Job News From: Forbes

Forbes.com: Business News

Oil Sparked All Over Again After cooling off for a month, the oil bulls are back, thanks to saber rattling in Eastern Europe. Lehman On The Bubble Stock fading, investors balking and ripe for takeover, Richard Fuld's company is in a bad bind. Kyrgyzstan Faces Economic Pressures Rising food and energy prices increase country's vulnerability to the global financial crisis. Marines In Media The few, the proud, on deadline. #1 Ng Teng Fong & family Nation's richest for second consecutive year with 72% stake in Hong Kong-listed Tsim Sha Tsui Properties.

Job News From: Yahoo! Business

Yahoo! News: Business Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:30:32 GMT

Markets await Bernanke as central bankers gather (Reuters) Reuters - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke tackles financial stability in a key speech on Friday but economists doubt he will provide solid clues about future policy action to calm the credit crunch. Fannie and Freddie debt gains, deep share dive abates (Reuters) Reuters - Investors' growing belief in the likelihood of a federal bailout of home-funding giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac triggered a rally in the debt prices of the two companies on Thursday while a steep fall in their shares prices abated. Oil up 5 percent on global tensions, soft dollar (Reuters) Reuters - Oil prices rose nearly 5 percent on Thursday, the biggest percentage gain in more than two months, driven by rising tensions between the United States and energy behemoth Russia. Analysts see tough quarter for U.S. investment banks (Reuters) Reuters - Wall Street research analysts are projecting yet another tough quarter for U.S. investment banks marked by additional writedowns across a series of fixed-income assets amid an already weak operating environment. FINRA probes 40 firms on auction rate securities: source (Reuters) Reuters - Financial industry enforcement agents will review the auction-rate debt operations of about 40 firms industrywide starting next week, sources familiar with the investigation said on Thursday. Trends & Innovations - Wednesday (Investor's Business Daily) Investor's Business Daily - The proportion of working-age Americans facing medical debt rose to 72 mil or 41% last year, up from 58 mil or 34% in '05, according to a new survey by the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund. About half of those facing health debt have up to $2,000 in bills, while 12% have more than $4,000 in debt and another 12% have more than $8,000. The survey also found most of those with medical debt said they had exhausted their savings, with some also tapping into credit cards, home equity or cutting back on food or heat to cover health care costs. Cost-cutting boosts Gap's 2nd-quarter profit (AP) AP - Apparel retailer Gap Inc. said Thursday that its second-quarter profit rose 51 percent, despite a sales decline, helped by cost-cutting and tight control on inventory.

Job News From: NPR

NPR Topics: Business Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:58:00 -0400

Appliance Stores Look To Energy EfficiencyTakoma Park, Md.-based Appliance Distributors Unlimited is one of the largest dealers of home appliances in the metropolitan Washington area. It has taken steps to permanently reduce its energy use. It's moving to energy-efficient lighting, recycling and other steps. Newspaper Carriers Work With RivalsFrank Saracino, a newspaper carrier spends roughly $300 a week on gas. He now mostly delivers on Sundays and evenings to avoid traffic. Nationwide, more than 40 percent of papers collaborate with a competitor on delivery. To Cut Fuel Costs, American Switches To 737sAmerican Airlines is parking its MD 80 jets in the Texas desert and buying new Boeing 737s. The move is an attempt to cut energy costs amid high energy prices. Cruise Line Seeks To Trim $225M Fuel BillIn Miami, Royal Caribbean says it's turning off air conditioners, changing lightbulbs, and taking other common-sense steps to reduce its $225 million fuel bill. It's also adjusting arrival and departure times to allow ships to reduce sailing speeds and conserve. Higher Oil Prices Encourage Energy SavingsOil prices are moving higher again, giving American businesses — from airlines to cruise lines to newspapers — incentive to invest in long-term energy-saving measures. Housing Limbo: How Low Will Prices Go?Many homeowners — and those looking to buy — are nervous. With transportation, food costs and unemployment on the rise, making a decision about one of the largest purchases of your life is far from simple. Here, experts weigh in with factors to consider before you buy. Stretching Back-To-School DollarsAs inflation hits the highest rate since 1991, parents are finding clever ways to shop for school supplies and fall clothes. Mary Harmon, a mother of four living in Corona, Calif., shares her money-saving tricks. Why eBay Wants To Be AmazonEBay may soon be giving up the gavel as the world's biggest online auction site. The company is announcing a major overhaul that would make it easier for merchants to sell items for a fixed price. We examine the company's shift to a business model that emphasizes buying over bidding. 'Marketplace' Report: Why Food Costs So MuchThe USDA forecasts food prices will go up by as much as 6 percent this year — the largest annual increase since 1990. What's causing the high cost of food? Scooter Sales Accelerate; So Do Thefts, InjuriesAmerica's scooter industry is surging, benefiting from high gas prices and a slumping economy. Two other markers of their rising popularity have emerged: higher rates of theft and injury. Scooter Rundown: Best Fits From Tall To SmallRecord numbers of Americans are getting out of their cars and hopping onto scooters, spurred by high gas prices and concern for the environment. But with many options and styles to choose from, picking the right ride can be tricky. The Price Of CollegeA college degree can cost as much as a decent single family house and more often than not, it's the parents who foot most of the bill, yet, a new study shows many families don't consider the price tag when choosing a school or whether that degree will help pay it off later. So we ask: How should we pay for college? Fannie, Freddie Shares Slumping; Indy Gets A BreakAfter trading at $60 or $70 a share a year ago, mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are in the single-digit range — and slipping further. But there's some hopeful news for struggling homeowners whose mortgages are held by IndyMac Bank, which was taken over by the government. Quarter Of U.S. Workers Get No Paid VacationThe Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that one-quarter of workers in the United States get no paid vacation at all. And non-union workers get more time off than union workers during their first years on the job, though the union workers start getting extra vacation after 10 or 20 years on the job. Workplace Deaths Hit All-Time LowThe latest figures from the Labor Department show a sharp decline in workplace fatalities. They're lower than at any point since the department started keeping track.