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Automatically compiled digests of BUSINESS news stories
(originally clustered by the Google News):


Saturday


  • Nov-07-2009 -- UPDATE 1-Mexico's Walmex Oct same-store sales up 5.1 pct
    Not all retailers appear to be engaging in the tug of war, as Best Buy Co., Barnes & Noble Inc. and Borders Group Inc. all had higher prices for some of the DVDs Friday.
    All three companies also sweetened the pot by offering free shipping for the DVDs being sold. More...

  • Nov-07-2009 -- More Profit For AIG, But Challenge Too
    American International Group Inc. 's (AIG) third-quarter profit was driven by higher investment income and gains in the market value of its invested assets, while its core insurance operations struggled with a weak economy and lingering negative perceptions in the marketplace.
    In total, AIG can call on $182.3 billion in assistance from the Government, of which it has used $120.7 billion. More...

  • Nov-07-2009 -- Beijing Slams USTariffs in Growing Clash
    The U.S. Commerce Department on Thursday slapped preliminary anti-dumping duties on Chinese-made steel pipes used in the oil and gas industry.
    The move came ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to China from Nov. 15 to 18. More...

  • Nov-07-2009 -- CORRECT:Insider-Trading Probe To Have Lasting Effects -sec's Khuzami
    Bharara said the arrests of Rajaratnam and the five others had been a "wake-up call for Wall Street" and that Thursday's announcement meant "the alarm bells have only grown louder.
    Five of the 14 have already pleaded guilty, including Roomy Khan, the tipster who let authorities in on the web of alleged insider trades surrounding Galleon founder Raj Rajaratnam. More...

  • Nov-07-2009 -- Boston Scientific to Settle
    Under the terms of the agreement, Guidant will plead to two misdemeanor charges related to failure to include information in reports to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Boston Scientific will pay $296 million on behalf of Guidant.
    Boston Scientific, which had previously disclosed the investigation of Guidant by the U.S. attorney's office in Minneapolis, noted in a press release that Guidant's alleged misconduct occurred before Boston Scientific bought Guidant in 2006. More...

  • Nov-07-2009 -- Demand Worries Drag Crude Oil Down More Than $2
    PERTH, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Oil rose slightly on Friday, supported by positive U.S. economic data, but wariness ahead of monthly jobs data from the United States limited gains and kept its price below the psychologically key $80 level.
    Last year's third quarter was one of the best for oil companies as crude contracts soared above $147 a barrel. More...

  • Nov-07-2009 -- NYMEX-Crude ends nearly 3 pct off on jobless gloom
    PERTH, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Oil rose slightly on Friday, supported by positive U.S. economic data, but wariness ahead of monthly jobs data from the United States limited gains and kept its price below the psychologically key $80 level.
    Last year's third quarter was one of the best for oil companies as crude contracts soared above $147 a barrel. More...

  • Nov-07-2009 -- UPDATE 1-Wall St trial summations hone in on 'toast' email
    NEW YORK, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The government's allegations of fraud against two former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers were built on "hindsight bias," including emails selected out of context, a defense lawyer told a jury in closing arguments on Friday at their trial in New York.
    Cioffi, 53, and Tannin, 47, pleaded not guilty last year to conspiracy and fraud charges — the first criminal case to hit Wall Street amid the housing market meltdown. More...

  • Nov-07-2009 -- Credit slides for 8th month
    The Federal Reserve announced that consumer debt fell by $14.8 billion during the month, significantly more than the $10 billion economists forecast.
    Non-revolving debt, which includes auto loans and personal loans, fell at a 3.7 percent annual rate or by $4.9 billion to $1.57 trillion. More...

  • Nov-07-2009 -- US Should Give More Detail on Guarantee, Panel Says
    Federal government guarantees to back up bank assets during the financial crisis posed a "considerable risk to taxpayers" last year, but the guarantees ultimately played "a significant role" in calming the markets, and now taxpayers appear set to earn a profit, a government watchdog panel said Friday.
    Warren gained prominence as an early voice questioning whether Treasury was providing enough transparency as it doled out the bailout money. More...

  • Nov-07-2009 -- IRS has 1140 checks for Utah taxpayers
    The Internal Revenue Service said Thursday that it has about 108,000 unclaimed tax refunds worth more than $123 million, including nearly 250 checks for people whose last known addresses were in south Alabama and Mississippi.
    If some of that money is yours, taking a minute to update your address can help you get it. More...

  • Nov-07-2009 -- Sun Micro sales take hit as Oracle merger drags out
    NEW YORK, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Computer maker Sun Microsystems Inc (JAVA.O: Quote, Profile, Research ) suffered a 25 percent fall in quarterly revenue, as uncertainty over its delayed sale to Oracle Corp (ORCL.O: Quote, Profile, Research ) hurt its business.
    The Santa Clara, California-based company reported a net loss for the first quarter of $120 million or $0.16 per share, compared to a loss of $1.68 billion or $2.24 per share in the year-ago quarter. More...

Friday (Update 1)


  • Nov-06-2009 -- UPDATE 2-Blackstone posts profit; sees more deals ahead
    The Blackstone Group on Friday reported a $275 million profit for the third quarter, as the giant publicly held private equity firm bounced back from the depths of the financial crisis last year.
    Net Fee Related Earnings from Operations were $24.0'million for the third quarter of 2009, a decrease from $25.2'million for the second quarter of 2009 and from $42.4'million for the third quarter of 2008. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- UPDATE 1-STR Holdings IPO prices below range at $10
    Underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional 1.845 million shares.
    The solar company, the first one to launch an initial public offering in more than a year, is offering 3.3 million shares, while selling shareholders are offering 9 million. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- Edison third-quarter profit falls on lower power prices
    Profit at the company's Southern California Edison rose, but was more than offset by lower earnings at Edison Mission Group, where earnings from coal- and gas-fired projects dropped as a result of lower energy prices and from lower trading income.
    Edison International's (EIX) third-quarter profit fell a less-than-expected 8.2% as earnings were hurt by a decline in revenue amid lower energy prices. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- Schottenfeld Draws Scrutiny After Goffer Arrest in Insider Case
    Bharara said the arrests of Rajaratnam and the five others had been a "wake-up call for Wall Street" and that Thursday's announcement meant "the alarm bells have only grown louder.
    The cooperators include Roomy Khan, a key witness in last month's charges against Rajaratnam, along with current or former hedge fund managers in Massachusetts and California. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- AerCap posts smaller third-quarter profit
    Net spread, the difference between basic lease rents and interest expense excluding the impact from the mark-to-market of interest rate caps, was $114.6 million in third quarter 2009 compared to $93.3 million in third quarter 2008, an increase of 23%.
    The decrease was mainly due to lower aircraft sales revenue and lower maintenance revenue, partially offset by higher basic lease revenue. -- Sales revenue for the third quarter 2009 was $49.0 million, compared to $122.4 million for the same period in 2008, and was generated from the sale of one aircraft, three engines and parts inventory. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- UPDATE 1-FreightCar America Q3 profit sinks, to cut more jobs
    The railcar maker also said it will cut more jobs and salaries to further reduce costs, and that it was looking to expand into other markets for revenue growth.
    Shares slid 5.5% to $24.20 in premarket action. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- Fortress shares fall on 3rd-quarter loss
    At the end of the quarter Fortress managed $32 billion in assets, down from $34.3 billion a year earlier as it tried to block redemptions.
    Fortress shares were down 5 percent or 23 cents at $4.34 in morning trading. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- Now Bailout Expectations Are Built In: Warren
    Federal government guarantees to back up bank assets during the financial crisis posed a "considerable risk to taxpayers" last year, but the guarantees ultimately played "a significant role" in calming the markets and now taxpayers appear set to earn a profit, a government watchdog said Friday.
    One of the federal government'''s most opaque methods for bailing out the banking system allowed a handful of giant institutions to save up to $25 billion on their borrowing costs, a Congressional panel estimated on Friday, Edmund L. Andrews writes in The New York Times. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- Scripps Networks 3Q Earnings Up 14% Amid 2008 Charge
    CINCINNATI — Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. said Friday its third-quarter profit climbed 37 percent, boosted by strong revenue at its Food Network and HGTV networks.
    The partnership will take on $878 million in third-party debt that will be guaranteed by Scripps and indemnified by Cox, the company said. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- Nowotny Says ECB Hasn't Decided to Stop 12-Month Loan
    Investors will be focused on the flow of important U.S. econ data along with more Q3 earnings reports before Wednesday'''s FOMC meeting.
    On the dollar, we expect no news either. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- AES to Sell Stock, Wind-Power Stake to China's CIC
    Located in Hebei Province, a second phase is expected to reach commercial operation in 2010, boosting total output to 98MW. Separately, AES entered into a binding stock purchase agreement with a wholly-owned investment subsidiary of CIC to raise $1.58bn of new equity to fund growth opportunities and extend its global presence in the power sector.
    More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- Florida recruit driven be personal loss
    On behalf of parents and students, the American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday sued state officials in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
    The main problem is that school does not prepare the vast majority of the students for ANYTHING. Most people do not need to go to college. More...

Friday


  • Nov-06-2009 -- NEC to Raise $1.48 Billion
    The capital raising, tipped by sources on Thursday, sent the firm's shares up 10.5 percent.
    More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- World's Central Banks Signal End to Policy 'Largesse'
    ECB holds rates at 1 pct, suggests end of 1-yr tenders (Adds comments from ECB's Trichet) By Kirsten Donovan LONDON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Interbank dollar lending rates marked new lows on Thursday but sterling and euro rates edged higher as major central banks laid out their latest policy positions and views on the economic recovery.
    Markets will look for the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) statement on monetary policy due out at 0030 GMT for clues on whether it will continue to raise rates in December. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- Mortgage Rate Falls Below 5%
    A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 6.19 percent.
    A Freddie Mac survey out today shows the average fixed rate for a traditional 30-year home loan was back below 5% this week. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- Van stolen 35 years ago in Wash. state recovered
    The bus is in pristine condition and still runs, customs officials said in a press release.
    Law officers said the van, which is in great shape, was stolen from an upholstery shop in Spokane on July 12, 1974 — while Spokane was hosting the 1974 World's Fair. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- UPDATE 3-CBS profit beats Street, even as advertising hurts
    CBS, home to the top rated TV broadcast network, reported net earnings of $207.6 million, or 30 cents a share, compared to a loss of $12.46 billion, or $18.58 a share, a year ago, when it wrote down billions of dollars in assets.
    Plus, retransmission fee revenue will double next year based on contracts already signed, Moonves added. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- REFILE-Deutsche Bank unit files for 100 mln new UUP shares
    Just hours before the Federal Reserve announced plans Wednesday to maintain the federal-funds target rate at current levels, options traders rallied around the PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bullish Fund, pulling the trigger on large transactions valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars.
    Trading in the exchange-traded fund, which tracks the performance of the U.S. dollar index against a basket of currencies, was briefly halted on Thursday. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- UPDATE 3-Citi to raise up to $100 mln in Primerica IPO
    NEW YORK, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc ( C.N ) said on Thursday that it plans to sell shares of its Primerica Inc life insurance business to the public, as the bank looks to shed assets outside its main businesses.
    NEW YORK ( TheStreet )-- Citigroup's ( C Quote ) Primerica financial services and insurance unit is going public. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- Nvidia sees Q4 revenue above Street estimates
    SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Graphics chipmaker Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O: Quote, Profile, Research ) forecast fourth quarter revenue above Wall Street expectations, and said its new server and mobile chips were gaining momentum.
    Analysts currently expect the company to post revenue of $868.11 million. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- UPDATE 3-IMS agrees to $4 bln deal, biggest LBO this year
    IMS Health, which provides market research to the pharmaceutical and health-care industries, has agreed to be acquired for $5.2 billion by private equity firm TPG Capital and the CPP Investment Board.
    The deal, which drew interest from a number of rival private-equity firms, is the latest sign that improving financial markets have started to ease access to capital, rebuild corporate share prices and repair confidence shattered by last year's credit crisis. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- CVS Rivals Have Better Prescription
    WOONSOCKET ''' CVS Caremark Corp. saw its stock price fall as much as 24 percent Thursday morning, the most in eight years, after the company said it lost $3.7 billion in pharmacy-benefit management (PBM) contracts during the third quarter.
    The shares had recovered somewhat to $28.62, down 21 percent, at 2:50 p.m. Ryan said he will temporarily take over the PBM business from executive vice president Howard McLure, who is retiring, while the company searches for a new leader. More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- Leap 3Q loss widens as subscriber growth slows
    The company said that year-over-year increase reflected several factors, including newer customers in some of the company's new markets, competitive pressures and "the significant effect of rising unemployment in our key customer segments, which decreased available discretionary income and resulted in increased deactivations."
    The company noted that it is seeing an "increasingly competitive operating environment" as well as "sustained economic pressure our our key customer segments." More...

  • Nov-06-2009 -- US Wants South Korea to Remove Auto-Sale Barriers, Kirk Says
    All we are asking for is for our own auto companies to be able to compete on a level playing field in the Korean market," U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said in the prepared text of a speech.
    The Lisbon Treaty, also known as the Reform Treaty, is an international agreement signed in Lisbon on Dec. 13, 2007 with the objective of overhauling the European Union's operational system. More...

Thursday (Update 1)


  • Nov-05-2009 -- Hyatt Hotels, Ancestry.com Climb Post-IPO
    Hyatt's stock gained $1.96, or 7.8 percent, to $26.96 in morning trading.
    The offering is structured so the Pritzker family would own 80 percent of Hyatt's Class B common stock, each share of which has 10 times the voting power of a Class A common share. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Kohl's October sales comparison rises 1.4 percent
    NEW YORK — The nation's retailers are reporting mixed sales results for October.
    The wholesale warehouse club reported sales at stores open a year or more in October grew 5% compared with the same period last year, their biggest monthly advance since September 2008. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- IMS Health Reaches LBO Deal
    IMS Health, which provides market research to the pharmaceutical and health-care industries, has agreed to be acquired for $5.2 billion by private equity firm TPG Capital and the CPP Investment Board.
    TPG Capital is the global buyout group of TPG, a leading private investment firm founded in 1992 with approximately $45 billion of assets under management and offices in San Francisco, London, Hong Kong, New York, Fort Worth, Washington, D.C., Melbourne, Moscow, Mumbai, Paris, Luxembourg, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- If 'They Stop, We'll Stop,' Murdoch Says of MSNBC/Fox Feud
    NEW YORK (Reuters) - News Corp reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit as gains at its Fox cable network and film divisions, plus cost cuts, helped offset declines at its television stations and newspapers.
    News Corp.' s net income climbed 11% in the latest quarter, as gains in its cable-television networks and film business offset declines at its newspaper and broadcast-TV divisions. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Telef''nica to Buy Hansenet in $1.34 Billion Deal
    CEO Franco Bernabe, who has put in place a gradual cost cut and debt-cutting plan to turn around the company, said the HanseNet sale allowed the group to accelerate debt reduction.
    MADRID--Telefnica SA said Thursday it agreed to buy Telecom Italia SpA's German broadband unit Hansenet in a move to improve its foothold in the competitive German telecommunications market. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Thomson Reuters Profit Falls 59% Amid Charges
    Thomson Reuters believes that pro forma financial information provides more meaningful period-to-period comparisons of its performance because Reuters results prior to the April 17, 2008 closing are not included in IFRS results. 2009 results include the impact of the acquisition for the entire period.
    Thomson Reuters Corp.' s third-quarter earnings fell 59% on write-downs and charges as it saw revenue slide. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- MGM Swings To 3Q Loss On $1.17B Write-Down
    Its current project, the $8.5 billion CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip, is touted as the most expensive privately financed project in U.S. Most of that project is scheduled to open next month.
    Excluding one time charges, the third quarter showed signs of recovery. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Sara Lee Profit Rises Despite Drop in Sales
    Successful new products launched in the first quarter included Ortiz branded bread in Spain, various new Sara Lee branded ice creams in Australia and several private label refrigerated dough products in France.
    Net sales decreased 6.1% in the first quarter to $521 million, entirely due to unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- directv 3Q Profit Up 0.8%; US Subscriber Growth Falls
    EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — DirecTV Group's third-quarter net income was about flat from a year ago, as higher costs offset a 10 percent increase in revenue.
    NEW YORK, Nov 5 (Reuters) - U.S. satellite television operator DirecTV Group Inc ( DTV.O ) reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly profit as subscriber gains were offset by higher customer cancellations. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Higher margins, lower costs boost Wendy's/Arby's
    Revenues for the quarter were $903.22 million, compared to $310.37 million in the prior year quarter.
    We are ahead of plan on our key profit drivers to generate an annualized incremental $160 million of EBITDA by the end of 2011 from Wendy's' restaurant margin improvement and general and administrative expense ("G&A") efficiencies. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Gold makes fresh stab at $1100 an ounce
    U.S. gold futures for December delivery stood at $1,052.5 an ounce, up about 1 percent from Friday when the contract fell $6.70 to $1,040.40 on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
    The International Monetary Fund said on Monday it sold 200 tonnes of gold to the Reserve Bank of India for $US6.8 billion, quietly executing half of a long-planned bullion sale that had threatened to slow gold's rally. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Stage Stores sales increase in October
    Comparable store net sales for the 13-week third quarter ended October 31, 2009 increased 4.3 percent from comparable store net sales for the prior year 13-week third quarter ended November 1, 2008.
    The Sales Department will execute our consumer strategies through our national account, field sales and contact centre channels through a focus on distribution, merchandising and retailer advocacy. More...

Thursday


  • Nov-05-2009 -- SEC Likely to Charge More People in Galleon Case
    NEW YORK (Reuters) - More defendants may be added to the insider-trading case involving the hedge fund firm Galleon Group, a lawyer for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Wednesday.
    Rajaratnam, 52, a Sri Lankan-born billionaire, and the five other defendants are free on bail. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- UPDATE 2-Toyota seen forecasting smaller FY loss on cost cuts
    TOKYO, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average lost 0.5 percent on Thursday with Canon Inc ( 7751.T ) and other exporters slipping as investors took profits, though gains in banking shares helped keep the market supported.
    Analysts polled by Reuters expect Friday's employment report to show that U.S. payrolls shrank by 175,000 and the unemployment rate hit a new 26-year-high of 9.9 percent in October. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Oil Snaps Three Days of Gains on Signs Demand Is Yet to Recover
    Crude oil futures scaled back gains after rising above $81 a barrel midmorning when U.S. Energy Information Administration data showed an unexpected big drop in crude stocks last week, which confirmed industry data released late on Tuesday.
    Buoyed by outside influences, oil prices were also driven by the release of bullish industry data. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Asian Shares Mostly Lower; Sanyo Electric Tumbles
    TOKYO, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Corp ( 6752.T ) said it would launch a tender offer for shares in Sanyo Electric Co ( 6764.T ) on Thursday, moving closer to becoming a powerhouse in hybrid car batteries and other green-energy businesses through the bid worth at least 402.3 billion yen ($4.5 billion).
    The deal would boost its group sales close to the level of Hitachi Ltd., Japan's largest electronics company. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Revenue and Profit Declines at Time Warner
    The world's largest entertainment house Time Warner Inc.' s earnings fell by 38% in third quarter.
    Principally due to lower search and advertising revenue, News Corp.' s Digital Media Group saw its earnings decrease by $22 million year-over-year, the company said during its fiscal first quarter earnings call Wednesday. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Municipal bond case settled by JP Morgan
    The Securities and Exchange Commission says investment bank JP Morgan Chase & Co. will pay a $50 million penalty to Jefferson County and forfeit $647 million in swap termination fees in a settlement related to county bond deals .
    The bank said it was pleased to have reached a settlement with the SEC, noting that the charges principally relate to municipal derivatives transactions that occurred six or seven years ago in a business now discontinued. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Shanghai to own 57 pct of new Disney park -paper
    The breakthrough comes just two weeks ahead of a scheduled trip to China by U.S. President Barack Obama, a visit analysts had expected to help spur a decision on the park.
    China Daily reported that several state-owned firms in Shanghai would form a joint venture with Walt Disney to invest in the project, with the SOEs collectively taking a 60 per cent stake in the venture. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Hyatt Moves Up Its IPO
    Hyatt, which was originally set to launch a $988 million deal for trading on Friday, is instead aiming for Thursday, with one analyst conjecturing that the hotel chain was trying to get the deal done ahead of the government's release of unemployment data Friday.
    The offering is structured so the Pritzker family would own 80 percent of Hyatt's Class B common stock, each share of which has 10 times the voting power of a Class A common share. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- China Eastern gets stock-sale OK, shares jump
    HONG KONG, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Shares of Chinese property firm Evergrande Real Estate Group Limited ( 3333.HK ) were indicated 14.3 percent higher ahead of their $729 million Hong Kong trading debut on Thursday.
    Reuters calculations based on the closing price of Tingyi's Hong Kong-listed stock valued the share issue at HK$3.4 billion ($438 million). More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- UPDATE 4-Qualcomm outlook off, cites increasing competition
    Included a $230 million charge, or $0.14 diluted loss per share, related to an estimated fine expected to be levied by the Korea Fair Trade Commission recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. (b) Included $734 million in other-than-temporary losses on investments, which were not part of the Company's strategic investment portfolio and $13 million in interest expense, partially offset by $513 million in interest and dividend income related to cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, $107 million in net realized gains on investments and $1 million in gains on derivatives. (c) Included $29 million in other-than-temporary losses on investments, $17 million in equity in losses of investees and $11 million in interest expense, partially offset by $30 million in net realized gains on investments and $3 million in interest and dividend income. (d) The effective tax rates for the twelve months ended September 27, 2009 were approximately 23% for GAAP and approximately 28% for pro forma. (e) Included a tax expense related to the adjustment of net deferred tax assets that were recorded in prior years to reflect the changes in California law.
    For the September 2010 fiscal year, QCOM sees revenue of $10.5 billion to $11.3 billion, and profits ex-items of $2.10 to $2.30 a share; the Street has been expecting $11.6 billion and $2.32 a share. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Whole Foods Falls as Full-Year Profit Forecast Trails Estimates
    Results in the fourth quarter last year included: a LIFO charge of $4.7 million, or $0.02 per diluted share; non-cash asset impairment charges related to two Wild Oats locations of $1.5 million, or $0.01 per diluted share; FTC-related legal expenses of $2.5 million, or $0.01 per diluted share; charges related to lease terminations of Whole Foods Market stores in development and store closure reserve adjustments related to idle Wild Oats properties of $20.2 million, or $0.07 per diluted share; and tax charges resulting from the repatriation of $60 million in cash from the Company's Canadian subsidiary of $6.1 million, or $0.04 per diluted share.
    The Company expects to open 16 new stores, 10 of which are expected to open in the first half of the year. More...

  • Nov-05-2009 -- Ancestry.com Hopes to Stand Test of Time
    NEW YORK — Genealogy Web site Ancestry.com ]] Ancestry.com has succeeded in raising $100 million in its initial public offering.
    In the nine months that ended Sept. 30, the company earned $12.2 million, or 30 cents per share, a more than threefold increase from the $3.5 million, or 9 cents per share, it earned in the same period a year earlier. More...

Wednesday (Update 1)


  • Nov-04-2009 -- us job growth seen in early 2010-Macro Advisers
    The U.S. labor market is still on the receiving end of the worst recession since the Great Depression, as employers continue to layoff workers in a bid to save some costs and survive the ongoing economic weakness, as today the ADP employment report signaled that the bleeding in the labor market continues.
    According to the ADP employment report, payrolls declined 203,000 in October compared to a decline of 227,000 in September. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- PRECIOUS METALS: Comex Dec. Gold Extends Record High
    LONDON — The price of gold leapt to a record peak of 1,095.40 dollars an ounce in trading here on Wednesday in the wake of the International Monetary Fund's massive sale of the precious metal to India.
    The fact is that the RBI looked at $1,000-an-ounce gold and was still willing to buy an awful lot of gold at that elevated price. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Shanghai Disney Project Includes Hotels, Shopping
    "The Project Application Report (PAR) for a Disney theme park in the Pudong district of Shanghai has received approval from the relevant authorities of the central government of China," the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
    Gold counters rise on higher gold prices (Updates to close) By Jun Ebias and Claire Zhang HONG KONG/SHANGHAI, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks closed up 1.76 percent in an anaemic session on Wednesday, as investors snapped yo banks and gold counters, while Shanghai closed close to a three-month high, led by metals shares. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- GMAC Reports Third-Quarter Loss Tied to Loan Defaults
    NEW YORK — GMAC Financial Services, the main lender for General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC, said Wednesday it lost $767 million in the third quarter, as its struggling home mortgage unit continued to weigh on its results.
    The unit has been hit hard by the downturn in the housing market and lost $747 million during the quarter. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Pulte Homes 3Q Loss Widens Amid Centex Charges
    With the acquisition of Centex in August, Pulte received an increased market share in the first-time homebuyer market.
    Pulte, which completed its acquisition of rival Centex Corp in August, did not adjust its prior year results to reflect the merger. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Chrysler Chief Says Its Finances Are Improving
    DETROIT — Coming to your local Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep dealer: Tractor-trailers full of cars and trucks with lower sticker prices.
    With numerous Dodge and Jeep models potentially on Fiat's chopping block what will replace them? 23 News reporter Adam Behrman spoke with local dealer Jack Wolf to learn what consumers want. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- US to Sell $81 Billion in Long-Term Debt Next Week
    The rate for the 25-year Treasury bonds was last quoted at 9.75 percent in the secondary market rate.
    The highest bid was 9.250 percent while the lowest was 8.750 percent. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Cost cuts, tax gains boost Molson Coors
    The trends seem to improve with easing economic pressures.
    Earlier on Wednesday, MillerCoors reported a 28.1 percent increase in net income, as cost savings and price increases offset a dip in sales volume. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Terra Industries Rejects CF's Revamped Takeover Offer
    Hostile bidder CF Industries Holdings Inc. (NYSE:CF) sent a letter directly to Terra Industries Inc. (NYSE:TRA) telling it to vote in favor of the three proposed independent nominees to Terra's board on Nov. 20.
    CF is confident that stockholders will show support for the bid by voting for three of CF's nominees for Terra's board. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- WellCare's Sanctions Lifted; Shares Rise Amid Strong 3Q
    Thomson Reuters says analysts were expecting a profit of 67 cents per share and $1.66 billion in revenue.
    In morning trading, WellCare shares jumped $2.61, or 9.9 percent, to $28.93, and set an annual high of $31.50. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- WRAPUP 1-Devon, XTO profits down but output up
    XTO, a leading independent natural gas and oil exploration and production firm, posted earnings of $500 million, or 86 cents per share of stock, on revenues of $2.29 billion, only a 4 percent decrease from third-quarter 2008 earnings of $521 million, or 95 cents per share, despite a sharp decline in gas prices in the past year.
    Devon Energy Corp. ( DVN ) Q3 earnings fell by 81%, but the natural-gas and oil producer still managed to beat Wall Street expectations on higher production and lower costs. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Ambac reports $2.2 bln quarterly profit, shares jump
    NEW YORK, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Bond insurer Ambac Financial Group posted a quarterly profit of more than $2 billion after accounting gains related to its weakening credit quality, reversing a year-earlier loss and sending its shares up as much as 46 percent.
    Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. More...

Wednesday


  • Nov-04-2009 -- TSMC Wins Trade-Secrets Verdict Over SMIC
    OAKLAND, Calif.A jury ruled Tuesday in favor of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in a long-running legal battle against rival Chinese chip maker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., which TSMC had accused of stealing trade secrets and violating a prior settlement between the companies.
    TSMC is asking the Alameda County Superior Court panel to award it more than $1 billion in lost profits and damages, and the judge to permanently bar SMIC from selling the contested products in the United States, according to TSMC's lawyer Jeffrey Chanin of Keker & Van Nest. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Viacom posts 15% jump in profit in third quarter
    PHYSICAL: Paramount Pictures' third-quarter home entertainment sales dropped 21% from a year earlier because of difficult comparisons to popular 2008 releases.
    On the launch of premium movie JV service Epix: it is close to additional distribution deals, and should be announced very soon, Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- TREASURIES-Sit tight in Asia ahead of Fed, supply
    NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. economy may have turned a corner after the deepest recession in some 70 years, but Federal Reserve policymakers appear to be in no rush to raise interest rates.
    Trick or treat has passed for kids, but it begins today for grown-ups. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- U.S. lawmakers focus on size of big financial firms
    The legislation would not place any limit on how much taxpayer money the government could use to seize a major financial firm and would give Congress no say in any decision to use the money.
    Some Democrats want to force financial firms to pay into a fund for future bailouts so taxpayers aren't on the hook. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Back from Morocco, Rothstein faces feds
    Scott Rothstein is back in town.
    The Miami Herald reported on Tuesday that federal authorities were carrying out a criminal investigation into Rothstein's activities. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Intel, chipmakers slip on Morgan Stanley downgrade
    Computerworld - Investment house Morgan Stanley unleashed a torrent of downgrades on the semiconductor industry today, taking some steam out of the idea that chip companies like Intel are leading an economic comeback.
    The semiconductor sector was downgraded to cautious from attractive by Morgan Stanley, which said inventories are creeping up and a lot of good news is already baked into chip stocks. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Buffett joins Goldman bid for Fannie Mae tax credits
    Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were seized by the government last year and the Treasury Department has invested close to $100 billion in the housing-finance giants.
    Closed for 15 months ''' opening 10 days only! Get notified ahead of time as our expert portfolio manager invests $1 MILLION in the best opportunities from across The Motley Fool'''s premium investment services. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- ebay's paypal Launches Open Payments System
    "The PayPal X platform and PlaySpan will enable developers to increase conversion and revenue from their online games, virtual worlds, and social networks.
    I think the desire to get involved with gaming and social media commerce is interesting, but I think they are coming way too late to this party. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- California: Mayor Owes Back Taxes
    OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and his wife owe more than $200,000 in back taxes to the Internal Revenue Service, property records indicate.
    Jesse Weller, an IRS spokesman, declined to comment Tuesday because of tax-privacy laws. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Jeep Will Star Abroad in Chrysler Revamp
    The survival plans will be revealed by Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of Fiat and now Chrysler too.
    According to details of the plan that have emerged in recent days, Chrysler believes the market will recover sufficiently for it to be able to break even next year and be profitable by the end of 2011. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Discovery 3Q earnings fall 29 pct on higher costs
    Shares up 2.7 pct prior to earnings release (Adds comments from executive; stock price) By Paul Thomasch NEW YORK, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Discovery Communications Inc ( DISCA.O ) posted a larger-than-expected decline in profit, but stronger U.S. advertising sales stole the show and raised hopes that parts of the media business are finally recovering.
    Results fell short of analysts' average earnings forecast of 22 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters. More...

  • Nov-04-2009 -- Oil Rises as Gold Climbs to Record on Bank's Bullion Purchase
    Crude oil futures for December delivery fell 8 U.S. cents to $US76.92 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
    Oil prices fell to near $77 a barrel Tuesday, affected by sagging equity markets and the dollar's gains on the euro. More...

Tuesday (Update 1)


  • Nov-03-2009 -- Nokia Siemens Networks to cut nearly 6000 jobs
    The plan includes reorganizing the company's business units to better align with customer needs; extensive operating expense and production overhead reduction, including a global personnel review; ongoing purchasing savings; expanded partnering to ensure a full portfolio of world-class products and services; and potential acquisitions where assets would add scale to existing product areas or customer relationships.
    HELSINKI: Telecom equipment maker Nokia Siemens Networks unveiled a new cost-cutting programme on Tuesday, seeking to save over one billion euros ($1.48 bn) to stay competitive in the cut-throat market. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Black & Decker soars on Stanley Works deal
    In a joint statement, Stanley Works and Black & Decker jointly said they have entered into a definitive merger pact to create Stanley Black & Decker, an $8.4 billion global industrial leader, in an all-stock transaction valued at about $4.5 billion.
    Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies estimates that average spending on the do-it-yourself home improvement ' which is at the core of Black Decker's business will increase to $3,100 in 2015 from $2,500 in 2005. (Harvard adjusts the number for inflation). More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Madoff's Accountant Pleads Guilty in Scheme
    NEW YORK Bernie Madoff's longtime accountant, David Friehling, a Liberty High School graduate, will plead guilty in federal court to securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, making false filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and impeding the administration of internal-revenue laws.
    FILE - In this July 17, 2009 file photo, Bernard Madoff's accountant David Friehling exits Manhattan federal court in New York. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Financial News: UBS Re-Emerges From 9 Quarters Of FICC Losses
    ZURICH -- Swiss banking giant UBS AB reported disappointing third-quarter figures, as its key private banking division failed to show signs of a turnaround and management signaled that it won't soon stem an outflow of its wealthy clients' assets.
    ZURICH, SwitzerlandA lack of catastrophe claims helped Swiss Reinsurance Co. record a nine-month profit of 103 million Swiss francs ($100.4 million) despite other limiting factors, the reinsurer said Tuesday. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- TREASURIES-Prices turn lower, pre-Fed positioning cited
    At the sessions, Fed regulators told leaders of 28 of the largest financial firms that the central bank was serious about enforcing the executive pay guidelines it proposed late last month.
    The call for a speedy implementation of the proposals underlines the Fed's desire to change Wall Street's pay practices and stave off a public backlash ahead of what promises to be a bumper bonus season at many banks. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Emerson Electric profit down 26% amid soft demand
    Emerson's fourth-quarter earnings fell 24 percent to 67 cents a share, compared with 88 cents a share in the same period last year.
    For the full fiscal year, Emerson earned $1.72 billion, or $2.27 per share, on revenue of $20.92 billion compared with $2.41 billion, or $3.06 per share, on revenue of $24.81 billion. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- House Panel To Begin Work On Systemic Market Risk Bill
    Why? The bill, much of it coming from the proposals of Tim Geithner, has drawn considerable criticism for a plan to have the federal government collect money from banks to pay for bailouts.
    If System Collapsed, Taxpayer Would Still Pay The Singapore Business Times' Leon Hadar raises some other objections. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Polo Ralph Lauren 2Q Net Rises 10.2% On Tax Rate; Sales Down
    '''We are raising our sales expectations for the remainder of the year, but we continue to be cautious with our outlook and are planning accordingly.'''
    Technically, RL is in the midst of a struggle with the $80 level. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Dollar Gains Squeeze Oil Prices
    "Equity markets are down in Asia and Europe and there is a feeling that recent price increases may have been overdone, that despite the economic recovery, the current oil supply and demand situation probably does not justify the recent rise in prices."
    HSBC's China Purchasing Managers' Index rose to an 18-month high in October of 55.4 from 55.0 in September. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Och-Ziff Profit Beats Estimates on Market Rebound
    For the first nine months of 2009, Och-Ziff reported a GAAP Net Loss of $250.2 million, or $3.23 per basic and $3.25 per diluted Class A Share, compared to a GAAP Net Loss of $398.4 million, or $5.37 per basic and diluted Class A Share, for the first nine months of 2008.
    Distributable Earnings is a non-GAAP measure of after-tax operating performance and equals Economic Income for the Total Company (as defined above) less Adjusted Income Taxes. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- EU sees 2010, 2011 recovery, sets fiscal clock ticking
    "The EU economy is coming out of recession.
    Brussels, Nov 3 /Agerpres/ - The European Commission has upwardly adjusted its estimates of Romania's economic growth in 2010, to a 0.5 percent growth in 2010 and 2.6 percent in 2011, according to the European Commissions' autumn forecasts. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Teva Pharma 3Q Profits Rise; Continues Deal Hunt
    Author: Trupti Mehta 123jump.com Last Update: 11:09 AM ET November 03 2009 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited third quarter sales rose 25% to $3.55 billion and net income rose 3% to $649 million or 72 cents a share.
    Despite the strong revenue growth, Teva numbers still fell short of Wall Street expectations, hurt by volatility in the foreign-exchange market. More...

Tuesday


  • Nov-03-2009 -- Gold Gains to Near Record After IMF Sale, as Dollar Declines
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund said on Monday it sold 200 tonnes of gold to the Reserve Bank of India for $6.8 billion, quietly executing half of a long-planned bullion sale that had threatened to slow gold's rally.
    The IMF said the transaction, which was in the process of being settled, involved daily sales that were phased over a two-week period during October 19-30. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Ruiz leaving AMD spinoff after insider-trading report
    Company officials on Monday announced that Ruiz, 63, will resign from his role as chairman of GlobalFoundries effective Jan. 4, and that he is taking an immediate "voluntary leave of absence" in the interim.
    Last week HEXUS.channel reported on revelations, first published by the Wall Street Journal, that Hector Ruiz was apparently the 'un-named AMD executive' referred to in legal documents; who, it was alleged, had shared privileged information with an insider-trading defendant. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Humana Profit Rises 65% Despite Commercial Falloff
    LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Health insurer Humana Inc. rode its strong government business in posting a 65 percent jump in third-quarter profit Monday, as bulging membership and premiums from Medicare Advantage overcame a lackluster commercial segment hampered by the weak economy.
    Humana (NYSE: HUM ) earnings surged 65 percent in the third quarter, to $301.5 million, or $1.78 per share, as compared to $183 million, or $1.09 per share, in the same quarter last year. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Toyota Begins Alerting US Owners of Floor-Mat Flaw
    An investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is raising more questions as to whether the floor mats are the only culprit to unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus models.
    'NHTSA recently closed another study finding that the only cause of unintended acceleration was an out-of-position or inappropriate floor mat,' said Bob Carter, Toyota division group vice president. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Anadarko reports 90% drop in quarterly profit
    Third-quarter 2009 sales volumes of natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids totaled 57 million BOE, or 616,000 BOE per day, comprised of natural gas sales volumes that averaged 2.144 billion cubic feet per day, oil sales volumes that averaged 205,000 barrels per day and natural gas liquids sales volumes that averaged 54,000 barrels per day.
    In this Aug. 25, 2009 file photo, crew members with Anadarko Petroleum Corp. work on a drilling platform on a farm near Mead, Colo. A private measure of U.S. manufacturing activity grew in October at the fastest pace in more than three years, helped by government spending and higher demand from overseas. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Australian Dollar Pares Gains as Central Bank Flags Gradual Rate Increases
    Boris Schlossberg at Global Forex Trading said the ISM report was especially encouraging because it showed manufacturing employment growing for the first time in many months.
    U.S. construction spending increased by 0.8 % versus the expectation of a 0.2% drop, while U.S. ISM manufacturing came in at 55.7 in October, well above economists' forecast of 53.0 and previous month's reading of 52.6. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Stimulus saves or creates nearly 4000 Texas education jobs
    "The best value so far has been the increased funding for Medicaid and the highway spending."
    Retention of employees in education makes up for a large portion of jobs through stimulus spending. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Stock Picks: Nordstrom, Airgas
    Nov 2 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank upgraded Nordstrom Inc ( JWN.N ) to "buy" from "hold," saying it sees sales increases, lean inventory and cost reductions driving earnings-per-share growth at the upscale department store chain.
    Lisnic said Barnes Group's industrial markets appear to be nearing a bottom, possibly benefiting from improved demand. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- US to Allow GM to Use Federal Loans to Invest in Delphi
    The Detroit automaker said Monday in a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that the Treasury Department granted the release of $1.7 billion to acquire "a membership interest" in the new Delphi entity that emerged from bankruptcy protection.
    More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Florida Law Firm Asks to Be Dissolved
    The Broward County political establishment took another major hit Monday when news broke that Scott Rothstein founder of the Fort Lauderdale based law firm Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler may have fled the country after questions were raised by his partners about millions of dollars in missing money from the firm's trust accounts.
    Fort Lauderdale, Fla., attorney Scott Rothstein's meteoric rise in the South Florida legal and political worlds ended over Halloween weekend with the revelation that investors claim he stole in excess of $200 million. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- FAA rejects ban on night flights at Burbank's Bob Hope Airport
    The proposed restrictions ran into political opposition from FedEx, United Parcel Service and other cargo companies and trade groups who said the airport exaggerated the noise problem and that a curfew would harm the national air transportation system by encouraging other airports to adopt similar restrictions.
    Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and Howard Berman (D-Valley Village), among those pushing for a curfew, argued that it would provide "meaningful nighttime noise relief" to the communities surrounding the airport. More...

  • Nov-03-2009 -- Dean Foods Cautions on Outlook
    Your next question comes from Bryan Spillane of Bank of America.
    On an adjusted basis, net income attributable to Dean Foods Co. rose to $62.2 million or $0.34 per share from $43.5 million or $0.28 per share in the comparable quarter of the previous year. More...

Monday (Update 1)


  • Nov-02-2009 -- Clorox profit up 23%, lifts forecast
    Note: As a result of the adoption of a new accounting standard regarding calculation of earnings per share, diluted EPS for the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 was reduced by 1 cent, from 91 cents to 90 cents.
    Clorox (NYSE: CLX ) reported a first quarter EPS of $1.11, 6 cents ahead of the market estimate of 95 cents per share. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Sysco 1Q Net Jumps 18% On Gains; Sales Down 8.1%
    For the nine-month period of 2009, Con Edison reported net income for common stock of $666 million or $2.43 per share, compared to $1.04 billion or $3.80 per share in the previous year period.
    Sysco said an IRS tax settlement benefited profit by 5 cents per share, while a change in the value of corporate-owned life insurance added 4 cents per share. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Citigroup Analyst Upgrades Rating On Motorola, Cuts RIM, Palm
    Analysts at Citigroup on Monday cut their ratings on mobile phone makers Research in Motion (RIMM) and Palm (PALM), sending both companies shares lower in premarket trading.
    For Motorola, the move comes after a week of strong news for the wireless device maker. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Terra Industries Rises After CF Boosts Takeover Bid
    SIOUX CITY -- Terra Industries shares jumped 7 percent in early trading Monday upon news that CF Industries Holdings raised its hostile offer for its fertilizer rival.
    In a statement, Terra's board of directors, which has repeatedly rejected CF's overtures, said it would review the latest offer. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Constellation, EDF agree on nuclear venture terms
    The conditions set by the Maryland Public Service Commission for the transaction include a required credit of about $100 for every residential customer in Baltimore Gas & Electric's service area.
    Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, has been at odds with Constellation over rate increases and executive compensation. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- UPDATE 1-CNA posts third-quarter profit vs loss
    In July, Loews reported a sharp fall in profit for the second quarter, reflecting higher investment losses as well as the absence of prior year's hefty gain related to the separation of Lorillard Inc. Income from continuing operations for the 2009 second quarter was $341 million, or $0.78 per share, compared to $511 million, or $1.00 per share, in the 2008 second quarter.
    NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Loews Corporation (NYSE:L) today reported income from operations before investment losses for the 2009 third quarter of $530 million compared to $235 million in the 2008 third quarter. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- U.S. construction spending up in Sept
    Total construction spending grew to $940.28 billion at an annual rate in September.
    The overall increase reflected a 3.9 percent rise in spending on residential construction, the biggest jump in housing activity since July 2003. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Dean Foods Net Rises 32% on Milk Costs, Acquisition
    Dean Foods' business also includes Alpro, the pan-European leader in branded soy food products.
    "We are reporting another strong quarterly performance with continued solid operating income and earnings per share growth," said Gregg Engles, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Denbury shares fall after $3.2 billion Encore deal
    Denbury Resources Inc. and Encore Acquisition Company have entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Denbury will acquire Encore in a transaction valued at approximately $4.5 billion, including the assumption of debt and the value of the minority interest in Encore Energy Partners LP. The combined company will continue to be known as Denbury Resources Inc. (the '''Company''') and will be headquartered in Plano, Texas.
    NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Last week's trading in Encore Acquisition Co. (EAC) options was bullish ahead of news that Denbury Resources Inc. (DNR) plans to acquire the energy company. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Con Edison earnings rise 25%, reiterates view
    A sharp drop in the price of fuel boosted Consolidated Edison Inc.' s third quarter, helping the company posted an 85 percent profit leap.
    NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - November 2, 2009) - Send Word Now, a worldwide provider of emergency notification and on-demand alerting and response services, announced today that Con Edison ( NYSE : ED ) has selected Send Word Now to provide emergency voice and text communication services to its entire enterprise. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- REFILE-UPDATE 1-Q-Cells ends LDK supply agreement
    The original agreement specified the supply of solar wafers on the basis of a contractually fixed amount of silicon totalling 43,000 tonnes for the years from 2009 to 2018, with wafer supplies on the basis of approximately 1,000 tonnes of silicon relating to 2009.
    "The message for Q-Cells is mixed," said SES Research analyst analyst Karsten von Blumenthal. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Chip Sales Rose 8.2% in September
    Nov 2 (Reuters) - Global semiconductor sales rose 19.7 percent sequentially during the third quarter and beat estimates, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said and forecast an upbeat full-year sales.
    More...

Monday


  • Nov-02-2009 -- One death in New Hampshire attributed to contaminated meat
    Fairbanks Farms in Ashville, NY, which packages beef for stores like Shaw's, BJ's, Trader Joe's and Price Chopper, recalled over 500,000 pounds of beef due to E. coli concerns.
    Recalled products include all brands of ground beef including Wild Harvest, Lancaster Brand and store-made ground beef products including meatballs, meatloaf, Salisbury steak and stuffed peppers. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Lloyds aims to raise 7.5 bln pounds capital via 'Coco' bonds-FT
    Three new high street banks are expected to be created after Chancellor Alistair Darling announced that the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group are to be split up and Northern Rock sold off.
    EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes is believed to have eyed the sale of Citizens as one option for RBS as part of the price the bank will have to pay for accepting aid from the UK government during last year's banking crisis. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Fed's Path to Higher Interest Rates Begins to Take Shape
    NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. economy may have turned a corner after the deepest recession in some 70 years, but Federal Reserve policymakers appear to be in no rush to raise interest rates.
    I am surprised to read that you omitted to mention Paul Volker's new directive to create a value added tax ( VAT ) to be shortly implemented as a new source of revenue that will considerably help the fiscal tool, that the government is currently searching for. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- In eastern Washington, big plans for solar power
    With the utility incentives, plus current federal tax credits of up to 30 percent for installing solar devices, harnessing the sun for power never has been more affordable.
    Germany made a strategic move in investing a lot of capital in solar energy generation - to attain industry leadership. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Takefuji Leads Consumer Lenders Higher in Tokyo on Report of Softer Rules
    Consumer lender Aiful Corp soared and other consumer lenders surged as well after the Nikkei business daily said on Sunday that Japan will consider reversing its tightening of regulations on moneylenders to help self-employed business owners following the financial crisis.
    Sanyo Electric Co gained 2.6 percent to 234 yen after the Nikkei business daily said the company has agreed with PSA Peugeot Citroen to supply nickel-metal hydride batteries for the French carmaker's diesel-electric hybrid cars. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Guess What: Goldman Was Selling Risky CDOs While Shorting Housing
    From 2001 to 2007, Goldman hawked at least $135 billion in bonds keyed to risky home loans, according to analyses by McClatchy and the industry newsletter Inside Mortgage Finance.
    New Century tossed out a requirement that every homebuyer make a down payment and began lending up to 80 percent of a property's value for a first mortgage and up to 20 percent for a second. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- China imposes duties on imported chemicals
    BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China will impose five-year anti-dumping tariffs, ranging from 5 percent to 35.4 percent, on imports of adipic acid from the United States, the European Union and the Republic of Korea, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Sunday.
    In a sign of progress, China pledged at high-level talks with U.S. officials in eastern Hangzhou last week to lift restrictions on U.S. pork imports and Washington said it would ease curbs on Chinese poultry imports. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Constellation in deal talk with Australian Vintage
    NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. wine and spirits maker Constellation Brands Inc ( STZ.N ) said on Sunday it is pursuing discussions with various companies to sell or merge a part of its Australian and U.K. wine operations.
    AVL said on Monday the discussions were focusing on a possible merger of CBI's Australian and UK wine operations with AVL in exchange for a substantial, but non-controlling interest in the combined entity. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Vertex hep C drug works well in twice daily dosing
    All previous Phase II studies of the highly promising experimental drug tested the medicine at three times a day dosing given at eight-hour intervals.
    No. 1The company's experimental drug is showing that it can cure even the toughest-to-treat patients with hepatitis C. No. 2it may work just as well in a twice-daily dose as it does when given three times a day. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Aussie Dollar Channeling Yuan Shows More China Trade
    The rand is one of the high-yielding currencies into which Japanese retail investors have been shifting funds.
    High yielding currencies came under selling pressure throughout the New York trading session as the data indicated that consumers will make a limited contribution to the recovery without government stimulus. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Ford hits high gear in quality
    By comparison, less than half of GM's 48 models scored that well, and the Chrysler brand finished last out of 33 brands in the survey.
    New Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, who also heads up Fiat in Italy, has moved fast to put together a strong team to lead Chrysler from the financial abyss. More...

  • Nov-02-2009 -- Australian Regulator Proposes To Approve Virgin Blue, Delta JV
    The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said today that the proposed joint venture was likely to assist Virgin and Delta to compete more effectively against the incumbent airlines on the route, Qantas and United Airlines.
    Our interactive charting tool lets you dig deep into the price and news history of any company quoted on the Australian Stock Exchange. More...

Sunday (Update 1)


  • Nov-01-2009 -- cit's Swoon Hits Taxpayers
    NEW YORK ''' CIT Group, which could be headed for bankruptcy court soon, said today it has entered into an agreement with investor Carl Icahn for a $1 billion line of credit to use as it pursues its restructuring plans.
    The other and more likely option would be approving a reorganization plan before the company files for bankruptcy. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Death, Second Recall in E. coli Outbreak
    ASHVILLE, N.Y. ''' A western New York meat company whose products are sold at Price Chopper and BJ'''s Wholesale Club, among other stores, has recalled almost 546,000 pounds of ground beef because of links to illnesses from E. coli bacteria.
    The first lawsuit stemming from the current outbreak will be filed Monday in the Trial Court of Massachusetts Superior Court, on behalf of a Marshfield, MA family whose grandmother and children were infected with the pathogenic E. coli strain O157:H7 after eating ground beef purchased at the town's Star Market. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Consumer Electronics Makers Show Strength
    The Japanese electronics firm'''s net loss in the three months to 30 September compared with a profit of 20.8bn yen (''138m) in the same period last year.
    Sales during the quarter, the period from July to September, were down 20 percent on the same period last year at 1.7 trillion (US$18 billion) and net losses were 26 billion, it said Friday. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- The Global Anti-Trust Battle Over Google's Library
    The accusations by the Chinese media are just the latest bit of negative publicity Google has been receiving over the course of the last few months from Chinese authorities, after it was criticized for allowing pornographic links to appear in its search results and for not fully respecting copyright law when scanning books to display on what has become one of the most popular services offered by the search giant.
    A settlement has now been reached under which Google has agreed to provide a book registry, to which copyright holders of books could register and receive an agreed settlement for each book that has been digitized. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Samsung Elec considers raising dividend
    Seoul: Samsung Electronics, the world'''s top maker of memory chips and LCD screens, reported its best quarterly net profit on resurgent sales and forecast a strong 2010 despite concerns of a strengthening won.
    Samsung expects the global market for personal computers and handsets to resume double-digit percent growth next year and LCD TV sales to rise nearly 20 percent. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Homebuyer Tax Credit May Be Approved Early Next Week, Reid Says
    If things go bad, I'm outta here.
    Few new homes are being built in response to the tax credits. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Amgen sued over Anemia drug
    NEW YORKNew York, 13 other states and the District of Columbia sued Amgen Inc. and other drug suppliers over an alleged kickback scheme designed to boost sales of the anemia drug Aranesp, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said Friday.
    "Drugs should be prescribed to patients on the basis of need, effectiveness, and safety, not on a corporate giant's promise of an all-expense paid vacation," Cuomo said in a statement. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Keep Those Eyes on the Skies
    The Federal Aviation Administration made the right call when it revoked the licenses of Northwest Airlines pilots Timothy Cheney of Gig Harbor, Wash., and Richard Cole of Salem, Ore., after their jet overshot its Minneapolis destination by 150 miles before the pilots realized their error.
    Every box should record every minute of every flight. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Did Galleon Always Have Too Much of an Edge?
    The Galleon Group, the hedge fund at the center of a suspected insider trading ring, has liquidated about 90 percent of its nearly $3.7 billion portfolio of technology stocks and other securities, a person close to the firm told DealBook.
    Galleon traded on that information, netting a profit of $9 million, the biggest illegal trades identified in the complaints, which said a total of $20 million had been made by trading on nonpublic information. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- S. Florida Gas Prices Reach High For 2009
    From last November to January, the average price was $1.86.
    The contract fell $2.09 to settle at $77.46 on Wednesday. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Understanding IRA benefits
    For the first time, individuals and married couples whose income from all sources ''' including salaries and investments ''' tops $100,000 will be able to convert to a Roth, whether from traditional IRAs or work-sponsored 401(k) or 403(b) accounts.
    In subsequent years, distributions from the Roth IRA won't be included in gross income the way traditional IRA distributions would. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Dollar Rises Most Since April on Reduced Risk Demand Before Fed
    Against the Japanese currency, the dollar fell to 90.98 yen from 91.42 yen late on Thursday in New York.
    The U.S. economy, the world'''s biggest, grew at a 3.5 percent pace in the third quarter after a 0.7 percent slump in the preceding three months, the Commerce Department said Oct. 29. More...

Sunday


  • Nov-01-2009 -- Amgen Is Accused of Illegal Kickbacks
    NEW YORKNew York, 13 other states and the District of Columbia sued Amgen Inc. and other drug suppliers over an alleged kickback scheme designed to boost sales of the anemia drug Aranesp, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said Friday.
    Associated Press/AP Online October 30, 2009 WASHINGTON - States that allow gay marriage can't force the federal government to provide benefits to those couples, the Obama administration argued Friday in court papers in a lawsuit by Massachusetts. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- cit's Swoon Hits Taxpayers
    CIT Group ( CIT ) intends to file for bankruptcy protection in New York within days, perhaps as early as Sunday, the WSJ reports, citing people familiar with the matter.
    Our ability to secure an incremental $1 billion committed line of credit from Mr. Icahn's affiliates supports our restructuring plan and helps ensure our ability to continue to serve our existing small business and middle market customers." More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Reading the Tea Leaves at Nintendo
    Nintendo, which competes with Sony and Microsoft in the multi-billion dollar video game industry, sold 5.75 million Wii machines worldwide in the period, down from 10.1 million a year earlier.
    The novelty has worn off, the marketing isn't as powerful as it used to be, and Wii is no longer in demand like it used to be. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Homebuyer Tax Credit May Be Approved Early Next Week, Reid Says
    If things go bad, I'm outta here.
    With expiration of the credit looming, new home sales fell by 3.6 percent in September, or an annual rate of 402,000. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- The Global Anti-Trust Battle Over Google's Library
    The accusations by the Chinese media are just the latest bit of negative publicity Google has been receiving over the course of the last few months from Chinese authorities, after it was criticized for allowing pornographic links to appear in its search results and for not fully respecting copyright law when scanning books to display on what has become one of the most popular services offered by the search giant.
    A settlement has now been reached under which Google has agreed to provide a book registry, to which copyright holders of books could register and receive an agreed settlement for each book that has been digitized. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Errant-Flight Probe Looks at Controllers
    AP Photo/ KGW.com Northwest pilot Richard Cole at his home in Salem, Ore. The Federal Aviation Administration revoked the licenses of Cole and the other Northwest Airlines pilot who overshot their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles.
    Every box should record every minute of every flight. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Herhold: My kid's screaming? Throw me off the plane
    You're on a packed cross-country flight and you get stuck sitting next to a screaming child.
    I have brought art supplies (minimal - but a little water paint and play dough can go a long way!!), always had books to read, and whatever it took to keep the kids happy on the airplane. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Galleon case portrays a world of corporate leaks
    The Galleon Group, the hedge fund at the center of a suspected insider trading ring, has liquidated about 90 percent of its nearly $3.7 billion portfolio of technology stocks and other securities, a person close to the firm told DealBook.
    NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--The judge hearing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's civil insider-trading case against Raj Rajaratnam, the founder of hedge-fund firm. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- SC traveled a long road to land Boeing
    NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — A $750 million Boeing 787 assembly plant is expected to bring thousands of badly needed jobs to South Carolina's ailing economy and, officials hope, a closer look at the state by other industrial prospects.
    Boeing's new production line could ultimately bring $10 billion to the state, McConnell said. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Consumer Electronics Makers Show Strength
    The Japanese electronics firm'''s net loss in the three months to 30 September compared with a profit of 20.8bn yen (''138m) in the same period last year.
    The global slowdown dragged on consumer spending and the strong yen pushed down overseas sales when translated into yen. More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- Don't Be Snookered By That +3.5% GDP Report
    In the normal case, GDP growth precedes a return to health for the labor market.
    Recall that the National Association of Home Builders, a group which ostensibly supports any program that helps sell homes, has itself estimated that if the home buyer tax credit is extended through November 2010, would cost about $30 billion in lost tax receipts while generating tax revenues for federal, state and local governments of $11.6 billion.'' More...

  • Nov-01-2009 -- In Hindsight: As Great Recession ends, does Droid era begin?
    The Verizon Wireless network is positioned to handle heavy smartphone usage, but it's Apple's call, says Verizon chief.
    Submitted by mike (not verified) on October 31, 2009 - 9:35am. More...





Saturday (Update 1)


  • Oct-31-2009 -- Week Ahead: Volatility, the Fed and Plenty of Economic Data
    With U.S. equity prices in a freefall, Wall Street's favorite barometer of investor sentiment, the so-called VIX, screamed higher suggesting greater uncertainty heading into November, said Andrew Wilkinson, market analyst at Interactive Brokers Group.
    In volatility products, one investor sold 10,000 December 25 VIX puts and bought half as many November 25 and January 25 VIX puts in a so-called monthly butterfly spread, said Dan Deming, a VIX options trader at Stutland Equities. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Bad September, good Q3 for consumer spending, what's next?
    In the normal case, GDP growth precedes a return to health for the labor market.
    The real question is whether that growth can be sustained in coming quarters. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Union Votes Down Ford Concessions
    DETROIT — Opponents of a deal between the United Auto Workers and Ford Motor Co. are spreading misinformation as they campaign against the contract, the union's president said Saturday.
    "People have voted five times in the last five years on modifications and competitive operating agreements," Sullivan said. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Are 'too big to fail' powers just too big?
    AP's earlier story is below.
    If the firm doesn't have enough assets to repay the government, regulators would assess a fee to other firms with more than $10 billion in assets. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Low Oil Prices and Poor Margins at Refineries Weigh on Chevron
    C hevron Corp. CVX-N said Friday it pumped its way through a weak third quarter, producing more oil as prices CL-FT recovered from a severe plunge earlier in the year.
    Chevron's worldwide production of oil and natural gas is rising as well, up 10.6 percent compared with the same period last year. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Figure in Insider Case, Moffat, Is Out at IBM
    NEW YORK (Reuters) - IBM has replaced senior executive Robert Moffat as the head of its hardware division, saying he left the company two weeks after he was arrested in a high-profile insider trading scandal.
    According to the company, Moffat, 53, is no longer on leave, but is not an IBM employee any longer. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Errant-Flight Probe Looks at Controllers
    AP Photo/ KGW.com Northwest pilot Richard Cole at his home in Salem, Ore. The Federal Aviation Administration revoked the licenses of Cole and the other Northwest Airlines pilot who overshot their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles.
    The veteran pilots had clean records; Cheney with more than 20,000 hours and Cole more than 11,000 hours. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Nuclear sale contingent on energy firm, French giant offering rebate, aid
    The PSC ruled that a new nuclear power plant the companies propose to build is too contingent to be regarded as providing benefits to the utility's rate payers, making the rate credit necessary.
    The PSC would require $110 million in rebates for residential BGE customers as part of the deal. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Homebuyer Tax Credit May Be Approved Early Next Week, Reid Says
    If things go bad, I'm outta here.
    Local realtors have always said that East Idaho is a fairly stable market, one that does not experience the extreme highs and lows like other regions of the nation. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Is the Stock Exchange Obsolete?
    NYSE Euronext, the New York headquartered company that runs the New York Stock Exchange as well as bourses in Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels, reported net income fell to $138 million in the third quarter from $192 million a year earlier.
    Nyse Euronext global cash markets net revenue was $135 million in the third quarter of 2009, down 46% from the third quarter of 2008 and down 11% from the second quarter of 2009. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Buffett's Berkshire Cuts Moody's Stake Third Time in 3 Months
    W arren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. BRK.A-N, has taken some criticism lately - mostly related to Berkshire's underperforming share price and declining book value.
    When it comes to predicting financial markets, investors around the world think the best in the business is the Oracle of Omaha, a Bloomberg News survey concludes. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Dollar Rises Most Since April on Reduced Risk Demand Before Fed
    Against the Japanese currency, the dollar fell to 90.98 yen from 91.42 yen late on Thursday in New York.
    The euro versus the dollar "will again be lifted above $1.4880 by U.S. data, putting $1.50 back on the radar screen in the next sessions, although still negative euro area inflation could be a counterweight to risk appetite," UniCredit analysts said in a Friday research note. More...

Saturday


  • Oct-31-2009 -- Fed Summons CEOs of 28 Top US Banks to Meet With Supervisors
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With America still in a defensive crouch after a crushing recession and financial meltdown, the U.S. Federal Reserve is unlikely to soften its promise of rock bottom interest rates soon.
    HR 1207 has the support of 304 members of Congress, and the Senate version of the bill, S. 604, is supported by 31 U.S. senators. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- UPDATE 5-Coast Guard probes fuel spill in San Francisco Bay
    SAN FRANCISCO, (Xinhua) -- A fuel line on a tanker loading bunker oil from a barge ruptured yesterday, spilling a mile-long sheen of oil into the San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California, local media reported.
    The spill occurred at 6:48 a.m. as a barge pumped fuel into the tanker Dubai Star 2 1/2 miles south of the bridge, officials said. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Louisville plant workers turn down new Ford contract
    DETROIT — Opponents of a deal between the United Auto Workers and Ford Motor Co. are spreading misinformation as they campaign against the contract, the union's president said Saturday.
    In 2009, $15,000 in givebacks, we gave up our break time and agreed to receive no overtime compensation for working over 8 hours a day, we also agreed to give up our unused vacation time and 2 major holidays and again no COLA. Ford Motor had put up for collateral the Ford logo, and we the workers, had outright sold our mantra that was the core belief of our institution. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Buffett's Berkshire Cuts Moody's Stake Third Time in 3 Months
    Warren Buffett again lost out to bridge pal and fellow Berkshire Hathaway board member Bill Gates on this year's Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans .
    If investing in stocks was really like investing in a business, then sure, maybe you only need 3 "businesses" max to ever invest in in your life. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Geithner Lauds, Expands Tax Credit Program by $5 Billion
    AP's earlier story is below.
    Bair said the proposed Financial Services Oversight Council, which would watch the economy for signs of major risk, would not have enough power and independence. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Consumer Spending in US Declined in September
    WASHINGTON — Consumer spending likely fell in September, as auto sales took a nosedive with the end of the popular Cash for Clunkers program.
    Unemployment, currently at a 26-year high of 9.8 percent, will edge up to 9.9 percent when the government releases the October jobless report next week and will peak at 10.5 percent in the middle of next year, Wyss said. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Post Co. profit rises 68% as newspaper stems loss
    NEW YORK — The Washington Post Co. increased its net income 69 percent in the third quarter, as the company cut costs to narrow losses at its newspapers and kept reaping profit from its cable TV and education divisions.
    In 2008, 231 people accepted buyouts, which cost the Post Company $79.8 million, according to the Post's Frank Ahrens . More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Low Oil Prices and Poor Margins at Refineries Weigh on Chevron
    C hevron Corp. CVX-N said Friday it pumped its way through a weak third quarter, producing more oil as prices CL-FT recovered from a severe plunge earlier in the year.
    HOUSTON (Dow Jones)--Chevron Corp.' s (CVX) top executive confirmed Friday that the oil giant will make its final investment decision on the massive Jack/St Malo project in the Gulf of Mexico in late 2010. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Nuclear sale contingent on energy firm, French giant offering rebate, aid
    The PSC ruled that a new nuclear power plant the companies propose to build is too contingent to be regarded as providing benefits to the utility's rate payers, making the rate credit necessary.
    The company noted that in the previous year it realized significant losses while exiting long power positions to reduce risk and bolster liquidity, whereas in the just concluded quarter, it experienced modest de-risking efforts in a less volatile market environment. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Dollar Rises Most Since April on Reduced Risk Demand Before Fed
    Against the Japanese currency, the dollar fell to 90.98 yen from 91.42 yen late on Thursday in New York.
    Risk appetite in currency trading picked up temporarily on Thursday amid a strong U.S. GDP report, but pulled back on Friday after a report showed that consumer spending fell in September. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Samsung's Still Killing It
    If it strengthens past 1,150 won, that would be a serious problem," said Lee Ka-keun, an analyst at IBK Securities.
    Samsung expects the global market for personal computers and handsets to resume double-digit percent growth next year and LCD TV sales to rise nearly 20 percent. More...

  • Oct-31-2009 -- Alcatel-Lucent, telecoms retreat; Motorola gains
    The French-American group posted an adjusted operating loss of 11 million euros ($16.2 million) on revenues of 3.687 billion euros in the three months to Sept. 30, compared with expectations of 14.4 million and 3.895 billion respectively, based on a Reuters poll.
    The Alcatel-Lucent 7750 SR-c12 and 7750 SR-c4 are powered by the FP2 chipset, Alcatel-Lucent's break through silicon which delivers sophisticated and optimized network processing and traffic management at speeds up to 100Gb/s. More...

Friday (Update 1)


  • Oct-30-2009 -- NYSE, NYSE Amex Resolving Quote-Delay Issue
    NYSE Euronext, the New York headquartered company that runs the New York Stock Exchange as well as bourses in Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels, reported net income fell to $138 million in the third quarter from $192 million a year earlier.
    Nyse Euronext global cash markets net revenue was $135 million in the third quarter of 2009, down 46% from the third quarter of 2008 and down 11% from the second quarter of 2009. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- YRC sees debt exchange as a "key milestone"
    Additional details regarding the amendment to the credit agreement and ABS renewal will be provided in a Form 8-K filed with the SEC today.
    Downgraded credit ratings are likely, but should be temporary and should rebound following a note exchange, the company said. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- CIT's fate still hangs in the balance
    In exchange, New York-based Goldman has agreed not to terminate the loan should CIT file for bankruptcy.
    Friday, CRT Capital analyst Kevin Starke told Bloomberg News that CIT's bonds are trading as if the prepackaged plan is likely to be approved. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Embraer Drops Most in Seven Months on Forecast of Sales Decline
    About 40 percent of Embraer's production costs are denominated in the local currency, the real ( BRBY ).
    About 40 percent of Embraer's production costs are denominated in the local currency, the real ( BRBY ). More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Europea faces tough path to recovery
    BRUSSELS, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Rising optimism in industry and services boosted euro zone economic sentiment by more than expected in October, data showed on Thursday, pointing to continued recovery amid subdued expectations of inflation.
    The October rise -- significantly bigger than the improvement the previous month -- was announced as data showed that unemployment in the EU's biggest economy Germany fell in October, providing a welcome boost for Europe as it crawls out of recession. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Alcatel-Lucent shares down as quarterly loss widens; WPP shares up
    The French-American group posted an adjusted operating loss of 11 million euros ($16.2 million) on revenues of 3.687 billion euros in the three months to Sept. 30, compared with expectations of 14.4 million and 3.895 billion respectively, based on a Reuters poll.
    STOCK PERFORMANCE: Alcatel-Lucent shares rose 71 percent in the third quarter, compared to a 21 percent rise in Paris' blue-chip CAC-40 index. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- UPDATE 3-Sanofi lifts forecast on swine flu vaccine
    PARIS (Reuters) - Sanofi-Aventis ( SASY.PA ) raised its outlook for 2009 thanks to sales of swine flu vaccine and posted earnings per share growth that beat forecasts as competition from generics was offset by revenue growth for other drugs.
    Sanofi'''s vaccines division contributed 1.05 billion euros, up 4.8%, the over-the-counter business brought in 356 million euros (+26.3%) and generics revenues leapt 273% to 302 million euros. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Domtar Third-Quarter Profit Beats Analysts' Estimates
    Revenue slipped nearly 12 percent to $1.44 billion from $1.63 billion.
    "All of our businesses posted improved profitability, most notably in pulp which benefited from higher prices, better demand and lower downtime costs," said John Williams, Domtar's president and chief executive officer. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Cisco Said to Consider Dropping Tandberg Purchase
    OSLO/LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Shares in videoconferencing company Tandberg TAA.L were hit by a Bloomberg report that would-be acquirer Cisco (CSCO.O: Quote, Profile, Research ) might walk away from its $3 billion bid, but partially recovered after a halt in trading.
    The new technology is the result of TANDBERG's long-standing partnership with Microsoft and solidifies the company's commitment to delivering the increased productivity and high-quality experience of telepresence to everyone across an organization. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Pay, benefits rise at slowest pace since 1982
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Employment costs in the United States rose 0.4 percent in the third quarter, in line with Wall Street expectations, as the longest recession in decades continued to eat away at worker pay and benefits, Labor Department data showed on Friday.
    Washington, October 31 - Overall employment costs rose 0.4% in the third quarter, in line with the estimate of Thomson Reuters IFR Markets the Labor Department reported today. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- SBA raises size limits for retailers, hotels
    'The empty factory buildings scattered across our nation represent the loss of jobs, tough times, and hard choices for families and community leaders,' said Boswell from the House floor.
    To help struggling small firms that are unlikely to qualify for traditional loans, Obama said TARP money would also be available to nonprofit community-development financial institutions at just 2% interest. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Simon Property Says FFO Increased in Third Quarter
    Funds from operations, or FFO, rose to $473.1 million, or $1.38 per share, from $463.9 million, or $1.61 per share, a year earlier, the largest U.S. real estate investment trust said on Friday.
    INDIANAPOLIS -- Simon Property Group Inc. said Friday that its funds from operations improved in the third quarter on lowered expenses even as occupancy levels slipped. More...

Friday


  • Oct-30-2009 -- Overheard: Feeling Good at P&G
    P&G now expects organic sales to grow 2 to 5 percent in the current quarter, up from an earlier forecast of 1 to 4 percent, with net sales growing 3 to 7 percent.
    Procter & Gamble indicated Thursday that it will boost marketing spending over the next year as it introduces a run of new and refashioned brands. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- China: Ban on Pork Imports From US Is to Be Lifted
    CHICAGO, Oct 29 (Reuters) - News that China may soon resume buying U.S. pork helped push U.S. hog futures higher in electronic trade early Thursday, but analysts warned that pork sales to that country will be small once the ban is lifted.
    Last month Mr Obama imposed a 35 per cent duty on imports of Chinese tyres and Beijing responded by launching anti-dumping investigations into U.S. imports of auto parts and poultry. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- UPDATE 3-CDR Financial, execs indicted in muni bond probe
    The first charges were filed on Thursday in an antitrust investigation into the municipal bond industry by the U.S. Department of Justice that has been ongoing for at least three years.
    Between 2001 and 2005, CDR received 10 kickbacks ranging from $4,500 to $475,000, according to the indictment, which does not identify banks or government agencies involved. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Nintendo Falls After Forecast Cut on Wii Sales Drop
    Nintendo, which competes with Sony and Microsoft in the multi-billion dollar video game industry, sold 5.75 million Wii machines worldwide in the period, down from 10.1 million a year earlier.
    TOKYO, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.OS: Quote, Profile, Research ) reported a 52 percent slide in quarterly profit on Thursday, hurt by slowing demand for its flagship Wii videogame console and the strong yen, and slashed its full-year forecast. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Intel Hires Orrick to Probe Employees' Galleon Leaks
    Raj Rajaratnam, the founder of the Galleon Group, who has been charged in a vast insider trading scheme, asked a federal magistrate judge on Thursday to reduce his bail to $25 million and allow him to travel within the continental United States.
    Kahn made $500,000 and Raj pulled in over $9 million for Galleon investors. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Chinese Drywall Found to Differ Chemically
    "We're not sure whether or not it can be more than one compound.
    We want to get you the right answer." More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- UPDATE 3-AEI cancels IPO hours after slashing its size
    AEI also operates natural gas pipelines and service stations.
    The IPO, which was managed by Goldman Sachs & Co ( GS.N ) Credit Suisse ( CSGN.VX ), Citi ( C.N ) and JPMorgan ( JPM.N ) had been originally scheduled to price on Wednesday, but was postponed by a day while the underwriters and AEI changed the terms of the deal. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Dollar Falls for Fourth Month Against Euro; US Growth Aids Risk Demand
    NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--The dollar bounced off an overnight 14-month low against the euro Monday, as slipping U.S. stocks and battered commodities sapped risk appetite broadly across markets, lending support to the safe-haven greenback.
    The dollar's upside was also capped on Tuesday as Japanese Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii raised hopes for an improvement in the country's fiscal health, said Yuji Saito, head of the foreign exchange group at Societe Generale. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Japan's Maehara to Head JAL Turnaround Oversight Team
    TOKYO - Japan's transport minister is set to announce plans to tap a new state-backed corporate turnaround body to restructure Japan Airlines Corp, the Nikkei business daily said.
    Tokyo - Troubled Japan Airlines Corp said Thursday that it is turning to new, government-backed turnaround agency for a bail-out. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- US and China Ease a Range of Trade Restrictions
    U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met for a second day with a team led by Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan in the eastern city of Hangzhou.
    "The relevant government authorities have to protect China's companies and market based on World Trade Organization rules," said Mr. Chen, China's commerce minister. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- Record OSHA Fine Against BP Over Texas Refinery Explosion
    Hey girlfriend, there is nothing being built in Nevada right now.
    Report abuse BabyDaddy wrote on October 29, 2009 01:45 PM : The management of Nevada OSHA should be arrested and tried for murder and gross negligence. More...

  • Oct-30-2009 -- IMF says no request for financing from Vietnam
    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its growth forecast for Asian economies, boosted by stimulus spending and a pickup in global trade.
    Steps to restrain the easy flow of money, through interest rate hikes and other monetary tightening, won't be necessary anytime soon because recoveries are still fragile and risks of inflation low. More...

Thursday (Update 1)


  • Oct-29-2009 -- Procter & Gamble, Colgate Report Better-Than-Expected Profits
    P&G now expects organic sales to grow 2 to 5 percent in the current quarter, up from an earlier forecast of 1 to 4 percent, with net sales growing 3 to 7 percent.
    Core earnings per share, which on the quarter adjust for the gain of the sale of our business in Japan, the operating earnings of the pharmaceutical business generated during the first quarter, and base period Folgers impacts, were $0.95 per share, in line with year-ago. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- U.S. mortgage rates hold just above 5 percent: Freddie
    A recent study by the Mortgage Bankers Association showed that the industry was making a profit of over $1,088 per loan in the first quarter of 2009, as against just $148 in the last quarter of 2008.
    "Consumers cannot lock in current interest rates beyond 60 days for loans over $625,500," the Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors wrote. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Nintendo profit hit by Wii sales
    Nintendo, which competes with Sony and Microsoft in the multi-billion dollar video game industry, sold 5.75 million Wii machines worldwide in the period, down from 10.1 million a year earlier.
    In the reporting period Nintendo sold 5.75m Wii consoles world-wide compared to 10m last year. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Barrick, Newmont Profits Beat Analysts' Estimates
    The impact on 2009 gold and copper production is expected to be minimal and the Company continues to expect equity gold and copper sales from the mine of between 225,000 and 250,000 ounces and 210 and 230 million pounds, respectively.
    The Company now expects capital expenditures at Boddington to be approximately $3.0 billion on a 100% basis (excluding capitalized interest). More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Dollar, Yen Decline as Higher-Than-Forecast GDP Growth Spurs Risk Demand
    Share markets around Asia were down about 2 percent after similar falls on Wall Street on Wednesday, while MSCI's Latin America stock index.MILA00000PUS had shed about 5 percent, in keeping with the profit-taking on risk and growth-linked trades.
    Fresh data on Wednesday showing new orders for U.S. manufactured durable goods rising 1.0 percent in September hardly impacted the market, analysts said. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Allergan 3Q Profit Rises 8.3% With Botox Help
    Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share attributable to stockholders for the third quarter and first nine months of 2008 were not impacted.
    Allergan, maker of Botox and other drugs and medical cosmetic products, posted a profit excluding special items of $214.2 million, in line with the expectations of analysts. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- K1's Kiener, Salesman Turned Hedge Manager, at Center of $400 Million Loss
    The Galleon Group insider trading scandal could just be the first of many, as authorities seek to crack open the relatively unregulated world of hedge funds.
    The case centres on the K1 Global Sub Trust hedge fund run by Kiener, a psychologist by training who once sold ads for the Yellow Pages in Germany before moving into the financial sector. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Expedia Profit Rises 23%
    Adjusted net income for the third quarter increased $27 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to higher OIBA and lower foreign exchange losses, partially offset by lower interest income.
    The company's gross bookings increased nine percent to$5.9 billion, up from $5.4 billion during the third quarter last year. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Aetna 3Q Profit Up 18%, But Medical Costs High
    The stock is one of the cheapest in the health insurance sector, trading at just 7.5 times last year'''s earnings and just over 6 times projected earnings for 2009, despite posting strong financial results.
    On an adjusted basis, the company's second-quarter operating earnings fell 34% to $308.5 million from $466.3 million a year ago, and operating earnings per share dropped 28% to $0.68 from $0.94 in the year-ago quarter. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Kellogg Q3 profit rises, tops Street view
    For 2010, Kellogg anticipates internal net sales growth of 2 - 3%, in line with the Company's long-term targets and reflecting less pricing year-on-year.
    CHICAGO (Reuters) - Kellogg Co ( K.N ) posted a quarterly profit that topped Wall Street forecasts and raised its full-year outlook, helped by lower commodity costs and curbs on expenses, sending its shares up 2 percent. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- UPDATE 1-IMF to look at Iceland debt in next review
    Seoul - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday raised its growth forecast for Asia as the region was rebounding rapidly from the global crisis, but it said Asia must adopt to a "new world" with weaker demand from its key Western export markets.
    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on October 28 that it reached a "staff-level agreement" to lend Moldova the equivalent of $588 million over a period of three years. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Galleon's Raj Rajaratnam Asks US Judge to Cut Bail
    Raj Rajaratnam, the founder of the Galleon Group, who has been charged in a vast insider trading scheme, asked a federal magistrate judge on Thursday to reduce his bail to $25 million and allow him to travel within the continental United States.
    Khan pleaded guilty in 2001 and was sentenced to six months of home detention, a $30,000 fine and $120,000 restitution, according to Bloomberg who quoted an FBI spokesman. More...

Thursday


  • Oct-29-2009 -- US Airways to Pare Flight Routes, Jobs
    U.S. Airways will eliminate another 1,000 jobs by the middle of next year as it cuts more flights and closes flight crew bases in three cities.
    Colorado Springs has a long history with one of the airlines, America West, that was merged in 2005 to create U.S. Airways. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Asia shares hit by growth worries; yen gains
    An unexpected drop in U.S. home sales last month, which sparked a broad sell-off on Wall Street on Wednesday, followed a decline in U.S. consumer confidence, highlighting risks to recovery in the world's biggest economy.
    A Reuters poll estimates the world's biggest economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.3 percent. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- 3rd Rescue Considered for GMAC
    Onto the latest bailout / handout my friends.
    I see some you with steam above your head out there. don't be mad about it. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Why the Goldman Sachs-AIG Story Won't Go Away: Jonathan Weil
    Timothy Geithner, U.S. treasury secretary, speaks at the annual meeting of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009.
    The New York Fed's decision to pay the banks in full cost AIG -- and thus American taxpayers -- at least $13 billion. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Yen climb steepens as profits booked on risk trades
    Share markets around Asia were down about 2 percent after similar falls on Wall Street on Wednesday, while MSCI's Latin America stock index.MILA00000PUS had shed about 5 percent, in keeping with the profit-taking on risk and growth-linked trades.
    The New Zealand dollar settled around levels it was at a week ago today as the local market returned from a holiday weekend and looked ahead to Thursday's rate decision. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Overheard: Less Stimulating
    DETROIT - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit on cost cuts and robust international income, but results at its key North American unit missed analysts' expectations, sending its shares down more than 17 per cent.
    The commercial truck markets decline is again significant but we'''ve seen signs of stability as it seems to have bottomed out. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- UPDATE 3-LSI results and outlook top Street, shares rise
    On a non-GAAP basis, excluding charges, LSI reported a net income of $119 million or 18 cents per share, up from $7 million or 1 cent per share in the second quarter and $94 million or 14 cents per share in the third quarter of 2008.
    Non-GAAP earnings were $0.18 per share, which is above the high end of our guidance range, inclusive of the previously mentioned tax benefit. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- CBS' new media chief is departing
    Quincy Smith, the one-time investment banker turned digital guru, is leaving his job as CEO of CBS ( CBS ) Interactive, BusinessWeek has been told.
    '''It'''s a huge honor to count CBS as my first client,''' said Smith. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- pepsico learns a $1.26 billion lesson over misplaced letter
    According to filings with the Jefferson County Circuit Court, Charles Joyce and James Voigt won the September 30 judgment five months after first suing PepsiCo and two distributors.
    MILWAUKEE -- Pepsi Cola was ordered to pay more than $1 Billion to two Waukesha County men who accused the company of stealing their idea to bottle and sell purified water. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Yahoo Returns To Make Its Case To Wall Street
    Icahn, who owns 5.4 percent of Yahoo common stock, was allowed to sit on the board in August last year, after trying to force the board into selling all or part of the company to Microsoft when the tech company's original bid of $44bn for Yahoo fell through.
    NEW YORK ( TheStreet ) -- After a string of disastrous investments and his departure from Yahoo!'s ( YHOO Quote ) board last Friday, it's time for Carl Icahn to hang it up running other people's money. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Asian Shares Fall, Cyclicals Hit; NEC Elec Pressured
    Hino Motors reports net loss for April-September due to sales slump TOKYO - Hino Motors Ltd. on Wednesday reported a heavy group net loss of 29 billion yen for the April-September period against the year-earlier profit of 3 billion yen as sales plunged 39.2 percent to 392.48 billion yen.
    The profitability of the core Technology Solutions business, comprising IT services and system platforms, rebounded strongly in the second quarter compared with the first quarter, while losses in the Device Solutions business narrowed sharply thanks to a rebound in demand for logic LSI products and aggressive business reform measures. More...

  • Oct-29-2009 -- Japan Air Taskforce to Submit Turnaround Plan Today
    TOKYO, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Japan's transport minister will likely announce as early as Thursday plans to tap a new state-backed corporate turnaround body to restructure Japan Airlines Corp (9205.T: Quote, Profile, Research ), the Nikkei business daily said.
    The basic pay scale, set well before the Plaza Accord of 1985, reflects internationally competitive wages during an era in which the Japanese yen was undervalued. More...

Wednesday (Update 1)


  • Oct-28-2009 -- UBS Client Rubinstein Gets 12 Months House Arrest
    ZURICH (Reuters) - Robert McCann, the new head of the battered U.S. wealth management unit of Swiss bank UBS AG, said he aims to stem client withdrawals and has no plans to sell the business.
    As well as the U.S. tax dispute, which UBS settled in August, the Swiss bank has also been hit by executive departures, bad bets on auction-rate securities and writedowns. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- GMAC May Receive Third Bailout From US Government
    NEW YORK — GMAC, the former lending arm of General Motors Co., is in talks with the Treasury Department for a third injection of taxpayer aid, a further sign of the U.S. government's entrenchment in the U.S. auto industry.
    The willingness by Treasury officials to deepen taxpayer exposure to GMAC reflects the troubled company's importance to the revival of the auto industry. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Swedish Min: Focus On Volvo's Future After Geely Bid
    Any agreement would included details about sharing intellectual property rights and engineering, the person said.
    The U.S. automaker named a Geely-led consortium as preferred bidder for the money-losing Swedish unit, estimated to be worth about $2 billion. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Lufthansa Swings To 9-Mos Net Loss;4Q Will Be Key
    Lufthansa reported a net loss of 32 million euros (47 million U.S. dollars) from a profit of 529 million euros over the same period last year, a result that was better than expected but still sent the airline's shares plunging.
    Industry body IATA said last month that the aviation sector was still far from returning to profit, though demand had started recovering from a steep slump. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Qwest 3Q Net Down; Provides More Upbeat '09 View
    Revenue fell nearly 10 percent to $3.05 billion, missing the analysts' average estimate of $3.067 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company forecast full-year adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization at the upper end of its previous target range of $4.25 billion to $4.4 billion.
    Qwest shares rose 4.3 percent in premarket trade to $3.60. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- US HOT STOCKS: Apollo, Goodyear Tire, Massey Energy, Harris
    Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company posted net income of $72 million on net sales of nearly $4.4 billion for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2009.
    The 3.4% increase "reflects continued weak industry demand, which resulted in a negative volume impact of $64 million and under-absorbed fixed costs of approximately $107 million," according to the company. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Czar Increased Base Pay at Firms
    Reporting from Washington - The Obama administration's pay czar will tell Congress this morning that he does not favor expanding his authority to dictate compensation to employees at companies beyond the seven largest recipients of government bailout money.
    The 175 executives targeted by 'pay czar' Kenneth Feinberg are not only the highest-paid but also considered among the most talented and productive. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Norway Is First in Europe to Lift Interest Rates
    The Norwegian central bank has hiked rates 25 basis points, making it the third central bank and first European central bank to do so since the global recovery process started.
    ETX Capital is offering a spread of two basis points around the spot of ¥92.09. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- General Dynamics reports earnings drop
    Despite a bump in military orders, defense contractor General Dynamics Corp. took a hit of nearly 10 percent on its bottom line during the third quarter, the company said Wednesday.
    The company previously forecast profit of $6.05 to $6.15 per share. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Deutsche Bank's Sal. Oppenheim Deal Seen EUR1.3B
    Deutsche Bank shares were down 1.8 percent at 49.535 euros by 16.02 GMT, while Germany's blue-chip index was down 1.9 percent.
    The bank reported a full-year loss of euro3.9 billion in 2008 as a result of the financial crisis, compared with a net income of euro6.5 billion in 2007. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Versace to Cut 26% of Workforce, Aims for Profit in 2011
    MILAN (Reuters) - Italian fashion house Versace is cutting about a quarter of its global workforce and expects to post a loss this year as it takes a hit from slumping demand for luxury goods and designer items in the financial crisis.
    The house quietly shuttered four boutiques in Japan last month, reflecting the tough market conditions. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- TomTom Chief Says Prices to Drop More; Shares Fall
    AMSTERDAM (Dow Jones)--Shares in Dutch navigation equipment maker TomTom NV (TOM2.AE) Wednesday dropped as much as 13.5% after the company posted a 47% drop in third quarter net profit due to a steeper-than-expected price decline for its key navigation products.
    TomTom shares were down 20 percent at 8.23 euros by 1515 GMT and were the biggest decliner in the Amsterdam blue-chip index.AEX, which was down 2 percent. More...

Wednesday


  • Oct-28-2009 -- Oil Trades Near $80 After Rising on Signs of Economic Recovery
    Mohammad Ali Khatibi, Iran's OPEC governor, said signs of global economic recovery, a weaker U.S. dollar and the beginning of the cold season in Europe and the United States were factors behind the price rise.
    In London, Brent Crude for December delivery rose 66 cents to settle at 77.92 dollars a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- us consumer confidence at three-month low: report
    The downbeat report raised a red flag over consumer spending in the fourth quarter, when retailers rely heavily on holiday sales.
    Consumer confidence numbers are highly correlated with gasoline prices, unemployment, the stock market, and media reports. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- News Corp Revamps Wall Street Journal Europe
    "The mood in America may be blue,'' Democratic pollster Peter Hart, who conducted a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll with Republican pollster Bill McInturff, tells the survey's sponsors, "but the attitudes toward Washington are jet black."
    The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found 58 percent of respondents support delaying a decision until after Afghanistan's runoff presidential election on Nov. 7, when U.S. officials may have a better handle on'' Kabul's political situation. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Fisker To Retool Former GM Plant To Make Electric Cars
    WILMINGTON, Del. - Fisker Automotive could create as many as 2,500 jobs in the next five years as it renovates and reopens an idle plant near Newport., Del., to build plug-in hybrid electric cars.
    Fisker plans to build a $48,000 plug-in electric hybrid, marketed toward families, at the new facility. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Ford moves up in Consumer Reports reliability rankings
    Ford's sustained production of vehicles that are as dependable--or better than--some of the industry's best dispels the notion that only Japanese manufacturers make reliable cars.
    CR performs instrument tests of new cars and trucks. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- US Steel and AK Steel Beat Expectations
    AK said it expects a $10 million jump in maintenance costs in the fourth quarter, though it also plans to benefit from lower operating and raw materials costs relative to the third period.
    The net loss of $2.11 per share reflects one-time gains of $47 million, or 32 cents per share, related to currency and tax rates. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Pay Czar Increased Base Pay at Firms
    Losses like that could be devastating to the very companies the government spent so much money to save.
    The highest approved pay among all the covered executives was $US10.5 million for Robert Benmosche at AIG, whose bail-out totals $US182 billion. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Vitamin Shoppe Raises $155 Million, More Than Planned
    Now that the stock market and economy appear to be recovering, VS Holdings and other companies are jumping back in.
    The retailer is expecting to sell 9.1 million shares for between $14 and $16 apiece and start trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday under the symbol "VSI." More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Apollo Group Questioned on Revenue Policies
    Apollo Group Inc.' s (APOL) fiscal fourth-quarter profit slumped 60% as the for-profit education company recorded one-time charges for a litigation settlement and a write-off for other assets, which offset a big jump in revenue and higher enrollment numbers.
    Revenue rose to about $1.08 billion from $831.4 million a year ago, the company said. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Union Votes Go Against Cuts at Ford
    DETROIT — Opponents of a deal between the United Auto Workers and Ford Motor Co. are spreading misinformation as they campaign against the contract, the union's president said Saturday.
    "If we do nothing, it is clear future investment is at risk. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Gold steadies around $1040, ETF dips 2nd day in row
    For a full report, double click on - - - - COMMODITIES GOLD NEW YORK - Gold and silver prices slid to three-week lows in Europe on Tuesday as the dollar rose after weaker-than-expected U.S. consumer confidence data, denting interest in the metals as an alternative asset.
    As of 0310 GMT, spot gold XAU= was up 0.4 percent at $1,041.60 an ounce from New York's notional close of $1,037.10. More...

  • Oct-28-2009 -- Galleon Wiretaps Don't Make a Defense 'Hopeless,' Experts Say
    Turns out one of the government's key witnesses in its insider trading case against the Galleon Group hedge fund - the one that's brought down a senior IBM executive a heartbeat or two away from IBM's CEO - used to be employed by Intel and was charged in 2001 in a sealed criminal complaint with wire fraud for sending material information about Intel's financials to Galleon according to a story by a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter at the San Joe Mercury News.
    Federal investigators in the Galleon Group case have requested trading records from a hedge-fund manager who once worked for Steven A. Cohen's SAC Capital Advisors and who employed a cooperating witness in the insider-trading case announced last week, people familiar with the matter say. More...

Tuesday (Update 1)


  • Oct-27-2009 -- UPDATE 2-Icahn entices small bondholders to reject CIT plan
    NEW YORK ''' Troubled lender CIT Group again amended its offer last week for a debt exchange to gain support for its restructuring plan in an effort to fend off bankruptcy.
    Even if it can complete the restructuring, it has warned it still might have to reorganize under bankruptcy protection. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Freaked Out Over SuperFreakonomics
    A wide spectrum of attendees from kicks-sporting teens to elderly couples and coworkers packed the hall for the authors' only New York appearance.
    All the case-histories here fall into one of two categories: 'things you always thought you knew but didn't, and things you never thought you wanted to know but do'. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Daimler 3Q net falls 74 percent
    The world's biggest truckmaker and second-largest manufacturer of premium cars said on Tuesday it posted a third-quarter net profit of 56 million euros ($83.4 million) after it lost more than 1 billion euros in each of the first two quarters.
    Net profit for the third quarter amounted to EUR56m (US$83.6m) vs Q3 2008: EUR213m (US$318m) and Daimler sold 386,500 cars and commercial vehicles worldwide, 26% fewer than in the prior year quarter. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Valero margins squeezed by rising crude prices
    The shutdown of a complex at an East Coast refinery, along with lower margins on diesel and jet fuel, led Valero Energy Corp. to report a third-quarter net loss today of $489 million, or a loss of 87 cents a share, compared to net income of $1.2 billion, or $2.18 a share, for the third quarter one year ago.
    The news came as the firm said troubles at the Delaware City refinery helped drag Valero's third-quarter results sharply downward, with total operating income losses hitting $579 million. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- China Yuan Falls Late On Dlr Strength Overnight; May Rise Wed
    A rise in U.S. Treasury yields was also a factor to support the greenback, traders and analysts said.
    NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--The dollar bounced off an overnight 14-month low against the euro Monday, as slipping U.S. stocks and battered commodities sapped risk appetite broadly across markets, lending support to the safe-haven greenback. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Textron Profit Beats Estimates on Lower Labor Costs
    PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Textron Inc. said Tuesday its third-quarter profit plunged 98 percent as the company continues to face reduced sales at its corporate jet and helicopter businesses.
    L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. reported a 19% rise in third-quarter earnings, leading the defense contractor to raise its full-year earnings forecast. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- US Stocks Higher On Technical Bounce, IBM Buyback
    NEW YORK, Oct 27 (Reuters) - IBM ( IBM.N ) said its board approved an additional $5.0 billion in share repurchases, bringing the company's total stock buyback program to $9.2 billion in a reflection of its strong cash flow.
    The dividend is payable Dec. 10 to shareholders on record as of Nov. 10. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Dassault Systemes, IBM To Integrate PLM Sales Ops
    IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Dassault Systmes (DS) (Paris:DSY) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) today signed an agreement under which DS intends to acquire IBM sales and client support operations encompassing DS's Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software application portfolio, as well as customer contracts and related assets, for approximately $600 million in cash.
    DS can now focus on being a software vendor without worrying which customers are direct customers and which are IBM customers. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Continental Air Sees $100 Million Benefit in Changing Alliances
    One way airlines hope to survive the new normal is by cooperating more with competitors and sharing more customers on connecting flights through marketing alliances.
    Houston-based Continental was previously part of SkyTeam, which is now led by the world's largest carrier, Delta Air Lines Inc ( DAL.N ). More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Southwest Airlines $25, $50, $75 and $100 fares in 72-hour sale
    Travel up to 375 miles is $25 one-way; $50 for travel between 375 and 549 miles; and $75 for flights between 550 and 999 miles.
    The entry titled "GREAT 72-hour Southwest sale. if you can get on the site." More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Paccar posts 96% plunge in profit
    The Bellevue company posted quarterly earnings of $13 million, or 4 cents a share, compared with $299 million, or 82 cents a share, in the same period last year.
    Paccar reported a paper-thin profit for the third quarter as truck sales remained depressed. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Galleon hedge funds 90 pct liquidated - source
    Turns out one of the government's key witnesses in its insider trading case against the Galleon Group hedge fund - the one that's brought down a senior IBM executive a heartbeat or two away from IBM's CEO - used to be employed by Intel and was charged in 2001 in a sealed criminal complaint with wire fraud for sending material information about Intel's financials to Galleon according to a story by a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter at the San Joe Mercury News.
    The shares were sold to Indea Long Term Opportunities Master Fund. More...

Tuesday


  • Oct-27-2009 -- FOREX-Dollar keeps balance as euro, Aussie checked
    "Looking ahead, I expect a recovery in the value of the dollar exchange rate and possible losses on riskier assets, like stocks and higher yielding currencies," Sousa said.
    On the very same day the New Zealand dollar leapt nearly 1% to USD0.75, following comments from the Reserve Bank chief Alan Bollard stating that "a strong currency was not necessarily an obstacle to raising the cash rate. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- PRECIOUS-Gold steady above $1040/oz as dlr rally pauses
    Gold prices at COMEX slipped on Friday, as positive economic data released by the National Association of Realtors in the U.S. reversed earlier losses from the green back, providing a setback on the yellow-metal.
    Housing prices, which are still in decline, aren't a big help either. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- OIL FUTURES: Nymex Crude Retreats From $80/Bbl As Dollar Gains
    Light sweet crude oil for December delivery had now fallen to $78.68 a barrel, Brent crude had fallen to $77.26 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange and ICE futures exchange respectively.
    The rise of 460,000 barrels per day compared with demand in August was the sixth consecutive monthly increase. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- TREASURIES-Edge up in Asia on bargain hunting, auction eyed
    NEW YORK, Oct 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury bond prices fell sharply on Monday as investors gasped at another record round of new debt auctions and fretted over the possible timing of a Federal Reserve policy reversal.
    There are two dominant themes in trading today. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Ares Capital to acquire DC's Allied Capital
    According to an investigation by a law firm 'the transaction appears to be unfair' to current investors of Allied Capital Corporation (Public, NYSE:ALD) because the 'offer to purchase Allied Capital Corporation (ALD) appears opportunistically timed to take advantage of the current economic downturn'.
    Upon closing the transaction, Ares Capital shareholders will own approximately 65% of the merged company. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Winn-Dixie Shares Sink On View Cut, Wider 1Q Loss
    Lynch said sales are being hurt by deflation, which is reducing the price of goods, and by consumer nervousness.
    Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income from continuing operations before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization expense, or EBITDA, and further adjusted for certain non-cash charges, reorganization items, self-insurance reserves, and items related to the Company's emergence from bankruptcy. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- fairpoint Enters Chapter 11 In Deal Giving Control To Lenders
    FairPoint, based in Charlotte, N.C., owns and operates phone companies in 18 states with a total of 1.65 million lines.
    Alfred Giammarino, executive vice president and CFO, agreed. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- VF Corp 3Q Pft Dn 6.8%; Co Sees '09 EPS At High End
    Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters were looking for a profit of $1.95 per share on revenue of $2.1 billion.
    Revenues in the quarter fell 5% year-over-year to $2.09 billion, inline with consensus estimates. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Tannin 'Blow Up' E-Mail Won't Be Seen by Fraud Jury
    Cioffi, 53, and Tannin, 48, have denied charges of securities fraud and conspiracy over funds crammed with subprime mortgage-backed securities that collapsed in the summer of 2007, early in the financial meltdown.
    NEW YORK, NY October 26, 2009 '''Two former Bear Stearns executives are expected to testify this week in the first criminal trial related to the subprime mortgage meltdown. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Bill in works to let US dissolve failing firms
    WASHINGTON — A bill to be introduced in Congress by a key ally of President Barack Obama would make it easier for the U.S. government to seize control of troubled financial institutions that are considered too big to be allowed to fail, The New York Times reported.
    Most importantly, the plan would give the government legal authority to quickly wipe out shareholders and impose new terms on bondholders in the failed firms, as well as fire managers. More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- U.S. schools homeowners to spot loan rescue scams
    Loan modification fraud is on the rise, costing troubled homeowners thousands of dollars up front for mediation and counseling services that are provided free by federally approved nonprofits, Eileen Fitzgerald, chief operating officer of NeighborWorks America, said Monday at a news conference on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall.
    President Obama has worked very hard to make sure that you avoid foreclosure and stay in your home.'' More...

  • Oct-27-2009 -- Japan Bonds Little Changed as Debt Supply Weighs Against Yields
    TOKYO, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Japan's 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average closed at a one-month high on Monday, buoyed by a weaker yen which supported exporters such as Honda Motors Co. The key Nikkei index gained 79.63 points, a rise of 0.77 percent from Friday's close, to 10,362.62, it's highest close since Sept. 24.
    TOKYO, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The Nikkei average is expected to slip on Tuesday after U.S. stocks fell amid fears lawmakers may let a federal home buyer tax credit expire, but falls may be limited, with a weaker yen supporting shares of exporters. More...

Monday (Update 1)


  • Oct-26-2009 -- Dow tumbles after spike
    NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks fell into the red recently in a sudden slide led by financial and materials stocks that pushed the Dow Jones Industrial Average back below the psychologically important 10000 level.
    Company news: Capmark Financial, one of the country's largest commercial real estate lenders, filed for bankruptcy protection Sunday, reflecting the major problems in the business property sector. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Caterpillar to Permanently Trim 2500 Idle Employees
    Chairman and CEO Jim Owens said, "We are pleased that signs of recovery in the global economy allow us to return a selected group of laid off employees to work.
    Total quarterly sales and revenues dropped 44% to $7.30 billion from $12.98 billion last year. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Max & Erma's files for Chapter 11
    PITTSBURGH — The restaurant chain Max & Erma's Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing between $1 million and $10 million in debts.
    The chain lists assets between $1 million and $10 million, as well as liabilities in the same range, according to court documents filed on Friday. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- FOREX-US dollar rises as stocks, commodities fall
    Investors have tended in the past year to buy the dollar as a safe haven when economic reports or corporate earnings are worse than markets had expected.
    "Tomorrow's Budget speech may yield something, but for now it is very quiet. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Nymex Crude Rising on Weaker Dollar
    Money managers hiked net long crude oil positions on the New York Mercantile Exchange in the week to Oct. 20, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said in a report on Friday.
    The U.S. crude oil futures slid for the second time in a row on Friday as rising stockpiles on crude oil & lowering strength of demand on energies as prices rise rose to record highs for the year. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Treasuries Decline as US Prepares Record $123 Billion of Note Auctions
    The benchmark ten-year note moved modestly lower at the open and has seen some further downside over the course of early trading.
    The average maturity of U.S. Treasury debt is a little more than 4 years currently, near a 26 year low. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Corning posts lower profit but delivers upbeat demand view
    For the quarter, the LCD glass producer reported revenue of $1.5 billion and profits before special items of 42 cents a share, ahead of the Street at $1.42 billion and 39 cents.
    ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Corning Inc. said Monday that demand is rebounding for its flat-screen television glass but the specialty glass maker's third-quarter profit fell 16 percent from a year ago as overall sales slipped. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- UPDATE 1-US bank regulator sees risk in pay czar rulings
    The review excluded top-paid employees from last year who have since left.
    How else are you going to feel after someone cuts your cash payouts by 90 percent and overall compensation by 50 percent? But complaining can be tricky. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Sohu Profit Falls, Tempers Outlook
    Chinese online media, communication, search, online gaming and wireless value-added services provider Sohu (Nasdaq: SOHU) has released its earnings report for for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, with net revenues reaching USD 136.6 mln, up 13 % YoY and 7% QoQ. Of total revenues, brand advertising revenues reached USD 48.5 mln, up 2% YoY and 11% QoQ; online game revenues totaled USD 68.7 mln, up 26% YoY and 3% QoQ; and wireless value-added services revenues totaled 16.8 mln, up 16% YoY and 12% QoQ. Before deducting income for the non-controlling interest in its gaming subsidiary, Changyou, GAAP net income was USD 47.1 mln, an increase of 17% YoY and 11% QoQ. After the deduction, Sohu's GAAP net income was USD 34.4 mln.
    Sohu's net profit for the three months ended Sept. 30 fell to US$37.4 million, or $0.97 a share, from $40.3 million, or $1.05 a share, a year earlier. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- CIT Amends Terms of Debt-Exchange Offer
    NEW YORK ''' Troubled lender CIT Group again amended its offer last week for a debt exchange to gain support for its restructuring plan in an effort to fend off bankruptcy.
    The struggling lender said it set a new tender date of Nov. 5 for the exchange offer, which had previously been set to close on Oct. 29. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Former FCC Chairman to Join AOL Board
    Armstrong will sit on the board as chairman with Powell, son of Gen. Colin Powell and FCC chairman from 2001 to 2005; former Public Broadcasting Corp. Chief Executive Patricia Mitchell; former Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) Chief Information Officer Richard Dalzell; former CBS Corp. (CBS) Chief Financial Officer Fredric Reynolds and former William Morris Agency Chief Executive James Wyatt.
    Commenting on the appointments in a release, Armstrong said the team would "bring independent judgment and a dedication to building shareholder value, and that it would offer "a tremendous resource for company, employees, and future." More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Real Estate Market Reels Again
    The Chapter 11 filing wipes out the investments of equity sponsors Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc.' s (NYSE:GS) private equity affiliate Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Five Mile Capital Partners LLC and Dune Capital Management LP, who together paid $1.5 billion in cash and over $7 billion in debt for GMAC's commercial real estate business in 2006 and renamed it Capmark Financial.
    The special vehicle set up by Capmark's private equity owners Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Five Mile Capital and Dune Capital holds about 75 percent of the lender's equity, according to the filing. More...

Monday


  • Oct-26-2009 -- Sony optical drives probed by anti-trust watchdog
    Sony Optical Disc Drive Unit Being Investigated by DOJ The U.S. DOJ has requested information from Sony regarding its optical disc drive business in what could be the start of an investigation into the industry.
    Sony Optiarc America received the request from the DOJ, Sony said in a filing to the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Monday morning. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- 4 San Jose cops put on leave after video shows student beaten
    Experts expressed alarm that Ho appears to have been handcuffed before the final baton strike occurs.
    Ho did not try to report what happened to the independent police auditor or to police internal affairs. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Israel stocks up; controlling stake in Bezeq to be sold
    TEL AVIV, Oct 25 (Reuters) - The controlling shareholders in Bezeq Israel Telecom (BEZQ.TA: Quote, Profile, Research ) agreed to sell their 30.6 percent stake for 6.5 billion shekels ($1.76 billion) in a deal likely to shake up Israel's telecoms market and bring pressure on its mobile phone operators.
    If there are no last-minute changes, the official announcement of the sale of Bezeq to Shaul Elovitch will come in the next 48 hours and control of Israel's largest telecom firm will change hands for about NIS 7 billion. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Disney Offers Baby Einstein Refunds
    BOSTON - October 23 - ''In an important development in the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood's ongoing efforts to stop companies from marketing screen media as educational for babies, the Baby Einstein Company, a Walt Disney company, is offering a refund to anyone who purchased a Baby Einstein video in the past five years.
    "We thought that families deserved better," said Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint, a psychiatrist at Judge Baker Children's Center and member of the CCFC Steering Committee. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Schumer: Credit card law should take effect sooner
    The senator says credit card companies are taking advantage of consumers now, before the new law takes effect.
    You might also look for extras like frequent flyer miles, gasoline rebates, or a long grace period in which your purchases are carried interest-free. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Five Ford UAW plants back contract; vote continues
    DETROIT — Opponents of a deal between the United Auto Workers and Ford Motor Co. are spreading misinformation as they campaign against the contract, the union's president said Saturday.
    LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The president of the United Auto Workers visited Louisville to show his support for a new contract agreement for Ford workers. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Consumer groups against Ohio phone deregulation - October 25
    In a filing with the Ohio Public Utilities Commission, the company said it has already invested $10 million in the program, which was OK'd by state regulators, and is holding millions of the bulbs in a warehouse pending discussions with state officials.
    Utilities have been pushing consumers to become more efficient as states set new energy standards. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- ECB Noyer: World Economy Has Stabilized But Risks Remain
    Jean-Franois THEODORE, Chairman of Steering Committee of Paris EUROPLACE, indicated that "various ways of cooperation shall be fostered between Paris and Singapore, in particular in asset management, environmental finance & Socially Responsible Investments (SRI), research and financial innovation".
    SINGAPORE--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Paris EUROPLACE, the agency in charge of promoting the Paris financial marketplace, organized its first annual Financial Forum in Singapore in a bid to foster dialogue regarding lessons arising from the financial crisis, to restore confidence and present new opportunities in European financial markets. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- KFC Will Give Away Free Grilled Chicken...Again
    "But we're not satisfied with just 60 million, so we're giving away free KGC again."
    Much so that the website experienced overload and many KFC locations ran out of grilled chicken. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Shattering The Movie Rental Window
    By accepting delayed rental releases, retailers may receive cheaper rates for buying movies, Hastings said.
    In an interview, Hastings said the company plans to spend more on marketing and licensing fees on Internet streaming in the fourth quarter. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Boeing Board May Put Jetliner Jobs in South Amid Seattle Rifts
    Tom Risley, the CEO of Vought when the company chose Charleston, said in a phone interview he was impressed by the unqualified commitment from South Carolina's political and business elite.
    Aerospace writer Dominic Gates ' story ran above the fold under a bold front-page headline -- "Why Charleston could land 787 line" -- in Friday's editions. More...

  • Oct-26-2009 -- Heineken's Debt Poses Hurdle to a Femsa Deal
    The family has enough options to issue new shares and still retain control, analysts say.
    More...

Sunday (Update 1)


  • Oct-25-2009 -- Israel stocks up; controlling stake in Bezeq to be sold
    TEL AVIV (Reuters) - The controlling shareholders in Bezeq Israel Telecom agreed to sell their 30.6 percent stake for 6.5 billion shekels ($1.76 billion) in a deal likely to shake up Israel's telecoms market and bring pressure on its mobile phone operators.
    With experience of the market and of regulation, we believe the new owner can maximize Bezeq's potential." More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Record NYC real estate deal now on the rocks
    NEW YORK CITY-In a major setback for the owners of Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town, and potentially the landlords of thousands of rent-stabilized apartments across the city, the state's highest court ruled Thursday that the massive complex's ownership improperly raised rents while also receiving J-51 tax incentives for renovations.
    New York City's rental market is one of the world's largest and most lucrative. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Green Inc. Column A Cascade of Plug-In Efficiencies
    When New York Governor David Patterson met with officials representing the Reva Electric Car Company in May, many began to speculate that the Indian car manufacturer was looking to set up shop somewhere in New York.
    The company has secured an exclusive North American licensing deal with Reva Electric Car Co. of Bangalore, India, to assemble the NXR. Reva cars are now sold across Asia and Europe. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Facebook, Twitter crooks just a click away
    There has been a lot of conversation fixated on how big companies like Dell, Southwest Airlines, Comcast, and most recently Best Buy use Twitter and Facebook to promote their products and services, and answer customers' questions.
    Key take-home point: Be nice! It'''s important to consider the mainstreaming of social media; remember, bloggers are not '''geeks in anoraks'''. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- When Is Daylight Savings Time? Not Today
    Twice a year Turkey adjusts the national clock to allow for the differences in the length of summer and winter days ''' Spring Forward, Fall Back.
    In the directive, it was mentioned that summer-time arrangements maintained for the past 20 years would be renewed for an unspecified period. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- The Big Money
    A trade group representing independent, bricks-and-mortar bookstores is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the below-cost offers on best-selling titles that are at the center of a price war between Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target.com.
    Among the books the retail giants are deep-deep-discounting for the holiday season are likely bestsellers from Sarah Palin, Stephen King, John Grisham, James Patterson, and Barbara Kingsolver, which could be sold for as low as $8 online, severely undercutting independent booksellers. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Icahn, saying CEO Bartz doing 'great job,' sees no need to remain as 'activist'
    "As a result, I do not presently have the time that is necessary to devote to the business and affairs of Yahoo required if a board member is to fulfil his fiduciary duties to the shareholders."
    After a tumultuous year-long adventure trying to influence the management of Yahoo, Carl Icahn, the Wall Street billionaire gadfly, has resigned from the company's board. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Blackstone plans IPO for Merlin Entertainments: report
    Profitability and OSS Support: A Return on Investment Analysis of IBM Tivoli Netcool Learn more, download free white paper.
    More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- UPDATE 1-Land deal advisor resigns from Calpers
    LOS ANGELES, Oct 24 (Reuters) - The real estate investment manager who led the California Public Employees' Retirement System, the nation's largest pension fund, into a money-losing land venture has resigned as an adviser to the fund, a spokeswoman for MacFarlane Partners said on Saturday.
    For a while, Calpers looked smart under Read, hitting a peak value of $260 billion in October 2007 as it borrowed money to boost returns and moved into sophisticated collateralized debt obligations, land for residential real estate, as well as commodities. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- 5'' Deposits Set For Bottled Water
    Bottlers and distributors went to court last spring to delay implementation, originally set for June 1.
    Friday afternoon, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York struck down the injunction that had delayed the collecting of deposits. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Netflix shares hit record high as Wall Street cheers results
    By accepting delayed rental releases, retailers may receive cheaper rates for buying movies, Hastings said.
    Hollywood major studios are seriously considering forbidding movie rentals until weeks after the movie has been available for purchase, according to Los Angeles Times . More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Google's Brin gives $1 million to HIAS
    "I would have never had the kinds of opportunities I've had here in the Soviet Union, or even in Russia today," Brin told the Times in an interview.
    More...

Sunday


  • Oct-25-2009 -- The Big Money
    A trade group representing independent, bricks-and-mortar bookstores is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the below-cost offers on best-selling titles that are at the center of a price war between Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target.com.
    Of the top 50 bestseller's (actual books, no ebooks), I'd say less than 10 hardcovers were $9/$10. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Kindle, Nook May Squeeze Sony: Rich Jaroslovsky
    Amazon has dominated the market.
    B&N's online store will offer more than 1 million e-books by the time the Nook ships, versus Amazon's more than 350,000. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Icahn, saying CEO Bartz doing 'great job,' sees no need to remain as 'activist'
    "As a result, I do not presently have the time that is necessary to devote to the business and affairs of Yahoo required if a board member is to fulfil his fiduciary duties to the shareholders."
    Carol is doing a great job and I believe the Microsoft transaction will provide great long term benefits, the potential of which many still do not understand. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Microsoft Feeds Hopes for a Recovery
    Some good news was the server software unit gained market share in the quarter, with momentum expected to continue there.
    Network World's Tim Greene compiled a helpful FAQ and also wrote an interesting piece about the possible ramifications of net neutrality on broadband services for businesses. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Blackstone's Merlin Entertainment to Go Public in '10, FT Says
    Profitability and OSS Support: A Return on Investment Analysis of IBM Tivoli Netcool Learn more, download free white paper.
    More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Impact of Ruling in Stuyvesant Town Case Could Take Years to Determine
    NEW YORK CITY-In a major setback for the owners of Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town, and potentially the landlords of thousands of rent-stabilized apartments across the city, the state's highest court ruled Thursday that the massive complex's ownership improperly raised rents while also receiving J-51 tax incentives for renovations.
    Hi, I have been a tenant in Stuyvesant Town for the last 4 years and am paying market rent on my apartment. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- UPDATE 1-Land deal advisor resigns from Calpers
    SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Russell Read, the former chief investment officer of Calpers, the largest pension fund in the United States, knows his trees.
    For a while, Calpers looked smart under Read, hitting a peak value of $260 billion in October 2007 as it borrowed money to boost returns and moved into sophisticated collateralized debt obligations, land for residential real estate, as well as commodities. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- 5'' Deposits Set For Bottled Water
    Governor Paterson says a U.S. District Court has lifted an injunction involving nickel deposits on bottled water.
    Friday afternoon, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York struck down the injunction that had delayed the collecting of deposits. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Return Your IRA, 401(k) Distribution
    As with a conversion from a traditional IRA, you need to pay ordinary income taxes on the withdrawn money.
    The gain is tax-sheltered over the years and the earnings are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate on withdrawal during retirement. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Govt-backed body to oversee JAL turnaround: Nikkei
    Liabilities at Japan Airlines would exceed its assets by USD$8.8 billion if Asia's largest airline by revenues were liquidated, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said Friday.
    The greater part of the job cuts will be at Japan Airlines International Co., the unit in charge of JAL's flights. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- Suit: Cocaine, sex in Madoff's workplace
    The explosive allegations are contained in court papers that also paint a picture of Madoff's life in jail.
    The papers state: "Starting in 1975, Madoff began sending a longtime employee and office messenger to obtain drugs for himself and the company. More...

  • Oct-25-2009 -- From an Airbus captain, about recent flight errors
    A runway or taxiway collision, particularly with one plane preparing to take off and carrying a full fuel load, would be catastrophic.
    The NTSB said it is uncertain why the check airman was on the Delta flight. More...





Saturday


  • Oct-24-2009 -- US Stocks, Oil Retreat, While Microsoft, Amazon.com Rally
    The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite shed 10.82 points (0.50 percent) to 2,154.47 and the broad-market Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 13.31 points (1.22 percent) to 1,079.60.
    Dow component American Express was another key market player that finished in the red after late yesterday reporting weaker quarterly sales and earnings that none the less beat analysts' forecasts. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- CIT Warns of Big Losses if Investors Reject Plan
    CIT Group Inc. (CIT) management made a presentation about its restructuring effort as investors await word on an agreement with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) over a disputed "make whole" payment on a $3 billion loan the investment bank had extended to the lender last year.
    Goldman would be entitled to the $1 billion payment under the $3 billion rescue package it provided in June 2008, six months before the U.S. government invested $2.33 billion in CIT through the Troubled Asset Relief Program. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- EPA Agrees to Deadline in '11 for Setting Rules on Mercury Emissions
    '''Power plants are the largest unregulated industrial source of air toxics.
    Scott Dean, BP spokesman for refining and marketing in Chicago, said, "We were surprised and frankly disappointed," by the EPA objection to the permit. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Suit: Cocaine, sex in Madoff's workplace
    The explosive allegations are contained in court papers that also paint a picture of Madoff's life in jail.
    Madoff's used Mercedes Benz is valued at $14,000, according to Kelly's Blue Book, but the Marshal Service hopes the notoriety of the past owner will bring more. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- FAA probes plane's landing in Atlanta
    A runway or taxiway collision, particularly with one plane preparing to take off and carrying a full fuel load, would be catastrophic.
    ATLANTA -- The Boeing 767 was at the end of a 10 hour flight when it made its final approach Monday at 6 a.m. The plane was set to land on runway 27 right. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Treasuries Fall for Third Week on Fed Speculation; Supply Looms
    Shorter-dated Treasuries, which are more sensitive to interest rate expectations, also took a hit, with the two-year note US2YT=RR down 4/32 to yield 1.01 percent from 0.95 percent late on Thursday.
    Even as the economy continues to struggle, much of Wall Street is minting money ''' and looking forward again to hefty bonuses. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Can Windows 7 'Reset' Microsoft Shares Higher?
    Some good news was the server software unit gained market share in the quarter, with momentum expected to continue there.
    The new Windows 7 operating system launched on Wednesday, and aims to be a more successful follow-up to the company's Vista operating system. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Taser makers say don't aim at chest
    We've got the X26 at the $800 price point and now with the X3 at a $1600 price point; that gives us the ability to effectively current segment according to the relative once we need in the marketplace which of course overall is better for business and better for customers.
    Taser's sales, which have been hurt by budget constraints facing police agencies but helped by strong international demand, increased 2 percent to $23.3 million. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- EXCLUSIVE: Former Calpers CIO says did right thing
    SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A letter earlier this year from the chief executive of Calpers, the biggest U.S. public pension fund, to local officials in California sent shock waves across the state.
    From a high of $260 billion in October 2007, the value of the fund's portfolio tumbled to $160 billion a year and a half later. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Impact of Ruling in Stuyvesant Town Case Could Take Years to Determine
    NEW YORK CITY-In a major setback for the owners of Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town, and potentially the landlords of thousands of rent-stabilized apartments across the city, the state's highest court ruled Thursday that the massive complex's ownership improperly raised rents while also receiving J-51 tax incentives for renovations.
    BlackRock could not be reached immediately for comment. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Netflix stock hits new high as device deal looms
    Around 42 percent of the company's 11.1 million subscribers streamed at least 15 mins of content in Q3; that's up from 22 percent for the same quarter last year.
    Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings said the company is open to allowing studios to sell new-release titles prior to rental, provided the economics make sense. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- US gold ends lower as dollar up vs major currencies
    Neither development is at all surprising because world leaders have been calling for the replacement of the U.S. dollar as the world reserve currency since 2008.
    The measure fell to the lowest level in more than 14 months on Oct. 21, while gold traded near the record US$1,070.80 an ounce the precious metal reached a week earlier. More...

Saturday


  • Oct-24-2009 -- Burlington Outlook Weighs on Shares
    The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite shed 10.82 points (0.50 percent) to 2,154.47 and the broad-market Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 13.31 points (1.22 percent) to 1,079.60.
    Equities appear poised for further upside, while corrections are likely to be minimal at best as high confidence and sidelined liquidity quickly fills the gaps. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Icahn Steps Down From Yahoo, Praises Microsoft Accord
    NEW YORK — Activist investor Carl Icahn is resigning from Yahoo's board of directors because he no longer has enough time to devote to the Internet company.
    There was not follow-on offer from Microsoft to buy Yahoo! and the companies shares trade below $13 for a number of months after the conversations between the two firms broke off. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Rajaratnam: Relentless Pursuit of Data
    Roomy Khan, the hedge fund manager who was identified by the The Wall Street Journa l and The New York Times to be "Tipper A" in the Securities and Exchange Commission complaint against Raj Rajaratnam, as well as the CW -- or cooperating witness -- in the criminal complaint filed by the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office, pleaded guilty in 2001 to leaking proprietary information about Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) to a Galleon representative, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
    Court filings in the latest case involving Galleon describe a key "Confidential Witness" -- also called "Tipper A" -- who has known Rajaratnam since 1996. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- CIT Warns of Big Losses if Investors Reject Plan
    CIT Group Inc. (CIT) management made a presentation about its restructuring effort as investors await word on an agreement with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) over a disputed "make whole" payment on a $3 billion loan the investment bank had extended to the lender last year.
    The clock is ticking for CIT ahead of an Oct. 29 deadline for bondholders to vote on either a $31 billion debt exchange or a plan to file for a pre-packaged bankruptcy. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Home-Buyer Credit Tempts Tax Cheats
    WASHINGTON — Tens of thousands of people may have taken advantage of the first-time home buyer tax credit to defraud the government, an IRS watchdog office said Thursday, in testimony that could jeopardize efforts to extend the popular program.
    I also think the tax credit is a great one. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Netflix, Studios Discussing 'Sale-Only' for DVDs
    Netflix shares were up 3.7% to $49.63 in the regular session before falling as much as 4% after the closing bell.
    Ballmer Taking Mobile Bets Gizmodo So, what does the notoriously excitable Steve Ballmer think about all the criticism that has been heaped on Microsoft's latest mobile operating system, Windows Mobile 6.5? "At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter what the critics say,. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Recession continues to grip Britain
    Most had predicted yesterday's figures would see Britain following France and Germany out of recession.
    The Chancellor added that removing government measures to stimulate the economy would be "madness". More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Schlumberger CEO sees new gas drilling regulation
    NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Oilfield service leader Schlumberger Ltd ( SLB.N ) reported slightly better-than-expected profits on Friday but warned of weak North American natural gas activity for much of 2010, and its shares fell 3 percent.
    A modest increase in the number of rigs drilling for natural gas in North America could not stem a 45 percent decline in Schlumberger's North American oil field services revenue. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Whirlpool offers more less-bad news
    The company anticipates full-year 2009 industry unit shipments in Asia to be up 10 percent compared to the previous expectation of unit shipments of flat-to-up 5 percent from 2008 levels.For the full-year 2009, Whirlpool Corporation expects earnings per diluted share to be approximately $4.25 compared with the prior expectation of $3.50 to $4.00 per diluted share.
    There are some unknowables about the Whirlpool story. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- Dole IPO Slips Out of the Gate
    Dole Food Co.' s IPO slipped on a banana peel on its first day of trading Friday, capping a bad week for initial public offerings and underlining that investors are selective about what they will buy.
    Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Deutsche Bank were listed as the lead managers and co-managers were listed as BB&T Capital Markets, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, HSBC Corporation, and Scotia Capital. More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- AT&T may lose Apple iPhone's exclusivity, CEO says
    AT&T's wireless unit had another strong quarter, as the company added two million new subscribers.
    AT&T did not make $12.9 billion USD(2008 numbers) off of iPhone users alone(I am talking net income, not revenue). More...

  • Oct-24-2009 -- UPDATE 1-Freddie Mac Sept portfolio up, delinquencies jump
    A recent study by the Mortgage Bankers Association http://www.mbaa.org/NewsandMedia/PressCenter/70366.htm showed that the industry was making a profit of over $1,088 per loan in the first quarter of 2009, as against just $148 in the last quarter of 2008.
    The yield has been anywhere from 3.2 to 3.5 in the past month on any given day typically moving down when the Fed holds big bond auctions. More...

Friday


  • Oct-23-2009 -- Oil-services giant shows 48% drop in third-quarter net income
    NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Oilfield service leader Schlumberger Ltd ( SLB.N ) reported slightly better-than-expected profits on Friday but warned of weak North American natural gas activity for much of 2010, and its shares fell 3 percent.
    Oilfield service company activity has slowed as oil prices plunged from an all-time high above $145 a barrel. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- GM Delays Signing of Magna-Opel Deal Until Next Month to Consider Changes
    FRANKFURT (Reuters) - General Motors put on hold a deal to sell a 55 percent stake in carmaker Opel to a Russian-backed consortium led by Canadian automotive group Magna, GM's chief negotiator on the deal said on Friday.
    GM is not pessimistic about completing the deal but it is concerned at the delays, given Opel and Vauxhall are surviving off a €1.5bn bridging loan and are likely to run out of money by the turn of the year. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Dole Food shares fall in debut
    NEW YORK, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Shares in Dole Food Co Inc (DOLE.N: Quote, Profile, Research ) fell in their debut on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange after its initial public offering priced below expectations amid concerns about the fresh fruit and vegetable producer's debt load and vulnerability to commodity prices.
    Investors snapped up shares of Dole Food Co. on Thursday when the world's largest produce company returned to the public equity market after a six-year absence, but the stock price was less than it had expected. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Whirlpool posts lower profit; shares gain on outlook
    In Europe, however, sales in the quarter fell 17% and the company expects industry shipments for the region to decline about 13% for the year.
    Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had forecast earnings of 77 cents a share on $4.28 billion in sales. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Dollar gains as stocks turn south
    LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The dollar rose broadly on Thursday, recovering from 14-month lows versus the euro and a currency basket as weaker corporate earnings and falls in equity and commodity markets dampened investor appetite for risk.
    The tonic for the U.S. dollar was engineered in a third quarter GDP report from China, which proved 8.9% growth. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Analysts upbeat about Netflix; shares rise to new high
    Around 42 percent of the company's 11.1 million subscribers streamed at least 15 mins of content in Q3; that's up from 22 percent for the same quarter last year.
    Based on data given by Netflix during yesterday's Q3 2009 earnings call, it follows that the rental company is approaching or has passed a million Blu-ray subscribers, in what is twofold growth in less than a year, despite having increased subscription rates for BD twice, in October 2008 and April 2009. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- UK economy remains in recession
    The lingering decline comes despite interest rates at a record low of 0.5% since March, additional Government spending and an unprecedented ''175 billion boost to the money supply through quantitative easing.
    The economy has now contracted for six quarters in a row marking the longest recession since records began in 1955. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Fortune Brands profit slumps; spirits go flat
    The results still managed to surpass Wall Street's estimate of $1.63 billion.
    The company earned $124.1 million, or 82 cents per share, for the three months ended Sept. 30. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Ingersoll-Rand 3Q profit falls 5 pct
    On average, Wall Street analysts expected a lower profit of 61 cents per share, albeit on higher revenue of $3.56 billion.
    Year-earlier results included about $122 million related to Ingersoll-Rand's acquisition of Trane, an air conditioning business. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Ford Cleveland Engine-Plant Workers Approve Givebacks
    The tentative agreement between Ford and the UAW would freeze entry-level wages, establish a requirement for binding arbitration for wage and benefit disagreements at the end of the current contract and a consolidation of skilled-trades classifications.
    After the UAW dissidents distributed a leaflet calling for a '''no''' vote, King went to the plant in an effort to browbeat workers on the afternoon shift. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Japan may cut emissions by less than 25 pct
    Developed economies must release green technology to help developing nations cut carbon emissions in the same way that pharmaceutical companies relaxed patents to help sufferers of HIV/Aids, Manmohan Singh, India'''s prime minister, said on Thursday.
    China's chief climate change official, Xie Zhenhua, right, shakes hands with Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh after signing an agreement during a joint workshop on national action plan on climate change in New Delhi on Wednesday. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Honeywell Profit Falls 15% on Weak Sales
    Honeywell International Inc.' s third-quarter earnings fell 15%, a little less than expected, on continued weak sales.
    Honeywell International Inc. 's (HON) third-quarter earnings fell 15% on continued weakness in sales, especially to commercial airlines, as the company lowered its 2009 revenue guidance. More...

Friday


  • Oct-23-2009 -- Kia posts record profits in Q3; shares up more
    Kia, part of world No.4 automaker based on first half sales Hyundai Motor Group along with affiliate Hyundai Motor Co ( 005380.KS ), reported a net profit of 402.0 billion won ($338.4 million) in the third quarter, beating a 260.6 billion won forecast by 10 analysts in a Reuters poll.
    Treasury prices down as stocks rally STOCKS TO WATCH KOREA EXCHANGE BANK ( 004940.KS ) Korea Development Bank (KDB) is seriously looking at Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) as an acquisition target, according to a local media report. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- UPDATE 1-JAL faces $8.8 bln excess debt if liquidated -source
    "Elsewhere" is a euphemism for a Delta and the Skyteam global alliance, which would replace an existing relationship with American and the Oneworld alliance.
    If Japan and the U.S. reach an open skies agreement, "JAL is more likely to realize the benefits of an immunized relationship" if it remains an American partner," Arpey said. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. Q3 2009 Earnings Call Transcript
    MEMC Electronic Materials Inc., the O'Fallon, Mo. -based maker of silicon wafers for solar cells and semiconductors, agreed Thursday to buy solar power system installer SunEdison LLC for $200 million in cash and stock.
    For the third quarter MEMC sales were $310 million, which is within the original guidance range of approximately 300 to $350 million provided at last quarter's earnings release and at the high end of our revised guidance range of approximately 285 to $310 million provided on September 8th following the previously announced disruption at the company's Pasadena, Texas facility. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Netflix reports 48% profit jump, lifts forecasts
    Around 42 percent of the company's 11.1 million subscribers streamed at least 15 mins of content in Q3; that's up from 22 percent for the same quarter last year.
    By comparison nearly every subscriber rented at least one DVD during the quarter. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Credit Card Chicanery
    Dear Readers: Your credit card horror stories are arriving just in time for Halloween -- and ahead of the CARD (Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure) Act of 2009, which takes effect in February 2010.
    After 12 to 16 weeks without getting my merchandise, I made some calls to Bank of America. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- CORRECTED - UPDATE 4-Juniper outlook beats, CEO passive on M&A
    Juniper had previously forecast earnings per share, excluding special items, of 19 cents to 21 cents, on revenue of $770 million to $805 million.
    NEW YORK, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Network equipment maker Juniper Networks Inc's ( JNPR.O ) quarterly results and outlook exceeded Wall Street estimates, adding to hopes that a recovery in telecommunications spending was underway. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- UPDATE 3-Broadcom questions if Santa will come this holiday
    Licensing revenue grew to $59.45 million from $44.39 million in the year-earlier quarter.
    Excluding restructuring and other impacts, Broadcom said, the latest quarter's profit was 40 cents. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Drug Makers Post Strong Profits, but Future Is Murky
    Total overall costs associated with the company's global restructuring programs included in materials and production, research and development, and restructuring costs were $117 million and $847 million for the third quarter of 2009 and 2008, respectively, primarily comprised of employee separations and accelerated depreciation.
    NOTE: Adjusted net sales, defined as net sales plus an assumed 50 percent of global cholesterol joint venture net sales, is a non-U.S. GAAP measure used by management in evaluating the performance of the Schering-Plough's overall business. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Fits and Starts for Housing
    Isakson has been pushing for an extension and expansion of the housing tax credit for most of the year.
    Isakson and Senate Banking Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., have co-sponsored an amendment that would extend the credit until the end of June 2010 and be available to single filers making up to $150,000 and joint filers making up to $300,000. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Travel industry optimism arrives with airline, hotel earnings reports
    JetBlue ( JBLU ) profits rose in the third quarter, to $15 million, or 5 cents per share, as compared to a loss of $4 million, or 2 cents per share in the same quarter last year.
    While we continue to take steps to reduce costs and maintain our low cost advantage, we are committed to investing in our brand, our customers, and our crew members. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- McDonald's Beats Analysts' Estimates
    Stocks on the move Real-time Equity news U.S. stock market report 0858 ET 22Oct2009-McDonald's rises after Q3 results Shares of McDonald's Corp ( MCD.N ) rose in premarket trading on Thursday, after the company reported third-quarter earnings that beat expectations.
    McDonald's says new, more expensive burgers helped its third quarter profit climb almost 6 percent. More...

  • Oct-23-2009 -- Dow Chemical quarterly net spikes, but sales drop
    Excluding certain items(1) and discontinued operations, the Company earned $0.24 per share, driven by sequential price increases, volume growth in Electronic and Specialty Materials and Coatings and Infrastructure (Advanced Materials), Performance Products and Performance Systems, as well as the Company's actions to reduce cost and capture acquisition-related synergies. -- Sales versus the prior quarter increased 6 percent due to price, more than offsetting a greater than $600 million increase in purchased feedstock and energy costs.
    Performance Versus Prior Quarter On a sequential basis, sales in the Electronic and Specialty Materials segment increased 8 percent, with volume up 7 percent and price up 1 percent. More...

Thursday


  • Oct-22-2009 -- US Stocks Higher; DJIA Regains 10000 Level Amid Strong Earnings
    Stocks on the move Real-time Equity news U.S. stock market report 0858 ET 22Oct2009-McDonald's rises after Q3 results Shares of McDonald's Corp ( MCD.N ) rose in premarket trading on Thursday, after the company reported third-quarter earnings that beat expectations.
    For details, see Shares of the Dow component rose 3.2 percent to $26.76 in premarket trading. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- AT&T Profit Tops Estimates on IPhone Customers, TV
    AT&T has unveiled their third quarter earnings, which among other things indicate the company added the most iPhones ever in a single quarter.
    In Q3-2009, AT&T could have added 1.42 million wireless subscribers, of which 1.26 million are the coveted customers who sign contracts rather than prepaying for service. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- What's going on at the New York Times Co.?
    NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Times Co beat quarterly revenue and profit forecasts because of cost cuts and higher newspaper prices even as advertising sales fell, sending shares up 19 percent on Thursday.
    The Times Co. bought the Boston Globe for 1.1 billion dollars in 1993 but the value of the newspaper has plummeted since then, along with the fortunes of the U.S. newspaper industry. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Fraud Reported in Program to Help New Homebuyers
    Isakson has been pushing for an extension and expansion of the housing tax credit for most of the year.
    Since the tax credit was expanded in February, we have seen house sales rise and glimpses of price stabilization. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- China's 3Q growth accelerates to 8.9 percent pace
    China's economy grew 8.9 per cent in the third quarter, growth not seen since the third quarter last year.
    Policymakers said the nation's moderately loose bank lending will continue until the economy is on more stable ground. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- EMC Profit Drops 24% on Slumping Technology Demand
    EMC forecast revenue of $4 billion in the fourth quarter and profit of 30 cents per share excluding items.
    ORLANDO, Fla., Oct 22 (Reuters) - EMC Corp ( EMC.N ), the top maker of corporate data storage equipment, reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit as it slashed costs and corporate technology spending improved. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Philip Morris, Reynolds Raise Forecasts
    Analysts expected profit of 91 cents per share on revenue of $6.71 billion.
    Reynolds' revenues fell 5.3 per cent to 2.15 billion dollars. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Schering-Plough's profit dips on merger charges
    The company is based in Kenilworth, N.J., and its Web site is www.schering-plough.com .
    Analysts had pegged a target of $3.23 a share for the company's full-year earnings. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Caterpillar picks successor for retiring CEO
    Oberhelman is currently a group president at Caterpillar.
    Oberhelman currently is group president of Caterpillar responsible for the company's engine and gas turbine businesses, human services, rail services and remanufacturing divisions. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Delta swings to $161M loss in third quarter
    Delta Air Lines said today cost-cutting efforts stayed ahead of sagging revenues, netting the company a $51 million profit, excluding one-time charges, in the third quarter.
    Delta's acquisition of Northwest was not completed until the fourth quarter of last year. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Xerox posts steep profit drop but raises outlook
    Third-quarter selling, administrative and general expenses were down year over year by $131 million and SAG as a percent of revenue was 27.4 percent.
    The company posted earnings of $123 million, or 14 cents per share, as compared to $258 million, or 29 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Travelers 3Q Profit Soars On 2008 Losses; Outlook Raised
    NEW YORK ( TheStreet ) -- Travelers ( TRV Quote ) said third-quarter net income was $935 million, or $1.65 a share, up markedly from earnings a year earlier of $214 million, or 36 cents a share, as underwriting profits increased in each of its segments and net investment income rose.
    The amortized cost of the fixed maturity portfolio at September 30, 2009 totaled $62.21 billion, $689 million lower than at the same date in 2008, primarily reflecting the impact of $1.89 billion of common share repurchases during the preceding twelve-month period, the sale of the Company's subsidiary Unionamerica in December 2008 and contributions of $310 million to the Company's pension plan in the preceding twelve-month period. More...

Thursday


  • Oct-22-2009 -- Continental CEO offers prescription for airline industry
    Excludes 25 EMB-135 aircraft temporarily grounded and 30 ERJ-145 aircraft and five EMB-135 aircraft subleased to other operators but are not operated on the company's behalf at September 30, 2009.
    During the quarter, Continental took delivery of six new Boeing 737-900ERs and removed from service 13 Boeing 737-300s and six Boeing 737-500s. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Breakingviews.com A Silver Lining Clings to Tobacco
    Altria's shares were down 37 cents at $18.29 in late morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
    We are similarly pleased with the results of Copenhagen and Skoal on the marketplace as premium retail share of the smokeless products category, which we now define as MST and spit-less tobacco products, remain the same as the second quarter of 2009. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Boeing to Choose Second Dreamliner Site Within Weeks
    Jim McNerney, the Boeing chairman, president and chief executive, said that difficult market conditions, together with a $2.5 million cost reclassification for the 787 and a $1 billion charge for increased costs for the 747-8, had overshadowed what continued to be otherwise solid performance across the company's commercial production programs and defence business.
    Revenues at Boeing's defence business rose 3 per cent to $8.7 billion on increased military aircraft deliveries and higher volume in services. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Regulator wants non-disruptive energy trade limits
    Even the major purchases of futures contracts we cite in our example would likely be enough to push up the price of pork bellies.
    The futures industry successfully fought off position limits last year after crude oil prices shot above $140 a barrel. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Nikkei falls 1.2 pct as stocks hit across the board
    TOKYO, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average is likely to start lower on Thursday after U.S. stocks slipped in a late sell-off in financial shares, but trade may be subdued overall as investors await the upcoming Japanese earnings season.
    Kawasaki Kisen Co. Ltd. rose 4 percent to close at 386 yen. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Honda set for fiscal first-half profit: report
    CHIBA, Japan (Reuters) - Japanese automakers such as Honda and Nissan want to reduce their reliance on the U.S. market, where weak demand and a falling dollar have slashed profits, even as a poor turnout at their flagship auto show highlights the challenges at home.
    Covering the largest floor area of any single brand at the show, Honda booth combines automobiles, motorcycles, power products and other highlights to present the distinctive world of Honda mobility. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Equinix to Buy Rival
    Equinix has acquired Switch & Data Facilities Company in a $689 million deal that will see the data centre services provider expand its presence from six to 22 markets.
    The deal expands to 79 the number of data centersthe computer rooms that run many Web sites, business programs, and the Internetthat Equinix operates world-wide, and gives the company a bigger presence in key North American markets, like New York, Dallas and Toronto. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- HK shares seen lower, data may give support
    The benchmark Hang Seng Index.HSI closed up 1.23 percent, or 270.56 points, at 22,200.46 on Monday, the highest in 14 months.
    China Mobile on Tuesday posted a 2.8 percent rise in third quarter profit to 28.6 billion yuan ($4.2 billion), from 27.9 billion yuan a year ago, according to Reuters calculations from nine month figures. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Bank of America Sells First Republic to Buyout Group
    New documents in the Bank of America Corp. investigation show that chief executive Ken Lewis apparently misled federal officials when he asked them to cough up $20 billion and other financial incentives to keep him from canceling the bank's merger with Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Lewis told the feds that he had just learned of Merrill's spiraling fourth quarter losses that eventually reached $15 billion, when in fact his bank had been following the growing losses throughout October and November.
    A consortium of investors, led by private equity firm General Atlantic Partners, has clinched a deal to buy First Republic Bank from Bank of America Corp., according to sources. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Morgan Stanley finds Q3 commods markets "unfavorable"
    Chen forecasts Morgan Stanley will earn 17 cents per share in the third quarter on revenue of $7.1 billion.
    EMAIL TRANSCRIPTS RE MORGAN STANLEY / INVESCO: Will there be no light shined on these questions by Invesco or Morgan Stanley ? We are very concerned that control of a very large American mutual funds sponsor is being shifted to the Caribbean, and would appreciate a response in particular from Morgan Stanley. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Plane Lands on Taxiway
    The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are'' investigating the circumstances that caused a Delta Air Lines flight from Rio de Janeiro to end on a taxiway instead of the prescribed runway at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
    ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating how an international flight into Atlanta's major airport landed on a taxiway instead of a runway early Monday. More...

  • Oct-22-2009 -- Two defense giants post contrasting results
    Third quarter earnings included a net tax benefit of $75 million, or 23 cents per share, stemming mostly from a settlement arising from an Internal Revenue Service's examination of the company's 2001, 2002 and 2003 tax returns, but also a reduction of $47 million, or 15 cents a share, resulting from a net pension adjustment.
    In the third quarter, Aerospace Systems' sales rose 4.6 percent to $2.5 billion, compared to the same period in 2008. More...

Wednesday


  • Oct-21-2009 -- TARP report slams lack of transparency
    A Treasury Department watchdog is warning that a key $700 billion bailout program has damaged the government's credibility, won't earn taxpayers all their money back and has done little to change a culture of recklessness on Wall Street.
    Horne said the original Economic Stabilization Act, which created the TARP program, was written so quickly that lawmakers didn't have time to include the relevant transparency and accountability measures. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- SEC Weighs New Regulations for Dark Pools
    NEW YORK, Oct 20 (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Charles Schumer said on Tuesday he would press the SEC for heavier regulation on anonymous trading venues known as dark pools, backing an argument long made by the New York Stock Exchange, just a day before the regulator meets to discuss the issue.
    The SEC will exempt block trades, or orders exceeding a certain number of shares, from the new rule, according to one source. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- EU:Disappointed With Oracle Response In Sun Merger Probe
    "The company expects to incur total charges ranging from 75 million U.S. dollars to 125 million dollars over the next several quarters in connection with the Restructuring Plan, the majority of which relates to cash severance costs and is expected to be incurred in the second and third quarters of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010," Sun Microsystems said.
    You can blame the EC all you want, but Sun's numbers started heading south as soon as it became public knowledge in March that the company was in play, and that, not the economic meltdown, is the main reason why Sun's sales were off 30.6 per cent in the quarter ended in September, to $2.62bn and the company posted a net loss of $147m. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Former 'car czar' slams US auto bosses
    The revelations from Rattner on the closed-door deliberations on the autos bailouts come at a time when GM is struggling to win back American consumers and Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne is readying a five-year turnaround plan for Chrysler.
    We inherited one key team member from the transition: Brian Deese, who would later be profiled by the New York Times as "the 31-year-old in charge of dismantling GM." More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Euro Tops $1.50, Raising Economic Concerns
    LUXEMBOURG — Finance ministers from the 16 nations that use the euro meet for talks late Monday as the shared currency's rise against the dollar hits European exports, endangering the continent's fragile economic recovery.
    TOKYO, Oct 20 (Reuters) - The dollar hit a fresh 14-month low against the euro and higher-yielding currencies stayed near multimonth highs on Tuesday on the view that U.S. interest rates will remain low into next year. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Freeport-mcmoran posts 77% profit surge
    NEW YORK, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc ( FCX.N ) said on Wednesday that third-quarter profit soared, trouncing Wall Street expectations as the mining company benefited from higher metal prices and cost savings.
    PHOENIX - (Business Wire) Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE: FCX) announced today that its Board of Directors has reinstated an annual cash dividend on its common stock of $0.60 per share. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Sallie Mae Sees Charge-Offs Declining Over Next 6 Mos
    NEW YORK, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Sallie Mae ( SLM.N ), the largest U.S. student loan provider, posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings, after tighter interest spreads in credit markets and higher loans, sending shares up almost 9 percent.
    Floor income, not included in core earnings, totaled $36 million in the quarter. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Genzyme 3Q profit plunges on facility costs
    Net income also includes the $7.0 million pre-tax impact of a payment to acquire technology from Targeted Genetics.
    At the December American Society of Hematology meeting there will be 12 oral presentations on Genzyme's hematologic oncology products, including new data on expanded indications in development for Mozobil, Clolar and Campath with the potential to drive future growth. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- St. Jude Reports Profit Drop, Lowers Guidance
    A reconciliation of the Company's non-GAAP adjusted net earnings per share to the Company's GAAP net earnings per share is provided in the schedule at the end of the press release.
    Analysts were expecting St. Jude Medical Inc. (STJ) to report earnings of $0.58 for last quarter, but STJ beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.591 cent above the consensus estimate. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Lilly Swings To 3Q Profit From Year-Ago Charges
    Eli Lilly ( LLY ) posted a third quarter profit of $941.8 million, or 86 cents per share, as compared to a loss of $465.6 million, or 43 cents per share, in the same quarter last year.
    For the third quarter of 2009, Lilly said it earned $941.8 million, or 86 cents per share. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- CORRECT: US Bancorp 3Q Profit Up 4.7% On Higher Revenue
    Non-interest income jumped 48% year-over-year to $2.1 billion for the quarter, getting a boost from strong mortgage loan volume, ATM processing fees, higher treasury management fees, and a jump in revenue from commercial products.
    NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- U.S. Bancorp (USB) is putting its operations through a stress test to determine its future earnings power and when it might be able to raise the common stock dividend it cut in March. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Stanley Works Q3 profit tops Street, ups '09 EPS view
    Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of 62 cents per share on revenue of $952.6 million.
    In July, the company had forecast gross margins of 38 percent to 39 percent for the second half of the year. More...

Wednesday


  • Oct-21-2009 -- Students Rely on Federal Loans to Pay Rising Tuition
    Prices increased nationally this year by 6.5 percent at public four-year colleges and by 7.3 percent at two-year schools, according to a survey released this morning by the College Board.
    Callan and his colleagues say that state governors and legislators have to put pressure on public colleges and universities to limit tuition hikes, while trustees must do the same at private schools. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Nikkei edges lower as chip-linked shares fall
    "The Nikkei has come to a relatively high level compared to recent months, so it'll be easy for profit-taking to emerge here as well, especially as Japan's earnings season begins in earnest," said Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities.
    TOKYO, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average is set to rise on Tuesday, led by tech shares such as Advantest Corp ( 6857.T ) after Wall Street hit a 12-month high on a wave of solid earnings that reconfirmed the economy is healing. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Search for an Investing Edge Went Too Far, Say Prosecutors
    In an affidavit, FBI Special Agent Diane Wehner lays out a series of nonpublic deals that tech company officials allegedly leaked to Chiesi, who shared the information with Kurland.
    After a brief chat, Chiesi called New Castle cofounder Mark Kurland, then called the cellphone of Galleon's Rajaratnam. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Fed's Plosser: Fincl Mkt Conditions Improved In Past Yr
    SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Oct 18 (Reuters) - The financial crisis has spotlighted the importance of dealing with global imbalances in trade and capital flows, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Sunday at a Fed conference on Asia.
    "The current Federal Reserve policy remains accommodating. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- United Reports Narrower Loss
    Chicago-based UAL Corp. lost $57 million on revenues of $4.43 billion, beating analysts' predictions.
    Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected a profit of $1.63 per share on $1.39 billion in revenue. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Political Risk Shadows Health-Insurance Stocks
    UnitedHealth Group ( UNH ) posted a 13 percent higher profit today for the third quarter, of $1.04 billion, or 89 cents per share, as compared to $920 million, or 75 cents per share in the same quarter last year.
    Profit at the company's prescription drug benefit business more than doubled to $196 million, helped by higher prescription volume, gains in mail-order drug sales and a shift to higher-margin generics. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Toyota may spend $440 million on U.S. recall: report
    Tokyo (Reuters) - Japan's Toyota Motor Corp ( 7203.T ) may spend about 40 billion yen ($440 million) on recalling 3.8 million cars sold in the U.S. after a fatal accident due to a defect that may cause floor mats to jam accelerator pedals, the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper reported on Wednesday.
    More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Update 1-IMS Health says exploring strategic alternatives
    Shares of IMS Health rose sharply in late trading Monday, gaining more than 21 percent, following a report that the health care data company was in "advanced discussions" with private equity firms to sell itself.
    The WSJ ( being bought by VNU (or what is now The Nielsen Company) in $7bn deal in 2005, but the deal began to fall apart when VNU shareholders blocked the move. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Top banks cut small business lending by $8 billion
    The Treasury Department will expand access for smaller banks to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), a move aimed at spurring more local lending by community banks.
    "New firms generate jobs and revenue where there once were none," Nydia Vel'zquez, a Democrat from New York and the chair of the House Committee on Small Business, said last week in a hearing on increasing capital access. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Geithner: Wall Street pay "offensive"
    Blackrock boss Larry Fink and Citigroup luminaries Dick Parsons and Vikrim Pandit also ranked high on Geithner's call registry.
    During last year's transition period between presidential regimes, Obama economic aides Timothy Geithner and Larry Summers signed off on the Bush administration's deal to bail out Bank of America if it finalized its merger with ailing investment bank Merrill Lynch, according to bank documents obtained Tuesday by ABC News. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- New Jersey Corruption Informant Admits Guilt
    NEWARK, N.J. — The central figure in a huge New Jersey corruption investigation pleaded guilty Tuesday to separate state and federal charges that included bank fraud, money laundering and official misconduct.
    Dwek, 36, is expected to plead guilty to both state and federal charges relating to $50 million in allege bank fraud. More...

  • Oct-21-2009 -- Bank of New York Mellon, Lexmark, Lockheed Martin, UAL
    The news isn't all bad for the trust banks.
    BNY Mellon booked a loss of more than $4.83 billion on securites it owned. More...

Tuesday


  • Oct-20-2009 -- Fewer home-building permits signal weakness ahead
    The applications for building permits fell 1.2 percent in September.
    WASHINGTON--Applications for home building permits, a gauge of future construction, fell in September by the largest amount in five months--a discouraging sign for the housing industry. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Oil edges lower after topping $80 a barrel
    OPEC has warned that oil prices above US$80 per barrel would hurt economic recovery, on a day when crude exceeded that benchmark for the first time in more than a year.
    Retail gasoline rose 1.3 cents overnight to an average of $2.577, according to auto club AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- US producer prices drop 0.6% in September
    The producer price index declined in September by 0.6% following the prior reported 1.7% rise back in August and well below median estimates for a flat estimate, while compared with a year earlier PPI declined by 4.8% more than the prior and expected estimate of -4.3%, meanwhile, core PPI declined by 0.1% also below median estimates and the prior estimates of 0.1% and 0.2% respectively, while compared with a year earlier core PPI rose by 1.8% down from the prior rise of 2.3% and below median estimates of 2.0%.
    Over the past 12 months, economists expect that wholesale prices fell 4.2 percent. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Caterpillar Profit, Forecast Beat Analysts' Estimates
    Analysts on average had expected the Peoria, Illinois-based company to report a profit of 6 cents a share on sales of $7.47 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Caterpillar also provided its first forecast for 2010, saying it expects revenue will be up 10 percent to 25 percent from 2009 levels.
    The 2009 profit outlook range has improved to $1.10 to $1.30 per share compared to the previous range of $0.40 to $1.50 per share. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- UPDATE 3-Supervalu trims outlook, dividend; shares rise
    The operator of about 2,500 Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's and Save-A-Lot supermarkets has been underperforming rivals amid intense price competition from the likes of Wal-Mart Stores Inc ( WMT.N ), Kroger Co ( KR.N ) and Safeway Inc ( SWY.N ).
    Looking ahead, the grocer now expects full-year earnings in the range of $2.01 to $2.11 a share, compared with a prior forecast of $2.01 to $2.21 a share. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- European Stocks Fall; Barclays, Autonomy Shares Lead Retreat
    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Barclays shares dropped 5 percent Tuesday after the British bank's largest shareholder, Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, said it was selling a stake worth more than $2 billion.
    A previous bid attempt failed in 2007. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Boston Sci Shares Fall As Challenges Rise For Top Products
    Rival company St. Jude Medical recently reported a decline in sales of the cardiac devices to hospitals.
    According to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, analysts had been expecting a profit of 14 cents a share excluding special items. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Bk Of NY Mellon, M&T Buck Trend As Other Regional Banks Fall
    NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of New York Mellon Corp reported a third-quarter net loss after a charge to restructure its investment portfolio, but earnings excluding one-time items topped expectations and its shares climbed almost 3 percent.
    Revenue, excluding securities losses, rose to 3.3 billion from $3.2 billion. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- UAL Loss Is Smaller Than Estimates on Decline in Fuel
    Excluding hedging gains and certain accounting charges, UAL posted a loss of 43 cents per share.
    UAL ended the quarter with total cash amounting to $2.8 billion, unrestricted cash of more than $2.5 billion, and restricted cash of $309 million. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- United Tech 3Q Falls 17%, Still Sees 2010 Growth
    United Technologies Corp. (UTX) said Tuesday that third-quarter earnings fell 17% on continued sales weakness, although a slowdown in product orders this year appears to have stabilized.
    The company has said it expects to resume profit growth next year as a result of the cuts. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- UPDATE 2-Invesco net down, but shares rise on acquisition
    The purchase price includes $500 million in cash and 44.1 million Invesco shares, making the company Morgan Stanley '''s largest shareholder with a 9.4%'' stake.
    Money-management firm Invesco has sealed a deal to acquire Van Kampen and other retail asset-management operations of Morgan Stanley for $1.5bn ('''1bn), according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- BlackRock's quarterly profit jumps 46%
    Barclays Global Investors ("BGI") transaction/integration costs recorded in 2009 consist principally of certain advisory, legal fees and consulting expenses incurred in conjunction with the announced transaction.
    Analysts had expected $1.93 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The estimate and earnings are adjusted for costs including integration charges for BGI and compensation obligations for large shareholders PNC Financial Services Group and Bank of America Corp's Merrill Lynch unit. More...

Tuesday


  • Oct-20-2009 -- Activists snare media with Chamber of Commerce hoax
    WASHINGTON (CNN) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says it will ask law enforcement officials to investigate a fake press release and fake press conference staged at the National Press Club.
    Oh and ". we also expect to reevaluate our relationship with other members - who continue opposing climate change legislation, or who stymie progress through greenwashing and other stalling tactics." More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Caterpillar, amex Lead Blue-Chip Rally
    NEW YORK -- Wall Street may be cheering the rally in the U.S. stock market, but many individual investors watched the Dow Jones industrial average soar past the 10,000 mark Wednesday on the sidelines.
    Light, sweet crude rose $1.08 to settle at $79.61 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Airport panel approves $1.13-billion upgrade at LAX
    Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey said, "Today's action by the Board is a cornerstone of the work to build international facilities worthy of the LAX name."
    Despite declining passenger volumes at Los Angeles International Airport, officials are still seeking ways to share airline traffic at smaller regional airports, according to a report presented Monday to the airport commission. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- UPDATE 2-Boston Scientific cuts profit outlook, shares slide
    Rival company St. Jude Medical recently reported a decline in sales of the cardiac devices to hospitals.
    Looking ahead, the company provided fourth quarter earnings outlook, which came-in with Street consensus. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Euro zone to cut deficits in 2011 if recovery holds
    LUXEMBOURG — The men who run the euro single currency expressed "worries" on Monday about being squeezed out of competition for exports by two of their main global competitors, the United States and China.
    TOKYO, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The euro backed off a 14-month high against the dollar and a two-month peak against the yen on Monday as investors trimmed long positions on caution about what euro zone finance ministers may say about its recent strength. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Nikkei climbs as tech shares and Komatsu advance
    The five-member team asked JAL's banks to provide 300 billion yen ($3.3 billion) through debt relief and equity swaps, the Nikkei said.
    A broad range of exporters lost ground, with Kyocera Corp down 0.9 percent to 8,010 yen and Honda Motor Co ( 7267.T ) down 0.5 percent to 2,765 yen. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Microsoft, Yahoo Accord Gets Backing From Ad Agencies
    The top executives of Publicis Groupe, WPP, Interpublic Group and Omnicom Group this morning threw their weight behind Microsoft's proposed Yahoo search deal, signing a letter to the Department of Justice from the American Association of Advertising Agencies.
    The heads of the four largest advertising agency groups came out yesterday in support of the proposed search engine alliance between Microsoft and Yahoo. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- FDA Delays Decision On Amgen Bone Drug For Added Info
    The FDA did not ask for further clinical trials, although it requested more information on the design of Amgen's submitted post-marketing surveillance program and a new clinical program to support approval of denosumab for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
    The osteoporosis market is extremely competitive, and a newcomer with a less-established side effect profile could be at a disadvantage. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Toyota aims to sell 36000 Sai hybrid sedans a year
    Even though it is considerably peppier than the 2009 car (total horsepower is up from 110 to 134), the new Prius' EPA overall mileage of 50 m.p.g. is 4 m.p.g. better than that of the previous model.
    The U.S. will get 150 of the test vehicles, which use lithium ion batteries, not the nickel metal hydride packs that Toyota says are the current and long-term solution for conventional hybrids. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Brazil's 'Desperate' Tax Won't Stem Currency's Rise, Cunha Says
    SAO PAULO, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Brazil unveiled plans on Monday to tax capital inflows heading to fixed-income investments and stocks in a bid to prevent the country's hard-charging currency from strengthening further.
    "With our currency overvalued, we're going to export less and we're going to be less competitive," Mantega said, noting that 25 percent of Brazil's industrial output is shipped to foreign markets. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Breakingviews.com Time for Citigroup to Take a Stand
    In March, the Mexican finance ministry passed a ruling stating that Banamex'''s status was acceptable because the U.S. government'''s stake in the financial institution was transitory.
    In March, the finance ministry had ruled Banamex '''s status as acceptable, but the senators consider that ruling unconstitutional. More...

  • Oct-20-2009 -- Treasurys gain as NY Fed eases fears about rates
    NEW YORK — Treasury prices rose Monday after the New York Federal Reserve said it was preparing to begin stepping down its economic stimulus measures while also downplaying the notion that a rate hike was near.
    We are reluctant to read a new trend into one quarter's report. More...

Monday


  • Oct-19-2009 -- Gannett ad sales still dropping despite 3Q profit
    Excluding items, adjusted earnings per share for the quarter declined 42%, yet topped analysts' consensus estimate as cost cuts and lower newsprint expenses helped offset weak advertising sales.
    On the bottom line, Gannett reported adjusted earnings (which excludes charges) of 44 cents a share, just beating Wall Street expectations of 41 cents. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- Eaton 3Q Profit Down 39%; Raises Full-Year View
    Sales fell 26% to $3 billion.
    Diversified power management company Eaton Corporation ( ]] ) said Monday that its third quarter profit plunged 39% from last year, but results still topped analyst estimates, and the company raised its full-year guidance. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- Hasbro 3Q Profit Climbs On Movie-Related Toy Sales
    NEW YORK — Hasbro Inc, the nation's second biggest toymaker, said Monday its profit rose 8.8 percent in the third quarter, helped by lower costs and slightly higher sales of Transformers and G.I. Joe toys.
    In part, weakness in the girls division is due to discontinuing some higher-priced items, like Kota the Triceratops, a robotic dinosaur, which retailed for about $249. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- FDA Delays Decision On Amgen Bone Drug For Added Info
    The FDA has also requested all updated safety data related to Prolia.
    The agency requested further clinical trials of the drug for use in preventing osteoporosis, a bone weakening disease. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- NYMEX-Crude seesaws after early '09 peak above $79
    NYMEX - Oil prices rose for a seventh straight session on Friday, fueled by a jump in industrial production in the United States, the world's biggest energy consumer, and rising tensions in oil-rich Nigeria.
    Crude oil rallied last week as investors believed an economic recovery would boost demand for oil. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Cut Fannie, Freddie Price Targets to $0
    Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Oct. 19, saying their common and preferred shares would be "worthless" given the nearly $100 billion they will continue to owe the government, even if recapitalized.
    NEW YORK, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Fannie Mae ( FNM.N ), the largest U.S. home funding company, on Monday said it plans to sell $1.0 billion of three-month benchmark bills due Jan. 20, 2010, and $2.0 billion of six-month bills due April 21, 2010 on Wednesday in a Dutch auction. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- Terra sees profit slide, potential plant buy
    The proposed $250 million sale of 50 percent of the Carseland nitrogen plant, which is conditional on Agrium buying CF Industries, is the latest twist in a drawn-out acquisition battle among the three fertilizer producers.
    Terra Industries Inc., with 2008 revenues of $2.9 billion, is a leading North American producer and marketer of nitrogen products. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- Analysts expect to focus on Apple's iphone sales
    Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters Financial expect the hardware maker to report earnings of $1.42 per share, a 13 percent increase from the year-ago quarter and well above Apple's own projection of $1.18 to $1.23, according to The Wall Street Journal.
    The score has climbed 5 percent since the beginning of the fourth quarter. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- GM May Reconsider Sale of Opel to Magna After EU Questions German Backing
    Germany offered aid worth US$6.7 billion to support the deal, and hopes other European countries that have Opel plants will contribute to that financing.
    Germany says EU concerns about the sale of carmaker Opel to Canada's Magna do not put the deal at risk. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- Credit losses cut into BB&T earnings
    Even With the financial stocks still reeling from last weeks pressure BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) has recently performed beyond Wall Street expectations by posting 3rd quarter earnings per share of $.23 from an income of $157 million for the third quarter.
    On average, Wall Street analysts expected a slightly smaller profit of 22 cents per share. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- US gold futures rise as dollar drops
    Gold prices, which have risen on an annual basis for eight straight years, touched a record $US1,070.80 an ounce on Oct. 14.
    Noncommercial net longs in U.S. gold futures hit record By Miho Yoshikawa TOKYO, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Gold was little changed around $1,050 per ounce on Monday, pressured by a firmer dollar, as the precious metal took a breather and consolidated gains from last week's rapid climb to historic levels. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- Weatherford Sees Intl Growth Despite 3Q Slump >WFT
    Third quarter diluted earnings per share from continuing operations reflect a decrease of 76 percent over the third quarter of 2008 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.55, before severance and investigation costs.
    Analysts were expecting Weatherford International Ltd. (WFT) to report earnings of $0.13 for last quarter, and WFT met expectations with actual earnings of $0.13in line the consensus estimate. More...

Monday


  • Oct-19-2009 -- Seniors reap aid, still doubt reform
    PRESIDENT Obama's proposal to hand out $250 checks to senior citizens has nothing to do with the worthy goal of helping older Americans survive the recession but a whole lot to do with pandering to a powerful voting bloc.
    Seniors advocates say recent subsidies for COBRA health coverage and extended unemployment payments disproportionately help older, out-of-work Americans, and the health care legislation in Congress finances more prescription-drug benefits for seniors by repairing the so-called doughnut hole in the Medicare plan. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- When Keeping Quiet May Be Just the Right Thing to Do
    Rescuing the economy and some of the country's biggest banks from the worst recession since the Great Depression took a toll on U.S. finances, and the White House has forecast deficits of more than $1 trillion through fiscal 2011.
    Geithner said access to credit in the overall economy had recently improved, although many small businesses that create jobs still face borrowing constraints. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- AstraZeneca, Novartis, Glaxo Win Reversals in Alabama
    The Supreme Court has not ruled in that case.
    The Supreme Court of Alabama, in a 44-page opinion that details the 30-year history of state and national drug-pricing policy, ruled there was no basis for the state's fraud claims against three drug companies appealing adverse jury verdicts. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- Bear Run! Black bear chills in Wis. beer cooler
    The bear stopped Thursday night at Marketplace Foods in Hayward, about 140 miles northeast of Minneapolis, sauntering through the automatic doors and heading straight for the liquor department.
    A bear cub wandered into a downtown Hayward grocery and liquor store Thursday night and cozied up on a shelf above a stock of Hamm's beer. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- Trick or Treat: What if Halloween got up and moved?
    The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the average American consumes 24 pounds of candy a year, with the majority being eaten right after Halloween.
    BUT the reporter failed to tell the child (or better yet, show him) the fabulous alternatives that are available. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- Aftermath Of An Outbreak: Peanut Prices Down
    WASHINGTON — Go figure: Food makers processed more peanuts over the past year than nearly any other time on record despite a national salmonella outbreak blamed for killing nine people and scaring consumers away from peanut products for months.
    Marketings of all farmer stock peanuts for the week ending October 10 totaled 11.0 million pounds, down 130 million pounds from the previous week. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- Seoul shares fall; Lotte down on China Times deal
    SEOUL, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Seoul shares dropped 1.2 percent on Monday, with declines in U.S. stock markets on disappointing results reviving concerns about fourth-quarter earnings, although a retreat in the won lent support to LG Electronics ( 066570.KS ).
    "The reported pricing seems a bit higher than markets had expected, but Lotte's China expansion is a long-term plan," said Yoo Ju-yeon, an analyst at Meritz Securities. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- Even the young should be concerned with protecting their credit score
    For much of this year, the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act has been making news, raising the hope of debt-straddled consumers while generating consternation among some lenders.
    Customers were chosen based on "risk and profitability," but the company would not explain how it decides who is charged $29 versus $99, or anything in between. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- London Agents 'Sold Out' as Home Asking Prices Jump to Record
    London asking prices also surged by 6.5 per cent to a record high of £416,157, above the previous high of £412,731 that was hit in November 2007 at the peak of the market.
    ASKING prices for houses are higher than 12 months ago because a shortage of properties has led to a surge in demand. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- National Express Gets $2.8 Billion Stagecoach Offer
    Stagecoach had been lined up to buy the firm's UK bus and rail operations if the takeover bid from private equity company CVC and Spain's Cosmen family, which has an 18 per cent stake in National Express, had gone ahead.
    The transport group is expected to hold a board meeting today to discuss the Stagecoach offer and whether to go ahead with the £300 million rights issue. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- CIT Sweetens Exchange Offer
    CIT Group Inc., a major lender to small and midsize businesses that has struggled under mounting losses and tight credit availability, has amended its debt restructuring offer to enlist more bondholder support.
      As of today, some bondhodlers have objected to the restructuring terms presented by CIT.     What is factoring: Factoring, which is the most common service provided by CIT to the furniture industry, consists of the sale of accounts receivable to CIT who then assumes the responsibility for collecting such accounts and the credit risk of non-payment. More...

  • Oct-19-2009 -- PRECIOUS-Gold little changed, pressured by firm dollar
    Gold prices, which have risen on an annual basis for eight straight years, touched a record $US1,070.80 an ounce on Oct. 14.
    Silver prices tend to move with gold over time, only with bigger ups and downs since the silver market is smaller and more sensitive to market developments. More...

Sunday


  • Oct-18-2009 -- FDIC announces 99th bank failure
    NEW YORK — Regulators have shut down San Joaquin Bank in California, marking the 99th failure this year of a federally insured bank.
    Price said regulators knew fundraising activity was under way. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- SEC Taps Goldman Executive for Enforcement Role
    A 29-year-old Goldman Sachs executive was named Friday as managing executive of the U.S. Securities Commission's enforcement division to beef up the fight against corporate fraud.
    Khuzami has been a federal prosecutor in past and was picked up by the SEC to strengthen the enforcement division. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Mortgage Rates Up, but Still Under 5 Percent
    VA home loan mortgage rates are generally .5% to 1% lower than conventional mortgage rates so you can do the math and see that VA mortgage interest rates are at a very low level.
    If you have been thinking about refinancing or buying your first home, now might be the last good chance to lock in at a mortgage rate below 5%.'' More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Advanced Micro's Strong 3Q, Forecast Just Not Good Enough
    Benefiting from a rebounding PC market , AMD has posted a narrower than expected loss for the third quarter of 2009 and offered an upbeat outlook for the remainder of the year.
    During a conference call, CEO Dirk Meyer said total product sales normally increase about 9% percent from the third to the fourth quarter. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Big Blue boosts profit forecast as earnings rise 14%
    Analysts on average expected a profit of $2.38 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Revenue fell 7 percent from a year earlier to $23.6 billion, but it rose 1 percent from the previous quarter and was better than Wall Street's forecast of $23.4 billion.
    Eighteen analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $23.40 billion for the third quarter. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- NYMEX-Crude ends above $78 on late gasoline rally
    Oil prices are near their highest in a year, after an unexpected drop in U.S. petrol stocks briefly sent crude above US$78 per barrel.
    Retail gas prices added 1.4 cents overnight to a new national average of $2.501 a gallon, according to auto club AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Book Price War Escalates
    The book discounts, the latest in a series of aggressive online maneuvers by the world's largest retailer, could position the company to do to the online marketplace what Walmart stores did to local merchants decades ago.
    Update: Wal-Mart cut the online price on the top-selling books by a penny. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Sony Ericsson CEO says firm profitable in 2010-paper
    Japanese-Swedish phone maker Sony Ericsson has announced today its financial results for the third quarter of the ongoing year and has posted a loss of 198 million Euros for the time frame, as well as improved gross margin, although its sales during the quarter dropped 4 percent sequentially and 42 percent year on year, going down to 1,619 million Euros.
    "We have also arranged external financing to strengthen the company's financial position. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- CIT Group says it marshals support for debt plan
    CIT Group Inc., a major lender to small and midsize businesses that has struggled under mounting losses and tight credit availability, has amended its debt restructuring offer to enlist more bondholder support.
    '''Through the completion of the exchange offers or an expedited in-court restructuring process, we will reduce the uncertainty around our business and further maximize the value of our franchise.''' More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Customers complain of high bills after installation of PG&E SmartMeters
    Oct 15 (Reuters) - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) said it approved a refund of $424.4 million by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) to customers, as a result of over-collection of funds needed to pay for the cost of electricity.
    The CPUC authorized the smart meters in July of 2006, allowing PG&E to upgrade some 5 million electric meters and 4 million gas meters over a five year period. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- One of Madoff's houses goes for $9.4 million
    NEW YORK, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Epic swindler Bernard Madoff's former beach home off the eastern-most point of New York's Long Island sold for $9.41 million, money that will go toward a fund for defrauded investors, the U.S. Marshals Service said on Friday.
    NEW YORK — Federal marshals say Bernard Madoff's Long Island beach house has sold for $9.41 million. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- US: Product engineer swiped Ford's secrets
    Xiang Dong, who went by Mike Yu, was charged with theft of trade secrets, attempted theft of trade secrets and unauthorised access to a protected computer.
    Xiang Dong Yu, a.k.a. Mike Yu, 47, of Beijing is charged with theft of trade secrets, attempted theft of trade secrets and unauthorized access to a protected computer. More...

Sunday


  • Oct-18-2009 -- Customers say new PG&E meters not always smart
    Oct 15 (Reuters) - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) said it approved a refund of $424.4 million by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) to customers, as a result of over-collection of funds needed to pay for the cost of electricity.
    The commission, which approved the meters' installation, said Wednesday that it would require independent testing of the devices. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Don't Let Exceptions Kill the Rule
    The release of Democratic Representative Collin Peterson's bill means the House now has all the pieces in place for final decision-making on one of the most complex components of a broad plan for reshaping U.S. financial regulation.
    Opaque financial products, including derivatives, have contributed to almost $1.6 trillion in writedowns and losses at the world'''s biggest banks, brokers and insurers since the start of 2007, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Book Price War Escalates
    The book discounts, the latest in a series of aggressive online maneuvers by the world's largest retailer, could position the company to do to the online marketplace what Walmart stores did to local merchants decades ago.
    I bet Wal-Mart does the same. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Sony Ericsson CEO says firm profitable in 2010-paper
    Japanese-Swedish phone maker Sony Ericsson has announced today its financial results for the third quarter of the ongoing year and has posted a loss of 198 million Euros for the time frame, as well as improved gross margin, although its sales during the quarter dropped 4 percent sequentially and 42 percent year on year, going down to 1,619 million Euros.
    The Finnish firm said Timo Ihamuotila, head of global sales, would replace Rick Simonson as chief financial officer from the start of next month. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Toys 'R' Us target of FTC price-fixing probe: report
    Toys "R" Us had agreed to the order in 1998, after an administrative law judge found it had forced major toy manufacturers to sell only so-called "value packs" of several toys or discontinued items to discount shopping clubs like Costco Wholesale Corp. Those practices prevented consumers from comparing prices and the quality of products and curtailed the effectiveness of the clubs as competitors, the FTC charged.
    The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that the Federal Trade Commission is examining whether the nation's biggest toy store chain violated an 11-year-old FTC order that it avoid anticompetitive tactics that could stifle competition and keep prices high. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Dollar Touches 14-Month Low on Outlook for Fed's Target Rate
    Michael Woolfolk at Bank of New York Mellon said investors were more interested in corporate news as a harbinger of the economic outlook.
    U.S. fiscal policy is quite negative for the dollar in the near- and medium-term and short of a credible effort to address deficit containment on the long-run, fiscal policy will be a major problem for the USD as far as the eye can see. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Meet Adam Storch
    A 29-year-old Goldman Sachs executive was named Friday as managing executive of the U.S. Securities Commission's enforcement division to beef up the fight against corporate fraud.
    The SEC inspector general recently recommended a new system for handling tips and complaints to prevent another breakdown like the one that allowed Madoff's Ponzi scheme to flourish for 16 years. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Advanced Micro's Strong 3Q, Forecast Just Not Good Enough
    Benefiting from a rebounding PC market , AMD has posted a narrower than expected loss for the third quarter of 2009 and offered an upbeat outlook for the remainder of the year.
    During a conference call, CEO Dirk Meyer said total product sales normally increase about 9% percent from the third to the fourth quarter. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- NYMEX-Crude ends above $78 on late gasoline rally
    Oil prices are near their highest in a year, after an unexpected drop in U.S. petrol stocks briefly sent crude above US$78 per barrel.
    The EIA'''s weekly inventory status report showed that U.S commercial crude oil inventories increased by 0.4 million barrels from the previous week. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Mortgage Rates Up, but Still Under 5 Percent
    VA home loan mortgage rates are generally .5% to 1% lower than conventional mortgage rates so you can do the math and see that VA mortgage interest rates are at a very low level.
    If you have been thinking about refinancing or buying your first home, now might be the last good chance to lock in at a mortgage rate below 5%.'' More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Microsoft CEO: Economy Not Through All Issues
    To So_Unreal and all the others that are justifying "making a buck" or sticking it to Microsoft, there was an electronic agreeement between House Party/Microsoft that the person in this story hold a "launch party" and in return he got all the stuff in the Party Pack.
    Even people who sell the stuff on are generating attention from all the fuss everyone is making about it. More...

  • Oct-18-2009 -- Big Blue boosts profit forecast as earnings rise 14%
    Analysts on average expected a profit of $2.38 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Revenue fell 7 percent from a year earlier to $23.6 billion, but it rose 1 percent from the previous quarter and was better than Wall Street's forecast of $23.4 billion.
    Eighteen analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $23.40 billion for the third quarter. More...



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