TBO Money

Reynolds might purchase firm that makes smoking alternatives

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:29:00 EST

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Reynolds American Inc., maker of Camel cigarettes and Grizzly smokeless tobacco, is in talks to buy a Swedish company that helps people stop smoking, a tobacco expert who said he was briefed by people close to the talks told The Associated Press Monday.

Mutual of Omaha, Winfrey settle 'aha' dispute

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:17:00 EST

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Mutual of Omaha may have had its own "aha moment." The insurance company has decided to settle its lawsuit against Oprah Winfrey's production company over rights to the phrase.

Falling dollar sparks stock market

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:04:00 EST

NEW YORK (AP) —The Dow Jones industrial average stormed to its highest level in more than a year today as a falling dollar boosted prices for gold, oil and other commodities.

GMAC only bank needing more bailout funds

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:46:00 EST

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Reserve says GMAC is the only one of 19 stress-tested banks that needs more capital to withstand a future downturn.

Fewer of us are upside down in our mortgages

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:59:00 EST

Many of us know we owe more on our mortgages than our homes are worth. But here's a little bit of good news: Values show signs of stabilizing.

Northrop sells advisory services unit for $1.65 billion

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:11:00 EST

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Northrop Grumman said Sunday it agreed to sell its advisory services business TASC Inc. to private equity firm General Atlantic LLC and affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. for $1.65 billion in cash.

Royal Caribbean wins best family cruise line award

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:09:00 EST

PENNINGTON, N.J. (AP) -- Royal Caribbean won the award for best family cruise line and Carnival won in the category of best for first-time cruisers in CruiseCritic.com's annual editors' picks awards.

Owners, lenders offered a hand

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Consumers may not realize it, but shopping centers throughout the Bay area - even some that appear successful - are teetering on foreclosure.

PayPal continues to grow

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Most people know eBay Inc. for its online marketplace, where deals abound on everything from gadgets to antique furniture. But soon, eBay's biggest business will likely be PayPal, the online payments service that has been growing steadily even as the economy has stumbled.

Find low-cost drug options

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Last year, pharmaceutical companies spent more than $4 billion urging patients like you to "ask your doctor" about their drugs. But if you want a prescription that won't empty your wallet, while still keeping you well, you might start asking your doctor about drugs you don't see on TV.

Tainted drywall answers sought at Tampa forum

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Hundreds of scientists, builders, engineers and others converged on Tampa this week to share research and learn more about tainted drywall imported from China.

Sweetbay hopes customers gobble up its deep-fried frozen turkeys

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Each Thanksgiving season, a few unlucky Americans manage to burn down their houses trying to deep-fry a turkey.

Jobless rate hits 10% for first time since 1983

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

The unemployment rate has hit double digits for the first time since 1983 - and is likely to go higher.

Survey: More expect to fly this December

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

More travelers plan to fly during December's holidays this year than last, with about the same number flying over Thanksgiving, a TripAdvisor survey of 1,300 people found.

N.Y. subway series againplaystoPinellas

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Pinellas County's tourist marketing outreach will use the subway in New York again this year, with the return of the "Station Domination" campaign, along with new advertising initiatives through taxi TV and the free amNewYork news publication.

Lazydays Supercenter files for bankruptcy

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Lazydays RV Supercenter made good on its plan to enter into bankruptcy this week, filing for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in Delaware on Thursday.

Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target compete in DVD price war

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

First it was books. Now it's DVDs. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. started another price war Thursday, trimming the online preorder prices of some upcoming DVDs following its price cut on books last month. And, once again, competitors Amazon.com and Target scrambled to match the prices.

BIZ BITS

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Skype, eBay make software deal EBay Inc. has settled a legal skirmish with the founders of Skype that threatened to complicate eBay's plans to sell most of the Internet phone service to a group of investors for $2 billion.

It's official: Homebuyers, unemployed get more help

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

President Barack Obama signed a $24 billion stimulus bill into law Friday, giving tax incentives to prospective homebuyers and additional jobless benefits to those idled by the business slump.

Job seekers warned of online scams

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Job seekers beware. There's a new warning on Craigslist.com. The Web site recently posted a scam alert, telling applicants to look out for bogus ads that promise work that doesn't exist.