Wednesday, December 5, 2007
 |
The outsourcing of campaign fund raising to consultants has emerged as a major force in national politics. But no parallel system has evolved to make sure the cash is clean, raising dangers of tainted money finding its way into campaigns. Rifts surfaced between the U.S. and world powers over Iran. China indicated it would oppose new economic sanctions in light of a U.S. report that Tehran halted its nuclear-weapons program in 2003. In Canada, riches are being pulled out of the Alberta oil sands like cash from an ATM. The biggest hurdle is finding enough skilled workers in remote areas, leading oil companies to compete with luxurious accommodations and lavish perks. Musharraf's struggle to stay in power has an unlikely ally: a maverick group once hunted down by Pakistan's army that now controls Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city. The reading of third-quarter productivity growth is forecast to be revised upward -- to a 6.2% annual rate from 4.9% -- because of the adjustment in the quarter's GDP. Unit labor costs, as a result, will be down more. Labor Department, 8:30 a.m. EST. |
|
| MARKETPLACE |
Helium has become scarce amid increasing demand and glitches at facilities where it is produced, leading to a doubling of prices for some users and fewer supplies for others. When Hong Kong's International Commerce Center opens for business this month in Kowloon, it will change the face of a commercial-property market that has boomed along with China's rising financial might. Some of the smartest thinkers about the Internet in China believe the biggest hurdle to free speech there isn't the government firewall, but self-censorship. The major media companies at the center of the writers' strike have increasingly divergent agendas, and the fate of the talks could depend on that dynamic. |
|
| MONEY & INVESTING |
Singapore's Temasek is providing half of the funding for a new $2 billion, private-equity fund set up by Goldman's China partner. Florida accepted BlackRock's recovery plan for the state's troubled investment fund. A small investment in Financial Guaranty Insurance four years ago is adding to the woes weighing on Blackstone's share price. The Dow industrials fell 65.84 points to 13248.73 amid worries about brokerage-firm earnings. Bond prices rose. Credit was supposed to flow easier in December. It hasn't happened yet. |
|
| PERSONAL JOURNAL |
Online shopping is an easy way to shop for sales and avoid crowds at the mall. It is also an easy way to get ripped off. But a little research and a few basic tools can limit your vulnerability to scams and fake e-commerce sites "Hard-money mortgages" -- those with higher interest rates and fees -- were once thought to be last resort for strapped borrowers, but now they are attracting a larger, more-affluent group of consumers. PayPal and other payment services are ramping up consumer incentives during the holiday season in an effort to turn users into regulars. "Juno" is a comedy of crisp, mordant wit and quietly radiating warmth, as well as a coming-of-age story with a lovely twist -- you can't always spot the best candidates for maturity -- says Joe Morgenstern. (Trailer) Many retirees dislike the complexity and high fees of immediate-variable annuities, and it's creating an opportunity for fund companies to design income-generating products aimed at baby boomers leaving the work force. |
Niciun comentariu:
Trimiteți un comentariu