Business - Courant.com

For seniors, a break on mortgages

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

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Here's a heads-up for the growing ranks of seniors whose post-retirement monthly incomes aren't sufficient to qualify for a mortgage under today's tough underwriting standards: Thanks to a rule change by the largest players in the home loan business, you may be able to use imputed income from your 401(k), IRA and other retirement assets to qualify for the loan you want.

Nick Nolte Lists Malibu Compound For $8.25 Million

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Actor Nick Nolte has put a Malibu compound up for sale that has seen a galaxy of stars come through its arched entryway.

Final Phase Of Pratt Brain Cancer Study Concludes That Workplace Did Not Increase Risk

By BRIAN DOWLING, bdowling@courant.com — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:03:44 GMT

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A 12-year study released Thursday concluded that working at Pratt & Whitney did not increase the risk of brain cancer or other illnesses for employees, but for some the results still fell short of a complete answer.

Business Center Competition Could Lead To Bridgeport

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:58:15 GMT

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The federal government is looking to reward a nonprofit or company that would advise businesses owned by American Indians, and Bridgeport is one of the locations where the future center could operate.

ConnectiCare Becomes Second Insurer To Propose Rates For Public Exchange

By MATTHEW STURDEVANT, msturdevant@courant.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:33:23 GMT

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ConnectiCare Benefits Inc. submitted its proposed rates for individual and small-group health plans that will be sold starting in October on the state's public health exchange, Access Health CT, for coverage next year.

ING U.S., Soon To Be Voya Financial, Announces First Ever Earnings

By MATTHEW STURDEVANT, msturdevant@courant.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:24:21 GMT

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ING U.S. Inc., which soon will be rebranded as Voya Financial, offered its first earnings report since the company was separated from the Dutch-based ING Groep N.V.

Greater Hartford House Sales, Prices Gain In April

By KENNETH R. GOSSELIN, kgosselin@courant.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:10:00 GMT

After two months of year-over-year declines, prices paid for single-family houses in Greater Hartford rose modestly in April, a new report Thursday shows.

National Hurricane Center Forecasts 'Active To Extremely Active' Season This Year

By MATTHEW STURDEVANT, msturdevant@courant.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:41:00 GMT

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The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season this year is expected to be "active or extremely active," federal forecasters said Thursday.

Big-Picture Ideas: Photo Services Business Focuses On Past, Present, Future

By MARA LEE maralee@courant.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

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Chris Huestis' fledgling photo services business is in an awkward adolescent stage.

Stamford Overtakes Hartford After Years Of Population Gains

Dan Haar — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:47:00 GMT

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In the mind of most any longtime Connecticut resident, Stamford is not one of the Big Three. Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport, the old-line, core New England cities, all are anchors for suburban towns that grew up in the post-World War II era, and all struggle with a legacy of poverty.

Long-Term Unemployed Will Have Checks Sliced By Almost 20 Percent

By MARA LEE maralee@courant.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:58:27 GMT

By the end of the month, more than 30,000 people who are collecting Connecticut unemployment benefits will have their weekly checks cut by nearly 20 percent.

Forecast: Connecticut Job Base Will Barely Grow in 2013

By MARA LEE maralee@courant.com — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:42:38 GMT

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If the forecast for the New England Economic Partnership proves true, Connecticut is going to have a terrible year for job growth.

Cigna Sets Aside $77 Million In Long-Term-Disability Settlement With Regulators In Five States

By MATTHEW STURDEVANT, msturdevant@courant.com — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:08:16 GMT

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Cigna Corp. set aside $77 million to cover potential claim payments as part of a settlement with insurance regulators in five states over the company's practices in handling long-term disability claims, the Connecticut Insurance Department said Wednesday.

Phoenix Says Bondholders Consent To Delayed Financial Reports

By MATTHEW STURDEVANT, msturdevant@courant.com — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:15:57 GMT

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The Phoenix Cos. said Wednesday it won consent from bondholders, allowing the company to delay providing quarterly reports and a 2012 annual report to the bond trustee until the end of this year.

CBIA Survey: More State Firms Exporting

By BRIAN DOWLING, bdowling@courant.com — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:39:20 GMT

China Trade Mission Features Connecticut Aerospace, Biotech And Pharmaceuticals Companies Get Business Mobile Text Alerts

More Connecticut businesses say they are sending their goods or services to international markets, according to a survey released Wednesday by the state's largest business association.

Avon Factory Adding Workers

By MARA LEE maralee@courant.com — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:22:02 GMT

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An Avon factory that makes reflective material for clothing, adhesives and traffic signs has built a 50,000-square-foot expansion less than two years after it was bought by a German company.

American Athletic Source Says Mohegan Sun Recommended As Site For Women's Tournament

By PAUL DOYLE and KENNETH R.GOSSELIN, pdoyle@courant.com — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:19:47 GMT

The new American Athletic Conference will complete its spring meeting Wednesday without choosing venues for its postseason basketball tournament.

For Nappier And Other Activists, Only A Moral Victory in Dimon Vote At JPMorgan Chase

DAN HAAR — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:51:55 GMT

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Shareholder activists including state Treasurer Denise L. Nappier, who tried to force JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon to give up his chairman post, will have to be satisfied with a moral victory. Their bid fell short Tuesday at the company's annual meeting.

Greenwich Estate Has Highest Asking Price In The Country

By KENNETH R. GOSSELIN, kgosselin@courant.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:52:53 GMT

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Greenwich is known for its mammoth mansions, but now the tony Fairfield County enclave can claim another privilege of its affluence: the highest listing price of any home in the country.

ESPN Laying Off Employees; Reports Say At Least 100 In Bristol

By DAN HAAR, dhaar@courant.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:41:38 GMT

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ESPN is laying off employees in Bristol and elsewhere in a cost-saving move that is eliminate hundreds of jobs, according to multiple sources, although the company did not report the size of the cutback.

Which Do We Spend More On, Alcohol Or Pets?

By MARA LEE maralee@courant.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:04:09 GMT

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"There are about 218 million pets in the United States, not counting several million fish."

AIR Worldwide: Cost To Replace Properties Near Oklahoma Tornado Valued At Up To $6 Billion

By MATTHEW STURDEVANT, msturdevant@courant.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:48:29 GMT

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AIR Worldwide on Tuesday provided an early estimate of damage caused by the massive tornado that ravaged Moore, Okla., on Monday.

Norwalk Harbor Power Plant Shutting Down June 1

By BRIAN DOWLING, bdowling@courant.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:35:01 GMT

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The owner of the oil power plant at Norwalk Harbor said Tuesday that it will be closing the facility June 1 since prices in the region's energy market have been too low to justify keeping it open.

Utility Training Leads To Delivery Job In Health Field

By MARA LEE maralee@courant.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:31:29 GMT

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The month after the Lehman Brothers collapse in the fall of 2008, Peter Collins was downsized with a half dozen other people from at a Bloomfield commercial printer.

Tourism Officials: Visitation To CT's Major Attractions Sees Improvement

By MATTHEW STURDEVANT, msturdevant@courant.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:30:00 GMT

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The state's year-old "Still Revolutionary" campaign is working, and visitation to six major Connecticut attractions increased 6.8 percent from 2011 to last year, according to the state Office of Tourism.