Spain sells bonds a day after downgrade warning (AP)

AP - Spain succesfully raised euro3.5 billion ($4.3 billion) Thursday in an oversubscribed bond sale, a reassuring sign for markets a day after ratings agency Moody's warned it may join others in downgrading the country's debt.
Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 1 Jul 2010 | 4:14 am

What Happened to Google Wave?

Image: The Doghouse Diaries

Source: Business Pundit | 1 Jul 2010 | 4:05 am

Oil Races Back Toward $65

The Gulf oil leak and Hurricane Alex are not moving up crude prices. As a matter of fact, the price of oil is back below $75. Oil dropped into the $65 range last September as the demand remained slack and refinery usage slowed. The global economic growth recover has sent sent crude well over $85 [...]

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Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 1 Jul 2010 | 4:04 am

Asian factory data may signal rebound has peaked

Fears of a double-dip recession in the global economy were renewed Thursday after survey data showed manufacturing activity across Asia may have crossed a high-water mark.

Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 1 Jul 2010 | 4:01 am

Job growth was fleeting

A couple of months ago, a recovery in the U.S. labor market seemed to be at hand. That hope has proved as fleeting as a job with the Census Bureau.
Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:59 am

Indications: Factory fears knock U.S. stock futures

U.S. stock futures declined Thursday, ahead of the release of key U.S. manufacturing data as a similar Chinese gauge proved disappointing.

Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:59 am

Manhattan housing on the rebound

Manhattan home prices held steady during the second quarter of 2010 but transactions were 81% higher than this time last year, according to several real estate market reports released Thursday.
Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:49 am

Economic Report: U.K. factory growth pace sees slight June slowdown

British factory output continued at a torrid pace in June, according to the latest June purchasing managers index for the sector.

Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:48 am

Manufacturing growth slows in Asia

Chinese factories slowed production in June for the first time in 15 months, while manufacturers in other major Asian countries eased the pace of growth in output
Source: Financial Times - US homepage | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:46 am

Europe Markets: Spain, China jitters knock Europe stocks

European shares fell on the first day of the third quarter, with miners hit after soft data from China and banks pressured after ratings agency Moody's placed Spain on review for possible downgrade.

Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:46 am

ABB quits Chloride fight, leaves way open for Emerson Electric

ABB has quit the battle for British back-up power company Chloride, saying it is not prepared to match a near £1bn offer from US suitor Emerson Electric.
Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:44 am

Growth gloom grows at start of third quarter

Global Markets Overview: European bourses are forecast to open lower after confirmation that China’s manufacturing growth is slowing and Moody’s warning of a possible downgrade for Spain
Source: Financial Times - US homepage | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:38 am

EU curbs mobile internet charges

EU protection to prevent mobile phone and computer users running up large data bills while travelling comes into force.
Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:37 am

Spain sells 3.5 billion euros of notes

The Spanish government sold five-year debt on Thursday, a day after ratings agency Moody’s placed the nation’s sovereign debt rating on review for a possible downgrade.

Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:36 am

Amazon.com Drops Kindle Price, The E-Reader Wars

Amazon.com has already dropped the price of its basic Kindle e-reader by $70 to $189. The moved followed a price cut of Barnes & Noble’s (NYSE: BKS) Nook from $199 to $149 and a similar price cut of the most expensive version of the Nook. Both the Nook and Kindle face competition from Sony’s (NYSE: [...]

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Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:33 am

Asian stocks slide on poor China data, global fears (AFP)

AFP - Asian stocks slid on Thursday on weaker than expected economic data from China and global economic fears, despite growing business confidence in Japan.

Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:32 am

Your most-hated fee: Checked baggage

Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:31 am

Economic Report: Bank of Japan tankan key sentiment index turns up

The Bank of Japan's quarterly tankan survey of business sentiment shows large manufacturers’ sentiment has turned positive for the first time in two years, buoyed by strong exports.

Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:31 am

Stock index futures fall; economic data eyed (Reuters)

Reuters - Stock index futures pointed to a lower open for Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the Dow Jones down 0.2 percent, for the S&P 500 down 0.3 percent and for the Nasdaq down 0.4 percent by 0906 GMT.

Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:29 am

Stock index futures fall; economic data eyed

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures pointed to a lower open for Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the Dow Jones down 0.2 percent, for the S&P 500 down 0.3 percent and for the Nasdaq down 0.4 percent by 0906 GMT.

Source: Reuters: Business News | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:29 am

Loan defaults 'fall unexpectedly'

The rate that mortgage holders and businesses defaulted on loans has fallen "unexpectedly", the Bank of England says.
Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:29 am

Asia markets hurt again by soft manufacturing data

Economic concerns dragged Asian stocks lower again Thursday, as soft data from the U.S. was followed by numbers showing manufacturing growth slowed in Asian countries including China and India.

Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:14 am

Stocks seen falling at open

U.S. stocks looked set to start the third quarter on a weak note Thursday, as investors remained jittery about the pace of the global economic recovery.
Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:13 am

German retail sales spring higher: official data (AFP)

AFP - German retail sales gained 0.4 percent in May from the April level, official data showed on Thursday as shoppers showed some confidence in the German economy, the biggest in Europe.

Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:11 am

AIG’s Robert Benmosche: The Great Quitter

Robert Benmosche, the CEO of American International Group, threatens to quit his job so often that it could be timed by a metronome. He whined when the press criticized him for spending time at his villa overlooking the Adriatic just after taking the top job at the huge and troubled insurance company. He threatened to [...]

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Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:11 am

Execs, regulators testify on derivatives' role (AP)

AP - A former executive of bailed-out insurance company American International Group Inc. says if he had been allowed to keep his job, he could have saved taxpayers a bundle.

Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:06 am

BP spill nears a somber record as Gulf's biggest (AP)

AP - BP's massive oil spill will become the largest ever in the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday based on the highest of the federal government's estimates, an ominous record that underscores the oil giant's dire need to halt the gusher.

Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:06 am

Swedish krona drops on Riksbank caution

The Swedish crown dropped Thursday as the Swedish central bank gave a surprisingly gloomy assessment of the euro alongside an expected quarter-point rate hike.

Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:04 am

Malaysia's Petronas profit falls 23 percent (AP)

AP - Malaysia's national oil company Petronas reported a second consecutive year of decline in net profit Thursday, blaming lower energy prices and higher costs amid the global slowdown.

Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:03 am

Currencies: Dollar slips to 2-month low vs. yen in Asian trade

The dollar slipped to a two-month low against its Japanese counterpart in Asian trading Thursday, as a regional stock sell-off sent risk-averse investors scurrying into the lower-yielding unit.

Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:03 am

Business confidence in Japan at 2-year high (AP)

AP - Major Japanese manufacturers — riding high from a booming Asia — haven't felt this good in two years.

Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:01 am

London Markets: British shares slide as China data rattles markets

British shares fell on Thursday, with banks and commodity-sector firms losing ground as investors fretted about the prospects for the global economy on the first day of a new quarter.

Source: MarketWatch.com - Top Stories | 1 Jul 2010 | 3:00 am

Concerns Of Global Recession Rise And China Slows

The list of reasons that show the global economic recovery is slowing grows longer by the day. The US employment and real estate troubles have extended into June after hopeful signs early in the year. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index fell sharply. Real estate prices and purchases have cratered now that the federal tax [...]

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Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:50 am

World stocks down on Europe, China growth doubts (AP)

AP - World stock markets were in retreat Thursday amid new concerns about Europe's economic outlook after a warning Spain's debt rating may be downgraded and evidence that China's manufacturing growth is slowing.

Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:49 am

Toyota says 270,000 vehicles have faulty engines (AP)

AP - Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday about 270,000 cars sold worldwide — including luxury Lexus sedans — have potentially faulty engines, the latest quality lapse to hit the automaker following massive global recalls of top-selling models.

Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:48 am

Toyota weighs recall of 270,000 cars

Toyota says it is considering steps to eliminate possible engine failure in up to 270,000 Lexus and Crown models, as it continues to ramp up its safety oversight
Source: Financial Times - US homepage | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:47 am

Tate & Lyle sells sugar business

Tate & Lyle announces a deal to sell its sugar business to American Sugar Refining for £211m in cash.
Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:45 am

World stocks and commodities hit by growth worries (Reuters)

Reuters - Investors gave stocks and commodities a wide berth on Thursday on mounting worries about the strength of the global economic recovery after manufacturing data showed China's rapid growth was slowing.

Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:44 am

Trade questions

Will a new customs union hurt Russia's WTO bid?
Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:41 am

Swedish central bank ups interest rate to 0.5 pct (AP)

AP - The Swedish central bank on Thursday raised its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point to 0.5 percent for the first time in two years, saying the economy is recovering strongly from last year's global downturn.
Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:34 am

Energy firms face pricing probe

Two energy companies are facing investigation by regulator Ofgem, one over a postcode lottery of bills.
Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:24 am

NEWSMAKER-Akula shines light on India microlending in SKS IPO

MUMBAI, July 1 (Reuters) - As a controversial $250-$350 million IPO draws nearer, Vikram Akula, founder of India's largest microlender, SKS Microfinance, crunches numbers.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:22 am

EU agrees tough new bonus guidelines

New EU-wide rules to cap bonuses paid to bankers from 2011 onwards have been agreed between EU lawmakers and member states, and will be voted on by the European parliament next week
Source: Financial Times - US homepage | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:20 am

UPDATE 2-Two Australia PE deals signal buyout comeback

* First significant buyout deals for Australia since 2007 * CHAMP sells Study Group to Providence, buys ATF Services (Recasts with news of second deal, adds background)
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:12 am

FTSE 100 slides on Spain debt warning, China manufacturing slowdown

Index falls 1.6pc on fears for global recovery after Moody's threatens Spain downgrade and growth in China slows.
Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:12 am

6 alternatives to the Mini Cooper

The Mini's great, but these days there are lots of cars that can give you coolness with a small size and price.
Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:08 am

Middle class families face a triple whammy

Falling pensions, cuts and the banking crisis will impoverish many families, says Edmund Conway.
Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:05 am

Media Digest 7/1/2010 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

Reuters:   The House passed the financial reform bill leaving the Senate to act Reuters:   Work on the BP plc (NYSE: B) oil spill will be delayed because of Hurricane Alex. Reuters:   China’s economic growth slowed. Reuters:   Oil prices fell for the fourth day. Reuters:   The euro hit record lows against the Swiss franc.Reuters:   Microsoft [...]

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Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 1 Jul 2010 | 2:04 am

Where in the world is a good economy?

Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:56 am

BT charges £16.99 for Sky Sports

BT announces that it will charge its customers £16.99 a month to receive the Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 channels.
Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:55 am

Toyota warns about faulty engines

Japanese car giant Toyota warns about potential faults with engines of about 270,000 cars it has sold worldwide.
Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:48 am

Toyota warns about faulty engines

Japanese car giant Toyota warns about potential faults with engines of about 270,000 cars it has sold worldwide.
Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:48 am

FTSE index falls sharply in opening trade (AFP)

AFP - The London stock market fell sharply in early morning trade on Thursday along with other European markets, amid concerns about Spain's sovereign debt rating and weak Chinese data.

Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:42 am

Tate & Lyle sells historic sugar business to American Sugar Refining

Food group sells historic sugar business, including the iconic Golden Syrup brand, to American Sugar Refining.
Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:37 am

UPDATE 1- Market Chatter -- Corporate finance press digest

BANGALORE, July 1 (Reuters) - The following corporate finance-related stories were reported by media on Thursday:
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:07 am

Toyota warns of engine defect in Lexus, Crown models (AFP)

AFP - Toyota Motor warned on Thursday of an engine fault worldwide in eight models of its luxury Lexus and Crown sedans, potentially requiring a recall that could affect up to 270,000 units.

Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:06 am

Business Bullet: China, US, German banks, Debenhams

The latest news on: China, US, German banks, Debenhams
Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:03 am

World Trade Organization faults European Union for aid to Airbus

A WTO panel says the EU must halt prohibited export subsidies that had injured U.S. rival Boeing. World Trade...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

New Wind of Opportunities in the Wind Energy Sector in Europe, Finds Frost & Sullivan

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

'Eclipse' expected to earn $180 million by Monday, 'Last Airbender' about $50 million

The latest "Twilight" movie eclipsed the record for midnight ticket sales Tuesday night with more than $30 million, setting itself up for explosive box-office returns over the Fourth of July weekend.

Source: L.A. Times - Business | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Facebook to give users more control over outside apps

Facebook Inc. is rolling out a permission feature that requires outside applications and websites to inform its 500 million users how much information they are sharing.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

PAAMCO Names Four New Partners

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Apple puts out feelers for antenna wizards

Apple has openings for three engineers to work on the antennas of the iPhone and iPad, which have been faulted for poor reception. ...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Anthem Blue Cross again seeks rate hikes for Californians

The firm plans to raise premiums as much as 20%, sharply less than the 39% maximum it had sought earlier this year but canceled after drawing outrage from consumers, lawmakers and President Obama.

Embattled health insurer Anthem Blue Cross is reviving its plan to raise rates for tens of thousands of California policyholders, some of whom could see their premiums rise as much as 20%.

Source: L.A. Times - Business | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Apple puts out feelers for antenna wizards

Apple has openings for three engineers to work on the antennas of the iPhone and iPad, which have been faulted for poor reception.

Are you an unemployed antenna engineer who specializes in wireless mobile devices?

Source: L.A. Times - Business | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Former AIG exec defends his actions

Joseph Cassano tells a panel he could have saved taxpayer money had he remained. The former head of the division...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Financial reform bill passes House, 237-192

Vote is split along partisan lines, with just three Republicans voting in favor and 19 Democrats against. The Senate is expected to take up the bill in mid-July. ...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Facebook to give users more control over outside apps

Facebook Inc. is rolling out a permission feature that requires outside applications and websites to inform its 500 million users how much information they are sharing.

Source: L.A. Times - Business | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Former AIG exec defends his actions

Joseph Cassano tells a panel he could have saved taxpayer money had he remained.

The former head of the division that brought down American International Group Inc. and triggered a huge government bailout broke a two-year public silence Wednesday, defending his actions at the insurance giant and saying he could have saved taxpayers money if he had remained there.

Source: L.A. Times - Business | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

'Eclipse' expected to earn $180 million by Monday, 'Last Airbender' about $50 million

The latest "Twilight" movie eclipsed the record for midnight ticket sales Tuesday night with more than $30 million, setting itself up for explosive box-office returns over the Fourth of July weekend. ...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Financial reform bill passes House, 237-192

Vote is split along partisan lines, with just three Republicans voting in favor and 19 Democrats against. The Senate is expected to take up the bill in mid-July.

The House on Wednesday approved the most sweeping rewrite of financial rules since the Great Depression, and last-minute changes this week appeared to solidify support in the Senate and pave the way for the legislation to reach the White House later this month.

Source: L.A. Times - Business | 1 Jul 2010 | 1:00 am

Compare and buy Travel Money, and all for a Good Cause

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 12:57 am

House passes US financial reform

The US House of Representatives approves a landmark bill designed to overhaul regulation of the US financial system.
Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 1 Jul 2010 | 12:52 am

China manufacturing growth slows

The pace of growth in Chinese manufacturing slowed in June, official figures show, as government efforts to cool the economy appear to take effect.
Source: BBC News | Business | World Edition | 1 Jul 2010 | 12:50 am

Asian markets hit by Spain warning, China slowdown

Asian stock markets tumbled for a third day troubled slowing manufacturing growth in China and European debt after Moody's warned it may downgrade Spain.
Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 1 Jul 2010 | 12:40 am

Sofinnova Partners, Gimv and Amundi Private Equity Funds Invest in McPhy Energy

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 12:27 am

UPDATE 1-URS wins Scott Wilson bid war as CH2M withdraws offer

* CH2M says will no longer proceed with Scott Wilson buy * Says deal not value-enhancing at current valuation (Adds details)
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 12:17 am

UPDATE 1-Shuaa's PE fund to sell 22 pct stake in Rotana Hotels

* Shuaa Partners Fund sells stake in Abu Dhabi hotel chain
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 1 Jul 2010 | 12:15 am

Summer signals end of cheap gas bills

The wholesale price of both gas and electricity rising sharply in recent months, is sparking fears that domestic bills will soon follow.
Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 1 Jul 2010 | 12:11 am

UPDATE 1-ABB says won't match Emerson offer for Chloride

ZURICH, July 1 (Reuters) - ABB said on Thursday it would not match U.S. rival Emerson Electric's improved cash offer for British group Chloride , surprising some investors who expected the Swiss group...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsBusiness | 30 Jun 2010 | 11:49 pm

Fed officials see soft recovery and more uncertainty

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Reuters) - Jitters that financial strains may derail the U.S. economic recovery mean the Federal Reserve will be in no rush to end its ultra-low interest rates, comments by officials of the U.S. central bank suggested on Wednesday.

Source: Reuters: Business News | 30 Jun 2010 | 11:01 pm

House passes landmark financial reform bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a landmark overhaul of financial regulations but the Senate put off action until mid-July, delaying a final victory for President Barack Obama.

Source: Reuters: Business News | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:53 pm

Ex-AIG's Cassano says bailout was too generous

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The former head of the AIG unit that nearly crippled the insurer said the 2008 taxpayer bailout of up to $182 billion was too generous to customers like Goldman Sachs.

Source: Reuters: Business News | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:52 pm

Small business lending picks up tentatively

More banks are participating in federally backed SBA loan programs again, but they're not fully committed. Federally...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:23 pm

Small business lending picks up tentatively

More banks are participating in federally backed SBA loan programs again, but they're not fully committed.

Federally backed loans to small businesses in Southern California and across the nation are increasing as more banks participate in federal lending programs — at least for now.

Source: L.A. Times - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:23 pm

Manhattan house prices flat, market back to normal (Reuters)

Reuters - Manhattan apartment prices were flat instead of down in the second quarter as the market, recently battered by upheaval on Wall Street, returned to normal sales and inventory levels, according to reports released on Thursday by New York City's biggest brokerages.
Source: Yahoo! News: Business News | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:19 pm

World Trade Organization faults European Union for aid to Airbus

A WTO panel says the EU must halt prohibited export subsidies that had injured U.S. rival Boeing.

World Trade Organization judges gave the European Union a stinging rebuke Wednesday, saying the EU must halt prohibited export subsidies to plane maker Airbus that had injured U.S. rival Boeing Co.

Source: L.A. Times - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:13 pm

Falling dairy prices drag commodity index down

New Zealand commodity prices fell for the first time in 15 months as the ANZ Commodity Price Index eased from a record high in May, reflecting softer prices for dairy products.The index fell 1.2% to 280.9 last month, following...
Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:00 pm

Club Car Villager 2+2: Great for gabbing with pedestrians

With no doors, no windows and a top speed of 25 mph, this is one social commuter.

If you want to feel like a goodwill ambassador, take a street-legal golf cart for a spin. You'll get plenty of waves, smiles and ride-along offers from wannabe passengers.

Source: L.A. Times - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 9:48 pm

Club Car Villager 2+2: Great for gabbing with pedestrians

With no doors, no windows and a top speed of 25 mph, this is one social commuter. If you want to feel like a goodwill...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 30 Jun 2010 | 9:48 pm

Chinese economy cools as tightening bites

BEIJING (Reuters) - The pace of Chinese manufacturing growth slowed in June as government steps to cool the property market and curb bank lending combined with a faltering global recovery to dampen sentiment.

Source: Reuters: Business News | 30 Jun 2010 | 9:47 pm

Business bosses want new Super City candidate

Wanted: A new mayoral candidate with plenty of verve, business smarts and charisma to sharpen the leadership contest for the new Auckland Council.That is the clear message sent by a big swag of Auckland's business power-brokers...
Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 9:00 pm

Homebuyer credit extension heads to Obama

First-time homebuyers will have until Sept. 30 to close on their purchases and land an $8,000 tax credit under a bill passed by the Senate late Wednesday.
Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 8:42 pm

Solar power done cheap

In a construction van winding through Los Angeles' crowded streets one hot spring morning, 25-year old Tim Morris laid bare his contribution to changing America's dirty, fossil fuel-based economy.
Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 8:11 pm

Private sector adds only 13,000 jobs in June, ADP says

The lackluster growth leads economists to lower their estimates for the government's nonfarm payrolls report Friday.

In another sign of tepid growth, U.S. private-sector firms created a lackluster 13,000 jobs in June, according to an employment report released Wednesday by payroll company Automatic Data Processing Inc.

Source: L.A. Times - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 7:44 pm

Private sector adds only 13,000 jobs in June, ADP says

The lackluster growth leads economists to lower their estimates for the government's nonfarm payrolls report Friday. ...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 30 Jun 2010 | 7:44 pm

McDonald's backs changes to work break rules

Representatives from McDonald's have thrown their weight behind a bill which aims to remove some of the rules around rest and meal breaks in workplaces.Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson says Employment Relations Act legislation passed...
Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 7:39 pm

McDonald's backs revised work conditions bill

Representatives from McDonald's have thrown their weight behind a bill which aims to remove some of the rules around rest and meal breaks in workplaces.Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson says Employment Relations Act legislation passed...
Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 7:30 pm

Senators delay vote on Wall St reform

US lawmakers will put off their final vote on the financial reform bill until after the July 4 holiday recess due to the death of Robert Byrd, the Democratic senator from West Virginia
Source: Financial Times - US homepage | 30 Jun 2010 | 7:11 pm

Microsoft pulls plug on Kin phones

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp has pulled the plug on a new generation of smartphones less than three months after unveiling the devices that were part of its efforts to catch-up with Apple Inc and Google Inc in the fast-growing mobile market.

Source: Reuters: Business News | 30 Jun 2010 | 7:09 pm

Former AIG executive defends actions

Joseph Cassano, the former AIG executive whose financial-products division helped trigger a $180bn government bailout, launched a staunch defence of his business’s actions leading up to the financial crisis
Source: Financial Times - US homepage | 30 Jun 2010 | 6:53 pm

NZ housing 'still way overpriced' says English

New Zealand's housing market is "still way overpriced" by international measures and is likely to struggle for some time, says Finance Minister Bill English.English spoke to a room full of business leaders at Auckland's annual...
Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 6:30 pm

Massey University to cut 53 jobs

Massey University says government funding cuts are behind a proposal to axe more than 50 jobs from its three campuses.Under the plan the university would replace 120 current non-academic roles with 67 new positions at its campuses...
Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 6:27 pm

Yahoo board approves $3 billion stock buyback

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc approved a plan to repurchase up to $3 billion of its common stock over the next three years, the company said on Wednesday.

Source: Reuters: Business News | 30 Jun 2010 | 6:18 pm

Kiwibank cuts home loan rate

Kiwibank is cutting its two-year fixed home loan rate to 6.99 per cent per annum from 7.30 per cent.Kiwibank chief executive Sam Knowles said the rate cut was to give some certainty to customers who are concerned about interest...
Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 6:14 pm

Feltex court case over- August decision due

Feltex's five directors will have to wait until the beginning of August for a decision on whether they will be found not guilty for alleged breaches of the Financial Reporting Act, a court heard this morning.The directors, Tim...
Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 6:00 pm

Kai's final note for June 30

Marketplace host Kair Ryssdal on a report from the Congressional Budget Office that says our debt problems will be a-OK over the next quarter-century, supposedly.
Source: Marketplace | 30 Jun 2010 | 5:57 pm

Westin Hotel company in receivership

Receivers have moved in to take control of the company that runs one of Auckland's top hotels, the Westin Lighter Quay.The five star hotel will remain operating as normal and staff will not be affected. There is no change to any...
Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 5:30 pm

BP claims czar: Not everyone will get paid

The new head of the Gulf Coast disaster's claims fund says his first two priorities will be to cut bigger checks and send them out faster to the oil spill's economic victims.
Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 5:27 pm

AIG villain: I would have saved taxpayers money

Joseph Cassano, the man who ran the business at the center of AIG's collapse, spoke unapologetically about his tenure during a hearing Wednesday, suggesting he could have perhaps helped save the insurance giant had he been allowed to stay on at AIG.
Source: Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 5:26 pm

ETFs, more stocks face trade halts in U.S. proposal

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hundreds of additional stocks and 344 exchange-traded funds face trading curbs under a proposed expansion of the circuit breakers that were adopted in response to May's severe "flash crash."

Source: Reuters: Business News | 30 Jun 2010 | 5:24 pm

ETFs, more stocks face trade halts in U.S. proposal (Reuters)

Reuters - Hundreds of additional stocks and 344 exchange-traded funds face trading curbs under a proposed expansion of the circuit breakers that were adopted in response to May's severe "flash crash."
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 30 Jun 2010 | 5:24 pm

DA: NYC money man faked Belgian royal ties in scam (AP)

AP - A money manager accused of concocting ties to a Belgian royal family to con investors out of at least $7 million denied the allegations Wednesday as he faced a mounting toll of civil and criminal charges.
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 30 Jun 2010 | 5:18 pm

Vendors still not dropping prices - report

Property sellers are sticking to their guns, refusing to drop asking prices in the face of a continuing high stock of unsold houses, says a new report from a real estate website.The NZ Property Report is a monthly report of...
Source: nzherald.co.nz - Business | 30 Jun 2010 | 5:10 pm

Microsoft Kills New Kin Phone After Only Two Months

CNET reports that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) will end production of its Kin social media smartphone. It has only been on the market for two months. Microsoft told CNET that “We have made the decision to focus exclusively on Windows Phone 7 and we will not ship KIN in Europe this fall as planned,” the [...]

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Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 30 Jun 2010 | 4:53 pm

General Growth Properties, Advance Sheets: Bankruptcy Review

Source: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 30 Jun 2010 | 4:48 pm

Moody’s May Downgrade Spain’s Aaa Rating, Contagion Rules

There is another reason for the embattled euro to sell off. Moody’s says it may downgrade Spain’s debt which currently has an Aaa rating. The agency said, “Moody’s decision to initiate this review was prompted by (1) the deteriorating (short-term and long-term) economic growth prospects; (2) the challenges the government faces in achieving its fiscal [...]

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Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 30 Jun 2010 | 4:41 pm

Shorten copyright and make it stick

When writers, musicians, artists and publishers survey the wreckage of copyright enforcement, they can blame plenty of people internet service providers (ISPs), companies such as Google and its...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNPaperBusiness | 30 Jun 2010 | 4:30 pm

Stocks end rough quarter with more questions (AP)

AP - The stock market closed out a painful second quarter Wednesday and left investors with heavy losses and far more doubts about the economy than they had just months ago.

Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 30 Jun 2010 | 4:07 pm

Stocks end tough quarter with S&P 500 off 12 pct (AP)

AP - BAD END TO A BAD QUARTER: The Dow Jones industrial average fell 96 points Wednesday. The Dow and the Standard & Poor's 500 had their lowest closes for the year. The S&P 500 lost 11.9 percent during the second quarter, while the Dow lost 10 percent.
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 30 Jun 2010 | 4:04 pm

Wall Street sees little gain in levy win

The last-minute decision by the US Congress to scrap a $19bn bank levy to pay for the financial reform bill has left Wall Street nonplussed
Source: Financial Times - US homepage | 30 Jun 2010 | 3:57 pm

RIM, Monsanto, Commercial REITs, Signature Bank (Correct)

Source: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 30 Jun 2010 | 3:54 pm

BP oil spill: will hurricane Alex prove a blessing or a curse?

Hurricanes are coming. Where will BP's oil slick go? asks Rowena Mason
Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 30 Jun 2010 | 3:52 pm

UK house price rebound grinds to a halt

The recovery in Britain's housing market almost ground to a halt in June, with prices rising by just 0.1pc according to the latest figures from Nationwide.
Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 30 Jun 2010 | 3:33 pm

How the major stock indexes fared on Wednesday (AP)

AP - The stock market closed out a painful second quarter Wednesday, leaving investors with heavy losses and far more doubts about the economy than they had just months ago. The Dow lost 96 points on the last day of the April-June period, and all the big indexes were down about 1 percent. Stocks sold off sharply in the last hour, a pattern that has become common.
Source: Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News | 30 Jun 2010 | 3:33 pm

Subsidies for Airbus illegal, says WTO

Financing for Airbus’s next-generation passenger jet has been thrown into doubt after the World Trade Organisation ruled that the A380 superjumbo received illegal export subsidies from European governments
Source: Financial Times - US homepage | 30 Jun 2010 | 3:31 pm

BP in move to raise more funds

The UK energy group returns to banks looking for additional short-term loans to help tackle its growing liabilities following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico
Source: Financial Times - US homepage | 30 Jun 2010 | 3:30 pm

Questor share-tips: AstraZeneca is a hold

A court ruling protecting the patent of AstraZeneca's blockbuster cholesterol medicine, Crestor, after a three-year legal battle sent the company's shares soaring on Wednesday.
Source: Finance and Business. Latest breaking news, stocks and shares from the UK and world | 30 Jun 2010 | 3:30 pm

Joe Cassano Coulda Been A Hero, If You’d Let Him Try

“[Cassano] even went so far as to claim that he might have been able to help minimize the government’s bailout of AIG. Part of the money spent to save the company was funneled to more than a dozen banks that had taken out insurance contracts against AIG defaulting on its debt. “I think I would have negotiated a much better deal for taxpayers,” said Cassano, who left the company in March 2008 after the insurer reported more than $11 billion in losses within his division for the fourth quarter of 2007.” [CNN Money]

American International Group - Joseph Cassano - AIG - Government - Insurance
Source: Dealbreaker | 30 Jun 2010 | 2:48 pm

U.S. Exchanges to Seek Broader Scope for Trading Curbs: Audio

Source: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 30 Jun 2010 | 2:37 pm

Dow Falls 10% for Quarter (Market Update)

All three major stock indexes swooned to end the second quarter at new lows for the year,...

Source: SmartMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 2:27 pm

Private sector sees small job gains in June

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. private sector employment rose by a paltry amount in June, underscoring concerns about a weak labor market two days ahead of a closely watched government jobs report.

Source: Reuters: Business News | 30 Jun 2010 | 2:18 pm

Pulling The Peg

The following post is by Dealbreaker reader and commenter Infinite Guest.

To a nation of savers, to a growing economy, and to the general well-being of central planners, inflation poses a bigger threat than unemployment. Ahead of China’s 12th Five Year Plan, due out soon, Chinese foreign direct investment is booming; the pace of bilateral currency swap agreements quickens; China has reduced the duration of her foreign holdings; a regional currency fund using yen, yuan and won in place of dollars has been established; and there is finally a nascent foreign market for Chinese debt. Simultaneously, productivity gains are slowing, resulting in wage stagnation and growing income disparity; energy consumption is rising, pushing Chinese toward becoming a net importer; and real estate is overvalued. All of which suggests, unfortunately for the West, that the Chinese are serious about floating their currency. But first, they have to manage its revaluation.

Most fundamentals favor a stronger Yuan. A floating Yuan is another matter, however. Western experts are quick to point out that China is an autocratic technocracy whose leadership would not gladly surrender their prerogative to the whim of the capital markets. That argument ought to be mitigated by three manifest realities. First, unpegging the Yuan gives China more independence, not less. Second, China will intervene whenever it likes. Third, Hong Kong is literally in China’s corner.

In both Europe and America, we tend to assume that free markets exist, that free countries exist, that the two are categorically good to have and that they work best together. From those assumptions, we have convinced ourselves to assume that alignment with the dollar is also categorically good — well, not for Europe, and maybe not even good for Japan, but good for everyone else, at least. This despite repeated reminders throughout the developing world that a dollar peg is a de facto master-slave dialectic, in which the American business cycle is definitely not the slave. A stronger yuan, while it would directly affect the current account, does not necessarily have any impact on the balance of trade: net yuan outflows associated with China’s foreign investments, replace (possibly) declining exports. A truly floating yuan, likewise, would only correct that part of China’s trade surplus that is actually a monetary phenomenon. The real challenge is for China to earn a better return on its investments, denominated in yuan, than she pays on her external debt.

I doubt there is any need to elaborate on China’s freedom to intervene in foreign currency markets. They already have the reserves, the domestic banking system and the relationships in place to do so at their discretion. A floating yuan doesn’t change that. When other countries complain, as they inevitably will, it’s worth remembering that no one has any moral high ground in the arena of currency intervention.

Hong Kong, of course, is a special case. Hong Kong is always a special case. To China, Hong Kong is a safety valve, a shield, a conduit and a laboratory. While the world’s attention is fixed on the unfixing of the Yuan, the Hong Kong dollar remains within its own narrow band. A useless currency, it may yet come in handy as a tool for Beijing, if only to buffer the declining value of China’s dollar-denominated holdings. Already allied with Japan, already opportunistically playing Europe against America, and increasingly well-positioned to drive a wedge between Germany and the rest of Europe, China has nothing to fear from a floating yuan. All values being relative, even the residual volatility of a (mostly) freely-traded yuan does not pose a significant threat to China’s economic and social stability, but rather, to ours.

China - Hong Kong - United States - People's Republic of China - Asia
Source: Dealbreaker | 30 Jun 2010 | 2:09 pm

Worried About The Deficit? Blame Health Care

Source: NPR Blogs: Planet Money | 30 Jun 2010 | 1:59 pm

Russian Spy Anna Chapman Claims To Have Worked For Warren Buffett

Which would potentially make The Oracle of O and Dr. Doom Eskimo Brothers. Which somehow makes sense.

Oracle - Database - Oracle Corporation - FAQs Help and Tutorials - Companies
Source: Dealbreaker | 30 Jun 2010 | 1:50 pm

The President's economic game plan

On the heels of yesterday's worrisome report on consumer confidence, the president made his way to Racine, Wisconsin this morning. Marketplace's senior business correspondent, Bob Moon reports.
Source: Marketplace | 30 Jun 2010 | 1:45 pm

SmartMoney Recognized for Journalistic Excellence

The magazine and web site have been commended in recent contests.

Source: SmartMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 1:29 pm

Fund Exodus Continues as Risk Is Shunned (On the Street)

For the first time since 2009, investors pulled more out than they put in.

Source: SmartMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 1:21 pm

Day laborers take the stage

A theater troupe of day laborers for day laborers, Teatro Jornalero, performs educational plays about labor and immigration laws, mixed in with the challenges day laborers face.
Source: Marketplace | 30 Jun 2010 | 1:16 pm

Ford pays down $4 billion in debt

DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co said it is paying $3.8 billion in cash to settle a debt to a health care trust in a signal of its confidence that it remains on track to deliver "solid profits" this year.

Source: Reuters: Business News | 30 Jun 2010 | 1:12 pm

Investors flock to havens in tough year for equities

Global stock markets have suffered their worst half since 2008, while top-tier government bonds and gold have reaped solid returns
Source: Financial Times - US homepage | 30 Jun 2010 | 1:10 pm

Making the most of a trip

It isn't cheap to travel these days, what with the cost of fuel and air travel, but commentator Robert Reich proposes a few of his ideas to get more bang for his buck -- and his weight.
Source: Marketplace | 30 Jun 2010 | 12:41 pm

Ford starting to pay back debt

Marketplace's Alisa Roth looks into what it means that automaker Ford to start paying off its debt, in cash, and what is in store in its future.
Source: Marketplace | 30 Jun 2010 | 12:41 pm

Summer Reading: Heidi Moore

Cocaine, sex and power make for a juicy read. Reporter Heidi Moore shares her summer reading pick "Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man: A Memoir," which she says parallels the addictions to money and power on Wall Street that contributed to the financial crisis.
Source: Marketplace | 30 Jun 2010 | 12:41 pm

Information overload, an age-old problem

Author William Powers talks to Kai about how information overload is not an ancient problem, but a modern one, along with ideas on how to combat the deluge of information people face everyday.
Source: Marketplace | 30 Jun 2010 | 12:41 pm

New diapers for trendier tushes

New parents often will go to great lengths to get the for their baby. The latest trendy item for baby are designer diapers, so babies can stikll look their best with their pants off.
Source: Marketplace | 30 Jun 2010 | 12:41 pm

AIG waived right to sue big banks?

Kai Ryssdal talks to the New York Times' Louise Story about the piece she wrote with Gretchen Morgenson on AIG and how the company waived its right to sue the banks that underwrote the mortgage securities it was insuring.
Source: Marketplace | 30 Jun 2010 | 12:41 pm

Muni Bond Ratings Rise Despite Finances (Bond Watch)

How some rating recalibrations could affect your municipal bond investments.

Source: SmartMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 12:32 pm

Chinese Bank To Make Commercial Real Estate Loans

The world’s most profitable bank, China’s Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, plans to begin making loans in excess of $100 million to US commercial real estate owners. The ICBC, as it is known, earned pre-tax profit of $24.5 billion in 2009, topping the list of profit-making banks compiled the ‘The Banker” magazine. Some US [...]

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Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 30 Jun 2010 | 12:14 pm

How Low Can the S&P 500 Go? (On the Street)

Analysts estimate the bottom in the wake of Tuesday's stock drop.

Source: SmartMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 12:13 pm

Dynamex Raised to `Overweight,' Anadys Cut to `Hold': Audio

Source: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 30 Jun 2010 | 12:03 pm

Who Are Your Favorite Hedge Fund IR Dimes?

So, my friend Jessica Pressler and I did a list of the hottest pieces of male tail on Wall Street. This may be of interest to a few of you (the ladies, the boys seeking boys, those who want to hate-click about not being on it) but I am aware that, for the most part, many of you are looking for something a little different.

And so, for you, Dealbreaker will be compiling a list of the hottest IR chicks. The women who, like a certain former Citi employee, could technically be deemed “too hot” for the job and summarily fired, but are not because of their amazing asset allocation skills. I can’t do this without you, of course, so if you want it, you’re going to have to work for it. This will not be possible unless you send all relevant details here (subject line: “Hedge Fund IR Dimes”) and for the love of god, attempt to include a pic or point me in the direction where one can be found. Apparently “there’s this Jennifer chick from SAC” who’s “definitely in the Top 9″ and let us not forget that the man who set the bar for “the most insane investor relations bunnies you’ve ever seen,” Nick Maounis, has started a new shop, currently in the process of raising funds. (Please note, if people are feeling skittish, we’re not looking to demean anyone here. We’re just trying to be fair.)

Wall Street - Hedge fund - Citigroup - Business - Investing
Source: Dealbreaker | 30 Jun 2010 | 11:59 am

Former AIG Exec Blames Losses On Bailout

Source: NPR Blogs: Planet Money | 30 Jun 2010 | 11:55 am

Chadbourne's Squires Discusses Bilski Court Decision: BLAW

Source: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 30 Jun 2010 | 11:37 am

Reader Poll: Does It Surprise Anyone To Find Out Joe Cassano Has A Lisp?

And also that he thinks he’s too good to read his prepared testimony? And finally, am I the only one getting a serious, “love child of Jon Lovitz and Jimmy Cayne” vibe? (Previously I though it was just “spawn of JoLo…but there’s definitely seeds of JC in there.)

Earlier: Joe Cassano, Most Selfless Individual In All The Land, Begged His Bosses At AIG To Let Him Not Take A Bonus

Joseph Cassano - American International Group - Goldman Sachs - Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission - Shopping
Source: Dealbreaker | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:46 am

Monsanto Posts New 52-week Low on Weak Report

The hits just keep on coming for Monsanto Corp. (NYSE:MON). The company today reported third fiscal quarter EPS of $0.81 on revenue of $2.96 billion. EPS estimates had been $0.80 and revenues were expected to reach $3.17 billion. EPS for the quarter was less than half that of the previous quarter, $1.70/share. Monsanto’s share price [...]

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Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:45 am

Wal-Mart Shakes Up Executive Suite

For a while there, during the economic downturn that started in the second half of 2008, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) looked like it had found a large number of new customers for its low-priced merchandise. These new customers came from a middle class base that was feeling pinched by the lack of credit and collapsing [...]

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Source: 24/7 Wall St. | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:29 am

Russian Spy Did Not In Fact Lie On Her LinkedIn Profile Re: Employement At Barclays

Yesterday, we mentioned that Anna Chapman, one of the ten Russian spies arrested by the Justice Department on Tuesday, had noted spending time working at Barclays as a “slave.” Almost immediately, the bank informed us that they have never even heard of this lady, and that there was no way in hell she’s ever worked for them. Such is apparently not so much the case! Today we’ve been told:

Bess,

We have updated information. While we have no record of an Anna Chapman working at Barclays Capital, a wider search found that an Anna Chapman worked in the Small Business section of Barclays Retail bank in a similar time period. Sorry for any confusion. We got updated information and I wanted to let you know.

Meaning this chick is kinda trustworthy! In related news, we’re still waiting for more intel on whether or not she did indeed have her ass tapped by Dr. Doom during her time in the states.

Russia - Anna Chapman - Small Business - LinkedIn - Barclays
Source: Dealbreaker | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:15 am

Presented By:

Source: Dealbreaker | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:15 am

Vallejo Bankruptcy Leaves Bondholders Waiting (Muni Bond Watch)

Muni market shows confidence as city sorts out its finances.

Source: SmartMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:08 am

50 Tips for Managing Stress and Staying Balanced

Image: D Sharon Pruitt/Flickr

How do you reach the bottom line without bottoming out? Balancing a demanding career with a busy life can burn you out. There are ways around this. We’ve compiled 50 of them below.

Quick Coping Tips
When you’re in a jam, take a shot of the tips below to refresh yourself.

20 very easy tips for lowering your daily stress level.

Have you hit the wall? Try refocusing on your goal.

Take a quiet time break to replenish yourself.

Boost your brain without drugs.

Make an appointment with your worries.

51 pragmatic suggestions for life management.

Make a quick, informed decision in the age of data overload.

Staying healthy amidst the stress.

Mind Tricks for Long-Term Balance
Finding balance is akin to sailing on the ocean: Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s hard. You don’t have control over your conditions. But you’re always adjusting. Here’s how to stay afloat long-term.

Let go of past failures to lighten your load today.

Confronting the need to be special could help you relax.

How work, love and play build a positive life.

Finding people to support you when you pursue scary goals makes everything easier.

Inaction can cause more harm than stepping into a stressful situation.

The words in your head have everything to do with stress.

How to get perspective on your life.

Fear of getting knocked down isn’t worth it.

Successful people make tons of mistakes. Here’s why you should emulate them.

Being decisive helps alleviate stress. Here’s how to map it or scrap it.

Don’t let your fussiness stop you from crafting a fulfilling life.

Refocus by finding meaning in your life.

What you have to give up in order to live a more balanced life.

Learn to navigate transitions, and you’ll learn to navigate life itself.

Attachments and aversions can drive you nuts. How to manage them.

Instead of vying for instant gratification, try your hand at patience.

What positive emotions have to do with broadening and building.

Stress and the Workplace
Where, when, and how you work can seriously affect your quality of life.

Workplace stress means employees are singing the Sunday blues.

Overtime boosts heart attack risk.

Sometimes, more work leads to lower achievement.

A business case for corporate wellness programs.

Check out new career ideas to help you with your stressful life.

5 high-paying, low stress jobs.

Stress and Sleep
Missing sleep is like putting an amplifier on your stress. These tips may help.

Getting enough sleep is a huge benefit for reducing stress. Here’s how to do it.

6 things to do when you can’t sleep.

Rethinking Stress
Is stress always bad? Not exactly. Here’s what we mean.

You have more control of stress and your health than you think.

There are different kinds of stress. Some are even good for you.

Sometimes opportunities disguise themselves as impossible situations.

Change is stressful–until it’s not.

Interruptions can actually help you.

The myth of stress revealed.

What happens when you have too much to do and too little time to get it done.

Don’t let others define success for you.

Follow the rules and suffer the consequences.

Consider your culture before letting yourself be labeled.

How stress affects your physical health.

Stay up to date on studies about stress, relaxation, and productivity.

Lessons in Balance
Balance is an art and a science. It takes time. Here are some things you can learn from the world around you.

What can overreactions in the stock market teach us about our personal relationships?

If you’re shy, here are 10 tips to alleviate social anxiety.

Achieve balance through meditation.

What dogs can teach us about self-discipline.

Sometimes you really can blame the weather for your mood.

Source: Business Pundit | 30 Jun 2010 | 10:00 am

High Frequency's Carl Weinberg: On the Economy

Source: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 30 Jun 2010 | 9:51 am

Sony Recalls 535,000 Vaio Laptops

Image: PCSiteUK/Flickr

Sony is recalling 535,000 C- and F-Series Vaio laptops. The Vaios have been reported to get hot enough to bend, warp, and burn skin. Wired has more:

The F-series and C-Series Vaios have been sold into various markets around the world: Japan, Asia, Europe and the US, although so far Sony has only received 39 reports of overheating problems, says the Wall Street Journal.

Oddly, despite the recall, this appears to be a software issue which can be fixed with a download. According to Hiroyuki Kachi of the WSJ, a simple software fix will take care of everything, but for those not willing to do it themselves, Sony will arrange pickup for affected units.

To see if you’re affected, head over to Sony’s diagnostic page and check your serial number (found on the barcoded sticker on the bottom or rear of your machine). If you are, grab the BIOS firmware update and you should be running cool again in no time.

Source: Business Pundit | 30 Jun 2010 | 9:49 am

China Beats India. Again.

Source: NPR Blogs: Planet Money | 30 Jun 2010 | 9:43 am

FAA Certifies Flying Car “Terrafugia Transition”

The FAA has approved the Terrafugia Transition, a flying car, as light sports aircraft. The 1,444 pound vehicle, which the company calls a “roadable aircraft” on its website, required an FAA weight exemption to fit the sports plane category (the airbags and crumple zones required to make it street legal made the Terrafugia heavier than usual). The

Terrafugia burns automotive gas (not expensive AvGas), has wings that fold, and can fit into your garage. It fits 2 people, can drive up to 65 mph on the road, and flies up to 115 mph in the air. In short: It’s pretty sweet. See more specs here. Here are some pictures. (Unless noted otherwise, these all come from the Terrafugia website).

Image: Lomiere/Flickr

You can place a $10,000 refundable airframe deposit on the website. The plane will cost an estimate $194,000; the company anticipates delivery in Q4 2011. They say people have already reserved 70 aircraft.

Source: Business Pundit | 30 Jun 2010 | 9:28 am

When Price Goes Up, Yield Goes Down

You've probably heard the mantra 'When price goes up, yield goes down, and vice versa.' Here's what it means.

Source: SmartMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 9:08 am

Self-Employed? Remember the Roth IRA Option (The Tax Guy)

If you think your income is too high to qualify for a Roth account, read on.

Source: SmartMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 9:02 am

Joe Cassano, Most Selfless Individual In All The Land, Begged His Bosses At AIG To Let Him Not Take A Bonus

But they said no, Joe, no. You, our adorable little Jon Lovitz lookalike, deserve this. We won’t have it any other way. You have done so much for this company! Letting you walk away without $315 million would be practically criminal. Would you like that in unmarked, non-consecutive twenties? Singles? Briefcase or g-string?

Joe Cassano’s Testimony
In November 2007, it became apparent that AIG-FP’s accounting losses would be substantial and would require a change to our compensation structure to ensure that employees stayed with the company to help it address the issues surrounding the AIG-FP portfolio, but also would not be immune to AIG-FP’s losses if they were actually realized. I had several discussions with my superiors at AIG about this change, emphasizing the need to recognize the accounting losses while also noting the importance of keeping our employees together during this critical time. For that reason, I suggested that AIG-FP adopt a special-incentive plan (”SIP”), which would place any compensation in excess of a set amount in a special deferred-compensation account. The funds in that account would remain subject to AIG-FP’s business performance and the risk of realization of the accounting losses.

Unlike the standard deferred compensation, one-third of the SIP funds would vest at the end of 2008 and the remaining two-thirds would vest at the end of 2009, and the funds would have been paid in 2012. My goal in proposing the SIP was to recognize the unrealized accounting losses and to put highly compensated employees’ pay at risk to those losses becoming realized, while also providing an incentive for them to remain with the company through the end of 2009.

Although I was pleased with the SIP and believed it was a fair and appropriate plan given the magnitude of the accounting losses, I went one step further and volunteered to take no bonus whatsoever for 2007. Instead, I proposed to AIG that we simply have a handshake agreement that AIG would compensate me in the future if AIG-FP’s accounting losses reversed, as I was confident they would. I did not make this offer because anyone asked me to — I did it because it was the right thing to do, even though AIG management ultimately rejected my proposal.

Joe Cassano’s Testimony: AIG CDS Worked Just Fine [WSJ]

Business - American International Group - Joseph Cassano - Jon Lovitz - Joe Cassano
Source: Dealbreaker | 30 Jun 2010 | 9:00 am

Dividends Are Back

After a dismal 2009, companies are ramping up their payments at a record rate, creating opportunities for investors.

Source: SmartMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 8:56 am

Financial Reform Targets Private Student Loans (Education and Your Money)

The latest version of the finance bill could create a watchdog.

Source: SmartMoney.com | 30 Jun 2010 | 8:46 am

Feinberg Discusses BP Claims Fund: Political Capital

Source: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 30 Jun 2010 | 8:25 am

Commerzbank’s Dixon on Stocks, Stamenkovic on Bonds: First Word

Source: Bloomberg - All Podcasts | 30 Jun 2010 | 7:02 am

Opening Bell: 06.30.10

Goldman’s Cohn Is Next On Hot Seat (WSJ)
Goldman’s No. 2 executive, a longtime confidant of Mr. Blankfein, is testifying Wednesday before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. Mr. Cohn is well-known for being direct, even by Wall Street standards. During the credit crisis, he spotted ex-Goldman executives John Thain and Peter Kraus having dinner at San Pietro restaurant in New York. Mr. Thain now is chief executive of CIT Group Inc., while Mr. Kraus leads AllianceBernstein Holding LP. “They are a pair of Goldman retreads,” Mr. Cohn remarked to his dinner companion, according to people familiar with the conversation.

Foxes Of Finance (Daily Intel)
If you’re looking for some (male) tail.

European Union To Limit Bonuses Paid To Bankers (Reuters)
The new program, which goes further than American rules agreed on last week, would be the first cap on how bankers are paid. It would also be a victory for European Union lawmakers who have otherwise become bogged down in efforts to regulate banking. “The bankers have shown that despite the crisis, they are not able to show self-restraint. This law will do it for them,” said Arlene McCarthy, a lawmaker for the Labour Party of Britain, who helped negotiate the new rules. “This will transform the bonus culture,” she said after concluding nine hours of talks to reach a compromise. “It is the first cap on how bankers are paid worldwide.”

Derivatives Laws Could Cost Companies $1 Trillion (Reuters)
“The margining requirements for corporate end-users as currently drafted in the bill runs the risk of imposing a significant cost on U.S. companies and could impede their ability to manage their business and financial risks,” Conrad Voldstad, Chief Executive Officer at the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, said in a release.

Volcker Said to Be Disappointed With Final Version of His Rule (Bloomberg)
As first envisioned, the Volcker rule would have banned banks from running private-equity and hedge funds, an attempt to curb risk-taking that fueled the financial crisis. Last-minute congressional negotiations aimed at winning Republican support led to a compromise that allows banks to invest up to 3 percent of their capital in such funds. Volcker, the 82-year-old former Federal Reserve chairman, didn’t expect the proposal to be diluted so much, said a person with knowledge of his views. He’s content with language that bans banks from trading with their own capital, the person said.

UBS Investors Push For Civil Charges (WSJ)
Two shareholder activists joined up Wednesday to rally investors in pushing for UBS AG to pursue the Swiss bank’s former bosses for their role in more than $50 billion of write-downs on illiquid securities. “In a first phase, we would like to bring interested shareholders together and urge UBS’s current board one last time to pursue the former managers,” Switzerland’s Actares and Brussels-based Deminor said in a statement.

Fund Managers’ Profits Are Ripe for a New Tax (NYT)
“It could be one more reason to move,” said Richard S. Zarin, a tax lawyer at the firm Morgan, Lewis who represents a number of investment fund organizers. “Having my office in New York versus Greenwich is now costing the partners who live in Connecticut more money than it used to.”

In Bailout of AIG, Forgiveness For Big Banks (NYT)
On Nov. 6, 2008, for instance, after a New York Fed official spoke with Lloyd C. Blankfein, Goldman’s chief executive, about the Fed’s A.I.G. plans, the official noted in an e-mail message to Mr. Blankfein that he appreciated the Wall Street titan’s patience. “Thanks for understanding,” the regulator said.

Feinberg: BP Deserves Credit for Starting Fund (CNBC)

Lloyd Blankfein - Wall Street - Hedge fund - Business - CIT Group
Source: Dealbreaker | 30 Jun 2010 | 6:59 am

Dad Won't Pay For College, So Daughter Sues

Source: NPR Blogs: Planet Money | 30 Jun 2010 | 6:24 am

This Company Took Budget Cuts Too Far

Source: Business Pundit | 30 Jun 2010 | 5:27 am