tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:26:26 +0000EconomyStock MarketsEarningsMarketsOpinionEnergyFortuneManufacturingPersonal finance2008JobsInvestingLuxuryManagementStartupnew year[Independent financial Journal]http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger948125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-7940654947412291289Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:58:00 +00002008-02-17T23:58:37.521-07:00OpinionShava Nerad's wedding was a dream. The blue sky that kissed the dome of the ornate gazebo where she tied the knot on Feb. 9 was painted with an impressionist's brush. Her dress was speckled with rubies. Her self-composed vows were filled with passion. "In this life and the next I am yours," she wrote. "You are my second life." The promise is especially fitting, given the http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/so-i-married-avatar.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-1577280290049490865Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:58:00 +00002008-02-17T23:58:19.164-07:00OpinionThe numbers are grim, even if they seem familiar by now. In 2007, lenders filed foreclosure notices on 90,782 homes in Illinois, up 25.3% from a year earlier. That tally puts the state among the top 10 nationally in foreclosures, says RealtyTrac, an online real-estate database. The figures are likely to go even higher in 2008. Subprime mortgages with adjustable rates -- given to home buyers with http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/shelter-from-storm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-5875747549372009159Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:57:00 +00002008-02-17T23:57:58.968-07:00OpinionFor thousands of wannabe MBAs sweating admissions decisions, Wake Forest's Babcock Graduate School of Management has an uncommon solution: Talk more, sweat less. Instead of waiting for weeks to hear from business schools, applicants in Babcock's "Done in a Day" program get the decision only hours after an all-or-nothing admissions interview. Rather than agonize over syntax in their http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/talking-your-way-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-8323176985035281529Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:57:00 +00002008-02-17T23:57:38.785-07:00Opinion NEW YORK (Reuters) - Efforts to rescue a distraught U.S. bond insurance industry could inject a positive note on Wall Street but the economic data and earnings reports on tap for this week are unlikely to change a downward trend for stocks. Investors this week will get minutes from the January meeting of the Federal Reserve's policy makers, data on January inflation, and a regional Fed gaugehttp://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/bond-insurer-plan-may-inject-positive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-5186731368267670785Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:57:00 +00002008-02-17T23:57:17.703-07:00Opinion WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke consulted with predecessor Alan Greenspan, major financial players and even a speech consultant as he grappled with growing economic turmoil. Bernanke met with Greenspan, who ran the Fed for 18 1/2 years, on Jan. 2. That was eight days before Bernanke delivered a major speech that was unusually direct and made clear the Fed was prepared to http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/fed-chief-sought-opinions-amid-turmoil.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-6087537795789829927Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:56:00 +00002008-02-17T23:56:22.356-07:00Stock Markets TEHRAN, Iran - Iran established its first oil products bourse Sunday in a free trade zone on the Persian Gulf Island of Kish, the country's oil ministry said. A statement posted on the ministry's Web site said 100 tons of polyethylene consignment was traded at the market's opening on the island, which houses the offices of about 100 Iranian and foreign oil companies. Oil and petrochemical http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/iran-opens-its-1st-oil-products-bourse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-5793302801197268421Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:56:00 +00002008-02-17T23:56:04.913-07:00Stock Markets TORONTO (Reuters) - No quick turnaround is in sight for the shares of Canadian fund-management companies, which have been pounded in 2008 as sliding stock markets hurt assets under management and slowed mutual fund sales. Canadians usually sock money away at this time of year for their retirement savings. But the annual RRSP season, as it's known, is off to a weak start, and skittish http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/asset-managers-feel-pain.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-3807153827178163845Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:55:00 +00002008-02-17T23:55:46.963-07:00Stock Markets DUBAI (Reuters) - Borse Dubai said on Sunday it would consider selling a stake in the London Stock Exchange Group (LSE.L) to Qatar, but had not received any approaches and was unlikely to sell any stake in the short term. Borse Dubai and the Nasdaq Stock Market (NDAQ.O) should close a $4.9 billion deal this month to buy Nordic and Baltic stock exchange operator OMX (OMX.ST). Under the tie-uphttp://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/borse-dubai-says-would-consider-qatar.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-5376236917773420728Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:55:00 +00002008-02-17T23:55:28.482-07:00Stock Markets NEW YORK - Stocks finished mixed as lackluster economic reports offered Wall Street little incentive to place big bets ahead of a long weekend. Disappointing data on manufacturing, consumer confidence and import prices reminded investors on Friday that the economy is struggling. As a result, a week that began with a rally closed on a subdued note. A New York Federal Reserve survey on http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/lackluster-reports-leave-stocks-mixed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-3811755849299567558Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:54:00 +00002008-02-17T23:54:09.527-07:00EconomyAsian stocks traded at levels near to Friday's close, with investor sentiment not too affected by the pessimistic US consumer confidence data that pushed down Wall Street last week. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock average opened up 0.8 per cent 13,737.00 in early afternoon trading, while the broader Topix was up 0.5 per cent at 1,341.59. The yen recently traded at 107.80. Toshiba contributed to the http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/asia-shakes-off-weak-wall-street-lead.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-7503212520565738651Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:53:00 +00002008-02-17T23:53:51.596-07:00EconomyEven when experts were declaring the economy healthy, many Americans voiced a vague, but persistent dissatisfaction. True, jobs were relatively plentiful over the last few years. It was easy to borrow and very cheap. The sharp rise in the value of homes and plentiful credit cards encouraged a nation of consumers to get out and buy. But to many people, something didn't feel right, even if they http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/economic-woes-reveal-long-felt-unease.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-8193922393469551185Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:53:00 +00002008-02-17T23:53:32.016-07:00Economy LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday signed six budget-cutting bills that will close the projected $3.3 billion shortfall in the state budget this fiscal year, but warned that more spending cuts would be needed. The spending cuts were approved by the Democratic-led California legislature on Friday and will take a combined budget shortfall for California'shttp://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/schwarzenegger-signs-budget-cuts-warns.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-611849325927824880Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:03:00 +00002008-02-14T02:03:02.459-07:00Earnings NEW YORK - Vonage Holdings Corp., which provides phone service over broadband lines, reported a narrowed fourth-quarter loss Wednesday as it scaled back on marketing and cut other costs. Keeping customers happy is turning out to be the company's biggest challenge: 3 percent of its customers canceled service every month, a figure chief executive Jeff Citron called "unacceptable." http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/vonage-cuts-costs-narrows-4q-loss.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-6360368766403507652Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:02:00 +00002008-02-14T02:02:41.066-07:00Earnings HOUSTON - Waste Management Inc., the nation's largest garbage hauler, said Wednesday its fourth-quarter profit rose 26 percent on tax benefits and the sale of some operations, though higher fuel prices cut into income. The company said earnings rose to $309 million, or 61 cents per share, in the three months ended Dec. 31 versus $246 million, or 46 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/waste-management-profit-up-on-gains.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-8908629311713381362Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:02:00 +00002008-02-14T02:02:17.697-07:00Earnings MILWAUKEE - Mortgage insurer MGIC Investment Corp. said it's looking for ways to boost capital after announcing it lost almost $1.5 billion in the fourth quarter as more homeowners struggled to make payments. The nation's largest mortgage insurer still doesn't see making money this year, if delinquencies and losses continue to rise and fewer homeowners get back on track with payments, http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/mgic-swings-to-15b-loss-in-4q.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-4693341323833017886Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:01:00 +00002008-02-14T02:01:55.936-07:00Earnings ST. LOUIS - Deere & Co. said Wednesday its first-quarter profit rose 55 percent, beating Wall Street's expectations as lofty crop prices stoked global demand for its farm equipment. Sales for the world's largest maufacturer of agricultural machinery climbed 18 percent in the November-January period. Deere said its sales outside North America jumped 37 percent, quadruple the growth in http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/deere-profit-up-on-ag-equipment-demand.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-8894901412259125547Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:01:00 +00002008-02-14T02:01:09.939-07:00Earnings ATLANTA - The Coca-Cola Co. reported Wednesday a 79 percent jump in fourth-quarter profit and maintained its growth targets despite a slowing U.S. economy, but has no plans to be more aggressive with its stock buybacks. The results posted by the world's largest beverage maker beat Wall Street expectations, but company shares slipped. The Atlanta-based company said it earned $1.21 billion,http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/coca-cola-profit-rises-as-sales-jump.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-5593227973775741800Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:00:00 +00002008-02-14T02:00:30.048-07:00Earnings CHICAGO (Reuters) - Deere & Co (DE.N) said on Wednesday its fiscal first-quarter earnings rose a better-than-expected 55 percent, but shares fell as much as 3 percent after it issued a second-quarter forecast that fell short of expectations. The company raised its full-year profit forecast, citing even stronger global demand for its tractors and combines as soaring crop prices boost http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/deere-profit-rises-but-forecast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-1657580173123690562Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:59:00 +00002008-02-14T01:59:54.627-07:00Earnings BOSTON (Reuters) - Biotechnology company Genzyme Corp (GENZ.O) reported a fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday, reversing a year-earlier loss, as sales of its drugs for rare diseases increased. The company posted net income of $78.9 million, or 29 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $268.2 million, or $1.02 a share, a year earlier. Revenue jumped 21 percent to $1.04 billion, driven byhttp://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/genzyme-posts-quarterly-profit-vs-loss.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-6688076735820730874Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:59:00 +00002008-02-14T01:59:25.376-07:00Earnings NEW YORK (Reuters) - Adult entertainment publisher Playboy Enterprises Inc (PLA.N) posted a net loss on Wednesday that upset Wall Street expectations for a profit and forecast a 30 percent advertising decline at its flagship magazine this quarter. Lower U.S. television revenue and a deeper loss for its publishing group particularly weighed on results, offsetting double-digit growth for its http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/playboy-posts-loss.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-5732824913258200976Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:56:00 +00002008-02-14T01:56:37.476-07:00Stock Markets NEW YORK - Wall Street moved sharply higher Wednesday after the Commerce Department reported an unexpected increase in retail sales last month and eased some concerns about consumers' willingness to spend despite economic uncertainty. The Dow Jones industrials rose nearly 180 points. The 0.3 percent rise in January retail sales, which followed a drop during December, alleviated some of the http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/stocks-end-higher-on-upbeat-sales-data_14.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-3312316287416415714Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:56:00 +00002008-02-14T01:56:14.664-07:00Stock MarketsWall Street stocks advanced on Wednesday as US retail sales rose unexpectedly, providing some reassurance that consumers may continue to spend in spite of the gloomy outlook for the economy. Solid earnings from Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) boosted sentiment in technology stocks, which were also buoyed by reports that Yahoo is exploring an alliance with News Corp. Oil services companies werehttp://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/wall-street-rises-on-us-retail-figures_14.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-1000151161795743232Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:55:00 +00002008-02-14T01:55:50.916-07:00Stock Markets NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rallied for a third session on Wednesday after a surprise gain in January retail sales suggested consumer spending was holding up even as other data has pointed to a recession. The technology sector surged after Applied Materials (AMAT.O), forecast strong orders for its chip-making equipment, sending the semiconductor index (.SOXX) up 3 percent. Government data http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/market-rises-as-retail-sales-soothe_14.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-1945722977779895193Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:55:00 +00002008-02-14T01:55:28.827-07:00Stock MarketsHousebuilders were under pressure Wednesday following the publication of another gloomy industry survey. Persimmon fell 2.6 per cent to 726p and Taylor Wimpey lost 2.7 per cent to 173.1p after the survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors showed that the stock of unsold property on surveyors' books jumped more than 10 per cent in January. Barratt Developments, which was removed http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/profit-taking-weighs-on-ftse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971540374203834546.post-7421315681265037863Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:55:00 +00002008-02-14T01:55:09.637-07:00Stock MarketsA surprisingly resilient report on US retail sales drove Wall Street stocks higher on Wednesday, dragged credit spreads down from record wide levels and sent the dollar to its highest level against the yen for a month. However, the initially positive response from the markets on Tuesday to billionaire investor Warren Buffett's offer to take over $800bn of municipal bonds guaranteed by ailing http://bankclerk.blogspot.com/2008/02/overview-us-retail-sales-inspire_14.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0