Business - 30 December 2010

• Anadarko shares climbing on possible takeover bid
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:49:27 -0800
  Shares of Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: APC) are trading higher this morning on a report in the Daily Mail newspaper of London that BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) might make a bid for the oil-and-gas explorer.
• US stocks open lower despite positive jobs data
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:46:29 -0800
  US stocks modestly lower in early trade on Thursday despite the Department of Labor reported that weekly jobless claims fell sharply last week.
• The Man Behind Oprah
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:40:00 -0800
  David Zaslav is a longtime TV exec, but his new Oprah Winfrey Network will define him--one way or another.
• Gold Price Gains "Entering America's Consciousness" as Traders Target $1500 by April
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:38:04 -0800
  Studying the structure of open interest in US Comex Gold Futures and options, it "points to more volatility and the risk...is very much to the upside," says O'Connell, concluding that professional traders are looking for a Gold Price of $1500 or even $1600 by the start of April.
• Jobless claims drop below 400,000 mark
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:36:44 -0800
  The number of Americans filing for their first week of unemployment benefits fell below 400,000 for the first time in more than two years, pointing to continued improvement in the job market.
• Israel Court Convicts Katsav of Rape, Army Radio Says
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:32:31 -0800
  Israel’s Tel Aviv District Court convicted former president Moshe Katsav on two counts of rape, Army Radio reported.
• Consumers Opening Wallets May Prompt More Corporate Takeovers
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:30:09 -0800
  U.S. consumers put the brakes on dealmaking in 2010. They may be the accelerator next year.
• Storm Delays Reveal Flip Side of Aviation’s Drive for Efficiency
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:26:54 -0800
  The U.S. aviation system’s struggles to recover from snowstorms that closed New York’s airports this week reflect the unintended consequences of airlines’ efforts to squeeze out costs.
• Doctors Getting Rich with Fusion Surgery Debunked by Studies
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:26:52 -0800
  One of the fastest-grown sources of medical costs is spine surgery, whose practitioners top the charts in doctor pay. A look at why
• Three Hedge Funds Got Data From Consultant, U.S. Says
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:26:47 -0800
  A former Primary Global Research LLC expert-networking consultant was charged by U.S. prosecutors in Manhattan with selling inside information to portfolio managers at three unidentified hedge funds.
• Google: Your new phone carrier?
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:25:18 -0800
  From robot cars to wind farms, Google's expansive ambitions have taken it into some surprising corners of the tech field. Here's another it could tackle: Becoming your telephone company.
• Pending Sales of U.S. Existing Homes Probably Rose Last Month
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:23:04 -0800
  The number of contracts to buy previously owned homes rose in November for a fourth time in five months, extending a recovery following a post-credit plunge, economists said before a report today.
• MSCI World Erases Lehman Loss, 17 Months After Emerging Markets
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:22:27 -0800
  Stocks in developed nations took 17 months longer than emerging markets to erase losses spurred by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.’s 2008 bankruptcy, recovering after the Federal Reserve took steps to stimulate growth.
• Rousseff Is No Lula as Brazil Stocks Slump Before Inauguration
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:22:26 -0800
  Brazil’s President-elect Dilma Rousseff, faced with the highest inflation in 23 months and a growing budget deficit, is failing to convince investors that she can match her mentor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s record for spurring economic growth.
• Six more years for Khodorkovsky
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:19:45 -0800
  Russian ex-oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky is jailed for six more years in a verdict criticised internationally as politically motivated.
• Wall Street set for flat open after jobless claims
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:18:33 -0800
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were poised for a flat open on Thursday after data on the labor market was better-than-expected but showed the overall employment picture remained soft.
  
  
  
  
• Jobless claims lowest in more than two years
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:14:36 -0800
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New claims for unemployment benefits dropped more than expected last week to their lowest level in more than two years, suggesting the labor market recovery was gaining...
  
  
  
  
• Ford recalls F-series pickups, Edge, Lincoln MKX
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:08:16 -0800
  DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co is recalling 14,737 new vehicles including its biggest seller, the F-series pickup truck, due to the chance than an electrical short could cause a fire, U.S. federal...
  
  
  
  
• Silver and Palladium prices rise, almost doubling in 2010
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:07:11 -0800
  Silver shot to new 30-year peaks as it benefited from strength in other industrial commodities, putting it on course for an 83 percent gain this year, its strongest performance in nearly 30 years.
• Stocks set for a flat open
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:02:48 -0800
  U.S. stocks were poised for a flat open Thursday as investors await a trio of economic reports on jobs, manufacturing and the housing market.
• 12 Important Financial Steps to Take in 2011
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:59:42 -0800
  With the New Year right around the corner, it is time to start planning for 2011.?? Obviously, there
• U.S. losing IPO pole position: survey
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:59:10 -0800
  LONDON (Reuters) - The United States is losing its appeal as leading global center for stock market flotations, hit by restrictive regulations and competition from other financial centres, a survey...
  
  
  
  
• Carlyle sells $860 million stake in China Pacific: sources
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:55:37 -0800
  HONG KONG (Reuters) - Carlyle Group has sold a 2.5 percent stake worth around $860 million in China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co Ltd , sources said, helping the buyout fund recoup its investment in...
  
  
  
  
• Annuities: your questions answered
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:54:09 -0800
  Annuities convert a lump sum into in an income for life. We explain how they work.
• Top Pre-Market NASDAQ Losers (VOD, ARMH, GOLD, RYAAY, HBAN)
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:47:21 -0800
  The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Vodafone Group, ARM Holdings, Randgold Resources, Ryanair Holdings, Huntington Bancshares, Research In Motion, Baidu, and Art Technology Group.
• 25pc cut in pensions if we start living to 100
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:45:26 -0800
  Annuity rates certain to fall if millions of people live longer, experts say.
• Fashion chain rescued by tycoon
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:45:03 -0800
  Retail tycoon Sir Tom Hunter has led a rescue buy-out of the Cruise fashion chain and ten of its stores.
• Spain to increase minimum wages
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:37:16 -0800
  Spain's minimum wage will increase by 1.3% in 2011, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announces.
• Top Pre-Market NASDAQ Gainers (VISN, XING, ENDP, XOMA, AKRX)
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:32:19 -0800
  The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: VisionChina Media, Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings, XOMA, Akorn, Ossen Innovation, ASML Holding, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Aixtron, and DryShips.
• Insider-Trading Arrest Reveals Web Of Backroom Dealing
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:31:17 -0800
  Expert-networking firms and the hedge funds they serve are getting some unwanted attention.
• Yuan Rises In Value To Dollar Appears Official Chinese Policy
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:25:51 -0800
  Sheng Songcheung, Chief Statistician of the People?s Bank of China, said today in China that a
• France Sends 100,000 Warnings To Illegal Downloaders
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:18:09 -0800
  Three-strikes law goes into force - but will it make a difference?
• Sony sues to block LG from shipping phones to U.S.
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:12:40 -0800
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sony Corp has filed a patent infringement complaint seeking to block LG Electronics Inc from shipping smartphones such as its Rumor 2 model to the United States.
  
  
  
  
• Groupon eyes IPO by end of 2011: report
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:11:55 -0800
  BANGALORE (Reuters) - Online discount coupon provider Groupon Inc is working toward a potential public offering of its common shares by the end of 2011, the New York Times said, citing people briefed...
  
  
  
  
• OPEC output up slightly in December: Reuters survey
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:11:41 -0800
  LONDON (Reuters) - OPEC output has risen slightly in December as Nigerian supply increased, a Reuters survey found on Thursday, indicating the group has yet to boost production substantially in...
  
  
  
  
• Vatican tackles money laundering
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:34:18 -0800
  The Vatican sets up a new authority to fight money laundering as its bank comes under investigation for possible irregularities.
• Groupon may go public in late 2011: NY Times
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:34:14 -0800
  Groupon, the social buying website which recently rejected a $6- billion takeover offer from Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) has attracted the interest of some large institutional investors and is seeking to go public by the end of next year, according to a report in the New York Times.
• World stocks eye two-year high
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:09:41 -0800
  LONDON (Reuters) - World stocks approached their highest level since September 2008 on Thursday on optimism about global growth next year, while the dollar fell on expectations of further money...
  
  
  
  
• Metals from copper to silver hit record highs
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:04:36 -0800
  Copper has hit yet another record high in a strong morning for metals trading, as commodities shook off China's efforts to halt inflation by raising interest rates on Christmas Day.
• US futures edge lower ahead of economic data
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:57:57 -0800
  Futures on major U.S. indices point to modestly lower opening on Thursday ahead of key weekly U.S. jobs data and pending home sales report.
• New Android Trojan Emerges In China
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:55:06 -0800
  California-based start up Lookout Mobile Security said a new Trojan - dubbed "Geinimi' - affecting Android devices has recently emerged in China and displayed botnet-like capabilities.
• Should You Short Defense Stocks?
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:00:00 -0800
  With the financial climate shifting in Washington, the defense budget could lose over $100 billion each year.
• Interactive: The American Trade Engine
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:00:00 -0800
  Americans imported $1.95 trillion worth of goods and services in 2009, and exported $1.57 trillion worth. American crude oil imports totaled $189 billion in 2009--a figure equal to about half the trade deficit. The deficit aside, the United States is a robust exporter of a broad variety of goods and services. Click on the industry colors and lines below to see highlights.
• Chinese Social Network Friends Facebook
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 02:58:59 -0800
  Has Tencent integrated Facebook Authentication into its new social network?
• China defends rare earth quotas as in line with WTO
  Thu, 30 Dec 2010 02:49:00 -0800
  BEIJING (Reuters) - China defended its export controls on rare earth minerals on Thursday, saying that they were in line with World Trade Organization rules, after a government move to slash export...