports.Source: Marketplace | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:23 pm Goldman's Merrill Lynch (MER) Downgrade Is Too Little Too Late (GS, MER)?
Believe it or not, there are only four sells on New York-based Merrill. An equal number of analysts rate the shares a "buy" or "strong buy." About 13 companies urge investors to hold the stock. One analyst who must not have read much on Merrill lately has a $98 price target on the stock. A close look at the number shows that it does not appear to be a typo. Tanona's reasons for trashing Merrill are solid though hardly bold. He probably could have said many of the same things for months. Merrill trades at the highest price-to-book multiple "despite having some of the most significant exposures to troubled assets such as CDOs, mortgages and leveraged loans... ``with these markets still under pressure, we believe additional writedowns and book-value deterioration will continue to plague the stock," according to a summary of the note in Bloomberg News. In other words, times are going to get much tougher for Merrill Lynch, a sentiment shared by even the most casual reader of the Wall Street Journal. Therein lies the problem with much of what passes for research on Wall Street these days – it's a day late and a dollar short. The question that investors should ask themselves is why Tanona and the other analysts who follow the stock have been so patient for so long. Analysts have encouraged investors to put up with quite a bit from Merrill including the ouster of Chief Executive Stan O'Neal last year and his outrageous $161.5 million pay package, $19 billion in losses over the past year and an upcoming $5.7 billion write-down in the third quarter. No wonder Merrill shares are down more than 50 percent this year. Merrill analysts, though, are keeping the faith as the company scrambles to raise cash through the sale of its minority stake in Bloomberg L.P. (where I worked for seven years).and the sale of more than $39 billion worth of stock and bonds to bolster its credit ratings. Chief Executive John Thain also is trying to unload billions in bad loans to Korean Asset Management Co., an effort Bloomberg News says is "faltering" because of a dispute over price. These are all huge problems but you would never know it judging from the overly bullish calls of many Wall Street analysts. Jonathan Berr Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:15 pm Earnings, August Jobs; Auto Sales; U.S. Open and the EuroSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:13 pm Asset management arms for disposalA raft of bank-owned asset management groups looks set to come on to the market, as institutions hit by the credit crunch search for ways to rebuild their capital basesSource: FT.com - US homepage | 5 Sep 2008 | 7:10 pm No joke: Bank stocks are rallyingDon't look now, but bank stocks are in the midst of a big rally.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 6:54 pm Record 1.2 million homes hit by foreclosureA record 1.249 million homes were in foreclosure during the second quarter of 2008, according to a report released Friday by the Mortgage Bankers Association.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 6:44 pm US lifts some Belarus sanctionsSome sanctions imposed by the US on firms working with Belarussian companies are lifted, US officials announce.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 5 Sep 2008 | 6:41 pm McCain on Obama: Hey, big spenderRepublican presidential nominee John McCain has hammered home the message that he hates pork and wants to balance the budget by 2013.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 6:33 pm 9 Equity-Income Funds That Are Paying Dividends (Fund Screen)The credit crisis has hurt payouts, but these equity-income funds are coping nicely.Source: SmartMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 6:13 pm Hatzius Sees U.S. Jobless Rate Climbing to 6.75% in 2009Source: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 5 Sep 2008 | 6:11 pm Worsening Jobs Data Bode Ill for Stocks (Pundit Watch)A worsening labor picture bodes ill for stocks, warns one market watcher.Source: SmartMoney.com | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:36 pm Letters from our listenersOur listeners respond to "The Feminine Mistake" and the rebuilding effort -- or lack thereof -- that Tess Vigeland reported on from New Orleans.Source: Marketplace Money | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:33 pm Getting PersonalChris and Tess answer questions about whether credit ratings follow you to other countries, investing in foreign stocks, managing sweepstakes winnings, and the intricacies of health savings accounts.Source: Marketplace Money | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:19 pm Families share nanny, cut costsChild care can be hard to find. It's often expensive, and what if you need something other than a traditional 40-hour-a-week caretaker? Some parents are learning to share -- their nannies, that is. Alisa Roth reports.Source: Marketplace Money | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:19 pm Where gas prices really hit homeWilcox County, Ala., is one of the poorest areas in the nation. It residents spend a greater percentage of their income on fuel than anywhere else, and they have few transportation options. Tanya Ott reports.Source: Marketplace Money | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:19 pm Day in the Work Life: Pro drummerProfessional drummer Julian Eubanks shares what got him started in the music business, how he prepares for performances, and his best and worst gig.Source: Marketplace Money | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:18 pm Kristof: It's a good time to investThere's a new edition out of the financial primer "Investing 101." Tess Vigeland talks with author Kathy Kristof about why she decided to publish a new version of her book in the current economy.Source: Marketplace Money | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:18 pm Google's next search: Medical recordsGoogle has unveiled a new service that will allow you to store and access your medical records on the Web. Martha Bebinger walks us through Google Health to explore the risks and benefits of going online.Source: Marketplace Money | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:18 pm Straight Story: A college educationSome pundits have questioned whether a college education is still worth the cost and time. Chris Farrell says yes, but you need to look closely at what's right for you.Source: Marketplace Money | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:18 pm Many seniors are still looking to workBecause of the poor economy, many senior citizens are looking to get back into the workforce. Nancy Marshall Genzer met a few of them at an AARP job fair and found out why they're not ready for retirement.Source: Marketplace Money | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:18 pm Koch Predicts Election Outcome Turns on Abortion IssueSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:18 pm Will your home insurance protect you?How are insurance companies treating hurricane zones in the Gulf and the Southeast coastline? Tess Vigeland talks with Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon about lessons learned from Hurricane Gustav.Source: Marketplace Money | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:17 pm Merrill Lynch Cut to `Sell' at Goldman on WritedownsSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 5 Sep 2008 | 5:15 pm RFMD Comments Falling on Deaf Ears (RFMD, NOK)RF Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: RFMD) is trying to dispute industry woes being seen at other mobile and communication chipset companies. This may sound important as its customers or its customers' peers are starting to warn of revenue shortfalls ahead. The mobile and communications chipset maker said it is reaffirming its previous guidance today at a Morgan Keegan conference for the September quarter after its guidance of July 29. It is reaffirming Revenue in the September 2008 quarter in a range of $250 to $260 million with non-GAAP net income at approximately $0.05 EPS. First call has revenues at roughly $256 million and $0.05 EPS. Nokia (NYSE: NOK) warned this morning, and Capital IQ lists Nokia as a key customer along with others such as Motorola, Research-in-Motion, Sirius-XM, Sony Ericsson, and others. The problem is that Qualcomm already telegraphed a longer replacement cycle starting to be seen earlier this week and we are seeing further slowing in other areas in technology. It doesn't look like traders are biting for this nudge though, and that may be on concerns that while its Q3 is fine that doesn't give any confidence in Q4 or into 2009. Shares are down over 8% at $3.54 on almost 12 million shares today. Its 52-week trading range is $2.52 to $7.46.
Jon C. Ogg Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 5 Sep 2008 | 4:45 pm Internet war shifts to new frontierThe Commerce Commission has released draft plans to give rivals access to Telecom's new cabinets. But the competitors are worried that Telecom's rapid deployment of cabinetisation will undermine their new-found access at exchanges. Telecom...Source: New Zealand Herald - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 4:00 pm NZ's angel investment industry flourishesWealth isn't obvious in New Zealand. Kiwis don't generally flaunt their good fortune. They tend not to build garish palaces, drive around in rare vehicles or drip with diamonds. So it would surprise many to hear that the Crown-owned...Source: New Zealand Herald - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 4:00 pm Farmers still want change despite 'no' vote on merger proposal, Alliance saysFarmers have dismissed proposals to set the meat industry on the road to consolidation but they still want change, according to Alliance Group chairman Owen Poole. Farmers in Southland-based co-operative Alliance comprehensively...Source: New Zealand Herald - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 4:00 pm Brian Gaynor : The lost years for NZ superannuationThe recently released June quarter managed funds' statistics illustrate once again that we are poor savers. This has important implications for the economy as the post-World War II baby-boomers retire and life expectancy rates...Source: New Zealand Herald - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 4:00 pm Finding harmony between arts and lawDavid Gascoigne admires those who can stick to a single career path and stay with it their entire lives. It's something he has never done and probably will never do, he says. "I deeply admire people like doctors and nurses who...Source: New Zealand Herald - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 4:00 pm Gold Class luxury cinemas make debut in LASelling Hollywood on a new way to watch a movie? It's the equivalent of selling coal to Newcastle ... or kangaroos to Australia. Australian entertainment conglomerate Village Roadshow is rolling out the red carpet in Los Angeles...Source: New Zealand Herald - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 4:00 pm Brent Sheather : Changing cycle of performance feesWith global equities after inflation having gone nowhere in the past 10 years, it's not surprising that institutional investors are looking more closely at the extent to which fund managers are rewarded. Fees are obviously important,...Source: New Zealand Herald - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 4:00 pm Consumer attitude hits Briscoe profitsBellwether retailer Briscoe Group has reported a 70 per cent fall in half-year profit on the back of a collapse in consumer confidence, but expects a stronger second half. Net profit after tax for the six months to July 27 was...Source: New Zealand Herald - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 4:00 pm Dow Jones in steep plungeDejected American investors sent stocks plunging yesterday, hurtling the Dow Jones industrials down more than 340 points after retailers and the Government added to a mountain of bad economic news and devastated hopes for a late-year...Source: New Zealand Herald - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 4:00 pm Boeing workers on holdRepresentatives from Boeing and the machinists' union met with a federal mediator yesterday as the clock ticked on an unusual two-day contract extension after union production workers soundly rejected a contract offer and voted to...Source: New Zealand Herald - Business | 5 Sep 2008 | 4:00 pm Russian invasion spooks investorsRussia's stock market loses more than 30% of its value as foreign investors pull out after the country's intervention in Georgia.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 5 Sep 2008 | 3:17 pm Altria & UST Could Face Antitrust Issues (MO, UST)
The current administration has not really blocked any mergers over the last eight years. Whether the 2009 to 2012 president ends up being McCain or Obama, it is very likely that the new administration's regulatory appointees won't hit each merger application with the auto-approve stamp. Altria is worth more than $40 Billion today and the post-story pop has the value of UST right around $10 Billion. Even if deals of this size or magnitude are approved they may take longer and come with more conditions than the last eight years have seen. Does this mean the deal would get blocked? No, likely not. But merging two leaders in field would face scrutiny not just on the federal level. You have top recall that Big Tobacco has settlements with individual states who rely upon the companies for taxes that go years and years into the future. Another issue that may come up is that Altria would have to decide if it wants to keep UST's wine operations. Altria already holds a 28.5% stake in SAB/Miller. UST's Ste. Michelle Wine Estates produces and markets premium wines sold nationally through the Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Crest, Snoqualmie and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars wineries, as well as sparkling wine sold under the Domaine Ste. Michelle label. It also is the exclusive U.S. distributor of wines made by Italy’s Marchesi Antinori. This would give Altria either another revenue stream it currently doesn't have, or the company could decide to put the unit up for sale to help finance a deal. It appears that Wall Street likes the notion of this merger. On a day where the markets are down about 1% we see Altria shares are up 1% at $20.87 and UST shares are up almost 25% at $67.32. If the companies do decide to merge it would seem that they would ultimately be able to get the deal approved. After all, both presidential candidates are generally deemed as tobacco friendly. There would just likely be certain conditions upon the terms and forward pricing.
Jon C. Ogg Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 5 Sep 2008 | 2:36 pm No Assurances SanDisk Would Entertain Samsung Deal (SNDK)
SanDisk shares closed down at $13.46 yesterday and have fallen by more than 75% from the $56.46 highs. Even if Samsung was willing to come in with a $20.00 bid, this premium may not be enough to make the company agree to any such deal because it would still wipe out many existing shareholders. The recent lows were more than 5-year lows. Samsung might have to consider taking a large stake in the company and consider other options down the road. So far we have seen over 2.7 million shares trade hands with gains looking up 26% at $16.95 pre-market.
Jon C. Ogg Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 5 Sep 2008 | 1:28 pm Unemployment Soars to 6.1% On Way to 8%
Just yesterday we identified companies which might lay off 10,000 employees as the conditions continue to weaken. By our calculations this translates to roughly 600,000 job losses since the start of 2008. If you take the current conditions and look at the trends going to an extreme, then all of a sudden 7% to 8% unemployment at the peak of the problems is becoming a possibility rather than just a bad dream. With the declines in autos, airlines, manufacturing, construction, retail, banking, and brokerage firm jobs, we could be facing nearly 1,000,000 jobs destroyed in 2008. And, that does not take into account the number of small businesses that will have to cut personnel because they have no access to credit. Guess where the gains were. Healthcare and education rose by 55,000 jobs. The government added 17,000 jobs. If you keep backing those out this is getting worse and worse. Thank heavens the government keeps telling us there is no recession. It's just a recessionless recession. Anyone hoping that the jobs data was going to help markets is in for another disappointment. DJIA futures were down 60 points and are now down triple digits again. 10-Year T-Note yields are down another 0.05% to under 3.60%. If you were worried about the FOMC raising rates ahead of the election you can rest easily now. The FOMC is likely going to be out of the rate hiking game until 2009. Jon C. Ogg Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 5 Sep 2008 | 12:43 pm What Good Is the Jobs Number?The job market took another hit on today as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the economy shed payrolls for the ninth consecutive month. And even though businesses have been cutting back since December—and the unemployment rate has risen 1.7 percentage points since last March to 6.1 percent, the highest in 4.5 years—a group of vocal analysts, bloggers, and journalists argue that the employment picture is even worse. The reason, these critics say, is that the way government statisticians calculate how many jobs are created by new businesses and destroyed by dying firms is flawed and is no more than an educated guess. As a way around this, the B.L.S. introduced what it calls a birth-death model in 1999. It uses historical data and fancy equations to estimate the number of jobs added and lost by new and dying businesses. But the model typically spits out a positive number, leading critics to charge that it doesn't know how to handle a downturn. (For August, the birth-death model added 125,000 jobs.) "I think we are getting to the point...when we will have to move unless very clear evidence emerges that the expansion is easing significantly. I don't mean evidence that G.D.P. growth is moderating to 1¾ percent or whatever the forecast is. The G.D.P. is a nice number and it does have some relationship to the real world. I'm not terribly certain what it is, though everyone tells me it does." Related Links What Good Is the Jobs Number? Summer's Over. So's Your Job. Jobs Crunched Source: Portfolio.com: Top 5 | 5 Sep 2008 | 12:30 pm Nokia (NOK) Cries "Uncle" Who Will Take It Business?
Beyond that, the world largest handset company, which has about 40% of the global market last quarter, said it still believes that overall demand for cell phones will grow modestly this year. According to MarketWatch, "Nokia expects industry mobile device volumes in 2008 to grow 10% or more from the approximately 1.14 billion units it estimated for 2007." The great mystery is who will pick up the market share that Nokia is losing? It is unlikely to be Motorola (MOT) which has been bleeding for almost two years. That leave the probable list of suspects at Sony Ericsson and Samsung. Some one will do well in the cell phone industry this quarter but it is anyone's guess who that will be. Douglas A. McIntyre Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 5 Sep 2008 | 12:23 pm A Deal Up to SnuffAt the moment, the only thing less popular than big mergers may be smoking. The next step now being considered by Congress would be to have the Food and Drug Administration regulate tobacco products.
Related Links Altria 2: And What Business Are You In? Setting the International Marlboro Man Free Supremes Agree On Five Cases Source: Portfolio.com: Top 5 | 5 Sep 2008 | 12:00 pm Top Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades (HD, ILMN, MFE, NAV, OMX, VTA, VRNM, WAT)These are some of the top upgrades or positive calls we are seeing from analysts this Friday morning:
Jon C. Ogg Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:59 am Top Pre-Market Analyst Downgrades (AFFX, CLNE, MER, NTRS, SPLS, TU)These are some of the top downgrades or cautious calls we are seeing from analysts this Friday morning:
Jon C. Ogg Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:57 am Pakistan 'needs help' on economyPakistan needs a "substantial" injection of external funds if it is to stabilise its economy, an IMF official says.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 5 Sep 2008 | 11:46 am BHP stops ore output after deathsBHP Billiton suspends all iron ore production in Western Australia after the deaths of two workers in the space of ten days.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 5 Sep 2008 | 10:29 am
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