Business-news- at Simplenewz your social news reader

simpleNewz

your social news reader

Find and read news in one place.
Share and comment the news you love.
Travel back in "news time".

Business News
for 03/26/2010

(last updated 7:30am EST 03/26/2010)

Custom Search

• Video: Obama's Help for Homeowners Video: Obama's Help for Homeowners
03/26/2010
Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi examined President Obama's new legislation to reduce foreclosures. (2 h ago)

• Toyota Stops Work at UK, France Factorie... Toyota Stops Work at UK, France Factories
03/26/2010
Beleaguered Automaker to Halt Output for 9 Days in April Amid Weak Demand (2 h ago)

• Need Mortgage Help? Don't Bet on a Bailo... Need Mortgage Help? Don't Bet on a Bailout
03/26/2010
Banks will Likely Resist New Administration Plan to Aid Struggling Homeowners (2 h ago)

• "Great Firewall" Still Strong After Goog... "Great Firewall" Still Strong After Google
03/25/2010
China's Mainlanders Able to Access Some English-Language Sites But Chinese-Language Sites Strongly Censored (15 h ago)

• Six Tips to Land a Summer Internship Six Tips to Land a Summer Internship
03/25/2010
MoneyWatch.com: Strategies for College and High School Students to Get an Internship or Job (15 h ago)

• Video: Notebook: Movie Futures Video: Notebook: Movie Futures
03/25/2010
Wall Street trading firm Cantor Fitzgerald is one of two companies planning to open futures markets for movie releases where investors would bet on potential blockbusters and box office busts. Katie Couric reports. (16 h ago)

• Movie Ticket Prices Set To Rise Movie Ticket Prices Set To Rise
03/25/2010
Theater Owners Set To Cash In On Popularity of 3-D Movies (19 h ago)

• Subway Sandwich Maker to Offer Breakfast Subway Sandwich Maker to Offer Breakfast
03/25/2010
National Chain to Introduce "Omelet Sandwiches" to Menu Nationwide (19 h ago)

• PBS, NPR Stations Get $10M for Local New... PBS, NPR Stations Get $10M for Local News
03/25/2010
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Launches New Initiative to Focus on Issues from Immigration to Health Care (20 h ago)

• Bernanke: Economy Needs Low-Interest Rat... Bernanke: Economy Needs Low-Interest Rates
03/25/2010
Fed Chairman Tells Congress Still-Fragile Economy Demands Rates Remain Near Zero (22 h ago)

• Unemployment Claims Drop by 14,000 Unemployment Claims Drop by 14,000
03/25/2010
Most of the Drop Pegged to Adjustments in How Labor Department Calculates Claims (23 h ago)

• Video: Bank of America Mortgage Initiati... Video: Bank of America Mortgage Initiative
03/25/2010
CBS MoneyWatch's Jill Schlesinger discussed Bank of America's initiative to reduce mortgage totals for certain borrowers. The programs is by invitation only. (1 d ago)

• Facebook "Not Abiding by Law" in Europe Facebook "Not Abiding by Law" in Europe
03/25/2010
European Regulators Investigate Social Networking Sites' Privacy Protections for 3rd Party Personal Data (1 d ago)

• Lawyers Convene, Prepare for Toyota Fren... Lawyers Convene, Prepare for Toyota Frenzy
03/24/2010
Hundreds Meet at San Diego Hotel; Most Pressing Issue Is Whether All Lawsuits Will Be Combined Before a Single Judge (1 d ago)

• Con to Judge: Reduce My 845 Year Sentenc... Con to Judge: Reduce My 845 Year Sentence
03/24/2010
Sholam Weiss, Along With Six Others Caused the 1994 Collapse of the National Heritage Life Insurance Co. (1 d ago)

• BofA Launching Bid to Aid Mortgage Holde... BofA Launching Bid to Aid Mortgage Holders
03/24/2010
Bank of America Will Forgive Up to 30 Percent of Loan Principal for Some Distressed Customers (1 d ago)

• Jon Corzine Returns to Wall Street Jon Corzine Returns to Wall Street
03/24/2010
Former New Jersey Governor Becomes CEO of Brokerage House MF Global; Also Will Be Visiting Professor at Princeton (1 d ago)

• New Home Sales Fall to New Low in Feb. New Home Sales Fall to New Low in Feb.
03/24/2010
2.2 Percent Decline Drops Annual Sales Pace to 308,000 New Homes Sold (1 d ago)

• Watchdog: Mortgage Aid Plan "Meaningless... Watchdog: Mortgage Aid Plan "Meaningless"
03/24/2010
Report Slams Obama Administration's Goals for Assistance Program, Says it Won't Stem Foreclosure Epidemic (2 d ago)

• Home Ownership too Costly for Many Worke... Home Ownership too Costly for Many Workers
03/23/2010
Study: Housing more Affordable for Police Officers, Teachers but Income Hasn't Kept Pace for Many Other Professions (2 d ago)

• Singapore reports record visitors in Feb... Singapore reports record visitors in Feb.
03/26/2010
Visitor arrivals to Singapore grew by 24.2 percent year-on-year in February 2010 to reach 857, 000 visitors, the highest ever recorded in the month of February, official figures showed on Friday. According to the Singapore Tourism Board, this also marks the third consecutive month of record visitor arrivals for Singapore. For the top 15 markets, China registered the highest growth of 78.7 percent, followed by Malaysia (50.0 percent) and China's Taiwan (39.2 percent) in February, which can ... (1 h ago)

• China's demand for oil products to grow ... China's demand for oil products to grow 5% annually
03/26/2010
China's demand for oil products will grow at average annual rate of 4 percent to 5 percent in the 2010-2015 period, according to Zhang Fuqin, deputy chief engineer with China Petroleum Planning and Engineering Institute. Zhang said her prediction was based on an annual GDP growth rate of 7.5 percent. She predicted that China would need 216 million tonnes of oil products in 2010, 286 million tonnes in 2015 and 336 million tonnes in 2020, when nearly 60 percent of China's annual oil consumpt ... (1 h ago)

• Macao's GDP up 1.3% last year Macao's GDP up 1.3% last year
03/26/2010
Secretary for Economy and Finance Francis Tam Pak Yuen has announced that Macao's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.3 percent last year from the previous year, the local Macao Post Daily reported on Friday. Tam, who revealed the figure Thursday in a speech addressing an annual Spring Festival meeting of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, described last year as an "extremely unusual year replete with challenges." The 1.3 percent real growth rate is the lowest full-year rate since the establi ... (1 h ago)

• Intel $2.5-bln chip plant to operate thi... Intel $2.5-bln chip plant to operate this year
03/26/2010
The chip factory of U.S. computer chip giant Intel Corp. in China's coastal city Dalian will be put into operation in the fourth quarter of this year, said the general manager of the plant Thursday. The plant in Dalian was Intel's first chip plant in Asia and had received more investment amid the global downturn. It would begin production in the 44th week of 2010, said Kirby Jefferson, the general manager of the plant. An investment of 2.5 billion U.S. dollars, the plant is built in the Da ... (1 h ago)

• Japanese carmakers keen to produce eco-f... Japanese carmakers keen to produce eco-friendly cars in Indonesia
03/26/2010
Indonesian Industry Minister M.S. Hidayat said that four Japan major automobile producers have expressed keen interest to join the government's program to produce eco-friendly and low-cost cars, local media reported here Friday. The minister was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying that representatives of Daihatsu, Toyota, Suzuki and Nissan had all expressed the interest. The minister said on Thursday that executives of Daihatsu, Toyota and Suzuki had met him earlier to discuss the progra ... (1 h ago)

• Nissan, Renault, Daimler in final talks ... Nissan, Renault, Daimler in final talks over cross-holding stakes
03/26/2010
Japan's Nissan Motor Co., France's Renault SA and Germany's Daimler AG are in the final stages of talks to obtain a stake of around 3 percent in each other, local media reported on Friday. France's Renault SA, which already holds a 44.3 percent stake in Nissan, has been pursuing a partnership with Germany's Daimler for some time, said the reports. Similarly Toshitake Inoshita, a spokesman for Nissan, declined to comment on the report, calling it "speculation." However, sources say negot ... (1 h ago)

• China's industrial profit more than doub... China's industrial profit more than doubled in first two months
03/26/2010
Profits in China's major industrial enterprises more than doubled in the first two months this year compared with a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Friday. The NBS attributed the strong growth to economic recovery, growing demand and a low comparison base during the corresponding period last year, when profits contracted 37.3 percent. The combined profit of major industrial enterprises with annual business revenues exceeding 5 million yuan (732,064 U.S. dollars) ... (1 h ago)

• China encourages vocational student inte... China encourages vocational student internships to ease labor shortage
03/26/2010
The Chinese government is encouraging vocational school students to take internships in factories so as to ease the shortage of workers in manufacturing. According to a notice issued by the Ministry of Education, vocational schools are urged to provide more internship opportunities for students in their last year of training. They are encouraged to organize students to work as interns in factories that fit in their major, especially the students whose skills were in urgent need, the notice ... (1 h ago)

• Chinese shares close up Friday Chinese shares close up Friday
03/26/2010
Chinese equities rose on Friday. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index on the Shanghai Stock Exchange closed at 3,059.72 points, up 1.34 percent, or 40.54 points. The Shenzhen Component Index on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange closed at 12,240.36 points, up 153.46 points, or 1.27 percent. Combined turnover was 185.75 billion yuan (27.21 billion U.S. dollars), down from 196.43 billion yuan on the previous trading day. Gainers outnumbered losers by 781 to 91 in Shanghai and 679 to 209 in She ... (1 h ago)

• China small loan companies number more t... China small loan companies number more than 1,300
03/26/2010
At the end of 2009, China had a total of more than 1,300 small loan companies with more than 14,000 employees. At the end of 2009, China's small loan companies already received over 94 billion yuan in fund sources and extended loans of over 70 billion yuan that accounted for 0.19 percent of the banking industry's total, said Geng Li, director of the Department of Financial Market of the Research Bureau under the People's Bank of China (PBC) during the Second China Microfinance Investor Confe ... (1 h ago)

• ICBC ranks first globally in profit and ... ICBC ranks first globally in profit and market value
03/26/2010
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) market value exceeded nearly 269 billion U.S. dollars on Dec. 31, 2009 making it the top bank in the global banking sector both in terms of profit and market value, according to its operating results for 2009 released on March 26, 2010. The bank achieved an after-tax profit of 129.4 billion yuan in 2009, up 16.3 percent from 2008. Its earnings per share (EPS) increased to 0.39 yuan, up 18.2 percent from 2008. ICBC had a series of breakthroug ... (1 h ago)

• China's sweet business China's sweet business
03/26/2010
Zhang Weiwei is full of excitement. She's just saved more than 14,000 yuan (2,059 U.S. dollars) on her wedding photos. "This is really a good deal and I'm very happy with the price," says Zhang, a 26-year-old bank clerk, whose wedding is scheduled in May. The deal, originally 23,000 yuan for a set of wedding photos, including 160 pictures, two albums of 35 pictures each and six sets of costumes, from traditional attire to modern gowns, is discounted at 63 percent off at the price of 8,888 ... (1 h ago)

• China's non-state automaker produces 2 m... China's non-state automaker produces 2 mln cars
03/26/2010
Chery Auto, one of China's major non-state automakers, had its 2 millionth car roll off the line Friday morning. It was the nation's first self-owned auto brand with output hitting the 2-million mark. Based in Wuhu of eastern China's Anhui Province, Chery Auto produced its first car on Dec.18,1999. It took the company more than seven years to produce 1 million vehicles, but only two and a half years to double the production. The company has joined the "two million club"in China, following ... (1 h ago)

• China's first 3D TV to go on sale China's first 3D TV to go on sale
03/26/2010
China's first 3D TV, launched by Samsung, will go on sale at the end of March, according to Chinanews. Launched by Suning Appliance and jointly sponsored by Samsung, Sony, Panasonic and Skyworth, a promotion alliance on China 3D TV technology was set up recently. An insider said the globalization of 3D technology would drive the TV industry's leap. And the research institute DisplaySearch has predicted that global demand for 3D TV in 2010 would reach 1 million to 6.5 million. Suning Ap ... (1 h ago)

• China's sweet business (3) China's sweet business (3)
03/26/2010
Yang Bing, who got married last October, did not buy anything for their marriage: no diamond ring, no wedding photos, no wedding gown. "Marriage is between two people. Weddings are just for showing off. They are time consuming and a waste of money," Yang says. He and his wife just registered at the civil affairs office and so began their married life. Xia Xueluan, a sociologist at Peking University, thinks this kind of attitude is worth promoting. "It is our tradition that Chinese people v ... (1 h ago)

• China's sweet business (2) China's sweet business (2)
03/26/2010
August Photo Studio raked in more than 20 million yuan last year for wedding photos and expects to see a substantial rise this year. Zhang Honghua, manager of the Beijing Golden Ladies Studio, expects to see a 30-percent rise in revenue this year. "We believe that young couples are more than willing to spend a few thousand on styles, such as a cowboy theme, to make their wedding photos stand out." However, not all couples are so overwhelmed by the excitement of marriage that they spend mon ... (1 h ago)

• Views on the news: the budget, BA, Byers... Views on the news: the budget, BA, Byers … and buying cider
03/26/2010
Underwhelmed by the budget – though not when it came to cider – readers remained focused on BA strikes and the lobbyist row So, the verdict is in. After a week of electioneering around the budget most bloggers felt decidedly unmoved. Or, as bbmatt put it: "Pass me the darts and a blindford, I'm about to vote …" "It's so depressing really," wrote Triffid100 . "All agree the country's finances are in pathetically poor state – perhaps as bad as they have ever been. Darling's answer – tax alcopops and cider. Next week, in order to combat crime, the government will announce changing the House of Commons portcullis logo to a slighter deeper shade of green." As for the detail, well, there was much debate on who would benefit the most from dropping stamp duty on homes under £250,000 for first-time buyers, the buyers, or sellers who may ramp the price accordingly. Lineman concluded: "We'd all be a lot better off if the chancellor scrapped estate agents." Or, daftpunk suggests: "How about actually building some houses rather than electioneering policies to support an already overpriced housing market?" The proposed crackdown on Lord Ashcroft's Belize tax haven was not a vote winner either. Rightwinggit pronounced: "A budget measure that makes a great populist headline but doesn't look quite so good when you examine the fine detail … Who'd'a thunk it ?!??!" ElmoreT couldn't see the point of raising the ISA limit from £7,200 to £10,200, writing: "Alistair, have you not noticed, everyone is skint!" Alistair Darling's post-budget admission that cuts in public spending would be "deeper and tougher" than under Margaret Thatcher at least got some points for honesty. "Poor old Darling," wrote Ihatetrots . "He does have a tendency towards truthfulness that must drive his boss wild. 'Now repeat after me Alistair: Tories cut, Labour defers investment' or some such Brownian BS." Forcing banks to provide a basic bank account to all UK citizens did not give much cause for optimism, however. "I have this feeling that these bank accounts will come with bank cards which include biometric data about the holder and must be carried at all times …" predicted OneManisAnIsland . That's not to say that Tory plans to impose a levy on banks (as long as other countries follow suit) got support either. "With such a magnificent display of impotence we have to wonder how Samantha ever became pregnant???" wrote copula . The rise in duty on cider got a bit of a reaction – and a big thumbs down from most bloggers, including PaoloMaldini who asked: "Why does Alistair hate cider so much? Do you think it gave him a bad hangover once?" "They've figured more of us will be drinking cider on park benches soon so might as well tax us more while we're idling about," reasoned KenBarlow . "Throwing crumbs to the sparrows will be hit with a massive tax soon to be followed up with a huge tax on buying one shoe from a charity shop and then, finally, a tax if you're unshaven and keep your trousers up with a bit of string." Overall though, what is the point, asked DianeDrinkwater who was one of many who wrote: "Should he be allowed to have a budget so close to an election?" This week's healthy disregard for politics was not helped by the row early on over the would-be lobbying activities of a handful of politicians . Rotwatcher thought we may be missing the point, posting: "Surely the most startling revelation about this whole sorry affair is that Hoon, Hewitt and Byers price themselves at somewhere north of £2,000 a day. There are at least two superfluous zeroes in that figure." Elsewhere, the British Airways dispute continued to stir deep emotions on all sides. Bagsos had no time for the 95 academics who wrote to the Guardian accusing British Airways of having a radical agenda in its dispute with Unite, posting: "Who the heck are these numpties writing this nonsense letter? I gather that £500m of cuts are sought from universities. These 95 salaries would be a good place to start. "British Airways has to 'break' Unite; and I have no doubt he will. BA has lost £340m in the 9m to 31/12/09, its sales are down 12% on a year ago; it must save costs or it will go bust. "I feel rather sorry for the cabin crew, led lemming like towards what for many will be personal economic catastrophes by incompetent union leadership." Not so, said AllTheFacts , writing: "These are the most eminent industrial relations scholars in the country. They study and publish peer-reviewed research on the relationship between business and the workforce, and understand that a productive economy and progressive society requires a degree of balance between the two. That's what they do." Guardian bloggers, however, seemed mainly indifferent to plans to start charging for content online for The Times and Sunday Times from June. "Bye bye to the Times then," wrote rocketracer after hearing that. "This goes against the basic principle of the internet which is about increasing access to information not restricting it." While news that the Independent has been sold to Russian billionaire and former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev got falzmania thinking: "Can you still be Independent if you are owned by a Russian billionaire?" One of the lighter spots of the week was the revelation that M&C Saatchi is working on an ad campaign for the Tories, more than a decade after the agency created the Tony Blair "demon eye" campaign in the run up to the 1997 general election. "Because of course the "demon eyes" ad was so successful …" mused Fatalistfornow . "This is the advertising equivalent of hiring Max Clifford," pronounced ScythianNick . "I'm guessing huge billboards, entirely shit-brown with the slogan, spelled out in loo-paper: Time for a Movement," suggested Bluthner . There'll be plenty more where that came from, I'm sure. Budget Alistair Darling Stamp duty Isas British Airways Teena Lyons guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (1 h ago)

• Businesses investment at record low Businesses investment at record low
03/26/2010
Lowest spending on record raises fears for economic recovery Britain's businesses slashed spending on new equipment and premises by the most on record in the final three months of last year, a sign that the economy's recovery remains fragile. The Office for National Statistics said that business investment fell by 23.5% in the fourth quarter from a year ago, the steepest annual drop since records began in 1967. Vicky Redwood at Capital Economics said: "The fact that investment is still falling sharply hardly suggests that firms are about to drive a strong and sustained recovery. Although investment intentions have picked up, most measures remain in negative territory, with more firms expecting to cut capital spending further than to raise it." Companies invested a total of £27.3bn, 4.3% less than in the previous quarter. The quarterly drop was slightly less than previously estimated, raising some hopes that the fourth-quarter GDP figures could be upgraded further next Friday after their recent revision from 0.1% to 0.3% quarterly growth . Nonetheless, analysts were taken aback by the size of the annual drop. In addition, the declines in investment were widespread across manufacturing (down 5% on the quarter), services, which recorded a 7% drop, and the construction sector, which suffered a 23.2% fall. Only "other production", which includes utilities and mining companies, saw an increase of 10.9%. Howard Archer at IHS Global Insight said: "The worst of the contraction in business investment should now be over, but it is likely to remain limited for some time to come given substantial excess capacity, still limited demand, and ongoing significant concerns and uncertainties among companies over the strength and sustainability of the recovery." Green shoots Economics Julia Kollewe guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (2 h ago)

• House prices fall by 0.3% in February bu... House prices fall by 0.3% in February but remain up on 2009
03/26/2010
Despite a fall, Land Registry data showed annual rate of growth increased to 7% with the average home cost as £164,455 House prices in England and Wales fell by 0.3% in February, official figures showed today, but they remain up on the same period last year. Data from the Land Registry showed that despite prices falling for the first time in 10 months, the annual rate of growth increased to 7%, from 5.2% in January. The average cost of a home in England and Wales is now £164,455. The Land Registry said the increase "points towards a strengthening in the housing market", although other commentators have suggested activity has dropped off since the start of the year. Figures published yesterday by HM Revenue & Customs showed the number of completed sales increased by 14% in February to 58,000, but remained well below the 103,000 recorded in December. The Land Registry's figures, which track completed sales, showed that the north-west of England experienced the greatest rise in February, with prices up by 3.6% over the month. Three other regions saw price increases during February: Yorkshire and the Humber (1.2%), the West Midlands (0.3%) and the south-west of England (0.1%). In contrast, prices dropped by 2.4% in Wales and by 2.1% in the north-east of England. In London, prices also fell in February, dropping by 0.5% to an average of £333,394. The capital had been driving house prices increases in recent months, and has recorded year-on-year increases for five months running now. In February, the annual rate of growth increased to 11.9%. The monthly fall in house prices echoes those reported by the Nationwide and Halifax , which base their indices on sales at the mortgage approval stage. Economists for both lenders suggested the winter weather and the removal at the end of 2009 of a temporary stamp duty holiday on homes costing between £125,000 and £175,000 could have been behind the drop. This week's budget removed stamp duty on homes costing up to £250,000 for first-time buyers with immediate effect, and could give the market another boost in the coming weeks. The budget also introduced a new 5% stamp duty band on homes costing more than £1m, payable from April next year. The Land Registry figures show that in December last year, 498 £1m homes changed hands, an increase of 152% on the figure for December 2008. "The Land Registry data add to the evidence that house prices and activity have faltered early in 2010," said Howard Archer, chief UK economist at IHS Global Insight. "We suspect that house prices will be erratic and prone to corrections in 2010, and will probably be no better than flat over the year." Archer said prices were likely to be hit by an increase of homes coming onto the market, but added that this week's stamp duty announcement would provide "some support for house activity and prices". House prices Housing market Property Mortgages Hilary Osborne guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (2 h ago)

• Qinetiq drops on trading and funding fea... Qinetiq drops on trading and funding fears
03/26/2010
Qinetiq , the defence technology firm spun out of the Ministry of Defence's research arm, is under pressure today on concerns about slowing growth and a possible fundraising. Analysts at UBS have reduced their rating on the company from neutral to sell, and cut their price target from 150p to 130p. In the market QinetiQ has lost 6.7p to 134.8p, making it the biggest faller in the midcap index. UBS said management had some tough choices to make, given the difficult trading environment, but they could prove costly: Investors should welcome any management action that effectively deals with the tough trading environment. However, as we have noted in the past, restructuring at Qinetiq can be very expensive. The historic cost-to-saving ratio has been 3-to-1. We believe that new chief executive officer Leo Quinn will act to appropriately size Qinetiq for the level of trading in its end-markets. To that end management have a number of options at their disposal. However, we believe the risk is high that a restructuring of QinetiQqcould be very expensive in cash terms – raising the prospect of a cash outflow. This could have material negative implications. Given a trading environment that we believe is not improving, we cut our 2011 estimated earnings per share by 20% and 2012 earnings by 10%. We believe we are around 5% below recently revised consensus expectations. We believe market expectations are too high on (a) earnings (b) dividends and (c) the prospect of a strategic plan announcement. We also believe the market is under appreciative of the likelihood of an equity raising, which is a possibility. On balance, given the above, we believe a sell rating is now appropriate. QinetiQ Nick Fletcher guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (2 h ago)

• Behind the music: Does Music Matters rea... Behind the music: Does Music Matters really matter?
03/26/2010
A new initiative is highlighting the value of music to a generation that thinks it should be as freely available as tap water Yesterday saw the launch of the industry initiative Music Matters . It's a two-pronged project with a range of short, animated films , illustrating how musicians have inspired and influenced people over the years. Currently, the artists featured are Blind Willie Johnson, John Martyn, Kate Bush, Sigur Ros, Nick Cave, Louis Armstrong, the Jam and the Fron Choir (who gave a beautifully moving performance at the launch). The second part of the initiative is a trust mark, which will help music fans to identify if a site is legal. In a previous blog, I have advocated a Fair Trade mark for music sites that treat artists fairly . Though the Music Matters trust mark will not go that far, it's a step in the right direction. I sometimes meet fans who assume that professional-looking sites are legit – especially ones that charge a fee for downloads. This is not always the case. But for the trust mark to work, we must first establish if music does, indeed, matter. If it does, it has an intrinsic value. I can only assume that, since you've taken the time to visit Guardian.co.uk/music, then music matters to you. I became a musician because music was source of pure joy when I was growing up, and the first thing I turned to when I felt misunderstood and lonely. That's why it surprised me to learn that 56% of the UK population didn't make a single music purchase in 2008. Does this mean that, to the majority of people, music is just not that important? According to the BPI's latest figures, the highest percentage of music buyers are aged between 30 and 39 (52% of them bought music in 2008). Only 34% of 12-19-year-olds bought music, but the ones who did spent the most on average. It's true that music has to compete with many other forms of entertainment, more than ever before. Still, figures released this week by the Entertainment Retailers Association show that the recession has hit music less than other forms of entertainment retail. Volume-wise (ie, in units), music sales (including music DVDs) went down by 0.6% between 2008 and 2009 while videogames went down by 9.5%. But music sales statistics don't necessarily say how much music matters to people – the value is also in how we listen. In Piers Morgan's recent interview with Simon Cowell, the music mogul admitted he would never sit down and just listen to an album, giving it his undivided attention. He just couldn't see the attraction in it. He obviously would not follow the instructions on Gil Scott-Heron's latest album (turn off your mobile phone, don't listen on a portable player or in the car, get rid of all distractions and listen all the way through). In a recent Panorama special on the Digital Economy Bill, the parents of teenagers who downloaded music illegally shrugged their shoulders, saying: "Well, it's just music, isn't it." In the last few years, many "experts" have been saying that the music industry (note, by that I don't mean just the record industry) should make up the loss of revenue from recorded music by making money from merchandising, branding and synchs (advertising, games etc). Music manager Chris Morrison , who's involved with Music Matters, disagrees. "Try telling Damon Albarn and Grace Jones that they're brands." The Music Matters initiative is trying to highlight that music has a value in itself. Morrison – who manages Blur, Gorillaz and Grace Jones – mentions the Radiohead In Rainbows pay-what-you-like model. "How offensive it would have been for someone to not pay a penny. Why do you want to have it if it doesn't hold any value to you?" he says. "It's not about how we slice the cake, it's about if there is a cake." Some believe that because music is much more available than ever before, like water from a tap, it has become disposable. Many people who have tens of thousands of tracks on their hard drives barely listen to a fraction of them. When I was growing up I'd save money to buy an album. That gave music value in itself, and I'd listen to the same record for months, years even. I rarely bought merchandise – just music. So admittedly a campaign trying to establish that music matters seems, to people like me, like a campaign promoting breathing (Popjustice has already responded to the Why Music Matters campaign: "How about 'because it's fucking amazing'?"). Not everyone will have grown up with this relationship to music, however. Music Matters plans to show the short films in schools. If watching them inspires children, it would accomplish something important – it would remind them of music's intrinsic emotional value. It's a value that isn't mentioned enough in debates about the future of music, but it's why music matters to me. Pop and rock Music industry Helienne Lindvall guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (2 h ago)

• Kipper Williams: One-in-three interns wo... Kipper Williams: One-in-three interns work for nothing, says TUC
03/26/2010
Employers accused of breaking the law and exploiting young people desperate to find work in the recession (2 h ago)

• BA chief: I was not trying to break unio... BA chief: I was not trying to break union
03/26/2010
Willie Walsh rejects criticism of his tactics and defends decision to remove travel perks from striking BA cabin crew The British Airways chief executive, Willie Walsh, today defended the decision to remove travel perks from striking cabin crew and insisted he was not trying to "break" the Unite union ahead of a second walkout due to begin tonight. Walsh rejected the argument of more than 100 leading industrial relations academics in a letter to the Guardian that he was indulging in "macho management" by refusing to reinstate an earlier BA offer to settle the dispute. He said there were no plans for new talks with the union before a four-day strike starts tonight at midnight , while a Unite spokesman said: "We remain in touch with the TUC regarding the possibility of talks but nothing is planned at present." Earlier this week BA announced that cabin crew who participated in last-weekend's recent three-day stoppage would permanently lose their entitlement to free and cheap off-duty flights with the airline, a move condemned by Unite as vindictive. This was not a punishment for cabin crew or an attempt to break the union, Walsh told the BBC. He said: "We told them about the consequences if they went on strike." BA is claiming success in facing down the strike. It mustered an effective auxiliary schedule during the three-day stoppage, including 1,000 cabin crew and 22 chartered jets from carriers including Ryanair. This weekend, BA claims it will do even better by running seven out of 10 long-haul services from Heathrow. The academics' letter, signed by 116 people including professors from the London School of Economics and other universities, accused BA of being deliberately obstructive in refusing to bring back a pre-strike peace offer which Unite now says could form the basis for a deal. "It is clear to us that the actions of the chief executive of British Airways, notwithstanding his protestations to the contrary, are explicable only by the desire to break the union which represents the cabin crew," the academics wrote in the letter. "What other possible interpretation can there be for Willie Walsh tabling an inferior offer to BA's previous one or indeed of his marshalling of resources, including those of bitter industry rival Ryanair, to undermine the action of his staff?" But today Walsh said: "The central argument that these academics have is that we have somehow rejected a proposal that was acceptable to the union. That's quite untrue. The proposal that BA suggested was rejected by this union. "The initial proposal is gone. We made that clear. We've tabled a new proposal to [Unite's joint general secretary] Tony Woodley after three days of discussions at the TUC. That offer was available to the union before they went on strike. I believe that offer represents the basis of agreement between us. I think it's a fair offer." He added: "It was available till the crew went on strike. I've made that clear." With no sign of a breakthrough, the academics warned about wider consequences if BA faced down Unite: "The wider significance of a triumph of unilateral management prerogative would be a widening of the representation gap in UK employment relations, and a further erosion of worker rights and of that most precious of commodities – democracy. For all these reasons, BA's cabin crew and their union, Unite, deserve our support rather than knee-jerk vilification." Trade union sources have said the massive publicity afforded the strike, including the intervention of Gordon Brown, has obscured the fact that both sides were close to a deal over cuts to staffing levels on flights. BA has stated that the three-day walkout last weekend cost the airline at least £21m, and Walsh has already asked for Unite to find further savings among BA cabin crew to compensate for that loss. British Airways Airline industry Transport Transport policy Trade unions Air transport Dan Milmo Peter Walker guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (3 h ago)

• Insurer Homeserve rises on upbeat profit... Insurer Homeserve rises on upbeat profit forecast
03/26/2010
Insuring householders against burst water pipes and broken boilers is lucrative work, judging by the performance of Homeserve . The company has just issued a trading update indicating that it expects annual profits at its core membership business to be at the top end of market expectations, thanks to a strong finish to the year. In the UK it reported 1.8m gross new policy sales, with renewal levels remaining high in February and March. Its European business is also doing well, and in the US it is talking to a number of utilities about new partnership deals. The company's shares are up 59p to £18.19 on the news. Caroline de La Soujeole at Seymour Pierce said: The shares have reached our previously stated target price of 1,750p, closing at 1760p and are trading on a prospective PE of 16.5 times 2010 forecasts which is low compared to its historic average of 21.1 times but at a premium to the support services average of 15.5 times 2010. However given the group's strong growth potential in its international business and continued good performance from the UK membership business, we think the shares remain undervalued. We stick with our outperform recommendation and raise our target price to 1,900p. But Panmure Gordon has a sell rating on the company and maintains its position for now: We moved to a cautious stance last summer after a strong run in the shares. The exit from its Emergency Services operations, while not as straightforward as we had expected, is now done. Future share price momentum is likely to come from new partner discussions, particularly in the US. In the medium term we are comfortable with the group's strategic direction. Homeserve Nick Fletcher guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (3 h ago)

• Euro rebounds from 10-month low Euro rebounds from 10-month low
03/26/2010
Currency boost after eurozone leaders and IMF agree rescue package for debt-stricken Greece The euro bounced back from a 10-month low against the dollar today after eurozone leaders agreed a rescue package for debt-stricken Greece with the International Monetary Fund. Eurozone leaders agreed a package under which Athens would receive a mixture of bilateral European loans and IMF help if it finds itself in severe difficulties and unable to refinance its ballooning debt. The euro rose 0.7% against the dollar to $1.3380 this morning, after hitting its weakest level since early May at $1.3267. It also gained 0.7% against the yen to ¥123.86 and 0.6% against the pound to 90.15p. Traders took heart from reassurances by European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet, who said the aid mechanism was "workable" and that IMF involvement would not infringe the ECB's independence. But analysts warned that while the bailout deal will help the single currency in the short term, the euro remains at risk of further declines in the medium future as doubts remain over how effective and timely any emergency aid to Greece would be. "Following the uncertainty earlier this week around whether any agreement would be reached at all, this latest news is likely to ease the short-term pressure on the euro," said Adarsh Sinha, currency analyst at Barclays Capital. "However, the multi-conditional nature of the agreement – possibility of veto, emergency nature, monitoring, IMF involvement – is symptomatic of the significant divisions within the EU on how to assist Greece and the hope that eventually Greece will be able to finance itself through the market. If the latter fails, it remains unclear as to whether the 'emergency funding' will be provided on a timely and effective basis given Germany could remain reluctant to provide direct support ahead of the election." The euro has lost 12% of its value against the dollar since the start of December when it was trading above $1.51. Currencies Europe Euro Greece Julia Kollewe guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (3 h ago)

• 2010 is a critical year in the fight aga... 2010 is a critical year in the fight against Aids, argues Global Fund boss Michel Kazatchkine
03/26/2010
Guest blogger Michel Kazatchkine, executive director of the Global Fund to fight Aids, TB and Malaria, argues that in spite of recession, the world should now pledge more money to the cause of global health, because a world without the big three diseases is within our grasp. We have hit tough economic times and rich countries are tightening their belts. Budgets are being slashed. But this is no time to cut the money we give the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, argues its executive director Michel Kazatchkine in a guest blog, at the conclusion of a meeting with donor governents in the Hague which kicked off this year's critical fund-raising drive. The Global Fund, which gets most of its money from donor governments including the UK, holds a campaign every three years to replenish its financial resources. 2010, argues Kazatchkine below, is a decisive year in the fight against AIDS: I have just spent two days at a meeting in the Hague discussing with delegates from more than 30 countries and foundations why it is vital for the world to go on supporting the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Although the hotel where we met was at times fogbound, the picture emerging from our meeting was crystal clear: the Global Fund is one of the great success stories in the history of global health. But we need more funding to win the fight against three devastating diseases that kill more than 5 million people every year. We all agreed that the results achieved since the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was created eight years ago -- when practically no HIV treatment was available in poorer countries -- are extraordinary. I never thought we could increase access to HIV treatment and prevention this fast in so many developing countries. Today, programs financed by the Global Fund provide HIV treatment to more than 2.5 million people in low-and middle-income countries. More than 100 million insecticide-treated nets have been handed out to prevent malaria and 6 million people with active TB have received treatment. This has already saved nearly 5 million lives; and each day another 3,600 lives are saved and thousands of new infections prevented. Our work has also helped strengthen healthcare in poor countries and reduce child and maternal mortality. These achievements are remarkable, but this is no time to stand still. Millions are still in urgent need of prevention and treatment. For the first time we can say with confidence that we can ultimately prevail against AIDS, TB and malaria. If we continue to increase our efforts at the current pace, by 2015 malaria could be eliminated as a serious public health problem in most malaria-endemic countries; millions of HIV infections could be prevented and lives saved; the growing threat of multidrug-resistant TB can be contained; and we could virtually eliminate transmission of HIV from mother to child. This is going to cost money. We told donors that $13 billion over the next three years will secure existing programs but does not allow us to go on growing as fast as in recent years; $17 billion enables us to maintain our current rate of expansion; and $20 billion allows us to move even faster towards meeting health-related Millennium Development Goals by 2015, which the international community has agreed to fulfill. In times of financial crisis, countries face tough choices as they juggle their budgets. But even the most ambitious funding scenario we discussed this week represents a very good investment in the future. The sums involved, although large, are a small fraction of rich countries' aid budgets. We must not lose this opportunity to help the Global Fund complete the mission it was set up to accomplish. A world without AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria is not a utopian vision. It is well within our grasp. HIV infection International aid and development Global economy Sarah Boseley guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (3 h ago)

• Profits up at Canary Wharf owner Profits up at Canary Wharf owner
03/26/2010
Value of property portfolio stabilises and rental income rises – boosting hopes of an upturn in the London office market Canary Wharf owner Songbird Estates today reported higher profits after the value of its property portfolio stabilised, boosting hopes of an upturn in the London office market. The Aim-listed landlord also reported a 10.7% rise in rental income to £318.4m last year, allaying fears that the office market would be hit by financial institutions fleeing higher taxes and tighter regulation. London is now tied with New York for the title of the world's most important business centre, according to a recent report from the City of London Corporation. Acquisitions boosted the value of Songbird's buildings to £5bn. Pre-tax profits excluding property writedowns and other one-time charges climbed 6% to £110.7m last year. Despite the financial crisis which engulfed many of its banking clients, Songbird, which controls more than half the buildings in Canary Wharf, said its portfolio was still 96.2% let at the end of December, compared with 99.7% at the close of 2008. Analysts welcomed the news. "Following the autumn refinancing Songbird's structure is significantly clearer and the company is geared for growth," said Keith Crawford at KBC Peel Hunt. "The unique estate offers long-term value and is significantly geared towards a continued recovery in the London office market." Qatar's sovereign wealth fund became Songbird's largest shareholder with a 24% stake in October after backing a record £895m share sale that was also supported by China Investment Corp. Commercial property Property Real estate Julia Kollewe guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (3 h ago)

• Times and Sunday Times websites to start... Times and Sunday Times websites to start charging from June
03/26/2010
Users to be charged £1 for a day's access and £2 for a week's subscription for access to both papers' websites The Times and the Sunday Times are to start charging for content online in June. Users will be charged £1 for a day's access and £2 for a week's subscription for access to both papers' websites, publisher News International has announced. The News International chief executive, Rebekah Brooks, implied in a statement that its other titles, the Sun and the News of the World, would follow. The papers will relaunch their websites in early May and will be available for a free trial period to registered users. Readers can register from today at timesplus.co.uk . The Times and the Sunday Times are the first UK papers to fully charge for digital content. While a daily payment will give users access to both sites, the weekly subscription will also include an e-paper and new applications. Access to the digital services will be included in the seven-day subscriptions of print customers to the Times and the Sunday Times. "This is just the start. The Times and the Sunday Times are the first of our four titles in the UK to move to this new approach," said Brooks. "These new sites, and the apps that will enhance the experience, reflect the identity of our titles and deliver a terrific experience for readers. We expect to attract a growing base of loyal customers that are committed and engaged with our titles." In the latest ABCe traffic figures , Times Online – which includes the Times and Sunday Times – saw its daily users rise 6% to 1.22m, although monthly browsers fell to 20.42m. Assuming that only 5% of daily users convert to the paywall system – a standard metric for paywalls – that would bring in £1.83m if they each buy a £1 daily pass. At a 10% conversion, it would net £3.66m per month for the two papers. If more chose the weekly pass, the revenues would be lower. In August 2009, Rupert Murdoch announced that he would introduce charges for all his newspapers, saying that News Corp wanted to prevent readers moving to free sites by making its content better and differentiated from other publishers. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication". Paywalls The Times Sunday Times Charging for content Digital media News International News Corporation Rupert Murdoch National newspapers Newspapers Newspapers & magazines Internet Mercedes Bunz guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (6 h ago)

• Merkel agrees on Greece rescue package Merkel agrees on Greece rescue package
03/25/2010
• EU summit pledges loan and IMF aid package • German leader pushes for tougher currency regime Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, agreed for the first time yesterday on a "last-resort" rescue package for debt-stricken Greece, while pushing for a tough new regime of sanctions and penalties against European single currency countries whose fiscal misconduct endangers the euro. Prodded by Merkel and the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, the 16 countries using the single currency agreed a mixture of bilateral European loans and International Monetary Fund help for Greece if it finds itself facing default, unable to refinance its ballooning debt. "This is a political text giving a political signal," said Herman Van Rompuy, the European Council president who chaired last night's EU summit in Brussels. While the eurozone leaders hoped the package agreed last night would suffice to calm the markets and they would not need to supply tens of billions of euros to Athens, the statement agreed they were "ready to contribute to co-ordinated bilateral loans … This mechanism has to be considered ultima ratio", or a last resort if Greece is unable to raise enough money on the markets to avoid the risk of sovereign default, the statement said. Faced with widespread hostility at home to bailing out Greece, Merkel has painted herself into a corner in the past fortnight by resisting strong pressure from elsewhere in the EU to concoct a rescue package for Athens that might calm the markets and reduce the high rates Greece faces for borrowing money. Merkel and Sarkozy agreed the pact just before a summit of 27 EU leaders last night. The deal was then put to the 16 eurogroup countries that use the single currency and to the 27 EU leaders. The hope is that the deal on Greece, going further than the EU leaders' first attempt to promise action last month, will resolve the crisis. Jean-Claude Trichet, the head of the European central bank, who has been strongly opposed to IMF involvement, said he was confident the summit had come up with a "workable solution". The Merkel-Sarkozy document goes further than the immediate Greek crisis, representing a German attempt to rewrite the rule book for the euro and forestall the possibility of a bigger single currency emergency. "The agreement describes the conditions under which the EU and the IMF will intervene and beyond," said a French official. Merkel insisted on IMF involvement, strongly opposed by Sarkozy, the ECB, and many others. The agreement specified that the single currency countries would make available the "majority" of the loans, on a "co-ordinated bilateral" basis and at market rates. "Interest rates will be non-concessional, not contain any subsidy element," said the agreement. These terms were dictated by Merkel, who feared that not involving the IMF or making loans available cheaply could expose her to a challenge in Germany's constitutional court. Van Rompuy, though stressing he did not expect the package to be "activated", said that the IMF and the eurozone countries would act jointly and simultaneously if forced to intervene. Merkel retained veto rights over coming to Greece's rescue, as Berlin and Paris tussled over what constituted a "last resort" in helping Athens. It was decided that the ECB and Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, the head of the eurogroup, would decide whether Greece had exhausted all options in raising money on the markets and needed rescue. At that point, a meeting of eurozone governments would need to vote unanimously for loans to Athens, meaning Germany could still say no. In return for the German concession, Van Rompuy was instructed to come up with proposals by the end of the year to strengthen the stability pact which sets debt and deficit ceilings for the eurozone and introduce new sanctions for fiscal miscreants. The Sarkozy entourage said that Van Rompuy would explore the potential for further "sanctions" including the possibility of expelling miscreants from the single currency, "to settle once and for all the question of euro countries in difficulties". Merkel has been calling for the EU treaties to be re-opened to rewrite the rules. "The Germans are really on their own there," said a European diplomat. Van Rompuy voiced scepticism about opening the pandora's box of the Lisbon treaty only months after it came into force. "We can only propose with the consent of the member states," he said. "If there is no consensus on treaty change, we will not make any proposals." EU governments expect the Greek crisis to come to a crunch in April or May, when Athens has to refinance €23bn (£20bn) of debt. Europe Financial crisis Economics Currencies European monetary union Global recession Euro Germany Greece France Angela Merkel European Union Ian Traynor guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (13 h ago)

• 2,000 jobs at risk as Jarvis collapses 2,000 jobs at risk as Jarvis collapses
03/25/2010
Rail maintenance contractor stops trading after workload plummets and lenders refuse to prop it up Jarvis, one of the most infamous names in the world of British engineering over the last 10 years, has finally been forced into administration. Up to 2,000 jobs are in danger as a result of lenders pulling the plug on a company once worth £1bn, but which has been brought low by a turbulent history involving private finance initiative debacles, rewards for failure and the Potters Bar rail crash. Jarvis, chaired by the former Conservative transport minister Steven Norris, blamed cuts in government spending for the final crisis, saying the business had been hit by a "very considerable reduction in rail and plant work" . In a formal statement to the stock exchange, the company said: "Following negotiations with the company's secured lenders, it has become clear that sufficient support will not be extended to the company to enable it to continue trading as a going concern." Norris and his fellow directors believed they had no option but to place the company, and some of its subsidiaries, into administration and to request that trading in its shares be suspended with immediate effect. The collapse was not unexpected. Network Rail has cut its track renewal programme by 30% – a move that already led to a plunge in half-year revenues for Jarvis, to £114.7m, from £203.1m a year earlier. As recently as last month Jarvis warned of an operating loss of £5m for the year to March. It also said it had run up restructuring costs of £3m between October and February. Several waves of job cuts halved the company's workforce from 4,000 this time last year . The company has been on a downward, and often turbulent, spiral since admitting liability for the accident in 2002 at Potters Bar, in which seven passengers died. Jarvis was responsible for maintaining a stretch of track on which a set of points broke and derailed the train. Jarvis felt obliged soon afterwards to relinquish its rail maintenance duties. Instead the group tried to build up other sections of the business, including the PFI and public-private partnership work where it had already built a significant presence. But there were immediate signs that its tarnished reputation was seriously damaging its business prospects, and it was not long before the then-chairman, Paris Moayedi, resigned. Jarvis teamed up with the US healthcare group Interhealth Canada to bid for work establishing new diagnostic and treatment centres for the NHS. Having earmarked two of 12 contracts in this area it then had to admit it had failed to be shortlisted for either of them. Within two years of Potters Bar, Norris was being accused of arrogance and of presiding over a "multi-faceted shambles". The business had been forced into an emergency disposals of assets, including a PPP stake in the Tube Lines consortium at London Underground, in a bid to reduce towering debt repayments. At one stage the government held emergency talks about the company's involvement in the PFI when work stopped on key public sector projects such as the redevelopment of the Whittington hospital in north London. There were also rows with shareholders over perceived rewards for failure, as a black hole was found in the accounts while outgoing directors were given substantial rewards. The share price dived from 530p at one point – valuing Jarvis at at more than £1bn – to a 7p low at another stage. In recent times a pared-down Jarvis tried to reduce its reliance on its key public-sector client, Network Rail, and it won a £55m contract with Chiltern Railways in January. Jarvis also secured a small signalling contract with London Underground recently, but it was not enough to escape from almost a decade of gradual failure. Travel & leisure Rail transport Transport Julia Kollewe Terry Macalister guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (13 h ago)

• FSA warns EU rules may stop building soc... FSA warns EU rules may stop building societies' plan to raise capital
03/25/2010
Mutual ordinary deferred shares could breach European rules according to the City regulator New types of financial instrument that building societies had hoped would help to bolster their capital cushions – and ultimately enable them to avoid having to float on the stock market during times of crisis – face rejection by the Financial Services Authority. Societies have been preparing to road test the new instruments known as Mods (mutual ordinary deferred shares), which are designed to absorb losses during a crisis. But the City regulator is concerned that they breach European rules and may not count as the crucial core tier one equity societies need to amass. Building societies require tier one equity, the best form of capital, to meet regulatory guidelines. But, unlike banks, they cannot issue shares to bolster the cushions of capital that can be eaten into when losses occur. The problem is emerging as the government prepares to publish a paper on building society capital – as highlighted in Wednesday's budget – and after previous attempts by regulators to devise such instruments proved less successful than first hoped. The building society sector and the regulatory authorities tried to tackle the issue last year by creating "profit participating deferred shares" (PPDS) that were at the heart of the rescue of the West Bromwich Building Society . The hope was that these would be adopted by other societies but they have not proved as useful as hoped. This was recognised by the FSA in its business plan when it admitted that it was still working to "identify how instruments such as these could be more aligned to investor appetite while still retaining the required loss-absorbency features". It is important for the industry's survival that a solution is found. FSA's director of prudential policy, Paul Sharma, said: "If you are looking at the prosperity and health of the mutual sector in the medium term, an important part is to have access to a commercially viable core tier instrument". He admitted to the problems now facing Mods. "What's difficult with the Mods being worked on, it's very likely that they are not compliant with European law." European law requires instruments that qualify as core tier one capital to not have fixed coupons – payments to investors – which might give the impression that the issuer intends to keep paying regardless of its financial health. The Mods are aimed at bond investors and target a fixed return but may not be able to meet the requirement to alter the coupons, or rate of interest, paid to investors. Sharma said it was possible that the FSA could try to lobby for changes for European law, try to adapt the PPDSs used by West Bromwich or work with the industry on a new alternative. Banking Banks and building societies Financial Services Authority (FSA) Financial crisis Investments Investing Jill Treanor guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (15 h ago)

• Labour's tax and benefits strategy has c... Labour's tax and benefits strategy has closed the income gap, thinktank says
03/25/2010
Poorest have gained under 13 years of government while richest 10% have seen incomes cut by 9% Thirteen years of Labour government have improved the incomes of the poorest households while the richest have suffered large cuts, according to a study by a leading thinktank. An increase in taxes on the wealthiest households has been matched by an increase in benefits for the poorest, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said today following a long-term study of Labour's impact on incomes since 1997. The poorest 10% of households gained by 13% while at the same time the richest 10% saw their incomes cut by almost 9%. When households earning more than £100,000 were treated as a separate category, the figures showed they faced tax rises that cut their incomes by 15%. The IFS said the study showed that Labour had used the tax and benefit system to close the income gap. James Browne, an analyst at the IFS, said the poorest had benefited from steep rises in tax credit payments and the pension credit scheme, which provided a minimum income guarantee for pensioners and a top-up to modest retirement savings by the over-65s. An overhaul of tax credits in 2003 created a £13bn system of benefits that rewarded families for taking a job and remaining in work. While the system has suffered administrative problems, it is widely applauded for boosting the incomes of low paid families. In the recession it has provided a safety net for many families and allowed them to accept part-time work when in a previous era it would have paid them to leave work and claim benefits. Families where the main wage earner is forced to take a large cut in hours will see their incomes largely maintained by tax credits. The government estimates that households with two children and an income of £24,000 a year will receive more in tax credits than they pay in tax. Since 2003 the cost of the tax credit system, which includes child tax credits and the working tax credit, has soared. Figures from the budget showed the combined bill had reached £20bn by 2008-09 and this year is expected to reach £23bn. Low income pensioners have also gained from housing benefit and help with council tax payments. Until recently wealthy taxpayers paid only a slightly higher proportion of their net income than the poorest households. The government switched tack last year and imposed a 50p tax rate on people earning more than £150,000. Those earning more than £100,000 will lose their personal allowance. Both measures take effect from this April. The IFS said that while the tax and benefit system as a whole has redistributed from rich to poor, it has arguably had only a marginal effect on overall income inequality. "Whether tax and benefit reforms have contributed to or counteracted the sharp increase in income inequality seen in the UK over the last 30 years is hard to determine definitively, in part because it depends on what is meant by reform," the thinktank said in a 2008 discussion of the topic. "Within this period, though, Labour's reforms have been clearly more progressive than the Conservatives': Labour's reforms since 1997 have had a similar effect on overall inequality as increasing benefit rates in line with GDP, while the Conservatives' reforms were roughly equivalent to increasing them in line with inflation." Only Singapore, the US and Portugal have more income inequality, according to UN figures. It says the richest 20% in the UK are seven times better off than the poorest 20%, while in Japan the richest 20% are only 3.5 times richer. According to the IFS, middle income groups have neither gained nor lost from tax and benefit changes over the 13 years. Most rightwing commentators described the budget as the last in a long line of attacks on middle income earners. But the IFS figures show that while households in the higher income groups lose out compared with lower income groups, the effects are only marginal. Where middle income groups have suffered is in their wealth rather than their incomes. One recent calculation found that the average household had lost at least £20,000 from the recession, mainly through falls in house prices. The Taxpayers Alliance, which lobbies for lower taxes and a smaller government, said the era of social engineering through tax and spend needed to come to an end. "Large spending cuts are essential for taxpayers and for the health of the economy but Gordon Brown only knows how to spend more, not less. We need a real Budget after the election that faces up to the serious realities of our situation," it said. Labour Equality Tax and spending Tax credits Tax State benefits Poverty Phillip Inman guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (16 h ago)

• Alistair Darling: we will cut deeper tha... Alistair Darling: we will cut deeper than Margaret Thatcher
03/25/2010
Thinktank warns of 'two parliaments of pain' with spending slashed by 25% to repair black hole in finances Alistair Darling admitted tonight that Labour's planned cuts in public spending will be "deeper and tougher" than Margaret Thatcher's in the 1980s, as the country's leading experts on tax and spending warned that Britain faces "two parliaments of pain" to repair the black hole in the state's finances. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said hefty tax rises and Whitehall spending cuts of 25% were in prospect during the six-year squeeze lasting until 2017 that would follow the chancellor's "treading water" budget yesterday. Asked by the BBC tonight how his plans compared with Thatcher's attempts to slim the size of the state, Darling replied: "They will be deeper and tougher – where we make the precise comparison I think is secondary to an acknowledgement that these reductions will be tough." The shadow chancellor, George Osborne, seized on the first admission by the chancellor that Labour was planning greater austerity than that achieved by Thatcher's chancellors Geoffrey Howe and Nigel Lawson. "Labour has been found out. Gordon Brown is basing his election campaign on the claim that Labour can go on spending. That is completely blown apart by Alistair Darling's admission, under pressure, that Labour's own budget numbers imply deep cuts. But why didn't he admit that yesterday? Twenty-four hours on, this empty budget has completely unravelled and Labour's failure to act will hit families hard." Robert Chote, the IFS's director, said he was wary of the chancellor's claims that he could raise £11bn through efficiency savings, and added that capital investment in Britain's infrastructure would bear the brunt of the cuts. Current Treasury plans implied reductions in capital spending of almost 15% a year for the next four years, Chote said. The IFS used its post-budget analysis to spell out what was in store for Whitehall departments, but said there appeared to be only a modest difference between the plans of the two main parties. Assuming that the Conservatives wanted to eliminate Britain's structural deficit over a five-year parliament, a David Cameron government would have to find an extra £8bn of savings. The thinktank said Labour's plans implied a cumulative decline of 11.9% in departmental spending on public services and administration over four years, a cut of £46bn in inflation-adjusted terms. But a two-year government pledge to protect spending on the NHS and schools, and to raise overseas aid to the UN target of 0.7% of national output, will result in deeper cuts of 20% for those departments not protected, the IFS said. If the government continued to spare health and education for a further two years, departments such as transport, defence and the Home Office would face budget reductions of 25%. The IFS said that the planned austerity would reduce public spending as a share of the economy from just over 27% to below 21% and return it to its level in the late 1990s, when it began a decade-long rise. A government that wanted to slash the deficit without inflicting such deep cuts would have to raise taxes or reduce welfare payments instead, the IFS added. Chote said there was a lack of clarity about how either Labour or the Conservatives planned to tackle deficit reduction. "There are an awful lot of judgments still be made, or revealed, notably with regards to public spending over the next parliament. This greater-than-necessary vagueness allows the opposition to be vaguer than necessary, too." The budget, Chote added, had failed to provide a detailed picture to voters and the financial markets of the "fiscal repair job" in prospect after the election. "Of the £46bn a year of real cuts in public services spending that we think budget forecasts would require by 2014-15, the government would presumably claim to have 'found' about £20bn by 2012-13 from pay restraint, cutting programmes and efficiency savings. We should be wary of some of these claims, particularly on efficiency. "First, because it is not obvious that the efficiency savings would be delivered. Second, and more fundamentally, if they are cutting out genuine waste we would expect the government to try to achieve most of these efficiencies even if it was not having to cut public spending overall." The IFS said that the slight improvement in the state of the public finances in recent months had reduced the size of the structural budget deficit – borrowing that will not be eliminated by faster growth – from £73bn before the budget to £67bn. Chote said: "Presented with this good news, the chancellor had a choice: to give away his good luck in pre-election bribes, or to bank it and bring government borrowing down more quickly as the recovery takes hold. Perhaps in the face of pressure to do otherwise by the "forces of hell", he has sensibly chosen to do the latter." Tax and spending Alistair Darling George Osborne Budget Labour Conservatives Larry Elliott guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (16 h ago)

• Next and Kingfisher warn of bumpy ride Next and Kingfisher warn of bumpy ride
03/25/2010
Chiefs of Next and Kingfisher cautious about outlook for coming months despite announcing profits Two of the UK's biggest retailers today sounded new warnings over the economic outlook – despite raking in big increases in profits in the teeth of the worst recession for 60 years. Both Simon Wolfson of the fashion chain Next and Ian Cheshire at the B&Q group Kingfisher said they were very "cautious" about the outlook for the coming months, and the impact of the impending squeeze on government spending. The retailers voiced their concerns as new data from the Office for National Statistics showed a rebound in retail sales last month – but a hefty downward revision for January's data underlined the difficulties the high street is likely to face this year. The January figures released last month showed a 1.8% decline. However, the revised data show sales down 3% – the worst January on record and the biggest monthly decline since June 2008, when the scale of the banking crisis started to emerge and consumers took fright. February sales volumes were ahead 2.1% – three times faster than analysts had anticipated. However, Vicky Redwood at Capital Economics said: "The sharp increases are less impressive than they look, given that January's falls were revised far bigger." Howard Archer, of IHS Global Insight, said weaker retail sales in the first quarter were likely to be countered by improved consumer spending on services. "Nevertheless, it looks highly likely that consumer spending will have contracted in the first quarter of 2010, which is bad for growth prospects, given that consumer spending accounts for some 65% of GDP." The sales data for the first two months has been hit by bad weather – in January this year and in February last year – and by the return of VAT to 17.5%. There have also been changes to the way the data is collected and by the inclusion of fuel sales in the survey. Philip Shaw, an economist at Investec, said: "Trying to discern an underlying trend from the past few months is nigh on impossible." But Simon Wolfson, the chief executive of the Next fashion chain and an adviser to the Tories on economic policy, said he was braced for a bumpy ride. The outlook, he said, made it impossible to provide firm guidance on likely profits for this year. Wednesday's budget would have little impact, but "the next budget will be more serious, whoever delivers it … However [the deficit] is tackled, it will impact adversely on consumers". Wolfson said a double-dip recession was "unlikely" but added: "It all depends on policy decisions made by central government and it is almost impossible to predict." His comments echoed similar concerns outlined earlier this week by Sainsbury's boss, Justin King, who said he was fearful about what might happen as the government withdrew its economic stimulus package because the UK had emerged from recession only because of the cash pumped into the economy. Official figures and retailers themselves paint a contradictory picture. The ONS pointed to strong sales of household goods – up 11.2%, the biggest monthly increase since records began – for the February rebound. That is at odds with the recent dire trade at Carpetright, the UK's largest flooring retailer. It issued a profit warning earlier this week, blaming poor February sales. Wolfson's warnings, however, came as he delivered a much better than expected 18% increase in the fashion chain's profits, to £505m, in the year to January. The dividend is going up 20% to 66p. A year ago, as Wolfson warned of declining sales and higher prices as a result of the weak pound, City analysts had been anticipating a profit decline to £360m. In the months that followed, the retailer issued five profit upgrades to tell shareholders it was doing better than it had anticipated. "Things turned out very differently than we expected", said Wolfson. He said unemployment had not risen as far as expected and employment was down less than predicted. Those factors, together with lower interest rates and higher benefit payments, meant disposable incomes had actually risen last year. The retailer had also improved its ranges and prices had been held down by switching suppliers. Wolfson said further cost-cutting could deliver higher margins, so that even if sales remained flat this year the chain could increase its profits by 5-7%. He said: "We are not forecasting that, but we believe we can deliver that." He also pledged a 10% dividend increase for next year. The shares responded with a 104p jump to £21.74. A year ago they were changing hands at £12.86. Profits at Kingfisher, the biggest home improvement group in Europe, surged nearly 50% to a higher-than-expected £547m even though group like-for-like sales were down on the previous 12 months. Profit at its B&Q division in the UK and Ireland climbed 79% to £195m. The chief executive, Ian Cheshire, has focused on improving efficiency and cutting costs, but the business also got a boost from new ranges and the demise of rivals such as MFI, which prompted a big increase in kitchen sales. The group hoisted its dividend by 3.3%, the first increase in five years. The shares lost 2.7p to 226p, up from 141p a year ago. Cheshire said he expected to improve results further with more "self-help" initiatives: "We remain cautious on the outlook for consumer demand across Europe. However, we are confident we will be able to drive continued growth." Next Kingfisher Retail industry Green shoots Budget Recession Julia Finch guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (16 h ago)

• Lebedev buys Independent newspapers Lebedev buys Independent newspapers
03/25/2010
Russian billionaire finalises months of negotiations by buying papers for £1 from Independent News & Media Read the Independent News & Media statement in full (pdf) Read Independent Print Limited's statement in full (pdf) In pictures: Independent proprietors and shareholders The Independent and Lebedev: full coverage The Independent newspapers ushered in a new chapter in their history today when they were sold to Russian billionaire and former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev. Lebedev, who bought the London Evening Standard last year , has bought the Independent and Independent on Sunday for £1 from Irish publisher Independent News & Media. INM will also pay Independent Print Limited, the company set up by Lebedev to publish the titles, £9.25m over the next 10 months. In exchange, IPL will assume "all future trading liabilities and obligations". Lebedev said the acquisition by IPL, which is expected to be completed in May, would safeguard the Independent titles' future. Ledebev's son, Evgeny, is to be chairman of IPL. Lebedev will be a director. INM confirmed that the Independent titles and Independent.co.uk lost £12.4m in 2009. A small cheer is understood to have rippled around the Independent newsroom in Kensington when the news was announced. The remaining stumbling blocks to a deal have been removed. They included the Independent's deal with Daily Mail & General Trust to be based at its Derry Street HQ off Kensington High Street, where it has been based since last year, and INM's contract with Daily Mirror owner Trinity Mirror to print the titles. A new five-year printing contract has been signed with Trinity Mirror, which has agreed to waive "significant" payments it was entitled to in the event of the previous contract being ripped up. The original printing contract with Trinity Mirror was for 12 years and it had 10 years still to run. The Daily Mirror owner could have argued that the contract had been broken and demanded compensation from the INM, but chose not to do so. The annual value of the contract remains the same. Dublin-based INM will continue to print some of Trinity Mirror's titles in Northern Ireland, but it appears that it will receive less for this contract as a quid pro quo. The Independent titles will continue to occupy DMGT's Northcliffe House headquarters. But DMGT has also agreed to waive any penalties due for scrapping the original tenancy agreement signed with INM. That suggests the terms of the original deal may have changed, although no further details have been provided. The two companies have also agreed a deal which will ensure content from the Independent titles can be used by INM's other titles around the world. Lebedev's acquisition is subject to approval by the Irish competition authorities and is likely to be completed in May 2010. The INM chief executive, Gavin O'Reilly, said: "This is a most satisfactory and positive outcome for the titles, their staff and for INM's shareholders." "I wish IPL and the staff every success for the future in continuing the development of these important and influential titles. I believe that the Lebedevs will be progressive and supportive owners of the Independent titles which have played such an important role in British public life for nearly 25 years. I wish them, the titles and our former colleagues every success for the future." Ivan Fallon, the former journalist and chief executive of INM UK, has retired from the group with immediate effect. O'Reilly said Fallon, the author of a biography of Tony O'Reilly "has made a significant contribution to INM since he joined the group in 1994". The Lebedevs also announced plans to set up a not for profit organisation, Novaya Independent Media Foundation (NIMF) which will "finance global media projects". "In particular, we are talking about Novaya Gazeta in Russia, the Independent and the London Evening Standard in the UK," Lebedev said. "We hope that other philanthropists will also be interested in maintaining quality journalism to protect freedom of speech and encourage investigative reporting to promote greater transparency in society," he added. Readers and staff at the titles hope the sale will herald a revival of the paper, the smallest-selling national newspaper, which had a massive impact on Fleet Street when it launched in 1986 with the slogan "It is. Are you?" underlining its fresh approach to dealing with the news. The paper's circulation peaked at 400,000 in 1989 and the Independent on Sunday launched in 1990. But in February its headline circulation had fallen to 183,547 copies, with full-rate sales accounting for just under 50% of the total. Circulation was down 10.88% year on year. Its sister paper, the Independent on Sunday had an average circulation of 155,661, down 13.27% compared to a year ago. Full rate sales were 45.3% of the total. Industry speculation has centred on whether Lebedev will make the titles free, like he did with the Evening Standard , tripling its distribution in the process. But the Russian tycoon and his son Evgeny apparently gave assurances to Gordon Brown, the prime minister, that they would remain paid-for titles when he visited No 10 recently. A spokesman for the Lebedevs refused to rule out taking the titles free. "Once the deal is complete they will consider their strategic and commercial options," he said. Negotiations have been on and off since March last year and the sale is a coup for Simon Kelner, the papers' managing director and editor-in-chief, who edited the Independent for a decade. Former Observer editor Roger Alton and former Guardian journalist John Mullin became editors of the Independent and Independent on Sunday, respectively, in 2008. Lebedev will be the fourth owner of the Independent after a consortium led by its founders, Andreas Whittam Smith, Stephen Glover and Matthew Symonds; Mirror Group Newspapers; and Independent News & Media. Earlier this month deputy editor Ian Birrell announced he was leaving after 12 years. The Independent revolutionised Fleet Street again when it launched a tabloid edition in September 2003, dropping its broadsheet edition entirely about six months later. Kelner attempted to recruit outspoken columnist Rod Liddle to be the Independent editor but backed out of that plan following uproar . • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication". The Independent Independent on Sunday Independent News & Media Alexander Lebedev Newspapers National newspapers Newspapers & magazines Media business Stephen Brook James Robinson guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (23 h ago)

• Daimler settles US bribery charges Daimler settles US bribery charges
03/24/2010
German carmaker agrees to pay $185m over alleged bribes paid in at least 22 countries after five-year US inquiry The German motor manufacturer Daimler is set to pay $185m (£124m) to settle a lurid series of international bribery charges levelled by US prosecutors. They include an allegation that the company gave a brand new armoured S-class Mercedes as a birthday present to an official in Turkmenistan's authoritarian government. A 76-page indictment filed by the US department of justice accuses Daimler of bribing foreign officials using secret bank accounts, fictitious invoices, phoney price "surcharges" and disbursements from a "cash desk" at a factory in Stuttgart. It is claimed the alleged bribes, between 1998 and 2008, helped secure contracts in at least 22 countries including Russia, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria and North Korea. The US department of justice, which has been investigating for five years, alleges that illegal payments channelled through US shell companies helped boost Daimler's profits by at least $50m. Daimler is set to answer the charges at a hearing on 1 April. A US-based spokesman for the company declined to comment. However, a source close to the situation confirmed US reports that Daimler will agree to pay $93.6m to settle a criminal case and $91.4m to end an inquiry by the securities and exchange commission, the US financial regulator. Questions over Daimler's ethical practices date back to 2004 when a Detroit-based accountant at the company, then Daimler-Chrysler, complained that he had been fired for raising questions over the dubious use of bank accounts. The whistleblower, David Bazzetta, later won a settlement for wrongful dismissal and his revelations sparked action by law enforcement authorities. The US has levelled scores of charges against the German firm including alleging it paid at least €3m (£2.7m) to Russian officials and €4.17m to Chinese officials to secure deals to supply commercial vehicles and four-wheel drive Unimog trucks, often used for military purposes. Bribes and kickbacks were allegedly attached to contracts supplying city buses in Saigon, transport for the world youth soccer championship in Nigeria in 1999, a deal to send fire engines to Croatia and even a supply contract with the Iraqi government that breached the terms of the UN "oil for food" programme. In Indonesia, a local Daimler affiliate is accused of spending $41,000 on gifts for officials at a state-owned bus company, Perum Damri. And in notoriously repressive Turkmenistan, the German company reportedly handed an armoured Mercedes worth €300,000 to a "high level" government official as a birthday gift. The alleged bribes were often listed in Daimler's accounts under the German term " nützliche Aufwendungen" meaning "necessary payments" said the US justice department, which added that the term "was understood by certain employees to mean official bribe". Chrysler Automotive industry US economy Law United States Andrew Clark guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (1 d ago)

• Overhaul of Student Loans Passes Congres... Overhaul of Student Loans Passes Congress
03/25/2010
Congress voted to force commercial banks out of the federal student loan market, cutting off billions of dollars in profits in a restructuring of financial-aid programs. (8 h ago)

• Proposed Tax Breaks for Ponzi Victims Proposed Tax Breaks for Ponzi Victims
03/25/2010
Two senators proposed tax relief for victims of 2008-9 Ponzi schemes. The bill has bipartisan support and has been praised by advocacy groups for victims of the Madoff and Stanford International frauds. (14 h ago)

• Financial Tuneup: An Expert's Tips for O... Financial Tuneup: An Expert's Tips for Organizing Electronic Documents
03/25/2010
If you chose electronic storage, there's still the question of how to organize the files. Here's some advice from an expert. (19 h ago)

• Thursday Reading Thursday Reading
03/25/2010
Bank of America is forgiving some mortgage debt, the advocate behind the Consumer Financial Protection Agency idea and other consumer-focused items from Thursday's Times. (21 h ago)

• Financial Tuneup: How to Do Your Own Financial Tuneup: How to Do Your Own
03/25/2010
A new Your Money special section contains advice for conducting your own Financial Tuneup. (21 h ago)

• Take a Few Hours Each Year to Unlock Som... Take a Few Hours Each Year to Unlock Some Cash
03/25/2010
Keeping a financial to-do list and tackling it once a year can put significant money back in your wallet. (1 d ago)

• Behind Consumer Agency Idea, a Fiery Adv... Behind Consumer Agency Idea, a Fiery Advocate
03/24/2010
If there’s one thing the financial industry dislikes more than a consumer protection agency, it’s the thought that Elizabeth Warren might lead it. (1 d ago)

• Bank of America to Forgive Some Mortgage... Bank of America to Forgive Some Mortgage Debt
03/24/2010
Bank of America said that it would begin forgiving some mortgage debt of borrowers who could lose their homes. (1 d ago)

• An Insurance Checkup, As Needs and Optio... An Insurance Checkup, As Needs and Options Change
03/24/2010
Charles Williamson of Chartis Insurance says many people do not keep their policies up to date. Consumers should review all of their nonlife insurance policies regularly, adjusting coverage as their circumstances change. (1 d ago)

• Keep Your Financial Records No Longer Th... Keep Your Financial Records No Longer Than You Must
03/24/2010
For each category of financial document, there is a reasonable time frame to keep the papers on file. After that, out they go. (1 d ago)

• Switch Banks? There May Be a Perk in It ... Switch Banks? There May Be a Perk in It for You
03/24/2010
People are typically reluctant to move their banking accounts, so some branchless or online banks are offering enticements to win them over. (1 d ago)

• Flexibility Is the Secret to Planning fo... Flexibility Is the Secret to Planning for Retirement
03/24/2010
To prepare for retirement, financial advisers suggest, formulate a saving plan early — and then be prepared to adjust it. (1 d ago)

• Apps and Twitter Tools to Track Cash Pur... Apps and Twitter Tools to Track Cash Purchases
03/24/2010
Alex Ressi developed a Twitter app for tracking cash expenditures, attracting about 8,000 users.A handful of budgeting services are using iPhone and BlackBerry apps, or Twitter messages, to help users track their spending to the penny. (1 d ago)

• Assemble a Paper Trail, and Make Sure Yo... Assemble a Paper Trail, and Make Sure Your Heirs Can Follow It
03/24/2010
If you die with no will, the state decides who gets your money, said Edythe DeMarco, of Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management.Reviewing legal documents regarding your estate will help ensure your wishes are carried out and make settling your affairs easier for your heirs. (1 d ago)

• Your Money: Have Extra Cash to Cut Mortg... Your Money: Have Extra Cash to Cut Mortgage? Nice, but Wait
03/24/2010
If you’ve locked in a rock-bottom rate, does it still make sense to make extra payments to reduce your mortgage? It depends. (1 d ago)

• Tax Return Holds Clues to the Health of ... Tax Return Holds Clues to the Health of Your Finances
03/24/2010
Line-by-line scrutiny of your 2009 return can reveal ways to improve your strategy and bring you closer to your goals. (1 d ago)

• How to Self-Diagnose Your Financial Heal... How to Self-Diagnose Your Financial Health
03/24/2010
Gauge the well-being of your finances by asking yourself the questions that a professional planner would ask. (1 d ago)

• Microcosm of the Housing Crisis on an Ar... Microcosm of the Housing Crisis on an Arizona Street
03/23/2010
Deciding which homeowners get federal money to help with mortgages is raising questions of fairness in Arizona. (2 d ago)

• 2 Murdoch Papers in U.K. to Charge for W... 2 Murdoch Papers in U.K. to Charge for Web Use
03/26/2010
The Times and The Sunday Times of London will sell daily and weekly subscriptions to users of a combined Web site starting in June. (1 h ago)

• Britain’s Times Newspapers to Charge for... Britain’s Times Newspapers to Charge for Web Access
03/26/2010
The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers will begin charging for Internet access to content in June. (2 h ago)

• TLC Acquires “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” a D... TLC Acquires “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” a Documentary Series
03/25/2010
In “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” an eight-episode travelogue on the TLC cable channel, the former governor will explore the 49th state. (9 h ago)

• Advertising: California Dairy Board Take... Advertising: California Dairy Board Takes ‘Got Milk’ to New Extreme
03/25/2010
The California dairy industry’s new way to promote milk involves a fantasy world where there is too much of the drink. (9 h ago)

• Russian Tycoon Acquires British Newspape... Russian Tycoon Acquires British Newspaper
03/25/2010
The Russian tycoon Alexander Lebedev will pay a token amount for The Independent and The Independent on Sunday. (10 h ago)

• Messages From Steve Jobs Are Making Reci... Messages From Steve Jobs Are Making Recipients Swoon
03/25/2010
Steve Jobs, the secretive head of Apple, has been busy sending replies to e-mail messages from customers. (22 h ago)

• Front Row: Patrick McCarthy Era Ending a... Front Row: Patrick McCarthy Era Ending at W and WWD
03/25/2010
Patrick McCarthy, left, was known for fairness in fashion reporting.With the news that Patrick McCarthy was out after a long run as the overseer of W and WWD, designers wonder if his departure marks the end of an era. (22 h ago)

• Free Speech Debated After Ann Coulter Ca... Free Speech Debated After Ann Coulter Cancels Appearance
03/25/2010
The conservative American political commentator was scheduled to speak before a largely unfriendly crowd at the University of Ottawa. (1 d ago)

• Advertisers Show Early Interest in Apple... Advertisers Show Early Interest in Apple iPad
03/24/2010
Getting ready for the April 3 iPad introduction, advertisers are buying space on publishers’ applications. (1 d ago)

• Advertising: Allstate Taps Sales Executi... Advertising: Allstate Taps Sales Executives for Campaign
03/24/2010
Allstate held an unusual meeting, bringing high-level managers (and Dennis Haysbert) to meet with sales executives. (1 d ago)

• Harold W. McGraw Jr., McGraw-Hill Chairm... Harold W. McGraw Jr., McGraw-Hill Chairman, Dies at 92
03/24/2010
Mr. McGraw, as leader of McGraw-Hill, his family’s publishing business, helped build it into a billion-dollar enterprise. (1 d ago)

• Times Co. Settles Claim in Singapore Times Co. Settles Claim in Singapore
03/24/2010
The New York Times Company has settled a claim by leaders of Singapore’s government that they were smeared by an Op-Ed piece in The International Herald Tribune. (1 d ago)

• Noticed: Interrupting Enters the Public ... Noticed: Interrupting Enters the Public Discourse
03/24/2010
Shy? Not at all.Interruption has gained a foothold in American discourse these days, and is proving a powerful weapon for influencing the national conversation. (1 d ago)

• Senate Panel Questions Former Times Lawy... Senate Panel Questions Former Times Lawyer, a Nominee, on Leaks
03/24/2010
Republicans grilled the nominee to be the Army’s general counsel, Solomon B. Watson IV, about two articles disclosing classified information. (1 d ago)

• Facebook and Twitter Keep Calipari Ahead... Facebook and Twitter Keep Calipari Ahead of the Game
03/23/2010
Kentucky Coach John Calipari has 1,113,647 followers on Twitter, 138,325 fans on Facebook, and his application for the iPhone and iPod touch is a best seller. (2 d ago)

• Condé Nast Names Stefano Tonchi Editor o... Condé Nast Names Stefano Tonchi Editor of W Magazine
03/23/2010
Mr. Tonchi, currently the editor of T: The New York Times Style Magazine, said he hopes to make W more accessible to the general public. (2 d ago)

• Advertising: Tap Project Bolsters Its Ca... Advertising: Tap Project Bolsters Its Campaign on Clean Water
03/23/2010
For World Water Week, the Tap Project is bringing a greater focus to its ad campaign in search of donations. (2 d ago)

• As the E.U. Does More, Fewer Tell About ... As the E.U. Does More, Fewer Tell About It
03/23/2010
Around the globe, journalism jobs are being cut. In Brussels, the trend is acute, even though the Union is taking on a larger global role. (3 d ago)

• Health care reform’s cost-cutting scalpe... Health care reform’s cost-cutting scalpel
03/26/2010
One often-heard criticism of the health-care reform legislation that President Barack Obama has now signed into law is that it won't do enough to rein in the cost of treatment. Barack Obama - Health care - President of the United States - Law - United States (1 h ago)

• Texas high court hears strip club ‘pole ... Texas high court hears strip club ‘pole tax’ case
03/25/2010
The Texas Supreme Court is deciding whether to strip away a $5 entrance fee to watch nude dancers. Texas - Supreme Court of the United States - United States - Strip club - Government (15 h ago)

• U.S. Mint unveils new national parks qua... U.S. Mint unveils new national parks quarters
03/24/2010
The U.S. Mint has unveiled design of new quarters featuring four national parks and a national forest. (1 d ago)

• Starbucks to pay first dividend, expands... Starbucks to pay first dividend, expands buyback
03/24/2010
Starbucks' CEO proclaimed its once-stumbling brand is back in business after two years of layoffs and store closings, while the coffee giant issued its first-ever dividend for investors on Wednesday. Starbucks - Coffee - Dividend - Business - Beverages (1 d ago)

• Lawsuit: Goldman put me on a ‘mommy-trac... Lawsuit: Goldman put me on a ‘mommy-track’
03/24/2010
Goldman Sachs was sued for alleged bias by a former vice president, who said the Wall Street bank consigned her to a "mommy-track" that led to her firing while she was on maternity leave. Goldman Sachs - Wall Street - Lawsuit - United States - History (1 d ago)

• Sponsored By: Sponsored By:
03/24/2010
(1 d ago)

• J.M. Smucker to cut 700 jobs, close plan... J.M. Smucker to cut 700 jobs, close plants
03/24/2010
The J.M. Smucker Co. is closing four plants and cutting 700 jobs, about 15 percent of its workforce, the food maker said Wednesday. J.M. Smucker Co - Business - J.M. Smucker - Business and Economy - Jif (1 d ago)

• Financial reform diluted with bankers in... Financial reform diluted with bankers in mix
03/24/2010
For all the proposals stuffed into its 1,336 pages, the financial reform bill that is headed to the full Senate will change very little for banks, Wall Street and financial firms. Wall Street - United States Senate - Bank - Business - United States (1 d ago)

• Banks to lose billions in student loan r... Banks to lose billions in student loan revamp
03/24/2010
Industry lobbyists have watched helplessly as the Obama administration appear on the verge of shifting student lending from private banks to the federal government. Student loan - Federal government of the United States - Presidency of Barack Obama - United States - Business (2 d ago)

• Forbes.com: The biggest product-launch f... Forbes.com: The biggest product-launch flops
03/24/2010
Apple, take note: Great expectations can lead to big disappointments. Apple - Macintosh - Apple II - Articles - IPhone (2 d ago)

• How the financial reform debate may play... How the financial reform debate may play out
03/24/2010
The financial regulation debate has a long way to go in the U.S. Congress, with the action shifting to the full Senate and big headlines unlikely until April. United States Congress - United States Senate - Senate - United States - Government (2 d ago)

• Forbes.com: The most beloved spokescreat... Forbes.com: The most beloved spokescreatures
03/23/2010
One of the most enduring lessons for marketers from the Tiger Woods scandal is that, no matter how attractive celebrity spokespeople may seem, they're only human. Tiger Woods - Golf - Sport - Golfers - Video Games (2 d ago)

• Pay czar cuts top earners’ pay at bailou... Pay czar cuts top earners’ pay at bailout firms
03/23/2010
The Obama administration's pay czar slashed pay again at five firms that still depend on a U.S. lifeline. He also said the clampdowns aren’t sending workers fleeing for the exits. Presidency of Barack Obama - United States - President - Barack Obama - History (2 d ago)

• Time Warner leads bids for film studio M... Time Warner leads bids for film studio MGM
03/23/2010
Time Warner put up the highest of three bids between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion for studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, sources close to the situation said Tuesday. Time Warner - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer - Movie studio - Lions Gate Entertainment - Business (3 d ago)

• NBA teams get creative to put fans in st... NBA teams get creative to put fans in stands
03/23/2010
NBA franchises across the league are finding that they have to offer more in these difficult economic times to entice fans to spend money at their arenas. National Basketball Association - Basketball - Sports - NBA - Games (3 d ago)

• Stock futures point higher after Greek d... Stock futures point higher after Greek deal
03/26/2010
Stock futures are rising Friday after European leaders agreed to a bailout program for debt-burdened Greece. (1 h ago)

• Forbes.com: Cars with the best gas milea... Forbes.com: Cars with the best gas mileage
03/26/2010
By this time next year Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan and Fisker will each have a plug-in electric vehicle on the U.S. market. (1 h ago)

• The great grocery smackdown The great grocery smackdown
03/26/2010
For decades, the Walmart brand meant low, low prices. The big box chain is now going toe to toe with high-end grocery stores by offering high-quality from local small farms. (2 h ago)

• Eurozone leaders agree on bailout plan f... Eurozone leaders agree on bailout plan for Greece
03/26/2010
European leaders on Friday said their hard-won deal to rescue debt-ridden Greece after months of bitter wrangling will help calm jittery markets and stabilize the euro, which has been rocked by the fiscal crisis. (2 h ago)

• Toyota ceasing output in UK, France for ... Toyota ceasing output in UK, France for 9 days
03/26/2010
Toyota said Friday it is stopping production at its factories in France and Britain for a total of nine days amid weak demand that the company partly attributed to its recent recall woes. (2 h ago)

• WP: Obama to push mortgage help for jobl... WP: Obama to push mortgage help for jobless
03/25/2010
The Obama administration plans to overhaul how it's tackling the foreclosure crisis, in part by requiring lenders to temporarily slash or eliminate monthly mortgage payments. (15 h ago)

• Subway to roll out breakfast nationwide ... Subway to roll out breakfast nationwide April 5
03/25/2010
Subway is joining the increasingly crowded breakfast scramble in a move that the sandwich chain hopes will help add customers and sales. (17 h ago)

• Foreclosure relief plan coming up short Foreclosure relief plan coming up short
03/25/2010
Treasury officials acknowledged problems in the government's latest mortgage-modification program and announced changes at a highly critical hearing. (17 h ago)

• Bernanke says low rates still needed Bernanke says low rates still needed
03/25/2010
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is telling Congress that record-low interest rates are still needed to rev up the economic recovery. (17 h ago)

• Toyota used ‘secret recalls’ for floor m... Toyota used ‘secret recalls’ for floor mat issues
03/25/2010
When Toyota Motor Corp concluded that seemingly harmless floor mats posed a danger in all of its cars and trucks, the automaker sent a stark warning intended to prevent crashes. (19 h ago)

• ConsumerMan: Be counted; don't be scamme... ConsumerMan: Be counted; don't be scammed
03/25/2010
For con artists and swindlers the 2010 Census is a golden opportunity for mischief. With forms going out to every household in the country, the pool of potential victims is huge. (21 h ago)

• Newsweek: China sends mixed signals to b... Newsweek: China sends mixed signals to businesses
03/25/2010
This week Premier Wen Jiabao met with international executives to reassure them about China's attitude toward foreign businesses. But not once did the country's contentious battle with Google or the arrest of Rio Tinto executives come up. If it seems that China is sending mixed signals, it is. (22 h ago)

• Jobless claims fall, raising recovery ho... Jobless claims fall, raising recovery hopes
03/25/2010
The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment insurance fell sharply last week, while the number of those on continued benefits was the lowest since December 2008. (23 h ago)

• Radioshack search Radioshack search
03/26/2010
RadioShack is looking to shack up with a deep-pocketed investor. The Texas-based electronics chain is exploring strategic alternatives including a possible sale of the company that could fetch more than $3 billion, sources told The Post. Investment bankers have already begun pitching their private-equity clients about a leveraged buyout of... (5 h ago)

• Deutsche bankers are spitting mad over p... Deutsche bankers are spitting mad over pay
03/26/2010
Maybe more five-star retreats are needed to soothe Deutsche Bank execs who are fuming that they've been short-changed by the firm. Last week the German banking powerhouse, which has a significant presence in New York, hosted an off-site for about 150 of its top talent at The Grove, a... (5 h ago)

• Marts slip on Greece Marts slip on Greece
03/26/2010
Wall Street's best session in more than a year got the wind knocked out of it yesterday after the head of Europe's central bank bad-mouthed outsiders for trying to help lift Europe's weakest nations out of the gutter. Stocks had been on their way to their highest... (5 h ago)

• Treasury woes spike Treasury woes spike
03/26/2010
Uncle Sam's borrowing binge caught a big snag yesterday as investors shunned an auction of seven-year Treasury bonds, capping a tough week in which the government tried to sell $118 billion in debt. In order to move the bonds, Treasury was forced to sweeten the yield to 3.374... (5 h ago)

• Lionsgate throws in towel over MGM bid w... Lionsgate throws in towel over MGM bid war
03/26/2010
And then there were two. Lionsgate, the film studio behind the "Saw" and Tyler Perry franchises, won't take another run at debt-laden studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, leaving the auction for the venerable studio down to just two suitors as it tries to restructure its $4 billion debt load. Lionsgate had offered... (5 h ago)

• Business briefs Business briefs
03/26/2010
Suisse gold Credit Suisse CEO Brady Dougan received 19.2 million Swiss francs ($17.9 million) in com pensation last year, boosting his salary al most seven-fold, the bank reported yesterday. Jobless Initial jobless claims fell to the lowest level in six weeks. First-time job less applications de clined 14... (5 h ago)

• Huey goes kerflooey Huey goes kerflooey
03/26/2010
TIME Inc. Editor-in-Chief John Huey's name used to sit proudly atop the masthead of Real Simple. Not anymore. Huey's name appeared above the title through the February issue, but was not in March or April. Some insiders say that's public evidence of a feud between Huey and... (5 h ago)

• Dubai World gets $9.5B Dubai World gets $9.5B
03/26/2010
Dubai will support Dubai World's debt restructuring with $9.5 billion as the state-owned holding company asks creditors to wait up to eight years to get all their money back. The additional funds double to $20 billion the amount the government paid to the emirate's holding company... (5 h ago)

• InVentiv calls upon Goldman for help InVentiv calls upon Goldman for help
03/26/2010
InVentiv Health, a New Jersey-based pharmaceutical service provider, is quietly seeking a buyer. The company, whose shares and debt total $813 million, is using Goldman Sachs to conduct an auction, and is starting to have management meetings with suitors, a source told The Post. A second source said he had... (5 h ago)

• Best Buy's sales shine Best Buy's sales shine
03/26/2010
Best Buy shares jumped on robust sales in the holiday quarter -- its first without one-time archrival Circuit City, which is now bankrupt -- beating Wall Street forecasts. The US electronics chain also boosted its profit prediction for the current year and announced plans to resume share repurchases and open... (5 h ago)

• Citi wins court OK vs. Solow Citi wins court OK vs. Solow
03/26/2010
Citigroup Inc. won a judgment allowing it to collect $85.7 million from billionaire real-estate developer Sheldon H. Solow. New York State Supreme Court Justice Bernard Fried said he was granting Citigroup's request for summary judgment, or a verdict before trial. A dispute about Citigroup's claims for fees... (5 h ago)

• Pasture land for Plainfield Pasture land for Plainfield
03/25/2010
Hedge fund Plainfield Asset Management is heading for the bunker -- literally. Amid a slew of redemption requests and a wave of lawsuits, the hedge fund founded by Drexel Burnham alum Max Holmes is packing up its posh offices in Greenwich, Conn., and moving into its disaster-recovery offices in nearby... (8 h ago)

• Viacom 'uploads' strategy Viacom 'uploads' strategy
03/25/2010
Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman yesterday said videos uploaded to YouTube that are at the heart of a billion-dollar lawsuit against the firm were not licensed. They were the media giant's first public comments since details of its claim were unsealed last week. However, Dauman stopped short of criticizing the... (8 h ago)

Business

Technology

Sports

Entertainment

I have read this article this is really interestin...
property in mohali :: 08/06/2010

absolutely this is very supporting site for us i...
housing in chandigarh :: 08/02/2010

I remember when Joseph Ettedgui had a small boutiq...
Andrea Joy Russell :: 06/23/2010

Hello Anthony Evans your music is so enourage t...
Tracey :: 06/10/2010

Chevron the oil polluter wins; here’s why 1-2-3. ...
Joseph Macgregor :: 04/10/2010

This is abundant, look forward to looking into ea...
John gogs :: 12/28/2009

Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?...
CocoChanels :: 07/03/2009

Hi, my friends!! I want to get program XRumer 5.0 ...
MagicOPromotion :: 05/03/2009

Where is this money coming from except from the mo...
carl allen :: 04/11/2009

out of control
staystrong :: 02/23/2009

• BAE's latest government connection BAE's latest government connection
03/26/2010
British military contractor BAE has been in trouble in recent times over allegations that it bribed the Saudis to swing some important deals. BAE has always denied that it did anything wrong but in March it was fined $400 million in a US court after it pleaded guity to charges that it had been less than truthtful about its compliance with the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. At the time, I look at the implications of that case in my blog here.But you can't ... (2 h ago)

• Asian pollution spreads Asian pollution spreads
03/26/2010
The economic growth across Asia is having an impact on global pollution. Check this story from Discovery News that the Asian summer monsoon is spreading a lethal cocktail of pollutants like black carbon, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen oxides into the stratosphere. These pollutants remain in the atmosphere for many years, they don't break down that quickly. All this may well compound the impact of climate change because sulfur aerosols impact the ozone layer that blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the ground ... (6 h ago)

• US public wants Wall Street brought into... US public wants Wall Street brought into line
03/25/2010
Earlier this week, I did a blog entry explaining why the times were right for Obama to move on Wall Street in the post health reform era. As I explained at the time, the public want the banks to make amends for dragging the economy down and costing jobs. And they want justice.This is backed up with a Bloomberg National Poll showing that most Americans now despise Wall Street. They don't want any new regulator to protect them on mortgages and credit cards. What ... (1 d ago)

• Privacy challenges for Google and Facebo... Privacy challenges for Google and Facebook
03/25/2010
The intrusion of technology into our private lives has been well documented. It's become a real talking point and a source of tension. On one hand, we all crave for privacy. On the other, we create digital shadows of our lives and that can often include friends.So it's not surprising to read reports that European regulators are looking at whether the practice of posting photos, videos and other information about people on sites such as Facebook without their consent is a breach of privacy ... (1 d ago)

• How to keep your business credit score h... How to keep your business credit score healthy
03/24/2010
© cometstarmoonWe tend to forget that the success of our business is also dependant on a healthy credit score and I have come across many businesses which have faltered simply because they ignored their credit score in the process of building it up. One of the simplest ways to arrive at a healthy credit score is to pay off your debts so as to give a positive impression regarding your business. Another technique of building good credit is to use a credit card and ... (1 d ago)

• Convicted tax cheat to head Samsung Convicted tax cheat to head Samsung
03/24/2010
Samsung has appointed a convicted tax cheat to run the company. Yes, he was the former boss and yes, he was pardoned according to the curious ways of justice in South Korea but still, it's not a good look.As the BBC reports, Lee Kun-Hee who headed the company for decades before he got pinged for tax evasion has been reappointed to run the company. He stepped down in April 2008, three months before being handed a three-year suspended sentence.Lee says it's desperate times and ... (2 d ago)

• The SEC and porn The SEC and porn
03/24/2010
Last month, I did a blog entry looking at how dozens of Securities and Exchange Commission employees are being investigated for viewing porn on government computers while the US economy was tanking. And the problem gets worse.Now Gawker reports that more than a dozen Securities and Exchange employees and contractors have tried to view pornography on government computers at least 8273 times.Gawker reports: "Now we've obtained reports of 16 investigations into porn-surfing by SEC employees and contractors (one of them is a woman!), including ... (2 d ago)

• Glendale property management companies a... Glendale property management companies and ethics
03/23/2010
© loveofthedesertYou have purchased a rental property and now the next important step involves its management. If you don't have any experience in it you will require the services of a property management company. While hiring a property management company give due consideration to the ethical aspect. For e.g. if you live around Glendale area in Arizona, you must search for Glendale property management companies which follow ethical codes of practice. A good property management company will subscribe to Code of Ethics thereby endorsing ... (2 d ago)

• Google's China challenge Google's China challenge
03/23/2010
Google has thrown down the gauntlet to China, and potentially this could reshape the world.In a blog post, Google chief legal officer David Drummond announced that Google will no longer censor Google Search, Google News, and Google Images on Google.cn. Users will instead be directed to the Hong Kong site. Drummond writes: "Figuring out how to make good on our promise to stop censoring search on Google.cn has been hard. We want as many people in the world as possible to have access to ... (3 d ago)

• Public wants the banks to make amends Public wants the banks to make amends
03/23/2010
With health care changes going through, Obama is now emboldened to rein in Wall Street excesses. Obama has now shown himself to be the standard bearer for populism and if he does this, it's a political winner.Moves are afoot to push through legislation which includes c creating a Financial Stability Oversight Council which will supposedly serve as an early warning system to spot unsafe financial institutions, products or practices, a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau designed to protect the public from from unsafe products such ... (3 d ago)

• Eurozone agrees on bailout plan for Gree... Eurozone agrees on bailout plan for Greece
03/25/2010
Countries that use the euro said Thursday they have agreed on a financial backstop for Greece. Greece - Eurozone - Bailout - Government - Travel and Tourism (14 h ago)

• Sponsored By: Sponsored By:
03/25/2010
(14 h ago)

• Dubai offers $9.5B in new aid to struggl... Dubai offers $9.5B in new aid to struggling firm
03/25/2010
Dubai's government on Thursday said it will pump up to $9.5 billion into Dubai World, outlining a long-awaited restructuring plan aimed at rescuing its debt-saddled chief conglomerate and recapturing the emirate's image as a business friendly oasis in the oil-rich Gulf. Dubai - Dubai World - Government - Middle East - United Arab Emirates (21 h ago)

• Australia: China Rio trial verdict on Mo... Australia: China Rio trial verdict on Monday
03/25/2010
By Michael Perry Australia - China - Shanghai - Stern Hu - Rio Tinto Group (1 d ago)

• An apprentice at 70 An apprentice at 70
03/24/2010
The last time Terry Robinson was an apprentice, when he was 15, he was expected to make the tea and sweep up behind the tradesmen. Now he's taking multiple choice exams behind a computer. Multiple choice - Television - Arts - Social sciences - Business (1 d ago)

• Taco Bell rings in its first outlet in I... Taco Bell rings in its first outlet in India
03/24/2010
Yum Brands Inc. opened its first Taco Bell restaurant in India on Tuesday in Bangalore. Bangalore - Yum! Brands - India - Asia - Taco Bell restaurant (1 d ago)

• China-Australia gas deal as Rio Tinto tr... China-Australia gas deal as Rio Tinto trial ends
03/24/2010
Australia and China signed a multibillion dollar natural gas deal Wednesday, pushing ahead with business as the trial of four employees of mining giant Rio Tinto ended in Shanghai with a verdict still to be announced. Shanghai - Rio Tinto Group - China - Mining - Business (2 d ago)

• China moves to restrict access to Google China moves to restrict access to Google
03/23/2010
China moves to block access to Google's Hong Kong site, The New York Times reports, after the Internet giant began redirecting Chinese users to its uncensored server there. Google - China - Searching - Search Engines - Chinese language (2 d ago)

• European court rules Google's ad model i... European court rules Google's ad model is legal
03/23/2010
By Michele Sinner and Georgina Prodhan Google - Search - Search Engines - Companies - Tools (3 d ago)

• Putting a new spin on retro Putting a new spin on retro
03/25/2010
Marketers are always trying to keep up with the changing times. And these days, what's retro is getting an update. Jeremy Hobson reports. (21 h ago)

• Tracing the impact of roads Tracing the impact of roads
03/25/2010
Author Ted Conover talks with Kai Ryssdal about his new book, "The Routes of Man," and how roads are changing the world. (21 h ago)

• Will overhaul lead to doctor shortage? Will overhaul lead to doctor shortage?
03/25/2010
Texas Tech University's medical school says it will start offering a three-year degree program for primary care doctors because it's anticipating a doctor shortage. And it may get worse as the overhaul is implemented. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports. (21 h ago)

• No advertising love for single women No advertising love for single women
03/25/2010
An increasing number of women are single --- getting married later, not at all, or single later in life. So why aren't more advertisements directed their way? Ashley Milne-Tyte reports. (21 h ago)

• iPad ads may give publications a boost iPad ads may give publications a boost
03/25/2010
The iPad will soon go on sale, and newspapers and magazines have been selling ads for the sleek little gadget like it's 1999. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports. (21 h ago)

• A new normal for the stock market A new normal for the stock market
03/25/2010
The S&P 500's just a couple percentage points shy of where it was back in July 2006. So is the stock market now back to where it was during more "normal times?" Bob Moon reports. (21 h ago)

• Recession aids in Social Security losses Recession aids in Social Security losses
03/25/2010
The Congressional Budget Office says this year Social Security will start paying out more than it's bringing in from payroll taxes, at least five years sooner than was expected. Alisa Roth reports. (21 h ago)

• New York bar to set menu prices like sto... New York bar to set menu prices like stocks
03/24/2010
What's the value of a pint of beer? Let the market decide, says a new restaurant in Manhattan where prices for food and beverages will fluctuate like stock prices. Restaurant - New York City - Food - New York - Beer (1 d ago)

• PepsiCo developing no-cal, natural sweet... PepsiCo developing no-cal, natural sweeteners
03/23/2010
A race to develop natural, zero-calorie sweeteners is bubbling up in the nation's $100 billion beverage industry. PepsiCo - Business - Food and Related Products - Beverages - Sugar substitute (2 d ago)

• Fed cracks down on gift card abuses Fed cracks down on gift card abuses
03/23/2010
The Federal Reserve has issued new rules to protect Americans from getting stung by unexpected fees or restrictions on gift cards. Federal Reserve System - Gift card - Business - Finance - Central bank (2 d ago)

• Conversations: Q.&A. With Jeremy Stoppel... Conversations: Q.&A. With Jeremy Stoppelman, C.E.O. of Yelp
03/24/2010
Jeremy Stoppelman, a Yelp co-founder and its chief executive, denies that sales representatives from the company pressure businesses to advertise. (1 d ago)

• Saving Money with Kmart Coupon Codes Saving Money with Kmart Coupon Codes
03/26/2010
© Joe+Jeanette Archie You get in your car to go to the mall. That's not far... a few miles. A few miles and 11 stop lights. Usually you get caught at seven or eight of those 11 traffic lights. (Why don't you ever beat the odds and get caught at less than half of them?) Whatever. Thirty-four minutes later you're FINALLY at the mall. That means that with sitting in traffic and waiting at red lights, you averaged what? Fourteen miles and hour? Personally, I ... (1 h ago)

<	March 2010					>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31