Employers to Make Deeper Cuts in 2010 Health Coverage
by Martha Lynn Carver

Look for employers to cut more deeply than ever into health care coverage for their workers in 2010. Companies are getting walloped by higher than expected costs just when they can least afford it.

Obama's New Antitrust Rules Have Big, Powerful Companies Sweating
by Tamara Lytle

The Obama administration has swept away policy after policy from the Bush administration, and the top antitrust regulator, Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney, made it clear in her speech that she's coming in with a very big broom.

Varney repudiated the Bush administration's more laissez-faire approach to monopoly cases in a forceful speech to a liberal think tank and then in another one to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A report issued last year by the Bush administration on monopoly regulation is no longer government policy, she warned judges, lawyers, and companies.

"As antitrust enforcers, we cannot sit on the sidelines any longer, both in terms of enforcing the antitrust laws and contribution to sound competition policy as part of our nation's economic strategy," she said in her speech.

Eurozone retail sales post fall
Retail sales in the eurozone fell more than expected in May, a further sign of the slowing economy, data shows.

Rogue trades cost oil broker $10m
A rogue trader at a London-based oil brokerage causes his employer to lose $10m (£6m) after making unauthorised trades.

Construction sees sharp slowdown
The UK construction sector is expected to shrink by 16% in 2009, according to an industry body.

Sahara gas pipeline gets go-ahead
Nigeria, Niger and Algeria agree to build a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline across the Sahara.

US job losses worse than expected
The number of jobs lost in the US last month came in at 467,000, which is much more than had been expected.

IMF refuses new aid for Zimbabwe
The International Monetary Fund tells Zimbabwe it will not provide more funds until it has settled its existing $1bn debts.

Pension view 'not radical enough'
The author of an influential report into the future of pensions in the UK tells the BBC his proposals were not radical enough.

Europe nears gas pipeline accord
Five European governments are due to sign an agreement on 13 July for a major new pipeline from Central Asia.

California in 'fiscal emergency'
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declares a fiscal emergency in California to deal with a $24.3bn (£14.5bn) deficit.

Indian growth of 7% 'is possible'
Economic growth of 7% in India is possible this year, according to a report from the country's finance ministry.

Eurozone unemployment up again
The unemployment rate in the 16 countries using the euro rose to 9.5% in May, according to official EU statistics.

Euro interest rates kept on hold
The European Central Bank keeps its key interest rate unchanged at 1% following its monthly meeting.

More defaults expected on loans
Defaults on loans have risen and are expected to increase in the coming months, a Bank of England survey finds.

Signs of recovery for UK industry
UK manufacturing shrank at its slowest pace for a year in June, a survey says, adding to hopes the worst of the recession is over.

Irish joblessness at 13-year high
The Irish Republic's unemployment rate hit 11.9% in June, the highest since April 1996, official figures show.

Business mood improves in Japan
Business confidence in Japan has improved for the first time in two-and-a-half years, says a key Bank of Japan survey.

Russians crack down on gambling
A new law comes into effect in Russia, confining gambling to four far-flung regions of the country.

Money laundering risk to football
Football is being used as vehicle for money laundering, according to an international agency responsible for tracking the proceeds of crime.

India's exports continue to fall
India's exports fell in May for the eighth month in a row as overseas demand for goods continued to shrink in the global recession.

VAT cut lifts French restaurants
The cost of eating in French cafes and restaurants should be set to fall as the government cuts VAT to boost spending.

Workplaces set to get 'smarter'
Technology will ensure that the office of the future is full of sensors that help workers be very productive, suggests a report.

Chinese manufacturing increases
China's manufacturing sector grew in June, at a slightly faster pace than in the previous month.

US judge overturns Stanford bail
Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford is ordered to remain in jail until his fraud trial begins, as a US judge overturns a bail ruling.

Eurozone inflation turns negative
The eurozone's annual rate of inflation turned negative in June for the first time since the currency started in 1999.

Sharp contraction for UK economy
The UK economy contracted 2.4% in the first quarter of 2009, a decline not exceeded in 51 years, the latest data shows.

Billions in virtual cash stolen in online robbery
Details emerge of why billions in virtual cash disappeared from a virtual bank in Eve Online.

How to find property in England and Wales for under £40,000
The most affordable property in some areas of England and Wales is on the market for less than £40,000, a survey suggests.

Feed the poor
Welfare costs to strain India's budget

Shrinking fast
How this recession compares to the 1980s and 1990s

Rogue trading
Can one individual have the clout to move markets?

Burning out
Budget busts mean damp squibs in the US on 4 July

Back to school
Job insecurity sparks 'Plan B' career hunts

Stephanomics
UK plc: Finding some reasons to be cheerful

BT offers holidays for pay cuts
BT offers staff the chance of long holidays in return for a big pay cut in a bid to reduce costs during the economic downturn.

Rogue trades cost oil broker $10m
A rogue trader at a London-based oil brokerage causes his employer to lose $10m (£6m) after making unauthorised trades.

BA to cut spending by one fifth
British Airways says it is to reduce capital spending by 20% as it faces falling passenger numbers.

Latest news, explainers and advice on coping with a recession

Darling issues warning to bankers
Chancellor Alistair Darling warns bankers it would be "disastrous" to repeat past mistakes - especially excessive bonuses.

E.On cutting gas prices by 3.3%
Energy firm E.On will cut its gas prices for domestic customers by 3.3% - an average of £25 a year - from Saturday.

Mandelson hints at Vauxhall loans
The UK is prepared to make loans or loan guarantees to help push through the sale of Vauxhall, says Lord Mandelson.

Mortgage repayment quickens
Homeowners in the UK paid back a record amount of their outstanding mortgage debt during the first three months of 2009.

Europe nears gas pipeline accord
Five European governments are due to sign an agreement on 13 July for a major new pipeline from Central Asia.

Union's Tesco challenge defeated
Tesco shareholders vote against a call to end the alleged exploitation of workers in firms supplying meat to the supermarket group.

How to find property in England and Wales for under £40,000
The most affordable property in some areas of England and Wales is on the market for less than £40,000, a survey suggests.

Korea change
How a British beer ended up as Pride of Pyongyang

Feed the poor
Welfare costs to strain India's budget

Rogue trading
Can one individual have the clout to move markets?

Man's world?
Encouraging more women to work on building sites

Burning out
Budget busts mean damp squibs in the US on 4 July

For richer...
Is this the green light for pre-nuptial agreements?

Eurozone retail sales post fall
Retail sales in the eurozone fell more than expected in May, a further sign of the slowing economy, data shows.

More backing for Rio cash-raising
A Rio Tinto rights issue sees strong take-up from existing holders of its Australian-listed shares - after similar UK success.

Regulators eye Google book deal
US anti-trust regulators are to examine Google's $125m deal with book publishers to settle copyright issues, reports say.

Construction sees slowdown
The UK construction sector is expected to shrink by 16% in 2009, according to an industry body.

Japan rethinks silent hybrid cars
Japan considers adding noise-making devices to quiet hybrid cars to improve safety for blind pedestrians.

GM awaits US ruling on sale plans
A new General Motors could emerge from bankruptcy protection soon if a US judge approves its plans to sell assets.

Go-ahead for Sahara gas pipeline
Nigeria, Niger and Algeria agree to build a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline across the Sahara.

Madoff's luxury penthouse seized
US marshalls seize the $7m Manhattan penthouse of imprisoned fraudster Bernard Madoff, forcing his wife to move.

Vodafone in deal with Carphone
Carphone Warehouse is to restart selling Vodafone mobile phone contracts, three years after Vodafone pulled the products.

Credit card cheques crackdown
Unwanted credit card cheques will be banned and a new post created to help consumers get refunds, the government says.

US job losses worse than thought
The number of jobs lost in the US last month came in at 467,000, which is much more than had been expected.

IMF refuses Zimbabwe new aid
The International Monetary Fund tells Zimbabwe it will not provide more funds until it has settled its existing $1bn debts.

Pension view 'not radical enough'
The author of an influential report into the future of pensions in the UK tells the BBC his proposals were not radical enough.

Pensions 'threat' to Royal Mail
Failure to resolve the Royal Mail's huge pension deficit threatens the UK's universal postal service, it has been claimed.

More defaults expected on loans
Defaults on loans have risen and are expected to increase in the coming months, a Bank of England survey finds.

California in 'fiscal emergency'
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declares a fiscal emergency in California to deal with a $24.3bn (£14.5bn) deficit.

Indian growth of 7% 'is possible'
Economic growth of 7% in India is possible this year, according to a report from the country's finance ministry.

Eurozone unemployment up again
The unemployment rate in the 16 countries using the euro rose to 9.5% in May, according to official EU statistics.

RBS boss to delay selling shares
Royal Bank of Scotland says chief executive Stephen Hester will not cash in shares worth up to £3.4m for a further two years.

Warm weather helping Greene King
Brewer Greene King sees its annual profits fall 62%, but says recent trading had been boosted by the hot weather.

New sales falls for US car makers
US vehicle sales dropped in June, but there were signs of stabilisation as Ford saw its smallest decline in a year.

Robert Peston's blog: Keep up-to-date with the latest business analysis
For the latest business analysis

Guidelines for financial journalists

Neighbor’s Shadow Still Large in Slovakia
Slovakia still exudes uncertainty 16 years after its “velvet divorce” from the Czech Republic.

Employment Report Sours the Market
A grim report on unemployment on Thursday let the air out of the stock market, which ended a shortened trading week on Wall Street with sizable losses.

That Long, Long Road From Idea to Success
Four years after it was founded, GreenPrint Technologies has struggled to sell corporations on its software that saves on printing expenses.

For Banks, Wads of Cash and Loads of Trouble
Bulk deposits from brokers fueled growth at smaller banks, but also led some to the brink, and beyond.

For Australian Winemakers, More Turns Out to Be Less
Australian winemakers are selling more wine but making less money per bottle.

European Union Proposes to Police Derivatives Trading
The European Commission said moving trades onto exchanges would improve price transparency and strengthen risk management.

Europe Tests Banks, and Worries
Germany and Spain are reluctant to publish the results, but other nations favor releasing an overview of the data.

British Study Madoff Payments to Austrian Banker
Prosecutors are investigating reports that companies owned by the banker, Sonja Kohn, received more than $40 million.

Internet Companies and Ad Agencies Go From Old Enemies to New Friends
The slowing growth in online advertising is pushing traditional ad agencies and Internet companies to work together.

Spotlight: Caution Kept Icelandic Bank Clear of the Worst
Margeir Petursson, the chairman and founder of MP Bank, saw the looming crisis long before others did.

A Subdued Trading Day in Asia and Europe
Trading has been subdued as the United States has a day off and many in London focused on the Wimbledon tennis semifinals.

Green Power Takes Root in the Chinese Desert
Beijing is steering a push toward wind and solar power, while the U.S. is just starting.

Joblessness Hits 9.5%, Deflating Recovery Hopes
The pace of job losses quickened last month with the American economy shedding 467,000 jobs, as unemployment rose to its highest level in 26 years.

S.E.C. May Reinstate Rules for Short-Selling Stocks
They have been reviled as the bad hats of Wall Street, nefarious traders who cashed in on the market collapse and, some insist, helped precipitate it.

Weekend Decision Is Possible in G.M. Sale
Lawyers for creditors opposing the G.M. bankruptcy plan say the government’s July 10 deadline is “not credible.”

Exelon Makes a Higher Offer in Its Long Pursuit of NRG
Exelon raised its bid for NRG to $7.43 billion, citing cost savings and NRG’s recent acquisition of Reliant Energy’s retail business.

Markets in China Fly High Once More
In a rise reminiscent of an earlier expansion, before the bubble burst in 2008, the Shanghai composite index is up 68 percent so far this year.

Europe’s Central Bank Holds Rate Steady
Having lowered its main refinancing rate to 1 percent, the bank appears to have adopted a wait-and-see approach to additional stimulus.

U.S. Inquiry Is Confirmed Into Google Books Deal
The Justice Department confirmed it was conducting an antitrust investigation into a settlement of a class action between Google and groups representing authors and publishers.

Europe Releases $1.7 Billion to Ailing Latvia
The European Commission said that it would unblock the funds to help the Baltic nation head off a collapse of its economy and maintain its currency link to the euro.

Unauthorized Trades Cost London Oil Broker Millions
An employee at the London oil broker made the transactions, which also contributed to a spike in prices.

Johnson & Johnson Buys Access to an Alzheimer’s Drug
The American health care giant will pay $1 billion to the Irish drug maker Elan to gain access to Alzheimer’s disease treatments.

Sanofi Drug for Heart Rhythm Disorder Is Approved
Sanofi plans to begin marketing Multaq, generically known as dronedarone, in the United States this summer.

Strong Demand for Rio Tinto's $15.2 Billion Rights Offering
Rio Tinto said shareholders had taken up for almost all its London shares being offered, and Chinalco, Rio’s top shareholder, took up its full entitlement.

In Drive for Wind Power, Man Who Led Coal Plant Seeks Atonement
Min Deqing says he delayed installing pollution controls at his coal plant, and hopes to redeem himself by promoting clean energy.

Marshals Take Control of Madoff Apartment
Federal marshals took possession of the $7 million Manhattan apartment of the disgraced financier Bernard L. Madoff, an action that has forced his wife to move.

Chicago Computer Problem Stalls United Airlines Flights
United Airlines struggled to repair a computer problem at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, causing delays that rippled across the country.

Suicide Warnings for 2 Anti-Smoking Drugs
Federal drug regulators warned that patients should be watched closely for signs of serious mental illness.

Clock Ticking on Accord to Sell Good G.M. Assets
General Motors must complete the sale of its best assets to a new government-financed company by July 10 or risk losing its financing, a senior Treasury official said.

Money Worries Kill A-List Film at Last Minute
In a sign of growing caution in the industry, production was halted on a high-profile film starring Brad Pitt just days before shooting was to begin.

Advertising: Industry Tightens Its Standards for Tracking Web Surfers
Before the government steps in, a group of advertisers is announcing a set of stricter rules for the data collected on consumers when they surf the Web or shop online.

In Death as in Life, Michael Jackson Sets Music Sales Records
In total, 422,000 copies of Mr. Jackson’s albums were sold in the week that ended on Sunday as fans snapped up everything in sight.

Facebook to Offer New Features to Allow Users to Control Privacy of Information
The company is testing new controls that will allow members to specify which groups or individuals are able to see each text update, photo or video they post on the site.

Finding Debt a Bigger Hurdle Than Bar Exam
Robert Bowman, an aspiring lawyer, was refused entry to the New York bar because of $400,000 in student debt.

Europe Tests Its Banks but May Guard Results
Political figures in Europe remain unsure about the wisdom of naming weak banks.

Trustee’s Total of Madoff Losses Nears $3 Billion
With thousands of claims still pending, the documented cash losses in the Madoff Ponzi scheme are nearly $3 billion, according to the bankruptcy trustee overseeing the claims process.

Stanford Executive to Plead Guilty, Lawyer Says
James Davis, the main lieutenant to R. Allen Stanford, plans to plead guilty to fraud and conspiracy after reaching a deal to cooperate against the Texas billionaire, his lawyer said.

Airline Has Nothing to Hide. Really.
The in-flight safety instructional video and a companion ad series show employees of Air New Zealand unclothed, concealed only by body-painted uniforms and strategically placed props.

Exiled by Russia: Casinos and Jobs
Russia is closing every legal casino this week, throwing hundreds of thousands of people out of work.

Pillow Fights at the Four Seasons
The owners of Four Seasons hotels want to cut back in bad times, but the company is resisting, to protect the brand.

In India, Central Banker Played It Safe
The former governor of the Reserve Bank of India is taking a victory lap as the country’s economic growth continues and its banks survive without government help.

Paris Journal: As a Meal Tax Shrinks, Restaurants Hope to Gain
The tax on restaurant meals in France is finally dropping, but not many restaurant and cafe owners think it will make a big difference to their businesses.

Tourism to Bring $110 Billion to Asia Pacific by 2009
Tourism should bring the Asia Pacific region $110 billion in revenues over the next three years, with much of that coming from travelers in the region, according according to the report from the Pacific Asia Travel Association or PATA, reports AP.

US Agency Revenue Up 8.8% to $28.2 Billion
U.S. agencies offering digital marketing services led the charge as overall agency revenue grew 8.8% to $28.2 billion in 2006, reports AdAge. Billings from traditional advertising and media were up just 4.2%, reaching $13.1 billion. Income from marketing offerings rose from 13.1% to hit $15.1 billion. 

Ethanol Demand Boosts Corn Planting 15% in 2007, Biggest Since 1944
Corn planting will be up 15% this year to 90.5 million acres and 12.1 million more acres than in 2006,  the biggest U.S. corn planting since 1944, boosted by high demand from the ethanol industry and strong export sales, reports AP, citing the U.S. Department of Agriculture's annual prospective plantings report. 

Easter Spending Expected to Hit $14 billion
American consumers are eager to celebrate Easter with their family and friends, with the tTotal holiday spending estimated to reach $14.37 billion, according to NRF’s 2007 Easter Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. This year, shoppers who are planning to celebrate Easter (79.5%) are expected to spend an average of $135.07, up 11% from last year’s $121.72 per person. 

$22B US Generic Drugs Industry by the Numbers
With the new Democratic Congress promising to lower health care costs, generic drug makers take on brand-name rivals to level the playing field, reports AP. Here are some key metrics and stats on the generic drugs market: 

U.S. Sales of Hybrid Vehicles Jump 28% to 254,545 in 2006; 1.5% of US Vehicles
U.S. sales of gas-electric hybrid vehicles rose 28% to 254,545 in 2006, but the rate of growth is starting to slow, according to a report by R.L. Polk & Co.  Hybrids accounted for about 1.5% of U.S. vehicle sales last year.  Toyota Prius led the segment with 42.8% of new registrations. 

12th-Graders Math Proficiency Falls; Reading Skills Lowest Since 1992: Study
The average U.S. 12th-grader reading score in 2006 was the lowest since 1992, while less than one-quarter (23 percent) of 12th-graders scored at or above the Proficient level in the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), according to The Nation’s Report Card. 

Venture-backed companies in US Account for 17% of GDP and 10 million Jobs: Study
U.S. companies that received venture capital from 1970-2005 accounted for 10 million jobs and $2.1 trillion in revenues in 2005, according to a study conducted by Global Insight for the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). This represents 9% of the total private sector work force and 16.6% of total U.S. GDP. Venture investment itself represents just 0.2% of U.S. GDP.  

Private Equity Bonus Scorecard 2006: Dealmaker
Private-equity funds continued to increase their dominant position on both ends of the domestic markets; they accounted for roughly one-fourth of M&A activity and sponsored more than 40% of all IPOs, with the time between purchase and sale often shrinking to mere months, reports Dealmaker magazine. 

Pre-money Valuation of VC-backed Startups Reaches $18.5 million in 2006, Highest Since 2000
The median pre-money valuation of U.S. venture-backed companies reached $18.5 million in 2006, compared to $15 million in 2005, according to VentureOne data. This is the highest median valuation since the peak of $25.1 million in 2000. 

Charitable Giving to Colleges Grew to a Record $28 billion; Top 20 Colleges and Sources
Charitable contributions to higher education grew 9.4% to a record $28 billion in the last academic year, according to a report by the Council for Aid to Education. Contributions to Stanford University rose 50% to top $911.6 million, the largest amount ever raised by a U.S. university in a year, according to the report.

ETF Assets Jump 1.1% to $422 billion in January; Set to Climb 40% in 2007 
The net amount of money invested in exchange traded funds climbed 1.1% or $4.5 billion in January to $422 billion, according to State Street Global Advisors, reports IBD. 

Affluent North Americans to Reach 37.7 million and $19 trillion in Assets by 2010
The population of affluent and wealthy individuals in North America will grow 24% to 37.7 million by 2010 from from 30.4 million in 2006, according to Celent. The report expects this affluent group to control over $19 trillion in assets by 2010. 

Identity Theft Loss Falls 12% to $49 billion in 2006
Americans lost about $49.3 billion in 2006 to identity theft criminals, a 11.5% decline from $55.7 billion identity theft loss in 2005, on increased vigilance among consumers and businesses, according to The 2007 Identity Fraud Survey Report by Javelin Strategy & Research. 

Rogue trades cost oil broker $10m
A rogue trader at a London-based oil brokerage causes his employer to lose $10m (£6m) after making unauthorised trades.

Venezuela assumes control of bank
Venezuela's government formally takes control of the country's third largest bank - the Spanish-owned Banco de Venezuela.

More backing for Rio cash-raising
A Rio Tinto rights issue sees strong take-up from existing holders of its Australian-listed shares - after similar UK success.

Making sense of the recession: latest news, analysis and how the crisis affects you

BA to cut spending by one fifth
British Airways says it is to reduce capital spending by 20% as it faces falling passenger numbers.

Eurozone retail sales post fall
Retail sales in the eurozone fell more than expected in May, a further sign of the slowing economy, data shows.

Europe nears gas pipeline accord
Five European governments are due to sign an agreement on 13 July for a major new pipeline from Central Asia.

Mandelson hints at Vauxhall loans
The UK is prepared to make loans or loan guarantees to help push through the sale of Vauxhall, says Lord Mandelson.

Regulators eye Google book deal
US anti-trust regulators are to examine Google's $125m deal with book publishers to settle copyright issues, reports say.

GM awaits US ruling on sale plans
A new General Motors could emerge from bankruptcy protection soon if a US judge approves its plans to sell assets.

Billions in virtual cash stolen in online robbery
Details emerge of why billions in virtual cash disappeared from a virtual bank in Eve Online.

Nigerian gas firm Nigaz gets web all of a twitter about 'racist name'
A new joint-venture energy firm between Nigeria and Russia has got online communities twittering, after the governments choose the name Nigaz.

Robert Peston's blog: Keep up-to-date with the latest business analysis
For the latest business analysis

Guidelines for financial journalists

Man's world?
Encouraging more women to work on building sites

Feed the poor
Welfare costs to strain India's budget

Rogue trading
Can one individual have the clout to move markets?

Lost tunes
Rare music sleuths make a monkey of the major labels

Burning out
Budget busts mean damp squibs in the US on 4 July

Mexico's woes
US downturn and swine flu batter Mexico's economy

Construction sees sharp slowdown
The UK construction sector is expected to shrink by 16% in 2009, according to an industry body.

Sahara gas pipeline gets go-ahead
Nigeria, Niger and Algeria agree to build a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline across the Sahara.

US job losses worse than expected
The number of jobs lost in the US last month came in at 467,000, which is much more than had been expected.

IMF refuses new aid for Zimbabwe
The International Monetary Fund tells Zimbabwe it will not provide more funds until it has settled its existing $1bn debts.

Union's Tesco challenge defeated
Tesco shareholders vote against a call to end the alleged exploitation of workers in firms supplying meat to the supermarket group.

Japan rethinks silent hybrid cars
Japan considers adding noise-making devices to quiet hybrid cars to improve safety for blind pedestrians.

RBS boss to delay selling shares
Royal Bank of Scotland says chief executive Stephen Hester will not cash in shares worth up to £3.4m for a further two years.

Pensions 'threat' to Royal Mail
Failure to resolve the Royal Mail's huge pension deficit threatens the UK's universal postal service, it has been claimed.

E.On cutting gas prices by 3.3%
Energy firm E.On will cut its gas prices for domestic customers by 3.3% - an average of £25 a year - from Saturday.

Pension view 'not radical enough'
The author of an influential report into the future of pensions in the UK tells the BBC his proposals were not radical enough.

Mortgage repayment quickens
Homeowners in the UK paid back a record amount of their outstanding mortgage debt during the first three months of 2009.

Crackdown on credit card cheques
Unwanted credit card cheques will be banned and a new post created to help consumers get refunds, the government says.

SAB reaches black ownership deal
SABMiller is to allocate 10% of shares in its South African unit to black investors, employees and community groups.

China's 'huge Zimbabwe loan'
China agrees to give Zimbabwe a loan of $950m (£573m) to help revive its wrecked economy, says Prime Minister Tsvangirai.

Hitachi to sell batteries to GM
Hitachi says it will supply lithium-ion batteries to General Motors to power the company's hybrid cars from next year.

California in 'fiscal emergency'
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declares a fiscal emergency in California to deal with a $24.3bn (£14.5bn) deficit.

Rio Tinto cash-raising supported
Rio Tinto announces that there has been strong support from shareholders for its huge cash-raising exercise.

Chinese manufacturing increases
China's manufacturing sector grew in June, at a slightly faster pace than in the previous month.

EU blamed for German bank woes
A German minister blames the European Union for problems in the state Landesbank banking system.

Euro interest rates kept on hold
The European Central Bank keeps its key interest rate unchanged at 1% following its monthly meeting.

EADS wins giant Saudi border deal
Defence and aerospace group EADS wins a contract worth an estimated $2.27bn (£1.4bn) to help Saudi Arabia improve its border security.

Oil companies reject Iraq's terms
Several of the companies bidding for contracts to operate Iraq's oil and gas fields reject the oil ministry's terms.

Indian growth of 7% 'is possible'
Economic growth of 7% in India is possible this year, according to a report from the country's finance ministry.

India's exports continue to fall
India's exports fell in May for the eighth month in a row as overseas demand for goods continued to shrink in the global recession.

Live broadcast of solar eclipse planned
The first total solar eclipse that can be seen from Japan in 46 years will occur on July 22. It will only be visible from such southern islands as Amami-Oshima, but efforts are under way to broadcast the celestial spectacle to other parts of the nation. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, blocking almost all of the sun from view. (Yomiuri)

5 years sought for ex-Nova president
Prosecutors on Friday demanded five years' imprisonment for Nozomu Sahashi, the former president of the failed language school chain Nova Corp., for professional embezzlement involving misuse of the reserve funds of an employees' mutual aid organization. According to the indictment, Sahashi, 57--acting in conspiracy with a 50-year-old Nova executive in charge of finance--had about 320 million yen transferred from the employee organization's funds to a bank account of a Nova affiliate in July 2007, so as to use the money to keep the firm afloat. (Yomiuri)

8 firms eye fuel-cell car energy supply network
Eight companies have agreed to launch a joint effort to develop equipment and facilities to supply hydrogen to fuel-cell vehicles, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are regarded as highly eco-friendly because they emit no carbon dioxide. The group aims to commercialize the supply of hydrogen to fuel battery-powered vehicles before 2015. (Yomiuri)

Japan lodges protest against N. Korea over missile launches
The Japanese government lodged a protest against North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing over its launching of multiple ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Saturday, Japanese officials said. Japan is set to coordinate with countries such as the United States and South Korea in urging other members of the United Nations to steadily implement the measures in the U.N. Security Council's sanctions resolutions against Pyongyang as the country's actions are in violation of them, according to the officials. (AP)

High school student arrested over classmate's stabbing death
A high school student was arrested Saturday over the death of his classmate in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, after admitting to stabbing him, police said. The 17-year-old senior was apprehended at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder as he admitted to stabbing Tomoya Hamada, 18, on his abdomen and back at a train station shortly after 8 a.m., they said. Hamada was brought to a nearby hospital, at which he was pronounced dead around 90 minutes later. (AP)

Chinese with annual income over 250,000 yuan can tour Japan
Starting in July, Japan will issue tourist visas to Chinese individual tourists who meet specified conditions. Chinese tourists can enjoy "freely touring Japan" as early as July 8. The policy will initially be implemented in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, then following a one-year pilot implementation period it will expand throughout Chinese mainland. (People's Daily)

Knife law tough shuck for oysters
Be careful next time you're about to shuck a fresh oyster at a restaurant - you may be using a knife considered illegal under the Firearm and Sword Control Law. Possessing certain types of oyster knives will be punishable from Sunday, after the moratorium expires on a revision to the law that was implemented in January. (Japan Times)

Young adults turn to home sharing
Rather than forking out money to rent their own apartments, young people struggling during the economic downturn are increasingly moving in with friends or acquaintances as they try to make ends meet. Many of these young adults used to place priority on having a good time, but are now unemployed or working in low-paying jobs. They appear to be moving toward cheaper, shared accommodation, and with it, finding emotional support in these bleak times. (Yomiuri)

Japanese scientists to breed 'super tuna'
Japanese scientists will have bred a new "super-tuna" within a decade that will be stronger, more resistant to disease and taste better than the bluefin presently in the oceans. Stocks of tuna have declined by as much as 90 per cent in some waters and the World Wildlife Fund has warned that the Atlantic bluefin will have been wiped out within three years unless radical measures are taken to protect stocks. (telegraph.co.uk)

If Paul Krugman were Japanese
Narika Hama, a professor of economics at Doshisha University in Kyoto, is a sort of Japanese version of Paul Krugman -- if Paul Krugman were a woman with a purple rinse, pink jacket, funky blue jeans, black patent leather pumps, and a vague British accent. Hama, who lived in the United Kingdom as a child in the 1960s, is something of an intellectual celebrity in Japan. (NewsWeek)

Japan's 1st case of Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 influenza detected
The health ministry said Thursday it has detected a genetic mutation of the new H1N1 strain of influenza A that develops resistance to Tamiflu, marking the first case of the new influenza in Japan that did not respond to the anti-flu drug. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said the Tamiflu-resistant virus was detected in a woman in her 40s infected with the new influenza in Osaka Prefecture. (AP)

Japanese love hotels boom in the recession
In Japan, where the global financial meltdown has especially taken its toll, not all industries are languishing. In fact, one of the most notably resilient industries seems to be 'love hotels' (the kind where one may pay by the hour, rather than by the night), according to CNN. One such establishment, the Bonita Hotel in Isawa, currently enjoys a 257 percent occupancy rate. And the industry as a whole is estimated to take in $40 billion per year. (huffingtonpost.com)

NASA, Japan map most of planet
CNN's goinggreen blog has an entry today on the new digital topographical map created by NASA and Japan. It's the most complete map to date. The map was built from 1.3 million images taken by NASA's Terra satellite. CNN says the images were taken by a Japanese imaging instrument called the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer, or ASTER. (baltimoresun.com)

Reputations on line as Japan pulls out stops to win rail contracts
A global boom in infrastructure projects worth more than £200 billion has prompted Japan to launch its most expansive charm offensive in the international game of railway diplomacy. From Washington to Ho Chi Minh City, via Delhi and Dubai, Japan has embarked on an unprecedented frenzy of salesmanship. (timesonline.co.uk)

Japan claims disputed islands
Japan's parliament on Friday passed a law asserting sovereignty over four islands at the centre of a dispute with Russia, adding to tensions as the countries' leaders prepare to meet. A law calling the four Kuril islands an 'integral part' of Japan was unanimously passed by the opposition-controlled upper house after the lower house also approved it in May when the bill sparked a protest from Moscow. (Straits Times)

Japan may add noise to quiet hybrid cars for safety
Japan's near-silent hybrid cars have been called dangerous by the vision-impaired and some users, prompting a government review on whether to add a noise-making device, according to an official. The petrol-electric vehicles, which in recent months have become the country's top-selling autos, hum along almost soundlessly when they are switched from fuel to battery mode. (AFP)

Japan still a bridge too far on many fronts
The global economic landscape may see a milestone change this year, for China is widely regarded to replace Japan as the second largest economy in the next few months. But for that to happen China's economy has to grow by 6 to 8 percent, while Japan's has to contract further. Last year, China's GDP was $4.22 trillion against Japan's $4.84 trillion. And even though China's GDP may overtake Japan's, the two economies have major quantitative and qualitative differences. (China Daily)

Japan housewives to shun currency markets on new rule
A plan to increase restrictions on Japan's margin-trading market may drive individual investors away, paving the way for more volatile currency movements, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. Japan's Financial Services Agency, which regulates the nation's margin-trading industry, intends to cap the leverage permissible on currency trades at 50 times the amount of cash being committed starting in 2010, and reduce it to 25 times in 2011. (Bloomberg)

Japan may deploy troops near disputed islands
Japan's defence ministry is considering deploying troops on an island in the East China Sea near a group of islets that is claimed by Tokyo, Beijing and Taipei, according to a ministry spokesman. "We are studying (the deployment) so that it could be included in the planned year-end revision of the basic defence programme," the official said, confirming a news report on the plan to send an army unit to Yonaguni island. (AFP)

Japan students rush for English-language education
At 28,000 dollars a year, a popular English language cram school course in Japan doesn't come cheap, but its students hope the rewards will more than make up for the hefty tuition fee. The class is called "Route H" -- short for "Route to Harvard". Hundreds of schools like it have opened across Japan in recent years to prep a new generation of students who have their educational sights set far beyond Japan's shores, at the top universities of the West. (AFP)

Struggling Japanese PM turns to comedian for help
Taro Aso, the increasingly desperate Japanese prime minister, is appealing to a former stand-up comedian to join his cabinet and save the administration just weeks ahead of the general election. Hideo Higashikokubaru, recently elected governor of Miyazaki Prefecture, initially rebuffed an indirect approach from Mr Aso by saying he would only accept a portfolio if he was listed as the Liberal Democratic Party's candidate for prime minister in the election, which has to be held before Sept 10. (telegraph.co.uk)

Visa overstayers given too many breaks: rightist
Daisuke Arikado believes the government is too easy on foreigners overstaying their visa and this frustrates him. Arikado is a former member of an ultra-rightist group who founded and heads the 30-strong nonprofit organization Movement to Eradicate Crimes by Foreigners. (Japan Times)

Total ban on child porn sought / Diet debate starts on revision to close possession loophole in law
The Diet has begun debate on bills to revise the law banning child prostitution and child pornography, with discussions focused on whether to conform to international standards and completely prohibit the possession of child pornography. (Yomiuri)

Japan to generate solar power in outer space, then beam it to earth
This may sound ridiculous first time you hear it, but Japan is thinking about solar power from panels located in space to mother earth, or to be more exact, the nation of Nippon itself. According to the Nikkei, the government plans to ask local technology companies to participate in the endeavor as early as next month. (crunchgear.com)

At long last, Korea and Japan return to trade talks
After four years of stalled negotiations, Korea and Japan are ready to restart free trade agreement talks. Korea and Japan will hold their third working-level meeting on resuming negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement deal today in Tokyo, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade yesterday. (joins.com)

South East Asian government and business hails arrest of Hamadi
The arrest of Riduan bin Isomuddin alias Hamadi in Thailand can only be good news for business in South East Asia. Hamadi was responsible for severe damage to the economies of much of South East Asia, by instilling fear in foreign and local investors, increasing country risk and insecurity, driving away tourism dollars, and slowing down the participation of many South East Asian countries in the global economy.

Thailand visa fees to increase substantially
Thailand visa fees for tourism, business and residency purposes will rise by around 100 to 400 percent in late August 2003. While such fees may not represent a significant increase in business travel or tourism costs overall, it makes Thai visa fees in many cases (depending on length of stay) similar or significantly higher than those for neighbouring countries Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, canceling out a previous competitive advantage for Thailand.

Asia Pacific to provide highest economic growth of any global region through 2007
The Economist Intelligence Unit predicts 5.9 percent annual economic growth for the Asia Pacific ex Japan through 2007, making the region the fastest-growing globally. However this growth is not evenly spread, with China and India leading the charge, while other Asian economies struggle or show limited growth.

Blast rocks J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta Indonesia
Jakarta's J.W. Marriott hotel was the scene of an explosion today, just as Indonesia and the Indonesian economy was recovering from the Bali incident and leaders receiving praise for their fight against terrorism.

Strange Sunday in Makati
There’s an eerie parallel with today's military rebellion in the Philippines with the Cory years - a female leader swept into office by People Power swears to clean up corruption, but somehow never quite delivers and things just get more and more crooked. Bottom line - nobody's delivering pizza in Makati, Manila's financial district, tonight...

Competitiveness Rankings sees South East Asia on the rise
Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore are the rising stars of the IMD's World Competitiveness Scorecard for 2003 published in their yearbook last week. At the same time traditional lean and mean Scandinavian economies which have dominated the rankings since their inception, as well as the mature East Asian economies, seem to be losing their competitive advantage.

SARS and ASEAN: Some facts - Some perspective
In the lead-up to the ASEAN SARS summit in Bangkok Thailand this week, a call for some perspective. SARS is not so much an Asian problem, but a world-wide and China and Singapore problem. China, Singapore and Hong Kong distinguish themselves by high incidence levels and local transmission. Incidence and local transmission among other countries, Western and Asian alike, is much lower, at least for the moment. And latest data suggests that the peak of new infections, especially outside China, may have been reached.

Why when China sneezed, the world caught a cold
It used to be said that when the US sneezed, Asia caught a cold, usually referring to the economic health of the US, based on the importance of that market both to the dependence of Asian manufacturers on US imports, and the central place of the US economy and investment on the global economy. However in the case of the SARS virus, for maybe the first time of many, the reverse is true.

Iraq: The view from Washington - Washington Square that is - Bangkok Thailand
The view on the Iraq war from Washington - Washington Square that is - Bangkok Thailand - is at once predictable and surprising. There is much agreement on the 'need' or 'justification' for the US triggering a war with Iraq that many thought unnecessary for example. After all many regulars here have suffered from risking their lives and seeing mates lost in the cause of 'freedom' and 'democracy'.

Malaysia and the Iraq War
Malaysians are predominantly anti the Iraq war. And that's a under-statement. For the first time in living memory the Iraq war has unified the ruling Barisan Nasional government and their bitter rivals the fundamentalist PAS party. So much so that members from both political groups staged a demonstration outside the US embassy yesterday. It was a small gathering or perhaps 100 or so, but in Malaysian terms it was significant.

Will a war against Iraq reduce terrorism - or increase it?
Bush's tilts against the UN, accusing it of irrelevance and losing credibility, as well as statements that continue to emphasize that the US will go it alone in Iraq if necessary, does little to convince many that this war is more about terrorism and protecting the world than it is about increasing US power and influence by force of arms.

Building a Brand and Losing Your Shirt
In Asian countries where competition, individual achievement and standing out from the rest are not among the most important values, there are typically few well known brands. Still, Asian marketers have always understood the need to persuade and compete in their advertising messages.

Bali tourism on the road to recovery
There is optimism all around for the Bali tourism industry as international and regional travel and professional organizations rally around to choose Bali for their 2003 meetings strengthening the MICE market and reinforcing confidence in Bali. There are strong signs of recovery in the holiday and incentive sectors as well.

Malaysiakini: Not the Messiah - just a very naughty boy
To the Malaysian ruling government, MalaysiaKini is not the Messiah of the Press - he's just a very naughty boy...

MalaysiaKini press release on police raid on offices
Malaysiakini press release dated Jan 20th 2003 on the police raid and confiscation of Malaysiakini computers following a complaint lodged against the newspaper by the ruling government's youth wing.

China fuels energy cold war
Driven by the lack of a coherent multilateral approach to energy security in Asia and by China's already tense relations with neighboring states, competition for energy resources may prove to be the spark for regional and international conflict. Ultimately, this would bring China into confrontation with the world's largest energy consumer, the US. - Chietigj Bajpaee

Cornering the dragon
The goals of confrontationists in the Bush administration are to ring China with military bases, support Taiwanese independence, and work for the fall of the Communist Party. In short, corner the dragon.

Bush has a clear run at Syria
Despite the highly questionable assertions that form the basis of President George W Bush's antipathy toward Syria, there have been no serious challenges to his views on Capitol Hill: Bush appears to have few obstacles should he once again choose to lead his country to war.

Asians kick Big Tobacco in the butt
It was a formidable challenge: slow the poisoning of Asians by foreign cigarettes without poisoning multilateral trade ties. But the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control became a reality over the weekend, and it could be a landmark achievement not just for human health in Asia, but also for long-term economic well-being. - Alan Boyd

SOUTHEAST ASIA:
Thailand wants to become the "gold standard" in the drive to snuff out smoking.

Commentary - by Francesco Sisci Black holes and rogue states
The US, having dealt with one "rogue" state, Iraq, now has its sights set on Iran, and to a lesser extent on North Korea. This is a dangerous strategy because, by dealing with a rogue state, what in effect is created is a lawless geopolitical black hole that offers terrorists a sanctuary they would otherwise not have had.

SOUTH ASIA:
Delhi put a dent in Kabul's dreams about a pipeline project. - Sudha Ramachandran Bangladesh could be coming out of denial on Islamic miliancy.

CENTRAL ASIA:
Europe is unfazed by a uranium deal signed by Russia and Iran.

KOREA:
North Korea may need to rescue the South from its too-rapid aging. - Jeffrey Robertson SPEAKING FREELY: Forget the "Libya model" for Pyongyang. - Yoshinori Takeda

CHINA:
Hong Kong is already anxious about its next chief executive, as is Beijing. - Qiu Xin

MIDDLE EAST:
Long suppressed by Saddam Hussein, the Shi'ite Da'wa Party has risen from the ashes.

China's takeover battle in a tangled web
China's leading online game operator Shanda seemed poised to take over top portal Sina and create a national Internet giant. But Sina's poison pill may signal "game over" and set the stage for a global bidding war. - Gary LaMoshi

Boom time for India's primary share market
Indian share markets have experienced an unprecedented bull run over the past two years, thanks mainly to young investors who are willing to wait. This is also one of the reasons initial public offerings are doing so well. - Indrajit Basu

Philippines follows Argentina's debt path
Public-sector debt default is looming in the Philippines, where just as in Argentina, the risk of default is being driven by social revolt and weak governance. - Jephraim P Gundzik

Daily Forex Commentary
There were more bad signs for the US dollar, but there were bad signs for the euro, too. Both had their backers and their detractors. Who's right? - Jack Crooks

Asia Times Online Community
Discuss any of the articles above on The Edge - your forum for incisive global discussion.

Market Watch: Rose ready for fight over dual role
MARKS & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose faces a battle with shareholders this week as the campaign to split his executive chairman role intensifies.

Market warming
THE residential housing market in Scotland is on the road to recovery, according to June's Agency Express Property Activity Index.

A day of lacklustre trading
LONDON FTSE 100 CLOSE 4236.3 +2

Bateman exits SAG's national board
Business News: Actress expressed frustration over contract -- Justine Bateman has resigned from the Screen Actors Guild's national board of directors, blasting the moderates who control the board and repeating her characterization of AFTRA as a "scumbag" union.

Digital Domain loses termination suit
Business News: 'Button' f/x company to pay $2 mil in damages -- In a verdict handed down Thursday evening in Malibu, Christian Bradley "Brad" Call has won his wrongful termination suit against visual effects shop Digital Domain and has been awarded just under $2 million in damages.

Citigroup, Relativity settle lawsuits
Business News: Dispute over restructuring of Sony Pictures deal -- Citigroup and Ryan Kavanaugh's Relativity Media have settled their lawsuits over Citi's attempt to restructure the terms of their five-year slate financing deal involving Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Holmes, Lythgoe team for Dizzy Feet
Business News: Dance scholarship also backed by Adam Shankman -- Nigel Lythgoe, co-creator and exec producer of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," has teamed with helmer Adam Shankman, "Dancing with the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba and thesp Katie Holmes to launch the dance scholarship fund, Dizzy Feet Foundation.

Universal tunes 'Lagoon' at theme park
Business News: 'Creature' musical makes its debut in Hollywood -- Universal has been keeping its classic monsters in the spotlight with film reboots. Now the studio is adding a tuner to the mix.

HD pic stream still limited
Business News: Bandwidth will instead augment Blu-ray -- With millions of devices in homes now connecting HDTVs to the Internet, online movie services are poised to send a flood of high-def movies down those digital pipes.

Literary agent taps exec trio
Business News: Cox, Groff, Bauman join Weisbach -- New York-based literary agency Rob Weisbach Creative Management has tapped a team of senior associates -- Erin L. Cox, David Groff and Jake Bauman -- to maintain and support the company's comprehensive development plan.

Gaga's Yoda leads buyout of Usen
Business News: Company puts focus on distribution -- Gaga topper Tom Yoda has led a management buyout of the indie distributor from broadband and media conglom Usen.

Hoyts beams up Kirk as chairman
Business News: Co. distributes Lionsgate pics Down Under -- Ex-Fairfax Media CEO David Kirk has been tapped chairman of Hoyts, which operates 45 theaters with more than 400 screens in Australia and New Zealand.

Deluxe gets louder
Business News: Co. acquires sound post house Chace Audio -- Deluxe Digital Media has acquired sound post house Chace Audio.

'Made in NY' program takes a hit
Business News: Lawmaker infighting delays credit -- Infighting among Albany lawmakers has kneecapped New York City's "Made in NY" tax credit program, at least temporarily.

CanWest sells two TV stations
Business News: Company continues to stave off bankruptcy -- Cash-strapped CanWest Global Communications is selling two money-losing TV stations as it continues its attempts to stave off bankruptcy.

Paramount opens office in China
Business News: Local team to work with China Film Group -- Paramount Pictures Intl. opened an office in Shanghai -- its first in China -- on Wednesday.

China wipes out Green Dam rollout
Business News: Government scraps plan to control Internet use -- In what is being hailed as a milestone in webizen power in China, the Beijing government has halted the rollout of government-sponsored filtering software at the last minute.

Elie Dekel returns to Saban
Business News: Exec joins group as a managing director -- Elie Dekel is back in biz with Haim Saban.

Paramount to farm out home ent. ops?
Business News: Studio is in negotiations with Sony, Fox -- Paramount Pictures is in talks to farm out some of its home entertainment operations to another studio, which would likely result in considerable cost savings to the Viacom unit.

Paramount shakeup continues
Business News: Studio lays off 31 production staffers -- The shakeup at the top of Paramount Pictures continued Tuesday with the layoffs of 31 production staffers, including a number of division heads.

Airey: U.K. must set up its own Hulu
Business News: Five head rallies for Brit TV media player -- Five topper Dawn Airey has warned that unless British broadcasters form alliances similar to that between Fox and NBC that created Hulu the local TV industry is "staring into the abyss."

Disney upgrades Hong Kong park
Business News: $452 million renovation to include 30 new attractions -- Disney will spend $452 million to upgrade its underperforming Hong Kong theme park.

O'Dell upped to senior VP at Sony Intl.
Business News: Executive to oversee distribution in more regions -- Steven O'Dell has been upped to senior VP, international distribution, for Sony Pictures Releasing Intl.

Linux Q&A with Microsoft
Microsoft responds to questions on TCO, indemnification, and the value proposition of Linux.

Opening the Desktop
Companies such as KeyCorp are evaluating the impact of the Firefox browser.

Time to IIT: Inter-Institutional Transfers Catch On
The hows and whys of integrating Inter-Institutional Transfers (IITs) into online banking.

The SEC’s NMS - To Incent and Protect
Reg NMS was just re-released last week and the document surprised everyone, notes Larry Tabb, CEO of the Tabb Group and Contributing Editor to WS&T. Tabb offers his perspective on the regulation, pointing out its winners and losers. "While this may sound tame, it has the teeth of a shark," he says, "and for better or worse it will shred many current market practices."

http://www.informationweek.com/
The SEC voted yesterday to publish its reproposed version of Reg NMS for public comment. The revised regulation limits price-protection to automated quotes; prohibits sub-penny pricing; promotes uniform inter-market access via private linkages; and authorizes market centers to distribute their own data independently of the joint-industry plans.

The NYSE Revamps Floor Broker Technology
The NYSE is giving floor brokers new wireless handheld PCs to participate in a hybrid market subject to SEC approval. The project is a big win for IBM.

Phillips Says It One More Time: PeopleSoft Customers, We Love You
Oracle plans to port its database software to IBM's iSeries server in a bid to keep J.D. Edwards software users in the fold.

Think Like a CFO, Part II: Formulating Answers
After years of relative autonomy, senior IT executives at insurance companies are finding themselves increasingly under the thumb of tech-savvy CFOs charged with reducing costs. To succeed in this new environment, CIOs must prepare to address tough questions that go beyond the traditional IT domain.

Effective Agent Enablement
Providing the people who sell policies with tools that enhance their effectiveness is essential to carriers' success. And because these improvements make possible a higher level of customer service, they can also help to ensure increased customer retention and loyalty.

Wife's Guilty Plea to Bribery Raises Question of What Rep. Conyers Knew
In the snow-covered parking lot of a McDonald's in Detroit two years ago, City Council member Monica Conyers met with a waste-management consultant who slipped her an envelope stuffed with as much as $3,000 in cash.

Kia's Sedan Delivers Serious Quality and Value
To understand the future of the automobile industry, you must understand the success of Wal-Mart, the world's largest retail organization.

The Color of Money: Asset Allocation Made Simple
I met a woman who asked me to review her 401(k) portfolio. She was worried about how she had allocated her contributions.

California's Broke. Should You Invest in It?
Time for some California dreaming: Will the state plug its budget gap, and are its bonds worth a gamble?

The Big Money: New Help on Student Loans
If you've got a diploma hanging on your wall, chances are it didn't come cheap. Of the 3 million or so college seniors who donned a cap and gown this year, about two-thirds of them went into debt -- an average of $22,500 -- for the privilege of that diploma. The debt of graduate and professional...

Hard Times Spark Slew of Scams
The sagging economy has inspired a number of scams -- from mortgage schemes to work-at-home ploys to tax and stimulus frauds.

Ask Kim: How Much Long-Term Care Coverage?
Q How long is the average stay at a nursing home and at an assisted-living facility? That information would help me determine how much risk to take in my investments and how much insurance coverage I'll need.

Before You Mail In That Old Ring . . .
If you have gold chains in your dresser drawers, those commercials offering to take jewelry off your hands in exchange for "cold hard cash" might sound mighty tempting. Cash4Gold.com even ran a Super Bowl ad featuring Ed McMahon.

Help for Those Struggling To Pay the Mortgage
If you can't afford your monthly mortgage payment and you can't refinance, a loan modification may keep you in your home.

Landfill Worries Cloud Hope for New Orleans Gardens
Urban gardens were key to helping New Orleans's Vietnamese population return and reestablish their close-knit community just weeks after Hurricane Katrina.

Advocacy Groups Should Halt Attacks on Moderate Democrats, Obama Says
President Obama, strategizing yesterday with congressional leaders about health-care reform, complained that liberal advocacy groups ought to drop their attacks on Democratic lawmakers and devote their energy to promoting passage of comprehensive legislation.

Bargains by the Beach
Rich and Debbie Sulkovsky of Herndon had been looking for months for a place near the ocean when they saw a yellow house with green shutters in a creek-front community not far from Rehoboth Beach.

Job Losses Dampen Hopes for Economic Recovery
Mounting job losses rattled hopes yesterday that the economy is on track to grow later this year, showing that prospects for American workers are terrible -- and still getting worse.

U.S. Joins Whistleblower Suit Alleging SAIC Rigged Contract
SAIC, one of the Pentagon's largest contractors, conspired with federal officials to rig a $3.2 billion technology contract and tried to cover up the scheme by destroying documents and electronic records, federal prosecutors said in newly unsealed court documents.

Alexandria's Landmark Mall Languishes as General Growth Properties Struggles
This is what a dying mall looks like: Long stretches of vacant storefronts and blank walls. A department store with empty shelves preparing to shut down for good. A little boy running around the children's play area alone.

GM Bondholders Try to Block Firm's Sale
NEW YORK, July 2 -- One of the main challengers to the proposed sale of General Motors on Thursday urged a federal bankruptcy judge to act as a check on an "overbearing" government and reject the restructuring plan pursued by the Obama administration.

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GM Says Approval of Restructuring Is Urgent
NEW YORK, July 1 -- General Motors mounted a final push for its historic restructuring plan, arguing before a federal bankruptcy judge Wednesday that the U.S. government would cut off funding -- in effect risking liquidation of the automaker -- unless it won quick approval for the turnaround prop...

Stocks Fall as Jobs Report Dampens Recovery Hopes
Wall Street closed the week with a sharp decline yesterday after a weak labor report stoked investor concerns of a prolonged recession.

SEC Investigator Raised Madoff Concerns Years Ago, Was Asked to Look Elsewhere
An investigator at the Securities and Exchange Commission warned superiors as far back as 2004 about irregularities at Bernard L. Madoff's financial management firm, but she was told to focus on an unrelated matter, according to agency documents and sources familiar with the investigation.

In Pakistan, Generations of Brickmakers See Few Changes
TARLAHI, Pakistan -- At the end of a village road, behind a grassy bluff, lies a hidden valley carpeted with thick red dust and canyoned with craggy mounds of earth. At the bottom, clay-colored figures squat barefoot all day, shaping balls of mud into bricks. In the distance, a dozen scattered...

New White House Office to Redefine Urban Policy
NEW YORK -- Once upon a time, when cities were poor and suburbs were rich, "urban policy" meant programs to alleviate poverty.

Obama, Party Tout Lower Figure for Health Reform
Senate Democrats and President Obama, trying to assuage fears about the cost of health reform, yesterday touted new estimates that put the price tag for one bill at $611 billion over the next decade.

FTC Urged to Require Liability Warnings on Chryslers
Consumer groups petitioned the Federal Trade Commission yesterday to require that Chrysler vehicles display stickers warning prospective buyers of liability risks.

What 'Organic' Really Means Under the Law
What "organic" really means under federal law: "100 Percent Organic" products must show an ingredient list, the name and address of the handler (bottler, distributor, importer, manufacturer, packer, processor) of the finished product, and the name and seal of the organic certifier. These products...

Integrity of Federal 'Organic' Label Questioned
Three years ago, U.S. Department of Agriculture employees determined that synthetic additives in organic baby formula violated federal standards and should be banned from a product carrying the federal organic label. Today the same additives, purported to boost brainpower and vision, can be found...

DHS Cybersecurity Plan Will Involve NSA, Telecoms
The Obama administration will proceed with a Bush-era plan to use National Security Agency assistance in screening government computer traffic on private-sector networks, with AT&T as the likely test site, according to three current and former government officials.

Credit Card Issuers Raising Rates, Fees Ahead of New Law
Credit card companies are raising interest rates and fees seven months before new rules go into effect that will limit their ability do so, much to the irritation of Congress and consumer advocates.

Federal Hiring Boom Could Add 120,000 Jobs in Washington Region
Though the number of unemployed people is rising in the Washington area, Kimberly A. Holder of the Food and Drug Administration has an opposite problem: She's looking for people to fill hundreds of positions slated to open soon.

SEC Moves to Make Companies More Accountable to Shareholders
The Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday announced steps to give shareholders new powers to shape corporate boards as well as more information about how companies pick their directors and pay their management.

The Color of Money: Michael Jackson's Money Woes and the Dangers of Entitlement
Long before his death, we heard more about Michael Jackson's financial troubles than his incredible music. The singer was reportedly more than $300 million in debt.

Biden Announces $4 Billion in Grants and Loans in First Round of Funding for Broadband Expansion
Vice President Biden yesterday announced guidelines for $4 billion in stimulus funds to expand high-speed Internet access across the nation, jump-starting a program that has been criticized for taking too long to get off the ground.

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White House to Expand Mortgage Refinancing Program
The Obama administration announced yesterday that it would loosen the eligibility requirements for a program aimed at helping borrowers with no equity in their homes to refinance into cheaper mortgages.

Stocks Post Gains for Second Quarter
Wall Street closed its first positive quarter in more than a year and a half yesterday, capping a massive rally built on hopes for an economic stabilization that has yet to materialize.

After Call From Senator Inouye's Office, Small Hawaii Bank Got U.S. Aid
Sen. Daniel K. Inouye's staff contacted federal regulators last fall to ask about the bailout application of an ailing Hawaii bank that he had helped to establish and where he has invested the bulk of his personal wealth.

White House Issues Detailed Proposal for Consumer-Finance Watchdog
The Obama administration sent a detailed proposal to Congress yesterday for creating an agency to oversee nearly all facets of consumer lending, but the breadth of its powers is setting the stage for a fierce clash on Capitol Hill.

SEC's Gaping Blind Spots Kept Madoff's Misdeeds Out of Sight
It will be the end of the summer before we learn how the Securities and Exchange Commission could have conducted at least five inquiries into Bernie Madoff's activities over 16 years and never found a Ponzi scheme so huge that it robbed billionaires and bubbies of $13 billion and won Madoff a...

Stocks Climb Despite Job Loss Forecast
Stocks gained slightly today, the first day of the third quarter, despite a report that predicted the private sector lost 493,000 jobs in June.

AIG Holds First Shareholder Meeting Since Its Collapse
NEW YORK, June 30 -- Russell and Kathy Ryan left their Brooklyn home early Tuesday and boarded a rush-hour subway car bound for Wall Street, where the country's largest federal bailout recipient was holding its first shareholder meeting since its collapse last fall.

Freddie Set To Name CEO, Source Says
Freddie Mac, the McLean mortgage finance giant under federal control, is preparing to name Charles E. Haldeman Jr. as its new chief executive, a source familiar with the matter said.

Wal-Mart Endorses Employer Health Insurance Mandate
After years of strenuous opposition, Wal-Mart, the nation's largest private employer, announced yesterday that it supports a controversial proposal requiring businesses to contribute to the cost of employee health insurance.

Records Indicate Tension Between Agency's Fired IG and Officials
Documents delivered to lawmakers this week expose a frequently confrontational and petty relationship over the past several years between Gerald Walpin and officials at the Corporation for National and Community Service. President Obama fired the Bush appointee last month, citing a lack of...

Yemen's Fatal Jet Crash Heightens Scrutiny of Airbus
A crashed Yemenia Airbus A310 submerged in waters near the African coast along with the bodies of as many as 152 passengers -- only a teenage girl apparently survived -- is focusing more scrutiny on the safety of Airbus planes and the world's aviation system.

EPA to Let California Set Own Limits on Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Autos
The Environmental Protection Agency yesterday granted California's request to set its own limits on greenhouse gases from autos -- a long-sought victory with limited impact now that the federal government has pledged to impose national limits.

Loan Modifications Up During First Quarter
Lenders modified more troubled loans during the first quarter, according to a government report released today, but a growing number of borrowers are falling behind on their payments.

Price Squabbles, Security Concerns Lead Oil Giants to Pass On Iraq Fields
BAGHDAD, June 29 -- Iraq's effort to woo foreign energy companies to help resurrect its ailing oil fields fell flat Tuesday, as most companies balked at the financial terms offered by the government despite the lure of the country's vast reserves.

Uncertainty Clouds Recovery of Government's Investment in GM
If a new General Motors emerges from bankruptcy as planned, U.S. financial aid for the company will expand to nearly $50 billion, but neither the government nor the company is forecasting how much of the public money will be repaid.

Madoff Sentenced to 150 Years
NEW YORK, June 29 -- Bernard L. Madoff, the mastermind behind one of the biggest and longest-running financial frauds in history, on Monday was ordered to serve 150 years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed, for a scheme that has come to define the latest iteration of Wall Street greed.

Supreme Court Ruling Lets States Take National Banks to Court Over Lending
For years, state governments have had little power to enforce consumer-protection and lending rules at the country's biggest banks. No more.

Nigerian Rebels Drive Up Oil Prices
A small group of insurgents in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta helped drive up oil prices around the world yesterday by announcing a strike against one of Royal Dutch Shell's two main export terminals in the West African nation.

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Government Launches Web Site to Track IT Spending
NEW YORK, June 30 -- Vivek Kundra, the federal chief information officer, on Tuesday announced a new Web site designed to track more than $70 billion in government information technology spending, showing all contracts held by major firms within every agency.

Stocks Finish Quarter With Gains, Despite Day of Losses
Stocks finished the second quarter in the black despite falling today as new housing data showed home prices continued to decline in April and that consumer confidence slipped.

Home Prices Fall at Slower Rate in April
Home prices fell again in April, but at a slower rate, suggesting some parts of the housing market could be stabilizing, according to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price Index released today.

Expansion-Minded RCN Sparks Bidding War for N.Y. Telecom
RCN, the Herndon cable network operator that has been searching for ways to expand, has offered to purchase New York-based network services firm FiberNet Telecom for $96 million -- setting off a bidding war in the process.

Watson Wyatt to Merge With Towers Perrin
Rivals Watson Wyatt Worldwide of Arlington and Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby of Stamford, Conn., have agreed to merge to create the biggest human-resources consulting firm in the world.

Supreme Court to Review Restrictions on Corporate Spending in Federal Elections
The Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will consider whether to uphold a ban on corporate spending in federal elections, a move that campaign finance experts said could have a dramatic effect on the 2010 and 2012 federal elections.

Energy Department Announces New Light Standards
The Energy Department issued new standards for lighting that would save large amounts of energy by boosting the efficiency of fluorescent tubes common in office buildings and reflector lamps used in recessed fixtures in homes and retail stores.

Ideological Diversity Among Democrats Means No Free Pass for Obama
After a series of early and relatively easy victories on Capitol Hill, the White House appears certain to face a more difficult road when Congress returns to work next week.

Voices of Power: Proposed Union Plans Â?Level the Playing Field,' Solis Says
After a lifetime in politics, Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis has honed the fine art of dodging controversial questions, but here's one issue where she doesn't pull her punches: the 9.4 percent unemployment rate. The June figures will be released Thursday, and she's braced for more bad news.

Loophole Helps GE Benefit From Bank Rescue Program
General Electric, the world's largest industrial company, has quietly become the biggest beneficiary of one of the government's key rescue programs for banks.

New GM to Accept Some Liability Claims on Existing Products
General Motors will assume responsibility for product liability claims filed after the carmaker emerges from bankruptcy protection, a concession that removes a potential obstacle to the Obama administration's plan for the company's quick restructuring.

HGS Hoping to Survive Final Test of Lupus Drug
In the high-stakes, high-risk, high-failure business of developing drugs, there are two events that test an executive's intestinal fortitude. One: The first time a drug is tried by a human. Is he still alive? Two: Getting results of final-stage testing. Please, let it have worked.

Stocks Rally After Tepid Morning
Investors shook off last week's malaise and sent stock markets up 1 percent today.

Court Allows States to Challenge National Banks
State governments can challenge the practices of national banks in court, the Supreme Court held today, in a decision that bolsters the power of states relative to federal bank regulators.

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Madoff sentencing nears, but victims' pain goes on
NEW YORK -- Bernard Madoff will get one last creature comfort before he is sentenced Monday, probably to serve out the rest of his days in prison. The judge has given him permission to don his own clothes for the hearing, rather than a jail uniform.

The Bite of Bank Fees
Your bank wants more of your money, and it's found a way to get it: by jacking up the fees on your account.Customers are paying more to maintain a checking account, withdraw cash from an out-of-system ATM, and when they bounce a check.

Inside Jobs
Steve Jobs's insistence on keeping his recent liver transplant a secret is the latest example of a leadership style that seems to violate all the rules in the leadership textbook. Yet there is no doubt he has been tremendously successful as Apple's chief executive. Is Jobs the exception that proves...

Congress May Look to Ky. Schools' Healthy Example in Creating Nutritional Policy
It didn't seem like a radical idea at the time. First, Ginger Gray, the food service director for Kenton County, Ky., schools, took away fried potato chips, offering students baked versions instead. Next, she phased out fruit drinks such as Kool-Aid in favor of 100 percent juices. She considered ...

Obama Praises Climate Bill's Progress but Takes Aim at Tariffs
President Obama yesterday said that the House took an "extraordinary first step" by passing a climate bill on Friday, adding that he hoped it will "prod" action by the Senate and predicting that the legislation could make renewable energy "a driver of economic growth."

Iraq Set to Invite Bids From Foreign Oil Companies
BAGHDAD, June 27 -- Iraq is poised to open its coveted oil fields to foreign companies this week for the first time in nearly four decades, a politically risky move in a country eager to shake off the stigma of occupation.

Making the Grade in Your Alumni Network
When Omurhu Onokpise visited Washington with a group from his business school about four years ago, he met many University of Michigan alumni. More than a year later, he ended up working for one of them.

Communities Seek Routes to Save Post Offices From Being Stamped Out
A rallying cry can be heard across the country, from the swanky streets of SoHo to the tiny town of Randolph, Kan. -- "Save Our Post Office!" As the United States Postal Service, weighed down by a crippling multibillion-dollar deficit, shrinks its operations, post offices across the country are o...

Health-Care Activists Are Targeting Democrats Who Are Usually Allies
In the high-stakes battle over health care, a growing cadre of liberal activists is aiming its sharpest firepower against Democratic senators who they accuse of being insufficiently committed to the cause.

If You Lose Your Job, Your Bills Could Still Be Covered
Lots of us are worried about job security these days. But retailers and service purveyors still want you to open your wallet.

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The Right Direction Starts With the Right Decisions
Over the years, I've found that people end up in financial trouble not only because they don't have enough money. It's also because of poor decision-making.

Bookish Doyennes Nurture D.C. Landmark
Politics & Prose Bookstore and Coffeehouse, in Northwest D.C. near the corner of Connecticut and Nebraska avenues, is part of the Washington landscape, just like The Palm or FedEx Field.

Forget Tenure Track: Colleges Should Track Performance
Q I am a young assistant professor, and I feel that professional advancement and higher earnings for myself and my peers are blocked by the refusal of aging, tenured professors to retire -- even those who everyone thinks have lost their passion for teaching and research. Do you think lifetime tenure...

Crib? Check. Toys? Check. Don't Forget a Budget, A Will and Insurance.
Here are four financial items no new parent should go without.

Using an HSA While on Medicare
Q My wife and I turn 65 this year and will sign up for Medicare. Will we still be able to use the money in our health savings account?

In Close Vote, House Passes Climate Bill
The House narrowly passed an ambitious climate bill yesterday that would establish national limits on greenhouse gases, create a complex trading system for emission permits and provide incentives to alter how individuals and corporations use energy.

Trade With China Aids N. Korea's Military, May Offset Sanctions
SEOUL -- Behaving badly hasn't hurt the bottom line in North Korea.

Treasury, GM Close to Reaching Deal on Legal Claims
The Treasury Department and General Motors have moved closer to an agreement that would preserve some legal claims against the company from accident victims and displaced dealers even after the automaker emerges from bankruptcy, people familiar with the discussions said yesterday.

For Sale, Still: Grand Homes In Gracious Neighborhoods
When Natalie deWolf and her husband listed their District home for about $1.2 million in April, they were competing with roughly 25 similarly priced houses in their Chevy Chase neighborhood.

Md. Attorney General to Probe Constellation Chief's Compensation
In a move reflecting the national uproar over executive compensation, two Maryland senators are calling for the state's attorney general to investigate whether the chief executive of Baltimore-based Constellation Energy should have received last year more than $15 million in salary and bonuses and...

Consumer Spending Up Even as More Save
Consumer spending edged up in May for the first time since February, new data show, as the government stimulus plan boosted incomes. But in a sign that Americans are not immediately spending all their extra cash, the national savings rate rose to a 15-year high.

Locals Have Much More Than Money Invested in This Market's Recovery
Hundreds of visitors, all eager for a first glimpse of Capitol Hill's renovated Eastern Market, waited in line for almost an hour yesterday for Mayor Adrian M. Fenty to cut the royal-blue ribbon that officially opened the $22 million project to the public.

Oil Markets Stay Calm Despite Political Unrest in Iran
Over most of the past three years, the world trembled at the thought that a U.S. conflict with Iran might disrupt oil supplies. Oil traders and analysts have said that an "Iran premium" was probably adding anywhere from $2 to $15 a barrel to the price of crude oil.

CBO Calls Long-Term Revenue, Spending Outlook Dire
The nation's long-term budget outlook has darkened considerably over the past six months, and President Obama's plan to extend an array of tax cuts and other policies adopted during the Bush administration has the potential to "create an explosive fiscal situation," congressional budget analysts ...

Bernanke Holds Firm in Hot Seat
Legislators yesterday pounded Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke with questions about his role in Bank of America's purchase of Merrill Lynch, discarding the deference long accorded to him and his predecessors in a demonstration of mounting concern about the Fed's performance.

Comcast Pulls Ad After GM Challenges Its Claims
Comcast pulled a cable television advertisement criticizing General Motors' bankruptcy plan earlier this week after the automaker challenged the spot's claims.

White House Seeks Public Input on Classified Records Policy
President Obama wants your advice on how the government should keep its secrets.

Stocks Lose Ground for Second Straight Week
For the second straight week, stocks lost ground, as the Dow Jones industrial average closed down 1.2 percent after several days of rocky trading.

For Hedge Funds, Biggest Fear Is More Regulation
NEW YORK, June 24 -- The greatest fear among hedge fund managers and executives, who have seen their industry shrink in the financial crisis, is neither the flight of wealthy investors nor ill-functioning markets but regulation, according to a survey to be released Wednesday.

Fed Shielded Facts Of Merrill Sale, Republicans Say
The Federal Reserve tried to keep other federal regulators out of the loop while pushing Bank of America to follow through on its deal to buy the crippled investment bank Merrill Lynch late last fall, according to Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Ersatz Tiburon Delivers Value but Not Luxury
Marketing 101 speaks to brand message. It must be consistent. If you confuse the message, you undermine the brand. Enough confusion will destroy the brand -- perhaps even render it incapable of revival.

Create Your Own Before-and-After
Do-it-yourself products have emerged as the one positive trend in the otherwise moribund home-improvement business. Stores are reporting an increase in paint and flooring sales.

My Friend, My Tenant, Our Lease
When Paul Yun moved out of a room he had been renting in Ellicott City and into a three-bedroom house he bought in Elkridge, he left with more than boxes and furniture. He brought his two roommates along as well.

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Hospitals Preparing Triage for Budgets
Washington-area hospitals, already battered by the recession, are bracing for what could be a budget crisis in coming months resulting from funding cutbacks by Virginia and Maryland.

On Promise Of Upswing, Fed Holds Rate Steady
The Federal Reserve issued a vote of confidence in the economy yesterday, saying it would take no new action to combat a recession that, while still severe, appears to be loosening its grip.

Md. Firm Buys Maker of Hit Video Games
ZeniMax Media, the Rockville-based parent company of video game publisher Bethesda Softworks, announced yesterday that it has acquired game development studio Id Software.

Senators Near Agreement on Health-Care Bill
Senate health-care negotiators said yesterday they were closing in on a $1 trillion health-care bill that would be fully funded by tax increases, Medicare cuts and new penalties for employers who do not offer health insurance.

White House Says Overhaul of Transportation System Must Wait
After rejecting criticism that it is taking on too much, the Obama administration has identified one area where ambitious reforms will have to wait: overhauling the nation's aging, congested and carbon-emitting transportation system.

House Democrats Predict Narrow Win for Cap-and-Trade Bill
The House could vote today on a measure to cap U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with Democratic leaders predicting a tight victory for a behemoth bill that has grown more complex with each compromise.

N.Y. Fed to Trim AIG Debt, Receive $25 Billion Stake in Two Subsidiaries
American International Group announced yesterday that it has reached a deal to reduce its debt to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York by $25 billion.

Fed to Extend Some Emergency Lending Programs
The Federal Reserve said yesterday that it was extending many of its emergency lending programs through February because conditions in financial markets remain strained.

Information On Business - Sponsored Link
Ad - www.info.com Jul 4 2009 8:20PM GMT

Grocery store savings found beyond coupons, sales
Chicago Tribune Jul 4 2009 8:20PM GMT

BT offers a year off for salary cut
MarketWatch Jul 4 2009 4:54PM GMT

Iraq declines offer of U.S. help with reconciliation
Reuters Jul 4 2009 4:12PM GMT

?Car guys? retrain but downshift to lower pay
MSNBC Jul 4 2009 12:43PM GMT

BT offers staff holidays for 75pc cut in wages
Telegraph Jul 4 2009 11:35AM GMT

Raising morale in a sinking economy
Globe and Mail Jul 4 2009 10:21AM GMT

Federal Hiring Boom Could Add 120,000 Jobs in Washington Region
Washington Post Jul 4 2009 9:12AM GMT

Working the Holiday Offers the Big Bang Of Overtime Pay
Washington Post Jul 4 2009 7:34AM GMT

Chinese airline may offer cheaper fares to passengers who stand
Los Angeles Times Jul 4 2009 5:36AM GMT

British Air to cut seats, delay orders
Chicago Tribune Jul 4 2009 3:18AM GMT

XM Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin prospers even when business is bad
Chicago Tribune Jul 4 2009 2:37AM GMT

Internet Companies and Ad Agencies Go From Old Enemies to New Friends
New York Times Jul 4 2009 2:04AM GMT

Chinese airline may offer cheaper fares to passengers who stand during short flights
Los Angeles Times Jul 4 2009 1:25AM GMT

Time to Click and Drag Car Sales into the 21st Century
Washington Post Jul 4 2009 1:03AM GMT

Retail reaps benefit of rising sales
Sydney Morning Herald Jul 4 2009 12:59AM GMT

Duke and Duchess of Northumberland seek CEO to run Alnwick Castle
Times Online Jul 3 2009 11:53PM GMT

BT offers staff long holidays for 75pc cut in wages
Telegraph Jul 3 2009 11:33PM GMT

Regulators probe Google's online book copyright deal
South China Morning Post Jul 3 2009 11:12PM GMT

Poly completes deal for move to infrastructure
South China Morning Post Jul 3 2009 11:11PM GMT

Hop Farm festival offers free tickets with a rain mac
Guardian Unlimited Jul 3 2009 11:09PM GMT

BT offers staff long holidays for 75pc wage cut
Telegraph Jul 3 2009 10:50PM GMT

Tropicana Las Vegas Emerges From Bankruptcy
ABC News Jul 3 2009 10:33PM GMT

BT offers staff 'holiday of lifetime' on quarter pay
Telegraph Jul 3 2009 10:25PM GMT

Marshalls reports drop in revenue ... Baxi merges with Dutch rival ... Autonomy does American deal
Times Online Jul 3 2009 9:05PM GMT

PPP puts pep into Balfour Beatty after builder lands contracts worth 6.5bn
Times Online Jul 3 2009 9:04PM GMT

Farm sales rebound, as rural idyll returns
Times Online Jul 3 2009 9:03PM GMT

Mandelson dangles cash aid offer before GM buyer in return for pledge over jobs
Times Online Jul 3 2009 9:02PM GMT

Airline BA to Cut Capacity, Delay New Planes
ABC News Jul 3 2009 8:37PM GMT

Cemex eyes legal action over failed deal
Reuters Jul 3 2009 7:52PM GMT

Nikkei Down On Revived Jitters After Grim U.S., Europe Jobs Data
Nikkei Net Interactive Jul 3 2009 7:23PM GMT