http://www.comcast.net?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_ AP - ap.online.biz.general News Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:26:23 -0500 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:24:45 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.White.House.Health.Meetings/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.White.House.Health.Meetings 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-787d Top aides to President Barack Obama met early and often with lobbyists, Democratic political strategists and other interests with a stake in the administration's national health care overhaul, White House visitor records obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press show. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:24:14 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Toyota.Floor.Mats/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Toyota.Floor.Mats 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-2c3c Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will replace accelerator pedals on about 4 million recalled vehicles in the United States because the pedals can get stuck in the floor mats, another blow to the reputation of the world's largest automaker. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:19:10 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/23/US.Oil.Prices/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Oil.Prices 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-473f The dollar's sway over energy markets was on full display Wednesday, with oil and gasoline futures rising sharply as the U.S. currency tumbled to 15-month lows. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:15:40 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Hyundai.Seat.Backs/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Hyundai.Seat.Backs 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-7813 The state Supreme Court on Wednesday reinstated an $8 million default judgment against Hyundai Motor Co. in a lawsuit over the backward collapse of a front seat in a 1997 crash that left a man paralyzed. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:15:24 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Walmart.Death/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Walmart.Death 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-75e7 Victoria Rogers had originally planned to make an early stop the day after Thanksgiving last year at the Walmart store in Valley Stream on Long Island. Her last-minute decision against it might have saved her life. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:01:00 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Monsanto.Mine.Comments/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Monsanto.Mine.Comments 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-7643 A proposed Monsanto Co. phosphate mine slated to produce ingredients for Roundup weedkiller generated nearly 7,000 public comments, including from a former U.S. Interior secretary who urges its approval and the Environmental Protection Agency, which wants additional pollution safeguards. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:58:15 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/OK.Energy.Initiative/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_OK.Energy.Initiative 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-763e The University of Oklahoma's plan to power its Norman campus with wind energy was approved Wednesday by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:57:05 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Illinois.Unemployment.Metro/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Illinois.Unemployment.Metro 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-7640 The jobless rate rose in most Illinois metropolitan areas in October. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:52:03 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.International.Paper.Layoffs/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.International.Paper.Layoffs 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-7641 About 120 workers who lost their jobs when a lumber mill in Franklin closed are eligible for federal assistance. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:51:58 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Visudyne.Suit/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Visudyne.Suit 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-7642 Canadian biotechnology company QLT Inc. said Wednesday it will pay Massachusetts General Hospital $20 million to settle a lawsuit over product royalties. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:50:26 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Film.Up.in.the.Air/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Film.Up.in.the.Air 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-763f "Up in the Air" has undergone the rarest of flights: It was delayed for a long time and its course was altered, yet it has arrived right on time. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:49:03 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Black.Friday.Q_A/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Black.Friday.Q_A 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-763c The nation's stores usher in the traditional start of the holiday shopping season Friday with extended hours, freebies and deep discounts on everything from toys to flat-panel TVs. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:47:33 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Computer.Sciences.Contract/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Computer.Sciences.Contract 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-763d Computer Sciences Corp. said Wednesday that it signed a new data center and information technology infrastructure management service agreement with Zurich Financial Services Group. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:47:26 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.AmREIT.REITPlus/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.AmREIT.REITPlus 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-763b AmREIT, a real estate investment trust, said Wednesday that its shareholders and those of its affiliate, REITPlus Inc., have approved a plan to combine the two. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:47:14 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/AF.Somalia.Journalists.Freed/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_AF.Somalia.Journalists.Freed 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-763a A Canadian and Australian journalist were freed on Wednesday after more than a year in captivity, Somali officials said. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:43:34 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Washington.Post.Bureau.Closings/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Washington.Post.Bureau.Closings 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-314a The Washington Post will close its remaining U.S. bureaus in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago at the end of the year to save money and will focus news efforts on covering the nation's capital. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:40:53 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Basic.Black.Friday/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Basic.Black.Friday 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-76a5 As stores prepare for hordes of Black Friday shoppers and mark down high-definition TVs and hot toys, they're also pushing deals on something more mundane — necessities like socks and diapers. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:37:26 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Plastic.Kettles/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Plastic.Kettles 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-2c3b There could be less jingle in the Salvation's Army's hallmark red kettles this season. The charity is testing kettles that take debit and credit cards. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:36:53 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Small.Talk/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Small.Talk 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-76a3 With the end of the year approaching, small business owners should be scheduling meetings to help them plan for a hopefully stronger 2010. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:33:10 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Trump.Casinos/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Trump.Casinos 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-76a4 A Dallas bank that was once allied with Donald Trump in a bid to buy the three Atlantic City Trump casinos out of bankruptcy now wants to buy them on its own. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:25:22 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Illegal.Immigrants.Lawsuit.Missouri/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Illegal.Immigrants.Lawsuit.Missouri 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-76a2 A Missouri trial judge Wednesday ordered the state to pay $152,000 for illegally terminating a janitorial company's state contracts when the firm was targeted by an immigration sting. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:25:15 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Obama.Copenhagen/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Obama.Copenhagen 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-2ae5 President Barack Obama will commit the United States to a goal of substantial cuts in greenhouse gas pollution over the next decade when he travels to a widely anticipated climate conference in Copenhagen next month. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:23:22 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/23/US.Credit.Markets/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Credit.Markets 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-416c Treasury prices mainly rose Wednesday after a strong auction for seven-year notes. Bond prices had slumped earlier in the day on rising stocks and upbeat reports on the economy. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:21:45 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Global.Energy.Bankruptcy/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Global.Energy.Bankruptcy 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-76e9 Global Energy Holdings Group, an Atlanta-based renewable energy company, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:19:36 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Sage.Grouse.Wyoming/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Sage.Grouse.Wyoming 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-76eb Sage grouse numbers are down in northeast Wyoming for a second year in a row and have reached their lowest levels since 1995, according to a state game official. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:18:15 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Rig.Count/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Rig.Count 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-76ea The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. this week has risen by 24 this week to 1,137. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:16:30 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.SWEPCO.Rate.Hike.Arkansas/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.SWEPCO.Rate.Hike.Arkansas 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-76e8 Southwestern Electric Power Co. has won regulatory approval for two rate hikes for its Arkansas customers. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:14:24 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Cable.Nielsens/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Cable.Nielsens 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-76e6 Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by the Nielsen Co. for the week of Nov. 16-22. Day and start time (EST) are in parentheses: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:12:04 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.GM.Canada.Factory/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.GM.Canada.Factory 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-76e7 General Motors Co. will build a new Buick midsize car at its assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario, the company announced Wednesday. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:10:37 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Canadian.National.Possible.Strike/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Canadian.National.Possible.Strike 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-7766 Canadian National Railway Co., one of North America's largest railroads, says it received notice from the union representing its locomotive engineers in Canada that they plan to go on strike Saturday. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:06:10 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/24/US.GM.Saab/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.GM.Saab 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-38d0 General Motors Co. has not talked with any other potential buyers for the Swedish Saab brand since a specialty car maker pulled out of a deal to buy it this week, a person briefed on GM's plans said Wednesday. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:03:01 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Earns.Deere/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Earns.Deere 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-2ba3 Deere and Co. says sales of tractors, combines and other agricultural mainstays slumped in the fourth quarter and it expects farmers to remain cautious about new equipment purchases because of the weak global economy. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:00:41 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Lobbying.for.Immigration/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Lobbying.for.Immigration 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-7768 Two fledgling political action committees that support allowing some illegal immigrants to become citizens are raising more money than their immigration-control counterparts, signaling a possible fundraising shift ahead of next year's congressional races. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:48:33 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.JDS.Uniphase.Mover/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.JDS.Uniphase.Mover 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-7767 Shares of JDS Uniphase Corp. headed higher Wednesday after a Citi Investment Research analyst started coverage of the communications equipment maker with a "Buy" rating. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:41:53 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Weyerhaeuser.Offer/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Weyerhaeuser.Offer 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-77ac Lumber and wood products producer Weyerhaeuser Co. said Wednesday that $318.4 million in debt has been tendered in an offer capped at $500 million. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:19:26 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Holiday.Shopping.Notebook/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Holiday.Shopping.Notebook 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-7812 The season's traditional kickoff isn't quite here, but already some winners have emerged, from electronic book readers and hot pink netbooks to shimmery tops and the "snood," a hood-scarf hybrid that resembles a babushka. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:10:10 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Saks.Rating/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Saks.Rating 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-7811 Fitch Ratings maintained the issuer default rating of Saks Inc. Wednesday and reaffirmed its outlook at negative. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:09:41 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Bank.of.America.CEO.Search/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Bank.of.America.CEO.Search 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-7810 Bank of America is having such a hard time finding a new CEO that some analysts are wondering if Ken Lewis might have to stay past his planned Dec. 31 departure. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:04:05 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Fed.Conflicts.of.Interest/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Fed.Conflicts.of.Interest 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-2837 The Federal Reserve on Wednesday tightened the conflict of interest restrictions governing the boards of directors of its 12 regional banks. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:01:10 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.EnerSys.Personnel/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.EnerSys.Personnel 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-787e Industrial battery maker EnerSys Inc. said its chief financial officer and executive vice president of finance, Michael Philion, has elected to retire from the company. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:52:24 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Missouri.Smart.Grid/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Missouri.Smart.Grid 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-787b The federal government is providing $32.5 million in stimulus funds to two large-scale Missouri projects looking to improve the efficiency of delivering electricity to homes and businesses. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:51:05 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Renewable.Energy.Massachusetts/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Renewable.Energy.Massachusetts 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-787c Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a bill designed to streamline the state's push for renewable energy. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:41:09 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Earnings.Calendar/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Earnings.Calendar 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-5c8728f0:1252c70aea7:-79f0 Major companies tentatively scheduled to report quarterly earnings next week: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:36:13 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Thanksgiving.Travel/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Thanksgiving.Travel 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-2d55 Millions of Americans got an early jump on their Thanksgiving travel Wednesday, with many opting to drive or take trains and buses instead of shelling out more money for flights amid a sour economy still hitting household budgets hard. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:31:35 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Par.Pharma.Senior.Notes/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Par.Pharma.Senior.Notes 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-283d Par Pharmaceuticals Cos. said Wednesday it bought $30.8 million in senior notes through a tender offer. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:21:16 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Bankruptcy.Filings/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Bankruptcy.Filings 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-283c Bankruptcy filings in federal courts jumped by more than one-third this year, as businesses and individuals struggled to regain their footing in a weakened economy. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:21:09 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/23/Dollar/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_Dollar 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-47f5 The dollar slid to a 15-month low against the euro Wednesday as investors fled the safe haven currency on upbeat U.S. economic reports, while markets absorbed the U.S. Federal Reserve's indication that interest rates will remain at super-low levels for a while yet and that it was not overly concerned by the U.S. currency's decline. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:15:54 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.WSP.Holdings.Buyback/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.WSP.Holdings.Buyback 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-283b WSP Holdings Ltd., a Chinese manufacturer of oil and natural gas exploration and drilling products, said Wednesday its board has approved a repurchase program of up to $10 million in American Depositary shares. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:15:01 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Sensata.IPO/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Sensata.IPO 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-283a Sensata Technologies Holding BV, which makes engineered sensors and controls for manufacturers in the automotive, aircraft and other industries, plans to raise up to $500 million in an initial public offering. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:14:21 -0500 http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2009/11/25/US.Idera.Pharma.Partnerships/?cid=rssfeed&attr=article_news_finance_US.Idera.Pharma.Partnerships 30c13f3b44bbe3d1:-3696644f:1250ca3ef75:-2839 Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Wednesday announced the end of a research partnership with Novartis AG, but said Merck & Co. is extending its work with Idera for another year.