ECB May Join Greek Rescue
The largest holder of Greek bonds is the ECB, so, it has the most to lose if the nation goes into default. Despite the ECB’s position that it can aid the regions banks but…
All Work
Douglas A. McIntyre
Olympus May Be Saved By Samsung Or Panasonic
Troubled Japanese company Olympus may have its financial issues solve by an equity tie up with either Samsung or Panasonic. A deal has been rumored for some time after a financial fraud scandal nearly knocked…
Are MF Global Assets, Which Were Lost, Found?
Media reports yesterday, particularly from The Wall Street Journal, said that the $1.2 billion if MF Global customer assets which has been lost will not be found. The New York Times contradicts that, so…
Sony Belatedly Appoints New CEO
After years of failed product launches, bad management decisions, and billions of dollars in losses which have caused its stock price to plunge, Sir Howard Stinger has finally be replaced as the CEO of…
China Factory Indicator Jumps–PMI At 50.5
After several months in which China’s PMI seesawed between modest contraction and modest expansion, the movement was to the upside again in January An official reading of China’s Purchasing Managers Index unexpectedly increased to…
Facebook $5 Billion IPO–IFR
Facebook’s IPO documents will be filed with the SEC according to IFR. The initial plan will be to raise $5 billion. The final offering will not occur for several months. Earlier rumors were that the social…
Amazon Shares, Hit By Bad Earnings, Collapse
Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) shares immediately dropped nearly 10% as it release earnings for its most recent quarter. Margins fell significantly While net sales increased 35% to $17.43 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with…
Online Petition–A Very Few People Want An “Ethical” iPhone 5
A very few people have signed on online petition that they hope will pressure Apple to release an “ethical” iPhone 5–which would be the next generation of the smartphone. “Ethical” probably means not made…
Saudi Arabia Oil Prodiction Increase–CIA’s Petraeus
Some Wall St. forecasters have predicted oil prices could rise as high as $150 a barrel if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for sanctions from the US and EU nations. The…
Alliance for American Manufacturing Say China Puts 1.6 Million Car Jobs At Risk
The Alliance for American Manufacturing is an industry group, or perhaps a lobby is a better way to put it. Whatever its role, the group, and some like minded Congressmen believe that China’s ongoing thwarting of…
Car Stocks Mixed Ahead Of January Numbers
Car stocks traded mixed the day before the companies release January sales data. The number are expected to be as strong, if not stronger than those at the end of last year. US sales…
The 10 Most Educated Countries in the World
In the past 50 years, college graduation rates in developed countries have increased nearly 200%, according to Education at a Glance 2011, a recently published report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development…
Who Is at Fault at Avon?
Avon’s (NYSE: AVP) vice chairman, Charles Cramb, was fired as the federal government examines whether the company violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He may have known about bribes Avon made outside the U.S. The…
In Banco Santander, a Microcosm of Spain’s Troubles
Spain’s big bank — Banco Santander (NYSE: STD) — said its fourth-quarter profits fell 98%. It took a $2.4 billion charge because of its wrecked real estate portfolio. It also set aside cash to…
As Facebook Ad Share Surges, Smaller Sites in Danger
courtesy Facebook Inc.New data from online research firm Comscore shows Facebook had 27.9% of the U.S. display advertising market, up from 21% in 2010. Yahoo!’s (NASDAQ: YHOO) share was 11%. Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Microsoft…
What’s Important in the Financial World (1/31/2012) Apple Retail Chief, EU Unemployment
EU nations, led by Germany, have approved a permanent bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism, which has 500 billion euros. But that does not mean a rescue for Greece. On the contrary, if the…
Media Digest (1/31/2012) Reuters, WSJ, NYT, FT, Bloomberg
Toshiba cuts its profit forecasts and lowers guidance. (Reuters) Honda (NYSE: HMC) posts a 65% drop in profits and cuts its outlook because of the yen and Thai floods. (Reuters) Twenty-five nations, led by…
European Nations Could Be Downgraded On Healthcare Costs–S&P
Add to the downgrades and potential downgraded of nations and banks throughout Europe a warning from S&P. The rating agency is concerned that runaway healthcare costs, carried by some of the countries, could badly damage…
Samsung Loses Apple Case In Germany
The global wireless patent war that has engulfed Eastman Kodak, Samsung, HTC, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), RIM (NASDAQ: RIMM) Motorola, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) among others took another turn today as a Germany court upheld a…
State Attorneys General May Miss Federal Mortgage Settlement–WSJ
According to The Wall Street Journal State attorneys general have until Friday to join a potential national settlement of alleged foreclosure abuses, according to a document reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The deadline,…