|
|
|
|
FBI: Cyber Terrorist Could Prepare Massive US AttackWebsites in the US were attacked by hackers earlier this year. The assaults slowed down some sites and closed other online services completely. It was assumed at the time that the attacks originated in North Korea and one or more countries that were part of the old Soviet Union. McAfee (NYSE:MFE), the security software company, recently issued a report saying [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:40 am Three-way split at Bank of EnglandBank of England policymakers split three ways earlier this month over the decision to boost the central bank’s money-creating, asset purchase plan, minutes of the Nov. 4-5 meeting released Wednesday revealed.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:35 am Obama visit yields few concrete resultsA candid three-hour discussion in Beijing between Barack Obama and Hu Jintao, his Chinese counterpart, has failed to find much common ground on the US president’s agendaSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:28 am UK Bank split on stimulus packageBank of England rate-setters were split three ways on this month's decision to pump £25bn more into the economy.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:23 am Metals Stocks: Gold futures soar to record as dollar dropsGold futures climbed to a record on Wednesday, as the dollar fell against other major currencies, polishing the investment appeal of the precious metal.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:21 am Forget $100 oil. $80 oil is a problem.Are strapped American consumers on for another date with energy price misery?Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:18 am Obama's China visit sowing seeds for debatePresident Barack Obama appears to have come away with few tangible gains on the economic and trade front during his first state visit to China, although his message on Internet freedom and human rights are likely to resonate on Chinese Web sites in coming months, analysts say.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:15 am Gold hits record near $1,150/oz as dollar slipsLONDON (Reuters) - Gold hit a fresh record high near $1,150 an ounce on Wednesday, boosting precious metals across the board, as a dip in the dollar index added to momentum buying as prices broke through key technical resistance levels.Source: Reuters: Business News | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:13 am Gold at new high but markets lose momentumGlobal Markets Overview: Gold hit another high on Wednesday but stock markets struggled to gain momentum as the dollar resumed its slideSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:13 am Trade talks end Obama China tripUS President Barack Obama meets Premier Wen Jiabao on the last day of his much-watched visit to China.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:10 am Air Berlin quarterly profit more than doublesShares of Air Berlin rose as much as 9% on Wednesday after the German no-frills airline reported its net profit more than doubled in the third quarter and confirmed its outlook for the year.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:10 am $1 Salary For Pandit: Citigroup Gets What It Paid ForThe most charitable thing that can be said about Vikram Pandit, the CEO of Citigroup (NYSE:C) since December 11. 2007, is that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The bank’s stock is down 90% since his first day as chief executive. The shares of other large international banks were battered by [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:06 am Microsoft hit by Chinese rulingA court in China orders Microsoft to stop selling versions of Windows that include fonts designed by a Chinese firm.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 18 Nov 2009 | 3:01 am China orders Microsoft to halt some Windows sales (Reuters)Reuters - Microsoft Corp has been ordered by a Chinese court to stop selling versions of its Windows operating systems that include fonts designed by a local company, citing a violation of licensing agreements.Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:58 am China orders Microsoft to halt some Windows salesSHANGHAI (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp has been ordered by a Chinese court to stop selling versions of its Windows operating systems that include fonts designed by a local company, citing a violation of licensing agreements.Source: Reuters: Business News | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:58 am The Auto Industry Restructuring Global Tour Moves To EuropeThe restructuring of the American car business is still a work in progress. Chrysler laid people off as late as last month. The industry fired tens of thousands of people during 2008 and 2009. Toyota (NYSE:TM), considered by most the preeminent auto firm in the world, cut costs, people, and production capacity. It is hard [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:58 am Recession continues to hit UTVUTV, the Belfast-based media group, has said the recession is continuing to hit its business.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:57 am London Markets: British shares up for fifth time in six sessionsLondon shares edged higher on Wednesday, as deal speculation and gains from miners worked to offset negative reaction to updates from Wolseley and Capita
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:52 am 10 biggest job interview blundersDear Annie: A few months ago I lost a middle-management job at a company where I worked for 14 years. I received four promotions during that time, but it had been quite a while since I actually interviewed for a new job.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:48 am 'No man can be worth $1 million a year'It's unprecedented for the nation to be outraged about corporate pay, right? Not exactly: In the 1930s, as the Depression gripped the nation, furor about compensation rose to fever pitch, and Washington applied shears to salaries. In an article soon to be published in the University of Richmond Law Review, Harwell Wells, an assistant professor of law at Temple University, says the decade exposed "deep tensions" about the issue.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:47 am Bank split three ways over quantitative easing riseThe Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was split three ways in November over whether to increase its quantitative easing (QE) scheme. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:38 am Allied Irish Banks increases bad debt forecastAllied Irish Banks on Wednesday increased its forecast bad-debt losses for the year to 5.3 billion euros ($7.9 billion) as it prepares to transfer around 24 billion euros of risky loans to a government bailout fund.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:38 am Wal-Mart Black Friday ad: TVs top dealsWal-Mart's much-awaited Black Friday deals will focus on a gamut of gadgets such as high-definition TVs, laptops and Blu-ray players, as well as holiday gift favorites such as toys and DVDs, according to a copy of the retailer's circular obtained by CNNMoney.com.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:37 am FTSE 100 rises slightly at open (AFP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:31 am Earnings Watch: Updates, advisories and surprisesA roundup of the latest corporate earnings reports and what companies are saying about future quarters.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:31 am Archie Norman to be ITV chairmanITV ends a long search by naming former Asda chief executive Archie Norman as chairman, replacing Michael Grade.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:23 am Gold at new high but markets lose momentum09:10 GMT: Gold hit another high on Wednesday but stock markets struggled to gain momentum as the dollar resumed its slide.Bullion struck a fresh peak of $1,146.95, though it later traded up 0.3 per cent...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:22 am Gold soars to record high, stocks rise (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:21 am Gold soars to record high, stocks riseLONDON (Reuters) - Gold prices hit a record high and oil and stock prices around the world rose on Wednesday, while the dollar eased off ahead of U.S. inflation data and minutes from the Bank of England's November meeting.Source: Reuters: Business News | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:21 am White House: $98 billion in bad paymentsThe federal government made $98 billion in improper payments in fiscal 2009, and President Barack Obama will issue an executive order in coming days to combat the problem, his budget director announced Tuesday.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:20 am California targets TVs to lower electricity demandThe most power-hungry television sets could soon be banned from store shelves in California as a way to lower electricity demand. The California Energy Commission is scheduled to vote...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:12 am Media Digest 11/18/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, BloombergReuters: Thain regrets nothing he did at Merrill Lynch and during it merger with Bank of America (NYSE:BAC). Reuters: Trump put his support to the bondholders of his casino business. FT: A Chinese court ruled against Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) in an intellectual property case. Reuters: Almost 15,000 American admitted to offshore tax cheating. Reuters: Hershey (NYSE:HSY) and Ferrero are in [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:07 am Currencies: Dollar slips vs. euro, yen as European shares gainThe U.S. dollar edged lower against other major currencies on Wednesday, as European shares posted gains for the fifth time in six sessions.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:05 am Small firms scrapping, scaling back health plansSmall businesses across the country are dropping or scaling back employee health care plans because of the rising cost of insurance. The health insurance crunch has hit small businesses...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:01 am Mothercare creates 400 new jobsBaby products retailer Mothercare says it will create 400 jobs as part of plans to open 33 parenting centres across the UK.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 18 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am Goldman commits $500M to the little guysGoldman Sachs earned an eye-popping $3.2 billion last quarter. Now it's decided to share some of that with the little guys.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:56 am Stocks at 13-month highStocks recovered from early losses Tuesday, closing at 13-month highs for the second day in a row, as strength in commodity-linked shares offset weakness in the retail sector.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:56 am Europe Markets: Autos, miners help Europe to fifth gain in sixEuropean shares gained on Wednesday, rising for the fifth time in six sessions, with companies leveraged to an improving economy performing well.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:56 am MUFG to raise $11.2bn in new sharesMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group announced plans to raise up to Y1,000bn ($11.2bn) in new shares and said it will delay the planned merger of its securities arm with Morgan Stanley's Japanese brokerage unit...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:55 am Irish bank raises bad debt costAllied Irish Banks increases its bad debt forecast for 2009 by 1bn euros, but says it is returning to profitability.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:54 am Resource stocks bolster FTSE 100London equities rose on Wednesday, with hopes for a bidding war for chocolate maker Cadbury supporting its shares in opening trade. Over all, stronger metals and oil prices helped resource stocks lift...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:52 am AIB lifts bad loans total by 1bnBad loans at Allied Irish Banks this year will be 1bn ($1.5bn) more than previously estimated, it announced on Wednesday, although the lender said most of these bad loans were in a portfolio that is likely...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:46 am Gordon Brown risks City backlash with pay crackdown in Queen's SpeechLabour risks a backlash from the City of London by putting a crackdown on bankers' bonuses at the heart of the Government's programme.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news stocks and shares from the UK and world | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:39 am Mitsubishi UFJ first half net income up 52%Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Japan’s largest bank, reported on Wednesday that fiscal first-half net income rose 52%, helped by higher income from lending as well as gains in its stock portfolio.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:37 am KBC share trading suspended ahead of EU decisionTrading of shares in leading Belgian bank KBC was suspended at the company's request Wednesday, ahead of an EU decision on the lender's restructuring scheme following a string of public...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:34 am China Mobile says still in iPhone talks with AppleChina Mobile, the country's largest mobile operator, said Wednesday it is still in negotiations with Apple over the sale of iPhones in China. "We really are still in talks with...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:32 am Asia Markets And Europe Open (11/18/2009)Market in Asia were mixed. The Nikkei was down .6% to 9,677. Japan Air hit a low for the year. Mitisubishi UFJ (NYSE:MTU) posted strong earnins after the close. The Hang Seng dropped .2% to 22,840. HSBC (NYSE:HBC) fell. The Shanghai Composite was up .6% to 3,303. At the open in Europe, the FTSE was up .3% to 5,363. [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:26 am Venezuela GDP dips 4.5 pct, country hits recessionVenezuela has entered a recession, recording a 4.5 percent dip in GDP for the third quarter, and putting a firm end to the top oil producer's economic boom years. The third quarter...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:26 am Queen's Speech: preview of measures likely to be unveiledGordon Brown will use today's Queen's Speech to present a series of populist bills with the forthcoming election campaign in mind.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news stocks and shares from the UK and world | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:24 am Wolseley profits fall on 'challenging' outlookWolseley, the world's largest supplier of heating and plumbing equipment, today warned that its struggles were far from over as it announced weak quarterly sales and a drop in underlying profits of 45 per cent in the three months to the end of October. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:24 am Accessing 'Access to Justice'LONDON, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Access to justice is not the exclusive privilege of the rich and famous. Claims of defamation by this week's hottest celeb, or...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:24 am Cadbury shares rise as Hershey and Ferrero eye bidCadbury shares rise on hopes that Hershey and Ferrero are planning to trump Kraft in a multibillion pound bid for the Dairy Milk maker.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news stocks and shares from the UK and world | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:15 am SPIN METER: Feds buy green cars, auction rejectsThe sale of the federal castoffs at auction is nothing new; deals for the consumer mean income for the government. But in swapping out old government cars for new models under the...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:13 am Wolseley continues to suffer in tough building supplies marketWolseley the building supplies group suffering from the severe downturn in Britain and the US said market conditions remained challenging as it reported weaker quarterly sales and profits.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news stocks and shares from the UK and world | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:11 am Canon bid 'significantly undervalues' OcCanon's 730m ($1.1bn) agreed bid for digital printing rival Oc was challenged on Wednesday when a large Oc shareholder said the offer "significantly undervalued" the Dutch company's shares.Orbis Fund Management...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:08 am Archie Norman to be new ITV chairmanITV on Wednesday confirmed Archie Norman, the former chief executive of supermarket group Asda, as its new chairman.The appointment of Mr Norman, 55, a former Tory MP, will bring to an end an embarrassing...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:05 am Kudzu-munching bug also threatens US bean cropsResearchers recently found an insect in north Georgia that has never before been reported in the Western Hemisphere, and its arrival could be both a blessing and a curse. The good news...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Composers and lyricists make pitch to join TeamstersSeeing demand for movie and TV music growing and take-home pay shrinking, about half of a group of 400 sign up to band together with an unlikely ally.David Carbonara has a gig many of his peers would covet: He writes music for the critically acclaimed AMC show "Mad Men."
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am The danger of marketing prescription drugs onlineIf pharmaceutical companies are allowed to send abbreviated pitches, they'll emphasize the benefits of their medications and send consumers elsewhere to find out the risks.Google, Yahoo and the pharmaceutical industry are pushing to change how prescription drugs are hawked online. That's not a bad thing necessarily.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Southern California home prices edge upward again in OctoberThe median price in six Southland counties rises 1.8% from September, to $280,000; sales are up too, by 2.8%, according to MDA DataQuick. ...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Southern California home prices edge upward again in OctoberThe median price in six Southland counties rises 1.8% from September, to $280,000; sales are up too, by 2.8%, according to MDA DataQuick.Southern California's housing market showed fresh signs of a comeback last month as first-time buyers took advantage of a federal tax credit aimed at keeping the fragile recovery on track.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Pumpkin shortage could mean empty shelves after ThanksgivingHeavy rains have pretty much destroyed this year's small harvest, says food giant Nestle, which controls about 85% of the crop for canning. Supermarkets say supplies are tight.Mother Nature may have sneaked off with a sought-after slice of Thanksgiving.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Congress is cracking down on Internet marketing companiesLegislation targets unethical, aggressive sales tactics that result in countless 'mystery charges' for consumers. A Senate probe focused on online marketing firms Affinion, Vertrue and Webloyalty.Linda Lindquist was in Atlanta, where she had taken her 19-year-old daughter for therapy after a skiing accident left her a quadriplegic, when she decided to treat the teenager to a movie.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am U.S. going after just big Swiss accountsIf your secret Swiss bank account did not contain too much money or generate too much income, you can breathe easier: A landmark deal between the United States and Switzerland to expose U.S. tax dodgers...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Stiff Lower Back v. Stiff Upper LipLONDON, November 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Think personal injury and think No Win No Fee. Think No Win No Fee and one's mind ventures to images of people falling from...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Fewer people flew first or business class in SeptemberThe number of premium airline passengers declined as businesses continued to reduce travel budgets, according to a report by the International Air Transport Assn.The number of people flying first or business class took a steep dive in September as businesses continued to reduce travel budgets and leisure trips declined with the end of the heavy summer travel season.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Foreigners still snapping up Treasury securitiesNet foreign purchases of government bonds and notes in September totaled $44.7 billion, up from $28 billion in August, a report shows. This despite concern over the falling dollar and U.S. borrowing. ...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Architects get more contracts in OctoberThe increase may indicate the start of a recovery in the construction industry as builders prepare to get real estate developments off the ground.After more than a year of meager activity, the nation's architects reported a growing number of new contracts in October from builders preparing to get real estate developments off the ground.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Obama creates task force targeting fraud linked to financial crisisThe multi-agency effort will go after 'unscrupulous executives, Ponzi scheme operators and common criminals,' Atty. Gen. Holder says.President Obama is taking a page out of his predecessor's playbook by creating a multi-agency task force to pursue criminals who bilked investors and consumers during the financial crisis.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Stocks mostly fall on earnings data, rising dollarNEW YORK -- Stocks mostly fell today as investors found little to pull them into the market after two weeks of big gains. A rebounding dollar also sapped buying sentiment.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Pacific Sunwear shares fall 22.6% after it posts 3rd-quarter lossThe teen retailer also releases a sales forecast that misses expectations. Pacific Sunwear of California Inc...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am Slovenia's Petrol Jan-Sept net sales fall 23 pctLJUBLJANA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Sales at Slovenia's largest fuel retailer Petrol fell by almost a quarter to 1.7 billion euros ($2.53 billion) in the first nine months of the year, as recession took a toll...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 18 Nov 2009 | 12:55 am ITV makes surprise appointment of former Asda boss Archie Norman as chairmanThe struggling broadcaster has ended a sevenmonth search for new leadership.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news stocks and shares from the UK and world | 18 Nov 2009 | 12:33 am Disgraced financier Madoff's luxury items auctioned for $2mAn auction of luxury goods that once belonged to the disgraced financier Bernie Madoff, his wife and an adviser has raised $2m (£1.2m) in the US.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 18 Nov 2009 | 12:22 am Asian stocks mixed amid caution after gains (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 18 Nov 2009 | 12:16 am ITV names Archie Norman as new chairmanArchie Norman, the former Conservative MP and the ex-chief executive of Asda, has been announced as the new chairman of ITV today, ending a long search for a replacement for Michael Grade. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 18 Nov 2009 | 12:14 am ITV names Archie Norman as new chairmanArchie Norman, the former Conservative MP and the ex-chief executive of Asda, has been announced as the new chairman of ITV today, ending a fraught eight-month search for a replacement for executive chairman Michael Grade. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 18 Nov 2009 | 12:14 am 'Talks on rival bid' for CadburyTwo international chocolate firms are reportedly discussing a bid for Cadbury that could forestall a hostile takeover by Kraft.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 18 Nov 2009 | 12:07 am Aussie stocks close in positive territoryMELBOURNE - The Australian share market has closed in positive territory after lacklustre trading as investors awaited key data from overseas.The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed up 9.6 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 4,739 points,...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:59 pm Delta offers Japan Airlines $1bnStruggling Japan Airlines is offered a $1bn financial lifeline from the Sky Team grouping of carriers, led by Delta Air Lines.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:49 pm Goldman Sachs teams up with Warren Buffett to help US small businessesGoldman Sachs whose chief executive has apologised for the bank's role in the financial crisis has teamed up with billionaire investor Warren Buffett to help small US businesses.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news stocks and shares from the UK and world | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:43 pm Market slips as buyers wait for new listingsThe New Zealand sharemarket slipped just a little today as buyers were happy to wait for new listings, further news of which is seen as imminent.Fletcher Building shares fell 6c to 790 at a time of caution about building companies...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:39 pm NZ dollar steady in US 74c rangeThe New Zealand dollar settled into a fairly narrow range in quiet trading today.By 5pm it was at US74.34c from US74.49c at 8am and US74.69c at 5pm yesterday. It has retreated from US75.20c, a three week high, yesterday due to...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 10:27 pm Federal ‘improper spending’ surges to $98bnThe US government wasted almost $100bn in tax dollars in fiscal 2009, prompting the White House to pledge a crackdown on fraud and mistakes in federal spendingSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 17 Nov 2009 | 9:40 pm Windflow gets $1.8m from windfarm customerWind turbine-maker Windflow Technology says it has received $1.8 million of $4.1m in payments that have been witheld by key customer NZ Windfarms.As a result of the payment, High Court proceedings between the companies had been...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 9:30 pm Fonterra capital restructure approvedShareholders of Fonterra, the world's largest dairy exporter, have voted to allow themselves to hold shares amounting to 120 per cent of their production in the first step of a strategy to restructure the company.Holders of 89.6...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 9:30 pm PM tells farmers to accept $3k ETS cost, stop moaningPrime Minister John Key today made a bid to turn around the Federated Farmers lobby group over farmers' accountability for livestock greenhouse gas emissions.Farmers have opposed attempts by successive Governments to introduce...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm Chris Lee: Decision in Hanover investors' handsThe Allied Farmers offer will be of obvious benefit to AFL and its subsidiary Allied Nationwide Finance, committing the Hanover investors to swap their future cash flow from Hanover repayments into AFL ordinary shares, massively recaptilising...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 8:30 pm Soros hedge fund takes stake in Ford Motor (AP)AP - Soros Fund Management LLC, the hedge fund run by billionaire investor George Soros, increased its holdings in U.S. stocks to $6.2 billion from $4.2 billion and bought a stake in Ford Motor Co.Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 17 Nov 2009 | 7:53 pm Fed officials differ on recovery's paceRICHMOND, Virginia (Reuters) - Top Federal Reserve officials on Tuesday struck differing notes on the likely pace of the U.S. economic recovery and one warned that pockets of weakness must not deter the central bank from withdrawing its extraordinary economic support.Source: Reuters: Business News | 17 Nov 2009 | 7:53 pm Bernard Madoff yachts raise nearly $2 million at auction$A small fleet of powerboats owned by the convicted fraudster Bernard Madoff and his associates fetched almost $2 million ($£1.2 million) at an auction in Florida overnight, which was held to raise cash for the thousands of victims of his $65 billion Ponzi scheme.$ Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 17 Nov 2009 | 7:25 pm House Dems sharpening "too big to fail" planWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A key U.S. congressional panel moved toward toughening a plan for dealing with "too big to fail" financial firms on Tuesday, while rejecting a Republican alternative that is expected to reappear later.Source: Reuters: Business News | 17 Nov 2009 | 7:01 pm House Dems sharpening "too big to fail" plan (Reuters)Reuters - A key U.S. congressional panel moved toward toughening a plan for dealing with "too big to fail" financial firms on Tuesday, while rejecting a Republican alternative that is expected to reappear later.Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 7:01 pm Nic Cage spent too much: Ex-manager saysNicolas Cage brought about his own financial ruin with a spending spree that included two castles, 15 palatial homes, a flotilla of yachts and a squadron of Rolls Royces, his former business manager said.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 17 Nov 2009 | 6:39 pm Citi discloses pay cuts for top executivesAmerica's pay czar slashed the compensation paid to Citigroup's vice chairman and trading head by as much as 63 per cent, according to a regulatory filing. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 17 Nov 2009 | 6:28 pm AP reports on own job lossesNews agency The Associated Press today laid off an undisclosed number of news employees in the US and abroad as part of the cooperative's yearlong plan to cut worldwide payroll expenses by 10 per cent.AP spokesman Paul Colford...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 6:15 pm Allied confirms deal with HanoverAbout 13,000 Hanover investors have a new proposal on the table after Allied Farmers' announcement that they have signed an agreement with Hanover Finance and its subsidiary United Finance.The deal, worth $400 million, would see...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 6:00 pm Costco nixes Coke products over pricing dispute (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 5:57 pm Hershey and Ferrero plot joint bid for CadburyAmerican and Italian chocolate makers are planning to trump Kraft as the battle for the British confectioner takes another twist.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news stocks and shares from the UK and world | 17 Nov 2009 | 5:19 pm Goldman apologises for role in crisisGoldman Sachs apologised for its role in the financial crisis and pledged $500m over five years to help 10,000 small businesses across the US recover from the recessionSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 17 Nov 2009 | 5:17 pm The 100: Steve Jobs, co-founder and chief executive of AppleIn the fourth in a series of extracts from The 100: Insights and lessons from 100 of the greatest speeches ever delivered, by Simon Maier and Jeremy Kourdi, they look at the lessons to learn from Steve Jobs. Steven Paul Jobs is the co-founder of Apple and former chief executive officer of Pixar Animation Studios, which he also founded. He is viewed as a leader of the technology revolution and one of the Silicon Valley entrepreneurial greats. He has superstar status and whenever he speaks there is not an empty seat. Many believe that the two are inextricably linked: Jobs is Apple. That shows the regard in which he is held. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 17 Nov 2009 | 5:01 pm Opportunity knocks in a slumpYou might think that a recession is a daft time to start a business, especially if you are a young graduate venturing out into the big, bad world of work for the first time. Better, perhaps, to play it safe, to try to squeeze into a big company and climb the corporate ladder. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 17 Nov 2009 | 5:01 pm Women ready to break into the boardroomThere are not many places where, in the same room, one can speak with the chairmen of Royal Bank of Scotland, BT, Pearson, J Sainsbury, Land Securities, 3i, ITV, DSG International, Balfour Beatty and Halfords. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 17 Nov 2009 | 5:01 pm How to . . . manage your company’s growthDon’t watch from the sidelines Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 17 Nov 2009 | 5:01 pm Apollo sets sights on NYSE listingApollo Management, the big private equity firm, is planning to list on the New York Stock Exchange in the coming weeks, according to people familiar with the matterSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 17 Nov 2009 | 5:00 pm Australians are workaholics, study findsCANBERRA - Australians work more than two billion hours of unpaid overtime a year, a A$72 billion ($91.08 billion) gift to their employers, a new study by an independent think tank shows.The Australian Institute research shows...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 5:00 pm Coke sees int'l markets key to long-term growthATLANTA (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co said on Tuesday that international growth, cost savings, new marketing and innovation would be key as it plans to double its total system revenue by 2020.Source: Reuters: Business News | 17 Nov 2009 | 4:31 pm CA-CANADA Summary (Reuters)Reuters - The H1N1 flu killed more people in Canada during the past week than in any other week this year, but health officials said on Tuesday the nation's vaccination program was going so well that it may reach its peak earlier than expected. Thirty-seven people died of the pandemic flu November 12-17, bringing Canada's death toll from H1N1 to 198, out of a population of 34 million. Comparable figures from other weeks were not available.Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 17 Nov 2009 | 4:28 pm Stock market end mixed even as commodities gain (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 17 Nov 2009 | 4:08 pm Hershey, Ferrero in talks over Cadbury: source (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 4:04 pm Hershey, Ferrero in talks over Cadbury: sourcePHILADELPHIA/MILAN (Reuters) - Chocolate makers Hershey Co and Ferrero SpA are considering a joint bid for Cadbury Plc that could help the British confectioner fend off a hostile takeover by Kraft Foods IncSource: Reuters: Business News | 17 Nov 2009 | 4:04 pm Fed officials differ on recovery's pace (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm How the major stock indexes fared on Tuesday (AP)AP - Stocks finished an erratic session mixed Tuesday as higher commodity prices lifted energy and materials shares. Major stock indexes had their third straight advance, reaching new 13-month highs, but there were more declining shares than advancers on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market. Stocks had zigzagged for much of the day on mixed news from retailers and industrial production.Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 17 Nov 2009 | 3:59 pm Write-Offs: 11.17.09$$$ "We participated in things that were clearly wrong and have reason to regret," Blankfein, 55, said at a conference in New York hosted by the Directorship magazine. "We apologize." [Bloomberg] $$$ Lobbying Effort Backfires For Hedge Funds [NYT] $$$ Oops! Yale Doesn't Actually Have $60 Billion [BI] $$$ The Hermitage Saga Turns Tragic As Fund Lawyer Dies In Jail [ZH] 
 Source: Dealbreaker | 17 Nov 2009 | 3:46 pm Presented By:Source: Dealbreaker | 17 Nov 2009 | 3:46 pm Bloomberg's Miller Discusses Fed Policy, Dollar: AudioSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 17 Nov 2009 | 3:45 pm Wall St gains on broker views, but retailers sink (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 17 Nov 2009 | 3:40 pm SEC says former Tvia execs inflated revenue (AP)AP - The Securities and Exchange Commission said Tuesday it has charged former executives at semiconductor company Tvia Inc. with improperly inflating the company's revenue.Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 17 Nov 2009 | 3:38 pm Best holiday gifts for the gadget geekLooking for the perfect present for that tech-savvy someone in your life? Try one of these affordable gadgets.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 17 Nov 2009 | 3:14 pm Citi boosts base salaries of some senior employeesNEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc said on Tuesday it boosted the base salaries for its chief financial officer and a global markets co-head, but still plans to pay Chief Executive Vikram Pandit $1 for the year.Source: Reuters: Business News | 17 Nov 2009 | 3:05 pm Are Chinese exports good for America?As President Obama completes his trip to China, it's a natural time to ask if trade with the greatest source of U.S. imports are a good thing or bad thing for the still battered U.S. economySource: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 17 Nov 2009 | 3:04 pm Being A Land Developer In A Bad Economy – Interview with Grant Miller At BusinessPundit, we can’t think of a single business that would be more difficult to be in right now than that of real estate developer. With that in mind, we set out to find a land developer who’s still in the game and who would explain what’s necessary to survive and possibly thrive. To answer some of our questions we caught up with Grant Miller, the developer behind The Village of Sewanee Creek – a land development for people interested in green, sustainable living. 1. Tell us about some of the challenges of being a developer since we’ve entered the current economic crisis. It’s been a really interesting ride because I began developing the Village just about the same time the sub-prime crisis hit. Early days were very slow. Most of the mountain developments were focusing on the high-end retirement buyer, while we focused on building a community of people more interested in frugal, self-sufficient living with an emphasis on simplicity and nature. As the economy worsened, the Village was actually in the sweet spot of the market. Now, almost all of those big, lavish developments have gone bankrupt and closed down. We continue to sell property, people are building and the community is beginning to fill out nicely. 2. What are some of the strategies you are using to succeed despite these challenges? We’re staying the course we set at the outset. In our own lives, we are focused on making a successful transition from an executive lifestyle to rural self-sufficiency. By being an example (as developer, I also live in the development), we demonstrate that the changes aren’t so frightening, but truly rewarding. So, the Village is much more than beautiful, natural land. We help people ease into a simpler, slower stress-free lifestyle. 3. What are some of the issues you face with being a developer in an extremely rural location? I guess keeping focused on marketing land over the web while learning to take care of animals, grow food and tinker with a lot of creative projects would be the biggest challenge. Not that different from life anywhere. It’s all about finding the balance that makes you feel good at the end of each day. 4. Why do developers’ roll out their development in phases? What’s the benefit of doing it this way? There are huge capital costs in building roads and installing utilities. So, it’s only prudent not to spend too much ahead of actual sales. That’s one of the reasons many developers are no longer in business in this tough economy. Another reason for us is that we are carefully building a community where relationships are very important. So, by developing in phases, we avoid spreading people too far apart. The lots are pretty big to begin with, so if neighbors started out even further spaced out there’s a risk that the physical distances might evolve into a culture of social distance as well. 5. What personality traits and habits are required of a developer? Steadiness, long term vision and consistency. 6. What motivated you to become a developer? I’m probably different from most developers because I settled down in my own development. I had no prior experience developing land, but I had a clear vision of the kind of place I wanted to live in for the rest of my life. I’m more motivated to realize my vision than I am to make a lot of money. Every person I sell land to becomes my new neighbor. I want them to be happy and I want them to be a good neighbor to me. So far that formula seems to be working very well. 7. If one of our readers was interested in becoming a developer, what advice would you give them? Be prepared for surprises and setbacks. Do a cost budget and then triple it. Know your target market, develop the product for that customer and deliver a clear consistent message. ***************************** If you’re interested in reading more about what Grant is doing at The Village of Sewanee Creek, you should check out his website, especially the amazing picture gallery.
Source: Business Pundit | 17 Nov 2009 | 3:02 pm Tanker Shipping, Tim Hortons, Whole Foods CEO: AudioSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:59 pm Former Wall Street Trader Melanie Berliet Took High Road, Did Not Have Sex With Boss, Still Got Screwed, Thinks You're All Whores
...my token status gave me an extra thrill. There was something doubly funny when I drilled a Nerf football into some guy's head. Something gratifyingly titillating about my accidental flubs, like the time I announced, too loudly, "I love nuts." I enjoyed being called a "fucking dullard" or being instructed, patronizingly, to "remove head from ass," because my reaction--to grin rather than cry--impressed the guys. I loved their attention and the daily opportunities to prove that I fit in. To that end, Mel B was up to get down when her boss, "Carl Pratt" (whose name was changed for this article, more on that later), texted her shit like, "Just woke up from a dream. I had you on your belly and took you from behind. You came multiple times." At first she was like, silly Carl you sound like such a tool using the word 'belly' but as for the doing me from behind? I've been thinking about it too. She hadn't actually been thinking about it, but Carl was her boss and they'd been doing the sexual banter thing for some time now. Also, Melanie felt "blessed to be able to play the sex card rather than cursed to have the game foisted upon me" and the bottom line was her "overwhelming preoccupation was procuring a fat bonus check." There was only one thing left to do. Text back: "Wow. And I thought I was the only one still having wet dreams." She figured, later that night, there'd be a few more drunk exchanges with CP but she didn't think that even after telling him she had her period and that she'd "pulled her groin" that he'd persist but surprise! He did. So she told him to put on some "hard core porn" and got in a cab.
Source: Dealbreaker | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:56 pm Saks, Home Depot, Applied Materials are big movers (AP)AP - The following stocks were among those that moved substantially or traded heavily Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange:Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:47 pm Saks, Home Depot, Applied Materials are big movers (AP)AP - The following stocks were among those that moved substantially or traded heavily Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange:Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:47 pm Cars drive inflation rise in OctoberInflation in Britain rose for the first time in eight months in October helped by a spike in the price of secondhand cars.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news stocks and shares from the UK and world | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:46 pm FSA red faced as LSE fines RegalThe Financial Services Authority faces criticism after Regal Petroleum was fined £600000 by the London Stock Exchange for "systematic" breaches of rules - just months after the watchdog closed its own investigation without conclusion.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news stocks and shares from the UK and world | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:42 pm Airbus sells first 840seat airlinerIn a development that adds new significance to the term "cattle class" Airbus on Tuesday announced the sale of the firstever 840seater aircraft.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news stocks and shares from the UK and world | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:40 pm TSX powers higher on resources, Potash (Reuters)Reuters - Toronto's main stock index rose on Tuesday as commodity prices ticked higher and shares of Potash Corp of Saskatchewan rallied after billionaire investor George Soros's hedge fund raised its stake in the company.Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:31 pm Tax credit to steady, not rescue, shaky U.S. housingNEW YORK (Reuters) - Don't expect the expanded home buyer tax credit to be a permanent cure for the U.S. housing market. It won't.Source: Reuters: Business News | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:26 pm DryShips Goes For Capital Raise, Again (DRYS)DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) just hexed its investors who were hoping to see the stock keep running over the $7.00 hurdle. The company just announced that it has commenced a public offering of $300 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes. The company listed the use of proceeds as being for vessel acquisitions, working [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:25 pm New York Fed Criticzed For Not Forcing HaircutsBy Caitlin Kenney The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has come under fire after a report released by the special inspector general for the TARP, Neil Barofsky, found they made "limited efforts" to convince AIG's counterparties to take losses. Bloomberg reports: The Fed "made several policy decisions that severely limited its ability to obtain concessions," including telling the banks that participation in talks was voluntary, Barofsky said. The Fed also opted not to use its "considerable leverage" as regulator of some of AIG's counterparties to force them to accept so-called haircuts, he said. Banks received the full value on credit-default swaps purchased from New York-based AIG to protect against declines in mortgage-linked investments, prompting lawmakers including Representative Darrell Issa to call the insurer's rescue a "backdoor bailout" for finance firms. AIG, once the world's largest insurer, was saved last year with a package of loans and investments that has swelled to $182.3 billion. Timothy Geithner, now Treasury Department secretary, led the New York Fed when it negotiated with the banks in November 2008. The Fed contacted eight of AIG's biggest counterparties to ask for discounts, Barofsky said. Only Zurich-based UBS AG was willing to take a haircut, a 2 percent discount, and that was under the condition other banks agreed to similar terms, Barofsky said. The Fed decided that all counterparties would receive full payment. Geithner, when asked at a press conference today about Barofsky's report, said it was a strength of the U.S. that people examine "every decision made in every stage in this crisis, and look at the quality of judgments made and evaluate them with the benefit of hindsight." » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Blogs: Planet Money | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:21 pm Melco Crown Outlines IPO Risks at Las Vegas Sands, MGM Too (MPEL, LVS, MGM, WYNN)Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. (NASDAQ: MPEL) is holding up better than many might have expected after the stellar rise seen in the casino stocks with Macau ties. Melco Crown turned a wider loss over a year ago, despite a 70% revenue rise. The loss was on a net basis rather than operating basis on higher [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:12 pm BofA knew of Merrill pain in November: House panelWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A congressional panel accused Bank of America Corp on Tuesday of knowing about Merrill Lynch's huge losses as early as November 2008, suggesting the bank misled investors in saying it did not grasp the depth of the problems until the following month.Source: Reuters: Business News | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:08 pm New US task force to step up fight against fraudThe Obama administration is to draw on dozens of government agencies in a “relentless” drive to avert another financial meltdown and tackle financial crime.Source: Financial Times - US homepage | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:02 pm 52-Week High Club (AGO, SMTL, SINA, TWB)Assured Guaranty Ltd. (NYSE: AGO) over 32% to a yearly high of $28.14 after the company posted earnings of $0.44 per share, beating analysts estimates. Semitool Inc (NASDAQ: SMTL) rose over 30% to a yearly high of $11.00 after Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ: AMAT) agreed to buy the company for $11.00 per share, or $364 [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 17 Nov 2009 | 1:56 pm Maria Bartiromo "Is Not A Stock Guru And She Doesn't Play One On Television"Unlike some people who shall remain nameless. NEVERTHELESS-- Maria has crossed paths with many, many stock gurus, who laid their investing knowledge on her ass. And now she wants to do the same to you. You WANT a piece this. Skittish about diving in? That's cool. Maria's fine with playing just the tip. But dollars to donuts you'll be begging for more. How serious is MB about this thing? So serious she took a pledge. Need we say more? Okay: • "Maria has carefully cultivated relationships with many giants of the investing world. And she knows how to interview them to get the very best they have to offer." • "Maria will not leave you hanging." • "Exclusive insights, analysis and forecasts that Maria gleans off-the-camera."
Source: Dealbreaker | 17 Nov 2009 | 1:48 pm Swine Flu At CitiIt's not an outbreak. Yet. (Kidding, you know the banks had their people vaccinated before the plebes.) On another note, it's sort of unclear how this happened, as Citi took pains earlier this year to teach its employees how to wash their hands in an effort to avoid "accidentally" wiping everyone out and closing up shop. One of the TMT banker on the 37th floor of the Greenwich Street building has been identified as having H1N1 and was asked to leave just now.
Source: Dealbreaker | 17 Nov 2009 | 1:26 pm New Natural Gas ETF to Issue 30 Million Shares: AudioSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 17 Nov 2009 | 1:21 pm Moran Sees Fed Raising Rates in Third-Quarter of 2010: AudioSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 17 Nov 2009 | 1:18 pm Opponents take aim at health billThe Congressional Budget Office has been crunching the numbers to find out how much the Senate health-care overhaul will cost. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports the bill's opponents are having a field day.Source: Marketplace | 17 Nov 2009 | 1:01 pm Lehman Wants Its Money BackLehman Brothers may be dead, but its earthly representatives are challenging the well-established legal precedent of "tap tap, no takebacks" in an effort to extract $10 billion from Barclays. It seems the Barclays may have used some fancy contractual footwork to get more than Lehman bargained for when the British bank bought the dying bank's North American assets. Alvarez and Marsal, hired by Lehman to figure out how Barclays wound up shacking up with its wife in addition to running its U.S. businesses, say Barclays pulled a fast one, getting a judge to give the OK to amendments to the preliminary sale contract that opened billion-dollar loopholes.
Source: Dealbreaker | 17 Nov 2009 | 12:22 pm Obama creates task force to fight financial crime (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pm Sony retunes $5bn ad budgetSony is looking to concentrate its nearly $5bn annual advertising firepower on a smaller number of products to ‘reinvent its marketing’, senior executives at the company saidSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 17 Nov 2009 | 12:01 pm Deal nears to end ‘banana wars’European and Latin American trade officials are close to a deal over bananas that would end the longest-running dispute in the history of the World Trade Organisation and could lead to lower prices for consumersSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:49 am Black Friday: The Best Day Of The Year to Buy A CarBy Daniel Costello So here I am looking to buy a car at the end of this month and what do I come across? Very informative news-I-can-use that the best day of the year to buy a car is just around the corner. It seems the research shows the best car deals happen the day after Thanksgiving. I would rather run a marathon in the Arctic than go to a mall on Black Friday, but word is the crowds aren't that bad at the dealerships that day. You'll know where to find me. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Blogs: Planet Money | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:44 am Banks face hit from bond downgradesUK bank debt likely to suffer bigger downgrades because of new laws allowing government to alter bond termsSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:41 am Chinese court rules against MicrosoftA Chinese court has ruled that Microsoft infringed a Chinese software maker’s intellectual property rights in a surprise decision that has renewedworries among foreign patent experts about China’s management of IPR disputesSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:37 am IRS settles with 14,700 over foreign accountsMIAMI -- More than 14,700 U.S. taxpayers came forward to disclose billions in offshore bank accounts in 70 countries under a voluntary Internal Revenue Service program allowing most to avoid criminal prosecution as long as they pay what they owe, IRS officials said Tuesday.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:30 am Letters: For-profit universities, jobsKai Ryssdal reviews what listeners had to say about stories involving for-profit schools like the University of Phoenix, and difficulty in finding work.Source: Marketplace | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:16 am A slow media movementHave Facebook friend requests, cell-phone messages, incessant emails and texts made it impossible to disconnect? Feel overwhelmed? Sally Herships reports on one solution.Source: Marketplace | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:16 am Silverdome sold off, for a stealCity officials have auctioned off the Pontiac Silverdome for just over $500,000, even though it cost millions to build. Steve Henn reports.Source: Marketplace | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:16 am Some retailers aren't happy to see cashMore Americans say they'll be using cash instead of credit cards to pay for their holiday purchases this year. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports why that's bad new for retailers.Source: Marketplace | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:16 am Did Geithner do right by AIG?A report from the TARP Inspector General Neal Barofsky suggests we overpaid a good deal to rescue AIG. Senior editor Paddy Hirsch talks with Kai Ryssdal about Treasury Secretary Geithner's role in the bailout of AIG.Source: Marketplace | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:16 am FBI investigating NH mortgage company that closed (AP)AP - A mortgage company in Meredith that closed suddenly last week is undergoing a criminal investigation by the FBI.Source: Yahoo! News: Business | 17 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am Hooker-Employing Hedge Fund Manager Addresses Dumb Blonde Jokes
A selection of the emails Mr Lowe sent to Miss Wimmer and other women staff were read to Central London Employment Tribunal. One email from May 7, 2008, titled 'Who is your real friend?' read: 'Put your dog and your girlfriend in the boot of your car for an hour and then see who is happy to see you.' When asked by Alisdair Simpson, for Miss Wimmer, if he thought the joke was demeaning to women, Mr Lowe disagreed and said he thought it was 'funny, but not especially'. Mr Simpson replied: 'You don't think putting your girlfriend in the boot of your car is demeaning?' Mr Lowe said he had never put a girlfriend in the boot of a car, adding the joke was 'not especially demeaning'. Lowe [also] said: 'I thought they were funny. They weren't brilliantly funny, but they amused me.' Furthmore, does he not get credit for demonstrating enormous restraint here?
Source: Dealbreaker | 17 Nov 2009 | 10:57 am Exxon Mobil Raised to `Overweight’ at Barclays: AudioSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 17 Nov 2009 | 10:55 am Brynjolfsson Sees `Synchronized Recovery’ in U.S.: AudioSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 17 Nov 2009 | 10:37 am Darda Sees 4% U.S. GDP Growth, Little Deflation Risk: AudioSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 17 Nov 2009 | 10:36 am Holland Likes Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities: AudioSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 17 Nov 2009 | 10:35 am Goodfriend Calls Increased Power for Fed `Trojan Horse': AudioSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 17 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am Parpart Says `New Dawn' Between U.S. & China Is Possible: AudioSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 17 Nov 2009 | 10:29 am Experts Predict Shoppers Will Go Online Prior To Cyber Monday
This is a guest post by Resource Nation’s Shannon Suetos. Like last year, Thanksgiving this year will fall later in the month. November 26th, to be exact–making Cyber Monday November 30th. Experts have found that when Thanksgiving comes later in the month, people tend to start shopping weeks before Cyber Monday. If you own an e-commerce site, the signal is clear. Take advantage of that early online shopping. Start marketing for holiday shopping now. Start by asking your web designer to make your site more festive. Change the color scheme to fun holiday colors. Get your shoppers in the holiday spirit early. If your site looks and feels like it’s time to holiday shop, your viewers are more likely to jump on board and start shopping. Start promoting now. If people are online anyway, grab their attention. One way to do this is to offer something for free. Offers like free shipping or a small holiday gift will entice shoppers to buy. Hopefully, they will pay off your efforts when they do. Investing in more online marketing strategies this time of year can benefit you as well. Many e-commerce and offline stores earn their bread and butter during the holiday season. If this applies to you, invest your money to get the most out of your holiday shoppers. Look over your site’s October-December shopping trends to help you target exactly how early to start marketing holiday sales. Cybermonday.com is another tool you might want to utilize. This site makes deals with many online merchants to save shoppers money. Merchants, in turn, gain more exposure. To stand out on this site you need to offer shoppers a great deal. Gift package bundles are an example. You bundle together items that a shopper would naturally get–i.e. running shoes and a runner’s jacket–and make the price cheaper than if they buy each item separately. Get creative! And have fun. The holiday season is supposed to be about giving. Think of how your site can help shoppers give the perfect gift. Resource Nation provides free tools, tips, and purchasing advice for business owners and entrepreneurs in over 100Resource Nation provides free tools, tips, and purchasing advice for business owners and entrepreneurs in over 100 business categories ranging from phone systems to credit card processing. Whether it’s connecting businesses with local and national pre-screened vendors, or offering easy service comparisons on a VoIP service, Resource Nation empowers business decision makers by providing the information they need to make smart choices.
Source: Business Pundit | 17 Nov 2009 | 9:48 am Steel IPO Filing: Hirschfeld Industries, Inc. (HSFD)Hirschfeld Industries, Inc. filed after the close on Monday to come public via an initial public offering of up to $150,000,000 in equity being sold via the New York Stock Exchange under the stock ticker “HSFD.” No terms and conditions were set, so that $150 million should be considered as “for filing purposes only.” Stock [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 17 Nov 2009 | 9:46 am The Taxman ComethBy Daniel Costello The Internal Revenue Service on Tuesday disclosed how the Swiss banking giant UBS is selecting which American clients will be turned over to the agency as part of a settlement of a tax evasion case. Under legal pressure, UBS agreed this summer to hand over the names of about 4,450 American clients suspected by the IRS of using offshore accounts to evade taxes. The bank paid a $780 million penalty under a deferred prosecution agreement filed in a Florida federal court. On Tuesday, the tax agency said more than 14,700 U.S. taxpayers came forward voluntarily and disclosed billions in offshore bank accounts in 70 countries this year under an Internal Revenue Service program amnesty program that expired Oct. 15. It allowed anyone who came forward to avoid criminal prosecution as long as they paid what they owed. Normally, about 100 Americans voluntarily come forward about such offshore accounts and unpaid taxes each other, the agency said. The IRS said the recent disclosures involved accounts on every continent but Antarctica. Seven of those people have been charged criminally, and at least two sentenced to prison. The government originally sought up to 52,000 names but settled on a tenth of that goal and is now focused on uncovering UBS clients with the largest accounts on which proper taxes may not have been paid. "The Department of Justice is pleased with the extraordinary results achieved from this landmark settlement," said Deputy Attorney General David Ogden. "The message to American taxpayers is clear: the era of bank secrecy and hidden assets is over." » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Source: NPR Blogs: Planet Money | 17 Nov 2009 | 9:39 am FDA: Thin Blood, Sour Stomach (AZN)(BMY)(SNY)The FDA is routinely criticized for being a poor steward of drug research and pharmaceutical side effects. The agency proved once again why much of the criticism is justified. The FDA today said that two drugs, each of which has been on the market for many years, react badly when taken together. It is a wonder it [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 17 Nov 2009 | 9:37 am Charlie Gasparino And Andrew Ross Sorkin Make Nice, Charlie And Lloyd Blankfein Not So Much
Source: Dealbreaker | 17 Nov 2009 | 9:35 am Does This Even Qualify As A Negotiation?
Well, not that long before. It came a year ago, when Timmy headed the New York Fed and gave AIG's counterparties a $25 billion bailout. So says a report from the special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, who works for none other than Tim Geithner. It seems Tim doesn't have the stomach for hard-nosed negotiation. According to the report, his New York Fed gave the counterparties to AIG's credit-default swaps just about everything they wanted without much of a fight. When Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and the French banking regulator--on behalf of Société Générale and Calyon--refused to even consider accepting a discount on the trades, Tim and friends raised the white flag and agreed to fund AIG's repurchase of the CDS--at par, despite the fact that many of the mortgages underlying the securities had gone into default.
Source: Dealbreaker | 17 Nov 2009 | 9:10 am Fortune 100 Companies Don’t Use Twitter Effectively (Study)
Out of the 540 total Twitter (Twitter) accounts registered by Fortune 100 companies, 50 percent of the accounts had fewer than 500 followers and another 15 percent weren’t being used at all. The majority of the accounts from Fortune 100 companies had no personality, but instead focused on brand only. Out of the 540 accounts, 53 percent “did not display personality, tone or voice on their account pages,” according to the report, which judged personality based on whether an account was identified with a personality who posted on behalf of the company or if it was a “faceless” brand account. The most popular use of Twitter from companies using it, is as a newsfeed or for developing brand awareness. But companies seem not to understand how to use the service to increase sales or they don’t believe that it’s possible. Though Dell (33 on Fortune 100 list) has used Twitter to sell millions of dollars worth of products, only 16 percent of Fortune 100 accounts used Twitter for sales, special Twitter offers, coupons or other special offers. …the study found that half of the accounts did not score well on engagement metrics used by Twitalyzer, which looks at number of links, hashtags, retweets and references. Being engaged and active on Twitter usually translates to more followers because it gives an account more exposure and chances of being retweeted and seen by other users (assuming the information is valuable). If Genentech can keep up a decent Twitter feed, there’s no reason most other Fortune 100 companies can’t do it, too. The biggest thing stopping most of these companies is probably their perception of Twitter.
Source: Business Pundit | 17 Nov 2009 | 9:08 am Ghost Towns in China Prove GDP is a FarceThis is a guest post written by Wall St. Cheat Sheet Editor-in-Chief Damien Hoffman. In 2008, I closely commented on the demise of Lehman Brothers and the hidden cancers on other balance sheets. At the time, the fraudulent real estate bubble found a poster child in Lehman investment McAllister Ranch: a three square mile development in which Lehman dropped a quarter billion dollars of loans … and the mega-community became a ghost town. Now, a few weeks from the modern space odyssey 2010, video is surfacing that even more costly and extravagant real estate developments in China are following the Lehman model (which was probably 486 Excel sheets built by a 24-year old working 110 hours a week). Welcome to the real, yet imaginary, city of Ordos: So, there you have it. An entire generation has grown up and been conditioned to believe economics is the fundamental nature of reality, yet the proof continues to mount that economics is simply a wealth shifting game which does not solely enhance civilizations or lives. If the Chinese government eventually pulls a Lehman, the next chapter of history will be messy. Damien Hoffman is the Editor-in-Chief of Wall St. Cheat Sheet.
Source: Business Pundit | 17 Nov 2009 | 8:57 am Pirate Capital Captain Jack Is Hiring!
Source: Dealbreaker | 17 Nov 2009 | 8:55 am Swine Flu Boosts Sales of Fisherman’s FriendPeople in England are buying unprecedented amounts of Fisherman’s Friend, a strong cold lozenge, because they think it could cure swine flu. Ananova reports: Demand for the aniseed variety of the 65-year-old winter warmer has meant an unprecedented rise in production. Key ingredient star anise – pure aniseed – is also contained in the swine flu treatment Tamiflu, reports the Daily Mirror. There is no evidence that sucking a Fisherman’s Friend can cure swine flu but people are making the link for themselves. Fisherman’s Friend makers Lofthouse of Fleetwood Ltd told Grocer magazine: “Sales are up 43% since June and we are struggling to cope. “We make no claims for our product – though enjoying a Fisherman’s Friend will certainly do no harm. People are making the aniseed link themselves.”
Source: Business Pundit | 17 Nov 2009 | 5:18 am Morning Report: Obama Makes Little Progress In China; A Smoking Vaccine?By Daniel Costello Speaking in the Great Hall of the People overlooking Tiananmen square, President Obama paid tribute Tuesday to China's economic successes and for what he said was its "critical" role in helping pull the world back from the brink after this year's financial meltdown. But, added Obama, "a growing economy is joined by growing responsibilities." President Obama is pushing the Chinese to help address several of his economic headaches, including the Chinese currency, which the U.S. and other countries maintain is undervalued and a large cause of the huge trade surpluses China has with many countries. America's leverage with China has been weakened as China has amassed nearly $800 billion in Treasury securities, making it the U.S.'s largest foreign creditor. Michael Froman, economic adviser on the National Security Council, said "the 800 billion never came up in conversation." British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline agreed Monday to a licensing deal in which it eventually could pay $500 million or more for rights to an experimental anti-smoking vaccine, NicVax, developed by a Maryland biotech firm. NicVax is undergoing trials as a treatment for nicotine addiction, and to prevent smoking relapse. It is being developed to block nicotine from reaching receptors in the brain. The deal involves one of several key vaccines under development, leading scientists to hail a possible second golden age of vaccines not seen since the 1940s and 50s, when scientists such as Jonas Salk discovered inoculations for polio, flu, mumps and measles. Among other possible vaccines out in the coming years: herpes simplex, rheumatoid arthritis and a better seasonal influenza vaccine. A malaria vaccine -- a development that would revolutionize public health around the globe if successful -- could be on the market in the next several years. Some early clinical trials have been promising. Overall, the number of vaccines in development has risen from 285 in 1996 to 450 today. And Paul Allen, the billionaire investor who co-founded Microsoft Corp., announced late Monday he has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy. In an email sent Monday afternoon to employees of Vulcan Inc., Mr. Allen's Seattle-based investment firm, Vulcan CEO Jody Allen and Mr. Allen's sister said doctors say he has diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. "Paul is feeling OK and remains upbeat. He continues to work and he has no plans to change his role at Vulcan," Ms. Allen said. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Blogs: Planet Money | 17 Nov 2009 | 4:27 am What Differentiates Geeks and Nerds
Source: Business Pundit | 17 Nov 2009 | 4:06 am This Doesn’t Look Like A Pleasant Work Environment
Source: Business Pundit | 17 Nov 2009 | 2:16 am
|
