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The Underlying Logic of Piracy
Source: Business Pundit | 23 Mar 2010 | 4:16 am Bertelsmann 2009 net income down 87 pct (AP)AP - German media group Bertelsmann AG says its full-year 2009 net income fell 87 percent to euro35 million ($47 million) as a result of a slump in demand during the economic downturn.Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 4:13 am UK inflation rate starts to fallThe UK inflation rate drops sharply to 3% in February from 3.5% the month before, figures show.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 23 Mar 2010 | 4:12 am Greece: can keep borrowing from markets (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 4:12 am Greece wants European solution to debt crisisATHENS (Reuters) - Greece wants a European solution to its debt crisis and expects positive results from a European Union summit on March 25-26, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said on Tuesday.
Source: Reuters: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 4:10 am Barroso demands solidarity on GreeceThe European Commission president challenges Berlin over its opposition to an early Greek rescue plan, insisting that this should be finalised this week to prevent further instabilitySource: Financial Times - US homepage | 23 Mar 2010 | 4:07 am Stock futures signal gains; housing data eyed(Reuters) - Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.21 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.21 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.15 percent.
Source: Reuters: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 4:05 am Stock futures signal gains; housing data eyed (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 23 Mar 2010 | 4:05 am Stocks set for a higher startU.S. stocks were set to open higher Tuesday as investors await a new reading on the strength of the housing market, and consider the progress of Wall Street reform legislation.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 23 Mar 2010 | 4:03 am Mortgage lending 'still subdued'Mortgage lending to house buyers is still subdued, according to the British Bankers' Association (BBA).Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 23 Mar 2010 | 4:00 am Cairn Energy profit slumps (AFP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:46 am Beijing seeks to limit Google falloutJust hours after the State Council Information Office blasted Google’s move to stop censoring search results in China as a violation of its written promises, the Foreign Ministry denied the case would have any broader implicationsSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:44 am Recalls that killDefective products can destroy the companies that made them. Here are 5 companies that didn't survive their recalls -- and 2 that used bankruptcy to their advantage.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:43 am Japan's Dai-ichi Mutual Life IPO to be biggest since Visa (AFP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:43 am Time Warner’s New Growth Plan: Buy MGMTime Warner (TWX) has spun out its Time Warner Cable (TWC) operation and AOL (AOL) That has left the company with TV programming, magazine, and studio assets. Wall St. has been waiting to see what the huge entertainment conglomerate would do to begin expansion again and use the large amount of cash its has on [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:42 am Budget boost for Labour as inflation falls to 3%Inflation fell back in February, it was revealed today, easing fears that rising prices were starting to become entrenched in the economy. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:42 am World markets mostly higher after US stocks gain (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:41 am World markets mostly higher after US stocks gain (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:41 am Take this job and tolerate itOne of the key signs of trouble for the current labor market can be summed up by two words that are rarely spoken today: I quit.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:41 am Google cleared in LVMH trademark rowGoogle has not violated the rights of luxury goods maker Louis Vuitton and two other firms by allowing online advertisers to buy search keywords identical to trademarks, Europe's top court said.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:40 am Google wins EU ruling in fake luxury goods case (AP)AP - Google Inc. won a key European Union court ruling Tuesday that says it did not violate luxury goods trademarks by allowing counterfeiters to buy brand names as advertising key words that link to their online stores.Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:39 am The rich: How much they'll payHigh-income households will be paying more into Medicare as a result of the health reform package President Obama will sign into law Tuesday.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:39 am Google risks China's ire with slap to censorshipBEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Google Inc shut its mainland Chinese-language portal and began rerouting searches to its Hong Kong-based site, unleashing a blast of ire from Beijing and prompting concerns over its future business in China.
Source: Reuters: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:38 am China slams Google censoring moveChina attacks Google's decision to stop censoring search results as its long-running row with the US internet giant escalates.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:34 am Sparring over Greece keeps pressure on euroGlobal Markets Overview: Equities becalmed at multi-month highs as fears of debt default contagion lingerSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:34 am Tosoh America Consolidates With Tagetik 3.0Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:30 am Hemorrhaging cabernet: Quake hits Chile winemakers (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:28 am VT agrees to £1.3bn Babcock bidDefence services company VT Group agrees to a takeover deal from Babcock International.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:21 am 'Bank accounts for all' in BudgetUK banks will be legally obliged to provide bank accounts for all, as part of the Budget, the BBC learns.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:20 am Nintendo Brings 3D To Video GamesNintendo has been able to keep a lead over Microsoft (MSFT) and Sony (SNE) in the high end game console business. Its Wii routinely outsells the Xbox360 and PS3. Now Nintendo plans to improves its position in the market for smaller hand-held game devices. The Japanese consumer electronics company will launch a version of its DS that will allow [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:17 am Rio Tinto executives face industrial spy chargesFour Rio Tinto executives who yesterday pleaded guilty to taking bribes in China must now answer allegations that they stole commercial secrets. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:09 am Asia stocks mixed: Tokyo drops, Hong Kong risesAsian markets end mixed Tuesday as an overnight rebound in crude-oil prices and on Wall Street helped support energy-sector stocks, while Japanese exporters lose ground as the yen strengthened against the euro.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:08 am L&G back in profit, raises dividend by a thirdLegal & General, the life insurer, has announced a 33pc increase in its final dividend to 2.73p per share after returning to profit.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:07 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 | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:01 am Consumer Purchase Plans: iPad Trumps KindleResearch that tries to forecast consumers’ buying plans is notoriously inaccurate. It is hard to determine what someone will buy if they have not seen it. Purchase intent based on brand can be trumped by objections to the features and functions of a new device. Potential customers for the Apple (AAPL) iPad may not like it [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:00 am Money4Gold Announces Q4 and FY 2009 ResultsSource: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 3:00 am VT Group succumbs to £1.33bn Babcock offerVT Group today capitulated in the seven-week siege by Babcock International, agreeing to a £1.33 billion cash-and-shares bid from the rival defence services group. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:52 am BT must share its high speed broadband network, says regulatorBT will be forced to share its high speed fibre optic broadband network with other providers, the telecoms industry regulator Ofcom has announced.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:50 am 5 credit score killersAs banks shy away from making risky consumer loans, a mediocre credit history just won't cut it anymore. To get the best rates on mortgages, credit cards and auto loans, you need a killer score.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:47 am Health Care Reform Moves To The CourtHealth care reform, barely hours old, has begun its way into the legal system. It is a process that could take years. Attorneys general from 12 states are planning to challenge key portions of the bill. The new legislation will force all Americans to have health care. Virginia AG Kenneth Cuccinelli II, a founder of [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:39 am Greece wants European solution to debt crisisATHENS (Reuters) - Greece expects positive results at the European Union summit on March 25-26 and wants a European solution to its debt crisis, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:39 am Currencies: Dollar gains on major rivals in Asian tradingThe dollar rises against major counterparts in Asian trading, catching up against its Japanese peer after a three-day weekend.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:39 am FTSE 100 slightly higher at open (AFP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:37 am Consumer spending bellwether Carpetright warns on profits, unsettles retail sectorCarpetright Britain's, Britain's biggest floor coverings retailer and a bellwether for consumer spending, has warned that profits this year would fall below market expectations.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:31 am Legal & General rebounds to lift dividend by 33%Legal & General today announced a dramatic turnaround in dividend prospects, lifting its final payout by 33 per cent and signalling further increases to come. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:27 am China warns US not to 'politicise' Google rowGoogle’s closure of its search engine in China should not damage Sino-US relations as long as it remains an isolated act by a commercial company, China’s Foreign Ministry said today. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:21 am Boeing criticises Airbus aid planAerospace giant Boeing criticises German plans to give a 1.1bn euro loan to help Airbus develop its A350 passenger plane.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:17 am Raiffeisen to merge with parent; profit drops 78%Austria’s Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG reports a 78% drop in profit for 2009, cuts its dividend, and confirms that it plans to merge with its parent.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:16 am Paul B. Farrell: Capitalist Anarchy and Lobbyist BubbleLobbyists are everywhere: There are 13,740 registered in Washington, a total of 42,000 de facto lobbyists, and one expert estimates 261,000 in the “influence-lobbying complex” throughout America. Here are seven examples of how this new Capitalist Anarchy is killing the moral fiber of America:
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:11 am FA chief executive Watmore quitsFootball Association chief executive Ian Watmore resigns after less than a year in the post.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:07 am Europe Markets: Europe up for first time in four sessionsEuropean shares rise, helped by earnings-related gains from Legal & General and Cairn Energy and a takeover agreement for VT Group.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:05 am Business Bullet: Miners, L&G, Drinks, BabcockThe latest news on: Miners, L&G, Drinks, BabcockSource: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:00 am Rare China trade deficit not seen signaling new trendBEIJING (Reuters) - China will probably run a trade deficit of more than $8 billion in March, state media said on Tuesday, citing Premier Wen Jiabao.
Source: Reuters: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 2:00 am Save money with a DIY BudgetHow to cut your tax bill, whatever the Chancellor does in the BudgetSource: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:59 am Babcock International to buy VT Group for $2 blnU.K. engineering-services firm Babcock agrees to buy VT Group for a mix of cash and stock after two previous bids had been rejected.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:59 am Media Digest 3/23/2010 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, BloombergReuters: Google (GOOG) risks China’s wrath by its challenge to censorship Reuters: China expressed both regret and anger at Google’s move. Reuters: The head of the Chicago Fed said the agency will keep its pro-growth plans. Reuters: Germany agreed to a bank tax to fund bailouts. Reuters: China says it will have an $8 billion trade deficit in March. Reuters: [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:55 am Bill Watts' Forex Files: Budget Day may offer limited respite for sterlingWith an election expected in only six weeks, Alistair Darling’s budget speech on Wednesday may leave sterling traders reaching for a glass of sherry with beaten egg,
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:55 am Asian shares rise toward 2-month peak; techs firm (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:53 am Ofcom in faster broadband effortTelecoms regulator Ofcom urges UK firms to speed up the roll-out of super-fast broadband.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:43 am Merck KGaA halts cancer vaccine trialGermany's Merck KGaA on Tuesday halts a cancer trial after a patient contracts encephalitis.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:41 am Fed to keep pro-growth policies: Chicago Fed chiefSHANGHAI (Reuters) - Unacceptably high unemployment and well-contained inflation make it likely that U.S. monetary policy will remain accommodative for at least several months more, a top U.S. Federal Reserve official said on Tuesday.
Source: Reuters: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:38 am VT Group recommends £1.3bn Babcock offerVT Group has recommended a £1.33bn, 735p-a-share takeover offer from rival Babcock to create a leading British engineering support services company.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:36 am QVT Financial Sends Letter to Galatasaray Sportif Demanding it Adhere to CMB DirectivesSource: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:36 am Trial of Rio employees continues in ShanghaiThe mining group’s head iron ore salesman on trial in a Shanghai court is accused of accepting two bribesSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:34 am Student aid overhaul passes HousePrivate lenders would no longer provide federally subsidized college loans -- it would all come straight from the U.S. government. ...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am L.A. mass transit agencies make only a token effort to get people onboardToo little is done to make the region's public transportation network a convenient and practical alternative to driving.Los Angeles marked Transportation Freedom Day last week. What's that? It's the day when the typical median-income family has earned enough money to cover transportation costs for the entire year.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am Stocks retreat in early trading on Greece concernsNEW YORK -- Stock prices fell in early trading Monday as investors worry about Greece's ability to repay debt and the potential consequences for the global economic recovery.Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am In Chinese court, Rio Tinto mining executive admits taking bribesStern Hu of the British-Australian mining firm faces up to 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, the business environment for non-Chinese firms is perceived to be increasingly difficult. ...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am ARCADIS Nominates Renier Vree as new CFOSource: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am Gas prices should be near peak for the year, analysts sayAfter a 3-cent rise nationally and in California over the last week, a plentiful supply and strong dollar bode well for motorists. ...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am Pressure grows to overhaul Fannie Mae, Freddie MacLawmakers plan to push the Obama administration to come up with an exit strategy for the troubled housing finance agencies, which have been propped up by bailout money. ...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am L.A. mass transit agencies make only a token effort to get people onboardToo little is done to make the region's public transportation network a convenient and practical alternative to driving. ...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am Spicy 'Spartacus' slays 'em for StarzNo. 3 pay channel scores first original series hit with the Roman slave saga. There's no confusing Starz's "Spartacus:...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am Most major healthcare stocks rise modestly after House passes overhaulAlthough UnitedHealth and WellPoint lose ground, some smaller insurers are sharply higher.Wall Street largely cheered Washington's massive healthcare overhaul Monday, as shares of most healthcare companies rose modestly after Sunday's vote by the House.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am In Chinese court, Rio Tinto mining executive admits taking bribesStern Hu of the British-Australian mining firm faces up to 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, the business environment for non-Chinese firms is perceived to be increasingly difficult.In a case that has become a flash point for the foreign business climate in China, an Australian mining executive admitted Monday to taking bribes while working as a chief iron-ore negotiator in China.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am Pressure grows to overhaul Fannie Mae, Freddie MacLawmakers plan to push the Obama administration to come up with an exit strategy for the troubled housing finance agencies, which have been propped up by bailout money.It is the forgotten bailout: $125.9 billion spent by taxpayers so far to rescue housing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- nearly twice what's been pumped into American International Group Inc. -- and with no end in sight.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am Spicy 'Spartacus' slays 'em for StarzNo. 3 pay channel scores first original series hit with the Roman slave saga.There's no confusing Starz's "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" with Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar."
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am Senate banking panel OKs sweeping financial overhaul billThe 13-10 vote is split along party lines. Republicans say they will work to amend the legislation before the full Senate.With President Obama ready to sign the historic healthcare reform bill, the White House and its Democratic allies in Congress aggressively pressed forward Monday on their next major legislative priority -- a sweeping overhaul of financial regulations.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am Most major healthcare stocks rise modestly after House passes overhaulAlthough UnitedHealth and WellPoint lose ground, some smaller insurers are sharply higher. Wall Street largely...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am Senate banking panel OKs sweeping financial overhaul billThe 13-10 vote is split along party lines. Republicans say they will work to amend the legislation before the full Senate. ...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am Student aid overhaul passes HousePrivate lenders would no longer provide federally subsidized college loans -- it would all come straight from the U.S. government.The federal government is moving toward the most sweeping overhaul of college financial aid in decades.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am Maguire Properties pads cash reserves, reduces debtDowntown L.A's biggest office landlord, after defaulting on six properties last year, posts a fourth-quarter loss of $299.1 million.Distressed office landlord Maguire Properties Inc. substantially reduced its debt and stockpiled cash last year, the company said Monday, but it still has a big financial hole to dig out of before it can return to profitability.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 23 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am BA services resume after strikeBritish Airways is trying to resume normal services after the end of a three-day strike by cabin crew.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 23 Mar 2010 | 12:40 am Rio staff face secrets charge after admitting bribesSHANGHAI (Reuters) - Four Rio Tinto executives faced charges of stealing commercial secrets in China on Tuesday after pleading guilty to taking bribes in a trial that has thrown a spotlight on the country's opaque business practices.
Source: Reuters: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 12:31 am China media accuse Google of violating promises (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 23 Mar 2010 | 12:26 am Caixin Online: Frayed string for China's property balloonIn China, property sales volumes in the primary and secondary markets have collapsed. But no one is panicking, not even those who live off the property bubble. Economist Andy Xie knows why.
Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 23 Mar 2010 | 12:04 am Asian markets mostly higher after US stocks gainAsian stock markets were mostly higher Tuesday, helped by an overnight rise on Wall Street after the passage of a sweeping U.S. health care measure. Major markets gained by 1 percent or...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:57 pm NZ dollar little changed ahead of key dataThe New Zealand dollar continued to recover from its dip overnight, although it remained confined to a narrow range ahead of key domestic data later this week.By 5pm, the kiwi was at US70.72c, up from US70.55c late yesterday afternoon...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:53 pm Inter-American Bank boosts capital by $70 billionThe governing board of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has agreed to boost its capital by 70 billion dollars, almost doubling its capacity to make loans to countries in the...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:43 pm Oil hovers above $81 as traders eye equity marketsOil prices hovered above $81 a barrel Tuesday in Asia as investors look to equity markets and crude inventory data later this week for a trading catalyst. Benchmark crude for May...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:14 pm First Uranium updates Ezulwini Mine technical reportSource: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 22 Mar 2010 | 10:40 pm Zale considers financing deal with Sun Capital: report(Reuters) - U.S. jeweler Zale Corp , which expected to have secured funds to steady its finances by late May, is considering a financing proposal from Sun Capital Partners Inc, the Wall...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 22 Mar 2010 | 10:36 pm Debate on the future of Fannie, Freddie heats up (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 22 Mar 2010 | 10:04 pm Kiwis cutting back on credit cardsNew Zealanders are restricting their use of credit cards, even as other electronic cards are becoming more popular for making payments.MasterCard said figures from Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) and the Reserve Bank showed that...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 22 Mar 2010 | 10:04 pm Rebates Get Disguised as Magazine Gifts (Deal of the Day)Magazines are offering rebates. We offer tips on when to sign up.
Source: SmartMoney.com | 22 Mar 2010 | 10:00 pm Fix Your Own Target-Date FundNew research suggests investors aren't socking away as much as expected.
Source: SmartMoney.com | 22 Mar 2010 | 10:00 pm How Financial Reform Could Affect Your Credit (Card Sharp)The proposed overhaul could mean change is coming to your wallet.
Source: SmartMoney.com | 22 Mar 2010 | 10:00 pm 3 Hospital Stocks Favored by the Health-Care Bill (Screens)Hough: These firms stand to profit from new medical insurance rules.
Source: SmartMoney.com | 22 Mar 2010 | 10:00 pm Drop the Double DipMany investors worry that the U.S. economy will slip back into recession this year or next. They shouldn't.
Source: SmartMoney.com | 22 Mar 2010 | 10:00 pm Japan government to face big fund shortage in 2011/12: Nikkei (Reuters)Reuters - Japan's government may need to issue more bonds or drop some spending plans as it faces a shortage of up to 7 trillion yen ($78 billion) in funds in the year to March 2012, the Nikkei newspaper reported.Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 22 Mar 2010 | 9:48 pm Mining payoff takes time, says industryNew mining projects on conservation land may take hundreds of millions to get started, but the long term payoffs will be worth it, says an industry lobby group. Straterra acting chief executive Chris Baker says the feasibility...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 22 Mar 2010 | 9:30 pm Hubbard says South Canterbury may have to raise more capitalSouth Canterbury Finance, which is awaiting word on whether it has been accepted into the Extended Retail Deposit Guarantee scheme, may have to raise more capital and sell non-core assets, according to owner Allan Hubbard.Hubbard's...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 22 Mar 2010 | 9:00 pm New fault disrupts Telecom's XT serviceTelecom mobile phone customers, including some on its maligned XT network, experienced intermittent faults with with their service today.The telecommunications giant announced on its customer service Twitter feed this afternoon...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 22 Mar 2010 | 8:30 pm Hollywood studio MGM to review takeover bidsMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the Hollywood studio that is home to the James Bond movie franchise, is to review a number of takeover bids it has received as it attempts to delay interest payments on its debts. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 22 Mar 2010 | 8:13 pm Google stops censoring in ChinaGoogle says it has stopped censoring its search results in China, setting itself up for a confrontation with the country's authorities.Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 22 Mar 2010 | 8:02 pm Time Warner leads bids of up to $1.5 billion for MGMNEW YORK (Reuters) - Time Warner Inc, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp and billionaire Len Blavatnik's Access Industries put up rival bids of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion for studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, sources familiar with the matter, told Reuters on Monday.
Source: Reuters: Business News | 22 Mar 2010 | 7:40 pm Economists more optimistic about NZ growthEconomists are feeling a little more optimistic about the country's fortunes over the next few years than they were three months ago.Consensus forecasts compiled by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) show the...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 22 Mar 2010 | 7:30 pm Geithner calls for housing finance revampWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. mortgage finance system should be revamped, government guarantees should be clearly defined and risk priced accordingly, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner plans to tell Congress on Tuesday.
Source: Reuters: Business News | 22 Mar 2010 | 7:21 pm Senate committee approves Finance BillThe Senate Banking Committee approved a controversial Democrat-authored Bill to overhaul America’s financial system, after the Republicans on the committee made a surprise decision to drop their opposition to the legislation. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 22 Mar 2010 | 7:10 pm Rio Tinto exec admits China bribery chargesSHANGHAI - Four employees of mining giant Rio Tinto pleaded guilty yesterday to taking bribes, lawyers and an Australian diplomat said, in an embarrassing case seen as part of a harsh new attitude toward foreign business in China.Rio...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 22 Mar 2010 | 7:00 pm Google pulls plug on search engine operation in ChinaIn a move that could shrink its audience, it shifts traffic to Hong Kong in a censorship dispute with Beijing. ...Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 22 Mar 2010 | 6:58 pm Google pulls plug on search engine operation in ChinaIn a move that could shrink its audience, it shifts traffic to Hong Kong in a censorship dispute with Beijing.With negotiations over censorship at an impasse, Google Inc. shut down its search engine operation in China on Monday and redirected users to uncensored results -- a move certain to anger the Chinese government and jeopardize Google's future in the world's most populous country.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 22 Mar 2010 | 6:58 pm Forget the cafes - just give us a wharfRoyal Caribbean Cruises wants certainty ahead of flash facilities as the cruise ship superpower expands its presence in New Zealand.Royal Caribbean Australia managing director Gavin Smith said the company had followed the debate...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 22 Mar 2010 | 6:30 pm Time Warner in $1.5bn bid for MGMTime Warner will bid $1.5bn (£993m) in what is expected to be an all-cash offer for the assets of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, owner of the James Bond film franchiseSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 22 Mar 2010 | 6:25 pm 'Toyota Man's' conformist ways come under fireWorkers follow rigid military-style rules that teach them to sacrifice individuality for the good of the group. Their payback is job security, regular promotions and premium pay.He works punishing hours, clocks in unpaid overtime without complaint and allows his bosses to call the shots both at the office and at home.
Source: L.A. Times - Business | 22 Mar 2010 | 6:24 pm China Will Block Google’s Hong Kong SiteChina has not come as far as it has in its battle with Google (GOOG) over censorship not to deliver the final blow. Google says it will close its site on the mainland, Google.cn, and redirect traffic to its operation in Hong Kong. The US search company will not censor the results it displays from its [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 22 Mar 2010 | 6:11 pm US pay tsar in new review of bank bonusesKen Feinberg, the special master for pay in Barack Obama’s administration, is launching a fresh review of bonuses paid by Wall Street banks including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase and other recipients of government bail-out fundsSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 22 Mar 2010 | 6:03 pm Labour suspends cash-for-influence MPsThree senior Labour MPs were facing political ruin last night after the party suspended them over allegations that they were prepared to take money to influence policy. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 22 Mar 2010 | 6:01 pm Google shuts up shop in China in row over state censorshipChina hit back at Google last night after the internet search giant closed its flagship Chinese site, carrying out a threat issued two months ago in a dispute over censorship. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 22 Mar 2010 | 6:01 pm We’re still flying but strike is costing us £7m a day, says BAPassengers braced themselves for the cancellation of hundreds of flights and four more days of disruption as both sides in the British Airways cabin crew dispute licked their wounds and prepared for a second bout of unrest. Source: Latest Business News from Times Online | 22 Mar 2010 | 6:01 pm Senate panel backs financial reform billWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Banking Committee on Monday, approved landmark financial regulatory reform legislation, pushing the fight over the issue to the full Senate in April.
Source: Reuters: Business News | 22 Mar 2010 | 5:52 pm Geithner says US could lose regulation roleTim Geithner, US Treasury secretary, warned lawmakers that ‘America will lose this opportunity to set the global agenda’ on financial regulation if Congress fails to complete passage of legislation to reform oversight of the financial systemSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 22 Mar 2010 | 5:51 pm Write-Offs: 03.22.10$$$ Wine trader has sense of opportunity [NYP] $$$ New York Fed Warehousing Junk Loans On Its Books: Examiner’s Report [HuffPo] $$$ How Nemazee Used Harvard Degree Swindling Banks of $292 Million [Bloomberg] $$$ What the Mafia Can Teach Us About Corporate Fraud [The Big Money] 
Source: Dealbreaker | 22 Mar 2010 | 5:45 pm KiwiSavers in line for tax penalties but not refundsPeople who don't pay enough tax on their KiwiSaver investment could face penalties of up to 150 per cent on the shortfall. But don't expect a refund if you accidentally pay too much.KiwiSaver providers have been writing to the...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 22 Mar 2010 | 5:30 pm China's trade sabotageChina may soon block Google's Hong Kong redirect, but the whole episode is a remarkable example of how its protectionist tendencies have yet again forced a tense and tricky situationSource: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 22 Mar 2010 | 5:24 pm Obama victory sets battle lines for pollsPresident Barack Obama is expected to sign landmark healthcare reforms into law on Tuesday after a victory in Congress that has both re-energised his beleaguered Democratic party and fired up Republican opponentsSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 22 Mar 2010 | 5:18 pm Bloomberg's left-field idea to target baseballWant to trade on A-Rod's batting average rather than copper rods? Or arbitrage Carlos Monasterios' pitches against CC Sabathia's rather than the pound against the dollar?Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 22 Mar 2010 | 5:12 pm Darling to target offshore tax evasionThe chancellor is expected to unveil plans to double the maximum penalty for evaders to 200% of the tax owed in a Budget crackdown designed to protect at least £1bn of revenueSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 22 Mar 2010 | 5:03 pm Three Ways The Greek Crisis Could Harm The U.S. EconomyBy Jacob Goldstein In a speech today, the president of the Atlanta Fed said he saw "three ways the Greek crisis might directly affect the U.S. economy." Here's his list, with our explanations in italics: 1. "First, adjustment across the EU to fiscal problems could dampen euro area growth and constrain U.S. exports to that region. The European Union as a whole is this nation's largest export market." If Greece takes Europe down with it, Europe won't buy as much stuff from the U.S. 2. "Second, related to this, safe haven currency flows from the euro into dollar assets could cause appreciation of the dollar and hurt U.S. export competitiveness." If people get nervous about the euro, they may start trading in their euros for dollars. That will drive up the value of the dollar, and make U.S. exports more expensive in Europe. So Europeans won't buy as much stuff from the U.S. 3. "Third is the possibility that the Greek fiscal crisis could lead to a broad shock to financial markets. This could play out in the banking system or in the form of a general retreat from sovereign debt." Greece's problems could send the global banking system into another panic, which would be bad news all around. Greece's debt troubles could also make investors skittish about financing the United States' rising debt. That would force the U.S. to pay higher interest -- which in turn would require higher taxes, lower spending, or even larger deficits. For more, listen to our recent podcasts "Why Greece Is Stuck With The Euro," and "Why Greece Matters." » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Blogs: Planet Money | 22 Mar 2010 | 4:51 pm Questor share tip: Salamander's high-impact drilling make it a risky buyOil exploration is a risky business - but when things go well there are great rewards. That was the reason Questor recommended shares in Salamander Energy, on the proviso that it was one of the most speculative tips of the year.Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 22 Mar 2010 | 4:40 pm Ocado can grow, but at what price?Investors have turned their noses up at several attempts to float large, profitable businesses on the stock market. What chance then for Ocado, a loss-making grocery business taking on the likes of Tesco and J Sainsbury?Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 22 Mar 2010 | 4:37 pm Geely closes in on Volvo dealFord Motor is set to sign a deal to sell its Volvo cars business to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group as the Chinese carmaker will pay $1.8bn for the premium car brandSource: Financial Times - US homepage | 22 Mar 2010 | 4:31 pm Summary Box: Health stocks give market a boost (AP)AP - A HEALTHY CLIMB: Stocks rose Monday after the approval of a health care overhaul bill in the House late Sunday removed some uncertainty about the industry. The Dow Jones industrials added 44 points.Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 22 Mar 2010 | 4:05 pm Senate panel OKs Wall Street reformA key banking panel took only minutes Monday to approve a sweeping regulatory reform measure aimed at warding off future collapses in the financial system.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 22 Mar 2010 | 3:53 pm Investing in Homebuilding and Health Care: Taking StockSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 22 Mar 2010 | 3:50 pm Bidding war brews for cult soda brandTwo weeks after it agreed to be acquired by rival Reed's, Jones Soda may be snapped up by another buyer instead.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 22 Mar 2010 | 3:49 pm Health care companies pull stock market higher (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 22 Mar 2010 | 3:47 pm How the major stock indexes fared on Monday (AP)AP - Drug and hospital companies led stocks higher Monday after House lawmakers ended months of uncertainty and approved the health care overhaul bill. Investors had expected the health care bill would pass the House, but the approval late Sunday removed some of the anxiety that has dogged the stocks of hospitals and drug makers. A bill with changes made by the House now goes back to the Senate for approval. Debate could begin Tuesday.Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 22 Mar 2010 | 3:46 pm `The Bloomberg 20’ Bank Rankings: Bloomberg MarketsSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 22 Mar 2010 | 3:40 pm Why bother with a US FTA?I've argued for years there was a real danger that a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States would simply turn into an agreement about trade that was not all that free and could actually damage our efforts to liberalise...Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 22 Mar 2010 | 3:00 pm Secondary Offerings Keep Coming (KALU, SOMX, MEE, VSAT)The secondaries are coming! The secondaries are coming! Actually, that should be that the secondary offering wave is still coming on strong. Early last week we gave a deep review of 16 secondaries and that was only mid-week. We have already seen four secondary offerings by companies raising cash. Among these are Kaiser Aluminum Corporation [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 22 Mar 2010 | 2:55 pm Google stops censoring in ChinaIn a long-awaited announcement, Google said Monday that it will stop censoring search services on google.cn, its Chinese search site.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 22 Mar 2010 | 2:51 pm Vikram Pandit Doesn’t Give A Rat’s Ass If You Have Money Riding On These Games
Source: Dealbreaker | 22 Mar 2010 | 2:50 pm Fewer bank stickups despite recessionDespite one of the worst economic climates in recent history, the number of bank crimes fell sharply last year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Monday.Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 22 Mar 2010 | 2:42 pm Obama pay czar to look back at Wall Street payWASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Obama administration pay czar Kenneth Feinberg plans to review past compensation at 419 companies that received bailout funds, including JPMorgan Chase , Goldman Sachs , according to a source close to the Treasury Department.
Source: Reuters: Business News | 22 Mar 2010 | 2:32 pm Musikavanhu Likes Emerging Market ETFs: AudioSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 22 Mar 2010 | 2:16 pm Before Shoving A [Female Hormone Pill] Down Your Junior Trader’s Mouth, Consider Butching Up Your Bitches
According to Doug Hirschhorn, a “peak performance coach to Wall Street traders” consulted for the story, Andrew Tong is the exception, not the rule. Don’t waste your time trying to find the perfect pair of panties for your male colleagues to report to work wearing. Instead, focus on spiking the girls’ morning coffee with T and teaching them to spit. That’s where you’re gonna see results.
Source: Dealbreaker | 22 Mar 2010 | 2:15 pm Waddell & Reed Raised to `Outperform' at FBR Capital: AudioSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 22 Mar 2010 | 2:14 pm Starbucks Dividend Alert… Some Say (SBUX)Since the end of 2009, we have moved far beyond the waves and waves of cost cuts and dividend cuts. That time came and went. Since then we have addressed many company which would actually raise their dividends or to look for new dividend initiations out of major companies in America. It was just on [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 22 Mar 2010 | 2:00 pm Google Looks To Be Already Out Of China (GOOG, BIDU)Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) has been on its way out of China for some time. The search engine leader has said it was reconsidering its China stance, but the damage has been done and the effort to rectify its stance seems insurmountable regardless of what the company and regardless of what the Chinese government says. [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 22 Mar 2010 | 1:08 pm Dick Parsons: Give It Up For Vikram Pandit And All The Members Of Team Citi
Source: Dealbreaker | 22 Mar 2010 | 12:40 pm Nasdaq warns Cosi of possible delisting (AP)AP - Restaurant chain Cosi Inc. said Monday that it received a warning from the Nasdaq Stock Market that it could face delisting because of its low share price.Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 22 Mar 2010 | 12:38 pm Fund That Lost 86 Percent In A Month Has Some Wise Words To Share Also considered going with: 'I think we'll be okay here, they have a thin candy shell.' Ebullio Capital Management is the commodities fund that lost 86 percent in February, after declining 70 percent in January, and YTD, is down 96 percent. We’ve already discussed the fact that in his letter to investors, founder Lars Steffensen was able to a) offer hope, by noting his ample qualifications to come back from such sack-rippingly bad results (“We took a hit,” Lars wrote. “I’ve always bounced back”) and b) look on the bright side, and make the argument why, performance aside, you’re better off sticking your money with him than some other joker who’ll just lie to you (“Most Managers would probably try to hush this up and not send out this Newsletter, but we have always been about transparency and having broadcast our winning months, we are going to do the same with our (albeit quite a lot more spectacular) losers and take the heat that comes with the territory.”) Now, Zero Hedge has obtained the full letter and there’s even more to love! Namely a pearl of wisdom Lars picked up while watching Crazy Heart, which is that you don’t see the ass-bleeding on the horizon until you’re laying face down on the couch, too uncomfortable to sit normally at your desk due to the Rectal prolapse.
Source: Dealbreaker | 22 Mar 2010 | 12:15 pm BioHealth Business Daily (CTIC, DNDN, MNKD, VPHM, SOMX, SQNM, TEVA, RNN, BIIB)Monday is seeing many winners and losers in the healthcare sector on the heels of the health care reform passage in the House of Representatives this weekend. We are focusing solely on the biotech, drug and BioHealth space where actual news is driving the shares mentioned. We are seeing key moves today in Cell Therapeutics, Inc. [...][[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:57 am Student Loan Stuff Tucked Into The Health BillBy Jacob Goldstein The health-care bill that just passed the House includes some big changes to how federally guaranteed student loans work. The shift is projected to save the federal government about $60 billion over 10 years. Until now, private lenders (including banks and Sallie Mae) have been able to make student loans that are guaranteed by the federal government, as long as they adhere to terms set by the government. When a student pays off the loan, the bank profits from the interest. When a student defaults on a loan, the government pays the bank. (Here's more on the program, which includes Stafford loans.) In the new system, the government will lend all of that money directly to students. The government will still pay private companies to service the loans -- that includes collecting payments and trying to keep people from defaulting. The shift shouldn't make much difference for students, according to Justin Draeger of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. But cutting out the middle man will save the government $61 billion over the next 10 years, the CBO estimates. (The government will also incur $5 billion in new administrative costs.) About two thirds of the savings will go toward grants for low-income students, and about a third of it will go toward reducing the deficit. By the way, if you're wondering what student loan stuff was doing tucked into a big health-care overhaul, read the last couple paragraphs of this blog post from the NYT. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Blogs: Planet Money | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:46 am Comp Cop To Take A Serious Look At Bailed Out Bank Bonuses He Can’t Do Anything AboutActually, that’ s not entirely fair. Kenneth Feinberg can *try* to renegotiate payments he characterizes as not good for the people. But when it comes down to it? Yeah he can’t do shit. Which is why we suggest K.Fein perform his “look back” while enjoying an herbal refreshment in Jimmy Cayne’s new executive suite (tricked out basement).
Source: Dealbreaker | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:34 am Presented By:Source: Dealbreaker | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:34 am UN wildlife body rejects bids to reopen ivory trade (AFP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:27 am US Treasuries Now Riskier than Berkshire Hathaway
What does the bond market think of Barack Obama? He’s risky, according to a Bloomberg report: While Treasuries backed by the full faith and credit of the government typically yield less than corporate debt, the relationship has flipped as Moody’s Investors Service predicts the U.S. will spend more on debt service as a percentage of revenue this year than any other top-rated country except the U.K. America will use about 7 percent of taxes for debt payments in 2010 and almost 11 percent in 2013, moving “substantially” closer to losing its AAA rating, Moody’s said last week. Two-year notes sold by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in February yield 3.5 basis points less than Treasuries of similar maturity, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Procter & Gamble Co., Johnson & Johnson and Lowe’s Cos. debt also traded at lower yields in recent weeks, a situation former Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. chief fixed-income strategist Jack Malvey calls an “exceedingly rare” event in the history of the bond market. The $2.59 trillion of Treasury Department sales since the start of 2009 have created a glut as the budget deficit swelled to a post-World War II-record 10 percent of the economy and raised concerns whether the U.S. deserves its AAA credit rating. The increased borrowing may also undermine the first-quarter rally in Treasuries as the economy improves. Read the rest of the Bloomberg article here. This isn’t the first time that corporate bonds have yielded less than Treasuries. The last time it happened was with the budget surplus in 1998, according to the article. Still, it gets you thinking, doesn’t it?
Source: Business Pundit | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:27 am Will health reform help control costs?RAND Health associate director Elizabeth McGlynn talks with Kai Ryssdal about whether health reform will lead to more cost-effective care, and whether there will be more transparency going forward.Source: Marketplace | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:13 am PepsiCo eyes less salty snacksPepsico, the maker of Fritos, Cheetos and other snacks, says it's planning to cut the average sodium content of its products by 25% in the next five years. Alisa Roth reports the company will need to tread carefully.Source: Marketplace | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:13 am Foreign firms shouldn't walk from ChinaAs China becomes more assertive, it may be tougher for foreigners to do business. But commentator and American businessman Kent Kedl says foreign companies should deal with it.Source: Marketplace | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:13 am Traders see trouble for U.K. poundWorries about heavily indebted countries in the eurozone have hit confidence in the euro. But it's not the only currency in the crosshairs. Stephen Beard reports the British pound may be next.Source: Marketplace | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:13 am How Juarez became murder cityReporter Charles Bowden, author of "Murder City," talks with Kai Ryssdal about how the Mexican border town of Juarez became caught up in drug violence, and what responsibility the U.S. has to help.Source: Marketplace | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:12 am A mall where you can go to schoolMany regional malls are dealing with record vacancies at the same time that high schools are dropping programs for troubled teens because of budget cuts. But the two problems could have a common solution. Caitlan Carroll explains.Source: Marketplace | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:12 am World Water Day: 10 Things You Need to Know About Water
Today is World Water Day, an international day honoring fresh water, the stuff we can’t live without. Put it this way: We are only able to argue about health care because we have clean water. Without it, we’d be too sick and desperate to care. Clean water is an absolute requirement for any human civilization to survive. World Water Day reminds us not to take it for granted. To commemorate World Water Day, we’ve listed 10 things you need to know about water: 1. 1% of the world’s fresh water is currently accessible to humans. 2. 346,000 million: Number of gallons of fresh water the US consumes per day. 3. 80% of that water is used for irrigation and thermoelectric generation. 4. 80-100 gallons: Amount of water the average person in the US uses per day. 5. 13.2 gallons: Estimated amount of water required for any single person for cooking, sanitation, bathing, and survival needs. 6. 3.575 million: Number of people who die every year from water-related disease. 7. 84% of them are children. 8. 50% of global hospital beds are occupied by someone with a waterborne illness. 9. 25% of bottled water is basically tap water in a bottle–treated or untreated. 10. 1.5 million tons of plastic are used to bottle 89 billion liters of water every year. Help sustain your own local water supply by installing water-saving devices into your home and using filtered rather than bottled water. Sources: All About Water, Water.org
Source: Business Pundit | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:12 am How health industry helped pass reformThe stock prices of health care companies showed healthy gains, one day after the House passed historic health reform. Investors apparently think the legislation will be good for the health care industry. John Dimsdale reports.Source: Marketplace | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:10 am FTSE 100 starts the week slightly up (AFP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:10 am One Hedge Fund Actually Did Something About Its Impotent Weather RageRemember a few weeks back when– OMG!– it snowed a few inches and nobody would shut the hell up about it? These people actually did something productive about it, other than coining terms like ’snowpocalypse.’
Plenum Hedge Fund Gains 19% After Predicting Arctic Weather [BW via Business Insider]
Source: Dealbreaker | 22 Mar 2010 | 11:00 am The Best Health Care Headline of the Day
(Headline found at DangerousMinds.net)
Source: Business Pundit | 22 Mar 2010 | 10:37 am Despite Trump’s Claims To The Contrary, Carl Icahn Has DEFINITIVE PROOF He And The Don Are Not Good FriendsThe Times had a long profile of Carl Icahn over the weekend, wondering if the activist investor still has a fight in him, his likes and dislikes (being referred to as “raider,” for one), his early years in the biz (“When he turned 15, he played his own version of the ice futures market as a cabana boy at a beach club, ordering extra ice on hot mornings to sell to visitors who would run out later in the day”) and whether he has any plans to retire (“What else am I going to do?” Mr. Icahn asks. “Play shuffleboard?”). The article also discusses Icahn’s public feud with Donald Trump over three Atlantic City casinos bearing the Don’s name, which Carl was trying to gain control of. Here’s what Donald had to say about the matter:
And here’s Ichan’s side the story:
But the way more important thing that Uncle Carl wants to clarify? These two are in no way close friends, even using the loosest definition of the term. You wanna know how Carl knows this? Take a look at this picture:
Know what that is? That’s Donald’s daughter Ivanka’s wedding. Looks like a nice time, doesn’t it? Red Dress’s date certainly seems to be enjoying himself. You know who didn’t take part in this joyous occasion? Who has never even offered the opportunity to take the new Mrs. Jared Kushner for a spin around the floor? Or RSVP, “I’ll have the chicken”?
What do you have to say about that, Donny Boy? Or about the matter of your boy not even scoring an invite to the pity party? Does Carl Ichan Still Make Them Tremble? [NYT]
Source: Dealbreaker | 22 Mar 2010 | 10:30 am 9 Pros and Cons of the New Health-Care Reform BillWhat are the pros and cons of the new health-care reform bill that House Democrats approved yesterday? The bill is 2,000 pages long, and full of lawyer-speak. Most pros and cons are based on partisan opinion. Still, there are some changes in the bill with more objective elements. Here are nine aspects that will help and hurt consumers and the economy. Pros Cons Costs. Any way you slice it, adding another $940 billion to the deficit is not a good thing for the US economy. Yes, the Congressional Budget Office said that healthcare would actually reduce the budget deficit, but nobody really knows what will happen. No new incentives for primary care physicians. Physicians are increasingly turning to specialties as a way to pay off expensive medical school debt and make more money. This means more workload and burnout for primary care physicians, who get no bureaucratic relief under the current reform bill. That also means longer wait times, more obstacles, and potentially higher specialist costs for consumers. More taxes. The government has to pay for healthcare reform somehow. Taxing businesses is a big strategy. For example, medical device makers will see a new 2.9% excise tax. Families earning more than $250,000/year will have to pay higher Medicare taxes. Also, this isn’t a tax, but employers will be fined $3,000 per employee if they don’t provide affordable medical coverage.
Source: Business Pundit | 22 Mar 2010 | 10:20 am Carl Ichan Is “The Elvis Presley Of The Activist World”
Source: Dealbreaker | 22 Mar 2010 | 9:56 am Douglas Holtz-Eakin: Surveillance With Prewitt and KeeneSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 22 Mar 2010 | 9:25 am Schwab's Sonders: Surveillance With Prewitt and KeeneSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 22 Mar 2010 | 8:34 am Arthur Levitt: Surveillance With Prewitt and KeeneSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 22 Mar 2010 | 8:33 am Daniel Clifton: Surveillance With Prewitt and KeeneSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 22 Mar 2010 | 8:30 am Representative Boccieri: Surveillance With Prewitt and KeeneSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 22 Mar 2010 | 8:26 am Shepherdson, Weinberg: Bloomberg On the Economy With Tom KeeneSource: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 22 Mar 2010 | 8:23 am Is Warren Buffett A Safer Bet Than The U.S.A.?By Jacob Goldstein Bonds sold by Berkshire Hathaway and a few other big companies are paying less interest than bonds sold by the U.S. government, Bloomberg reports. That's very weird. Treasuries are supposed to be among the safest bonds in the world. But the market is saying that the U.S.A. is a riskier bet than Berkshire, the big conglomerate run by Warren Buffett. Bonds sold by Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson and Lowe's have also been paying less interest than treasuries of comparable maturity, Bloomberg says. The difference in yields between treasuries and the companies' bonds is very small -- less than one tenth of a percentage point (that's less than 10 basis points, in bondspeak). Still, it's worth noting, because corporate bonds almost always yield more than treasuries. A few factors are driving the current situation. The big increase in U.S. debt is prompting some worries about the nation's long-term ability to pay its debts. "Preserving debt affordability at levels consistent with AAA ratings will invariably require fiscal adjustments of a magnitude that, in some cases, will test social cohesion," Moody's wrote last week in a note aimed at the U.S. and a few other big countries. At the same time, big companies are cutting their debt levels -- a trend that reduces risks for bondholders. Companies in the S&P 500 cut their debts by $282 billion in the fourth quarter, to $7.1 trillion, Bloomberg says. The debt-to-asset ratio of these companies, a key measure of how much money companies are borrowing, is at the lowest level in at least a decade. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Source: NPR Blogs: Planet Money | 22 Mar 2010 | 7:48 am No Good Books Here
Source: Business Pundit | 22 Mar 2010 | 5:07 am
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