courtesy of MicrosoftMicrosoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) plans to release a major upgrade of Windows 8 to help weak sales. At the same time, analysts say that telecom providers want to find one or more…
Wikimedia CommonsWest Lashes Out at China The world has started to gang up on China. America’s Defense Department published a report as part of its Annual Report to Congress. In “Military and Security Developments…
ThinkstockThe U.S. government accuses China of stealing military secrets. (Reuters) Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) plans to upgrade Windows 8 to boost sales. (Reuters) New York state will file charges against Bank of America Corp.…
courtesy of KFCWhile CEOs of companies with the strongest financial results are usually paid hundreds of millions of dollars, rank and file employees at these corporations are often less fortunate. Only a small number…
courtesy of the Walt Disney Co.It looks as though Walt Disney Co.’s (NYSE: DIS) “Iron Man 3” could save the summer box office yield all by itself. Like several popular serial movie franchises, each…
Wikimedia CommonsMen, or their significant others, will be able to buy Pfizer Inc.’s (NYSE: PFE) erectile dysfunction drug Viagra online soon. Maybe the big pharmaceutical company figures it is easier to use a computer than…
ThinkstockUnemployment in Spain has been above 24% for several months, and there is nothing about the nation’s economy that will reverse that. The central government has complained that austerity is the cause, as have…
ThinkstockEarly last month, the financial worries of Americans fell to their lowest levels since 2007, a sign that higher taxes and federal government spending cuts have not dampened the belief in an overall recovery.…
S&PHas a drop in China’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) been hurt by the European Union’s recession, or has the EU recession been hurt by a drop in exports to China? No one knows, but…
Wikimedia CommonsWarren Buffett will stay away from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) bonds for the same reason many investors have shunned them. These fixed income instruments barely yield anything at all. The Apple debt issue…
ThinkstockIron Man’s Record Weekend Walt Disney Co.’s (NYSE: DIS) “Iron Man 3” could save the summer box office yield all by itself. Like several serial movie franchises, each installment tops the next. Theater owners,…
courtesy of NetflixThe HSBC services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) drops to 51.1 in April, a sign that China’s manufacturing economy is barely expanding. (Reuters) Bain and Golden Gate are close to a $6.4 billion…
courtesy of KFCEvery shareholder of Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) should have gotten a seat at the Kentucky Derby, or at least a spot next to the event’s red carpet. Yum! Brands paid the…
ThinkstockMartha Stewart recently flogged her book, “Living the Good Long Life: A Practical Guide to Caring for Yourself and Others,” in the pages of USA Today. Between tips on longevity, she mentioned her present…
courtesy of The Coca-Cola CompanySuccessful companies frequently rely heavily on just one product for the majority of their sales and profit. That’s true for some of the most iconic brands, including Coke, Marlboro and…
ThinkstockEurope believes that it is doing poorly, financially. The European Commission (EC) put out its forecast for gross domestic product (GDP) activity for this year and next. This year, at least, the prediction is…
TwitterTwitter has added an investment banker to its staff. This has prompted speculation that the company may begin the process for an initial public offering. Of course, investors could be gun-shy after the collapses of…
courtesy Barnes & Noble Inc.Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) may have gotten an investment for Nook, its e-reader and e-book operation, from Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) as the software company presses into tablets.…
ThinkstockSlow EU Economic Recovery Europe believes that it is doing poorly, financially. The European Commission (EC) put out its forecast for gross domestic product (GDP) activity for this year and next. This year, at…
Wikimedia CommonsGlobal athletic and apparel maker Adidas released better-than-expected quarterly earnings. So did rival Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) about a month ago. Given the hundreds of millions of athletic shoes sold by them each year, in…