Midday minute August 6 – Finance
The first-time filings for state unemployment benefits declined by 38,000for the week ending August 1 to a seasonally adjusted 550,000, while the number of people who continued to collect regular benefits rose by 69,000 to a seasonally adjusted 6.31 million the prior week according to a Labor Department report released Thursday morning.
New U.S. bull market has begun: Goldman Sachs' Cohen
U.S. stocks have entered a new bull market, and the S&P 500 index could rise as much as 10 percent from current levels by the end of this year, Abby Joseph Cohen, the head of Goldman Sachs' investment policy committee, said on CNBC on Thursday.
China leads in global green jobs race
China is winning a global race to create green collar jobs, six months after countries worldwide launched $500 billion spending plans to drive a low-carbon economy.
New U.S. bull market has begun: Goldman Sachs' Cohen:
U.S. stocks have entered a new bull market, and the S&P 500 index could rise as much as 10 percent from current levels by the end of this year, Abby Joseph Cohen, the head of Goldman Sachs' investment policy committee, said on CNBC on Thursday.
George Sodini's self help video (video+ full transcript)
Below is George Sodini's self help video posted more than a year ago in YouTube.
AIG's Greenberg pays $15 million to settle SEC charges
American International Group Inc's former Chief Executive Hank Greenberg agreed to pay $15 million to settle regulators' allegations of improper accounting transactions, the Securities and Exchange Commission said on Thursday.
Comcast loses more video subscribers; profits up
No. 1 U.S. cable operator Comcast Corp lost more video subscribers than expected in the second quarter amid the weak economy and stiff competition from phone and satellite companies, but profit beat forecasts due to better cost controls and tax gains.
Avago shares jump in debut
Avago Technologies Ltd shares immediately jumped 10.1 percent in their trading debut on Thursday, following the chipmaker's initial public offering.
Sirius XM posts loss but raises outlook
Sirius XM Radio Inc posted higher quarterly revenue on Thursday, despite a reduction in subscribers, and raised its income outlook, citing cost cuts and a potential rebound in automobile sales.
Jobless claims point to stabilizing labor market
The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits fell sharply last week, a government report showed on Thursday, boosting views the labor market and the economy were stabilizing.
Morgan Stanley to pay $950 million for TARP warrants
Morgan Stanley has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $950 million to redeem warrants to buy its stock, becoming the latest big bank to free itself from the government bailout program.
Sales drop shows U.S. retail pressure continues
U.S. retailers reported their 11th straight month of sales declines in July, as shoppers continued to search for bargains and basics in the downturn.
Wall Street slips; telecom woes offset data
Stocks slipped on Thursday as drops in telecommunications and biotechnology stocks offset optimism about the economy spurred by a sharp fall in the number of workers filing new claims for jobless benefits.
Little progress made between GM, Magna on Opel deal
General Motors has made little progress in resolving the key issues holding up a sale of its Opel operations to a consortium led by Magna, the U.S. carmaker's chief negotiator on the deal said on Thursday.
Toyota's Prius tops Japan auto sales for 2nd month
Toyota Motor Corp's (7203.T) Prius hybrid was Japan's best-selling car in July for a second straight month, underscoring robust demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
Ford China JV sells 54 pct more Ford cars in July
Ford Motor Co's (F.N) car venture in China sold 54 percent more Ford brand vehicles in July from a year earlier, its sales arm said on Thursday.
VW plans 39 pct Brazil output growth by '12-report
Germany's Volkswagen AG (VOWG.DE), Europe's biggest automaker, plans to produce 1 million vehicles in Brazil by 2012, 39 percent more than in 2008, Valor Economico newspaper said on Thursday, citing a senior company executive.
Thomson Reuters Q2 beats, CEO sees banks hiring
Thomson Reuters Corp reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by cost cuts, and said it expected 2009 revenue to grow as the financial industry recovers.
Thomson Reuters profit beats, aided by cost cuts
Thomson Reuters Corp reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by cost cuts, and affirmed its 2009 outlook that revenue will grow despite tough conditions in the financial industry.
Thomson Reuters profit rises, aided by cost cuts
Thomson Reuters Corp reported a higher quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by cost cuts, and affirmed its 2009 outlook that revenue will grow despite tough conditions in the financial industry.
British union calls for national postal strike
British postal workers are to be balloted in September for a national strike and thousands of Royal Mail staff are to take part in industrial action against job cuts over the next three days, a union said on Thursday.
Wall Street slips; telecom woes offset jobs data
U.S. stocks slipped on Thursday as drops in telecommunications and biotechnology stocks offset optimism about the economy spurred by a sharp fall in the number of workers filing new claims for jobless benefits.
Indians sentenced to death over 2003 Mumbai blasts
A court on Thursday sentenced to death three Indians found guilty of conspiring with a Pakistan-based militant group to carry out serial blasts in Mumbai in 2003 that killed at least 54 people, officials said.
Iraq denies blocking food to Iranian exile camp
Iraq on Thursday denied it was preventing food, water or medical supplies from entering an Iranian exile camp it wants to shut down north of Baghdad.
Mortgage servicers act for investors: regulators
U.S. regulators said on Thursday that residential mortgage servicers dealing with first and subordinated liens on the same property must focus on getting the best overall deal for the loan's owners.
White House views splitting Fannie, Freddie assets
U.S. officials are considering a plan to isolate failing assets held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday, while an administration official said such an idea was in the early stages of development.
About half of U.S. mortgages seen underwater by 2011
The percentage of U.S. homeowners who owe more than their house is worth will nearly double to 48 percent in 2011 from 26 percent at the end of March, portending another blow to the housing market, Deutsche Bank said on Wednesday.
Japan opposition backs Obama's nuclear-free plan
Japan's main opposition Democratic Party, which has a good shot at winning power in a general election this month, said on Thursday it backed U.S. President Barack Obama's call to rid the world of nuclear arms.
Morgan Stanley pays $950 million for TARP warrants
Morgan Stanley said on Thursday it agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $950 million to redeem warrants to buy its stock, freeing it from the government's bank bailout program.
Clinton says South Africa must press Zimbabwe harder
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday she would press South Africa to use more of its influence to counter the negative effects of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.
