Saturday, March 01, 2008

Opinion

Date: 1 Mar 2008 15:15:03 -0000
談中國計劃生育政策的改革

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面對富戶超生、人口老化等社會問題,中國計劃生育政策應何去何從?來談談您的看法。More...go
to

http://www.bloglines.com/blog/johnDispatch

Friday, February 29, 2008

U.S. stocks slump towards weekly and monthly declines

Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:06:03 (GMT)

U.S. stocks slump towards weekly and monthly declines

U.S. stocks plunge, headed for declines for both the week and the month
of February after big losses from AIG and poor results from Dell shook
investors.

FDIC doesn't see bank failures surging

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is trying to rehire 25 former
employees specializing in bank insolvency, but the agency that insures
bank deposits says it does not expect a surge of failures in the
industry.

ComScore clarifies view on Google 'paid click' data

ComScore executives are disputing the view that their research on
Google's "paid clicks" may signal a weak first quarter for the Internet
giant.

Capitol Report: How low will interest rates go?

WASHINGTON
Now that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has signaled that more
rate cuts are on the horizon, the natural question arises: how low will
interest rates go?

Dell shares down more than 4% following earnings drop

SAN FRANCISCO
Dell Inc. shares fell more than 4% Friday, sinking after the No. 1 U.S.
personal-computer company reported a drop in fourth-quarter earnings and
hinted near-term results could be hurt by the spending plans of some of
its larger corporate customers.

Markets Friday, 02/29/2008

Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:30:24 -0500

| Dow : 12266.39 down 315.79

| S & P : 1330.63 down 37.05

| NASDAQ: 2271.48 down 60.09

| Bond (10Y): 3.51%, 99.91

MARKETS:
Brutal selloff on Wall Street
Dow tumbles 315 points, the second worst day of the year for stocks,
after AIG's big loss and UBS's outlook on financials.

U.S. stocks sharply off on corporate losses

Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:01:04 (GMT)
U.S. stocks sharply off on corporate losses

NEW YORK
U.S. stocks head south with equities readying for possible weekly gains
but monthly declines, with early investor sentiment dampened by American
International Group Inc. and Dell Inc.'s quarterly losses.

Economic Report: Consumer spending flat in January

U.S. real consumer spending was unchanged in January for the third time
in the past four months as the economic slump deepened.

AIG shares fall after loss, troubled unit head resigns

NEW YORK
Shares of American International Group fell more than 7% Friday, leading
decliners among all the financial stocks in the S&P 500 after the
company reported the biggest loss in its almost 90-year history,
including an $11 billion writedown of troubled mortgage securities.

Bond insurers active as Ross buys into Assured

NEW YORK
Shares of bond insurer Assured Guaranty rose Friday after revealing that
investor Wilbur Ross will provide up to $1 billion to strengthern its
business, while rival Ambac Financial Group's shares fell on a broadcast
report that a deal to boost its capital has hit a snag.

Futures Movers: Crude declines after hitting record high above $103

Crude-oil futures step back after hitting a record high above $103 a
barrel on reports that Ecuador's state-run oil company, Petroecuador,
suspended operations at a key export pipeline.

January personal income reading slightly better than expected, government reports.

Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:34:04 -0500

January personal income reading slightly better than expected,
government reports.

Dow industrials drop 140 points in first minute of trading

Date: 29 FEB 2008 14:34:30 GMT

Dow industrials drop 140 points in first minute of trading
2/29/2008 9:32:16 AM

Breaking News Fri., February 29, 2008

Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:05:52 -0800 (PST)
Breaking News

British media report that Prince Harry is to be withdrawn from
Afghanistan.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Markets.Thursday, 02/28/2008

Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:31:05 -0500

| Dow : 12582.18 down 112.10

| S & P : 1367.68 down 12.34

| NASDAQ: 2331.57 down 22.21

| Bond (10Y): 3.66%, 98.59

MARKETS:
Recession fears sink stocks
Wall Street stumbles on Bernanke's comments, weak GDP, sinking dollar
and spiking oil and gold prices.

Dell posts 6% profit drop, expects some weakness ahead

Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:06:03 (GMT)

Dell posts 6% profit drop, expects some weakness ahead

SAN FRANCISCO
Dell Inc. on Thursday reported a fourth-quarter profit that fell 6% a
from a year ago despite a rise in revenues as the PC maker was hit with
several charges related to acquisitions and restructuring.

UBS Valentine's Day disclosure causes mayhem in mortgage market

SAN FRANCISCO
UBS AG's recent disclosure that it's highly exposed to so-called Alt-A
home loans has caused margin calls and forced selling among other big
players in the mortgage market.

Microsoft's play for Yahoo could distract from enterprise market

SAN FRANCISCO
Microsoft Corp.'s pursuit of Yahoo Inc. could distract the software
giant from what many analysts consider to be a more lucrative market for
business software, which is dominated by Oracle and SAP.

Telecom Report: Sprint CEO gets marks for honesty, but tough challenges
ahead

WASHINGTON
If the first step in rehabilitation is admitting a problem, then Sprint
Nextel Corp. is finally on the road to recovery.

Markets.Thursday, 02/28/2008

Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:31:05 -0500

| Dow : 12582.18 down 112.10

| S & P : 1367.68 down 12.34

| NASDAQ: 2331.57 down 22.21

| Bond (10Y): 3.66%, 98.59

MARKETS:
Recession fears sink stocks
Wall Street stumbles on Bernanke's comments, weak GDP, sinking dollar
and spiking oil and gold prices.

Crude oil suges $2.95 to settle at $102.59, setting another record, as traders hedge against falling dollar.

Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:14:02 -0500

Crude oil suges $2.95 to settle at $102.59, setting another record, as
traders hedge against falling dollar.

Economy, inflation talk pressure major U.S. indexes, all closing almost 1% lower

Date: 28 FEB 2008 21:10:45 GMT
BULLETIN:
Economy, inflation talk pressure major U.S. indexes, all closing almost
1% lower
2/28/2008 4:05:32 PM

U.S. mortgage rates jump, erasing three months of declines

Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:01:04 (GMT)
U.S. mortgage rates jump, erasing three months of declines

Mortgage rates rose again this week, bringing the 30-year and 15-year
fixed-rate mortgages to levels last seen in November.

ETF Focus: New Deutsche Bank ETNs provide leveraged, short exposure to
gold

BOSTON
A trio of new exchange-traded notes are designed to provide leveraged
and short exposure to gold-futures prices, but their approach should end
up making a notoriously volatile market even more risky for individual
investors.

Thornburg says more than $300 million in margin calls paid

Thornburg Mortgage Inc. has had to come up with more than $300 million
in cash since Valentine's Day to back troubled mortgage-related
securities, according to a regulatory filing. If it can't meet future
margin calls, Santa Fe, N.M.-based Thornburg warned that it may have to
start selling some assets to raise cash.

Sprint posts big loss, calls off dividend payments

WASHINGTON
Stung by defecting customers and falling sales, Sprint Nextel posted a
steep fourth-quarter loss and canceled its dividend "for the
foreseeable future." .

Market Snapshot: U.S. stocks skid lower after data highlights a weak
economy

NEW YORK
U.S. stocks skid lower after the government revises its estimated growth
in gross domestic product for the fourth quarter, with the U.S. economy
in 2007 grinding down to its slowing pace in five years.

Bush: U.S. Not Headed Into Recession

Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:30:02 -0500
Bush: U.S. Not Headed Into Recession

President Bush said Thursday that the country is not headed into a
recession and, despite expressing concern about slowing economic growth,
rejected for now any additional stimulus efforts. 
--------------------
U.S.

Spike In Unemployment Benefits Seekers

More Americans signed up for unemployment benefits last week, new
evidence that economic sluggishness is spilling over into the job
market. Meanwhile, the economy faltered in the final quarter of 2007 due
to dual slumps in housing and credit. 
--------------------
Politics

Iraq Spat Could Be McCain-Obama Preview

A general-election contest between Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama
would center in part on who has the foreign policy experience to lead a
country at war, reports the Washington Post. 
--------------------
Health

Crib Death Risk Upped By Soft Bedding

Parents are putting their babies at risk when they place pillows and
other soft bedding in their cribs, the Consumer Product Safety
Commission warned. 
--------------------
SciTech

U.K. Retailer To Charge For Plastic Bags

Marks & Spencer, one of Britain's largest retailers, says it will start
charging for plastic bags at all of its stores as part of a drive to
eliminate waste. 
--------------------
Business

Has Google Hit A Wall Street Firewall?

Google's stock closed at $472 a share Wednesday, down from an all-time
high of $747. Investors now are clearly concerned that Google, despite
its ever increasing presence on the Web, may in fact have limits to its
Wall Street power. 

Dow industrials down as much as 120 points early Thursday

Date: 28 FEB 2008 14:53:57 GMT

Dow industrials down as much as 120 points early Thursday
2/28/2008 9:49:06 AM

Retailer Sears reports 47% decline in quarterly net income, blames worsening economic conditions.

Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 06:08:04 -0500

Retailer Sears reports 47% decline in quarterly net income, blames
worsening economic conditions.

Fourth-quarter economic growth holds at 0.6% annual rate, weaker than expected, Dow Jones reports.

Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:33:03 -0500

Fourth-quarter economic growth holds at 0.6% annual rate, weaker than
expected, Dow Jones reports.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Markets Wednesday, 02/27/2008

Wednesday, 2/27/2008

| Dow : 12694.28 up 9.36

| S & P : 1380.02 down 1.27

| NASDAQ: 2353.78 up 8.79

| Bond (10Y): 3.85%, 97.09

MARKETS:
Stocks end flat in topsy-turvy day
Markets close in mixed territory as investors welcome Bernanke comments,
but remain worried about inflation.

U.S. stocks veer to mixed ending following Fed talk

Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:06:03 (GMT)
U.S. stocks veer to mixed ending following Fed talk

U.S. stocks finish mixed with equities mostly sticking to monthly gains,
after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke offered rate-cut reassurances, but also
cautioned about the economy and inflation.

The Fed: Bernanke signals Fed's going to stay on the rate-cut path

The Federal Reserve will remain on course toward implementing additional
interest-rate cuts, at least in the near term, although the journey has
become more treacherous as prices are rising, the U.S. central bank's
chairman said Wednesday. Downside risks to economic growth remain the
key focus of monetary policymakers, Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke
told Congress. Inflation remains a secondary concern.

Consumers start cutting back at bars and restaurants

While alcoholic-beverage makers tend to do fine in hard economic times,
the current downturn may take a bite out of the premium "cocktail
culture" that has been so much a part of the industry's recent
growth spurt.

Delta-Northwest deal idles, waiting for pilots

A merger deal between Delta Air Lines and Northwest appears stalled
Wednesday after an internal Delta memo said the carrier is still looking
for a transaction that will strengthen its business strategy.

Many Yahoo holders may be wary of a higher bid

Many of the large, institutional holders of Yahoo stock actually stand
to lose money if Microsoft sweetens its unsolicited, $31 a share
acquisition bid for the company, an analyst calculates.

Bernanke signals Fed remains on rate cut path

Date: 27 FEB 2008 15:17:46 GMT

Bernanke signals Fed remains on rate cut path
2/27/2008 10:14:10 AM

Bernanke signals Fed's going to stay on the rate-cut path

Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:01:03 (GMT)
Bernanke signals Fed's going to stay on the rate-cut path

The Federal Reserve will remain on course toward implementing additional
interest-rate cuts, at least in the near term, although the journey has
become more treacherous as prices are rising, the U.S. central bank's
chairman said Wednesday. Downside risks to economic growth remain the
key focus of monetary policymakers, Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke
told Congress. Inflation remains a secondary concern.

U.S. stocks turn higher on Fannie, Freddie news

U.S. stocks on Wednesday turned modestly higher on word from government
regulators that portfolio caps on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be
raised March 1 and after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke offered
rate cut reassurances.

Futures Movers: Crude dips after weekly data; contract eclipsed $102
overnight

SAN FRANCISCO
Crude-oil futures fell more than $1 to below $100 a barrel Wednesday,
pulling back after hitting a fresh record high above $102 overnight, as
traders weighed a bigger-than-expected buildup in U.S. crude inventories
as well as a historic low set by the dollar against the euro.

Economic Report: Business investment weakens in January

WASHINGTON
Demand for durable goods fell back in January after a burst of orders in
December, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday, another sign that
the economy is slowing.

European regulator fines Microsoft $1.35 billion

The European Commission on Wednesday announced $1.35 billion in fines
against Microsoft Corp., stemming from a years-long struggle with the
software giant over allowing rivals access to its technology.

Clinton, Obama Slug It Out In Ohio

Breaking NewsFebruary 27, 2008
Clinton, Obama Slug It Out In Ohio

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama clashed over NAFTA, health care
and the war in Iraq Tuesday night in a crackling debate at close
quarters one week before a pivotal group of primaries. 
--------------------
World

Republicans Agree To Debate Anti-War Bill

In a turnabout, Senate Republicans have agreed with Democrats to advance
an anti-war bill that could cut combat funding because they say the
debate will give them an opportunity to praise the U.S. military's
progress in Irag.
--------------------
Politics

McCain Repudiates Radio Host's Remarks

Sen. John McCain quickly denounced and apologized for the comments of a
radio talk show host who while warming up a campaign made disparaging
remarks about Barack Obama and others. 

Bernanke: Inflation concerns could prompt Fed to pull back on stimulus efforts; New home sales at 13-year low, says AP.

Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:05:09 -0500

Bernanke: Inflation concerns could prompt Fed to pull back on stimulus
efforts; New home sales at 13-year low, says AP.

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac rise as portfolio caps lifted

Date: 27 FEB 2008 16:05:58 GMT

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac rise as portfolio caps lifted
2/27/2008 11:02:49 AM

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Markets Tuesday, 02/26/2008

Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:56:20 -0500

| Dow : 12684.92 up 114.70

| S & P : 1381.29 up 9.49

| NASDAQ: 2344.99 up 17.51

| Bond (10Y): 3.85%, 97.06

MARKETS:
Stocks rally despite bad economic news
Major indexes climb on IBM's stock buyback and Moody's reaffirming
MBIA's credit rating. Oil settles at a record high.

Crude rallies above $101 a barrel; heating oil hits new high

Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:06:04 (GMT)

Crude rallies above $101 a barrel; heating oil hits new high

Crude-oil futures rally more than $2 to above $101 a barrel as cold
weather in the U.S. continues. Heating oil surges to a new record high.

Capitol Report: Democrats seek corporate tax changes, but benefits
unclear

WASHINGTON
Attention U.S. companies: If you "ship jobs overseas," a Democrat is
going to try to bring them back.

RadioShack shares surge on higher profit
SAN FRANCISCO

RadioShack Corp. shares jumped as much as 24% on Tuesday after a strong
improvement in fourth-quarter profit suggested the electronics
retailer's turnaround efforts are starting take hold.

Google's shares fall as data show drop in 'paid clicks'

SAN FRANCISCO
Shares of Google Inc. fell more than 4% Tuesday, following the release
of data showing a continued decline in the number of Web users clicking
on ads presented by the online search giant -- the primary source of its
revenue. .

Inflation Spikes At 26-Year High

Breaking News
February 26, 2008

Fla. Nuke Shutdown Triggers Power Outages

A nuclear reactor owned by Florida's largest electric company
automatically shut down Tuesday, causing sporadic power outages
throughout the state that affected 3 million people.
--------------------
U.S.

Foreclosures Jump 57 Percent

The number of homes facing foreclosure jumped 57 percent in January
compared to a year ago, with lenders increasingly forced to take
possession of homes they couldn't unload at auctions, a mortgage
research firm said.
--------------------
World

Iraq Demands Turkish Troop Withdrawal

The Iraqi government denounced a recent Turkish incursion and demanded
an immediate withdrawal of the troops from northern Iraq, calling the
operation "military interference." 
-------------------
Business

Inflation Spikes At 26-Year High

A January surge left wholesale prices rising by 7.5 percent over the
past 12 months, the fastest pace in more than 26 years. More...

Blue chips notch triple-digit gain for second day, with IBM offsetting gloomy data

Date: 26 FEB 2008 21:10:29 GMT

Blue chips notch triple-digit gain for second day, with IBM offsetting
gloomy data
2/26/2008 4:07:04 PM

Oil hits new high of $101.11 a barrel

Date: 26 FEB 2008 17:22:53 GMT

Oil hits new high of $101.11 a barrel
2/26/2008 12:15:47 PM

Wholesale prices bolt 1% higher in January, adding to inflation fears.

Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:33:03 -0500

Wholesale prices bolt 1% higher in January, adding to inflation fears.

Google shares fall as data show drop in 'paid clicks'

Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:01:04 (GMT)

Google shares fall as data show drop in 'paid clicks'

SAN FRANCISCO
Shares of Google Inc. fell nearly 7% Tuesday, retreating following the
release of data that showed a continued decline in the number of Web
surfers clicking on ads -- how the online search giant generates most of
its revenue base.

Economic Report: U.S. January PPI jumps on energy, food prices

Producer prices soar in January, pushed higher by energy prices and the
biggest increase in food prices in more than three years, government
data show.

Home Depot's quarterly net off 27% with 'challenging' outlook

Home Depot Inc., the largest U.S. home-improvement retailer, reported on
Tuesday that fourth-quarter profit fell a sharper-than-expected 27% as
operating costs rose. In a statement, Frank Blake, chairman and chief
executive, called the 2008 industry outlook "challenging."

Economic Report: Home prices fall 8.9% in 2007, Case-Shiller says

U.S. home values declined in 2007 for the first time in 16 years,
according to two home-price indexes released Tuesday.

Germany's Ifo business sentiment index posts unexpected rise

A closely watched gauge of German business sentiment posts an unexpected
rise in February, driven by an improvement in current conditions but
undercut by less sanguine expectations for the future.

Consumer confidence index tumbles well below expectations in February - lowest level in 15 years.

Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:02:08 -0500

Consumer confidence index tumbles well below expectations in February -
lowest level in 15 years.

IBM declares $15 billion stock buyback, raises estimates

Date: 26 FEB 2008 16:13:04 GMT

IBM declares $15 billion stock buyback, raises estimates
2/26/2008 11:07:38 AM

Monday, February 25, 2008

Markets Monday, 02/25/2008

Monday, 2/25/2008

| Dow : 12570.22 up 189.20

| S & P : 1371.80 up 18.69

| NASDAQ: 2327.48 up 24.13

| Bond (10Y): 3.89%, 96.75

MARKETS:
Stocks stage big rally
Wall Street surges after S&P's positive decision on bond insurers'
credit ratings.

U.S. stocks close higher on relief over bond-insurer ratings

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:06:03 (GMT)
U.S. stocks close higher on relief over bond-insurer

U.S. stocks are spurred by news that Standard & Poor's reaffirmed the
credit ratings of two key bond insurers whose shaky financial outlook
has been at the center of investor anxiety in recent months.

S&P backs bond insurers' AAA ratings, sparking rally
MBIA Inc. and Ambac Financial shares spur a broader market rally, after
Standard & Poor's took positive rating actions on their bond-insurance
businesses.

Apple has fewer legs for growth, analyst says
The Mac might just be about to become even more important for Apple
Inc.'s future growth plans.

Google is winner in Microsoft-Yahoo stalemate: analysts

As the stalemate over Microsoft's bid to buy Yahoo enters its third
week, some analysts are already pointing to a winner in the impasse:
Google.

Take-Two investors betting on higher bid from EA

SAN FRANCISCO
Shares of Take-Two Interactive Software soared Monday as investors bet
that an unsolicited $2 billion takeover bid from rival Electronic Arts
Inc. will be increased, despite the fact that the offer has already been
rejected.

Stocks rally in last hour with Dow ending 190 points higher as investors cheer positive news about Ambac and MBIA's ratings.

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:01:06 -0500

Stocks rally in last hour with Dow ending 190 points higher as investors
cheer positive news about Ambac and MBIA's ratings.

Dow industrials spike nearly 200 points as close draws near

Date: 25 FEB 2008 20:48:16 GMT

BULLETIN »
Dow industrials spike nearly 200 points as close draws near
2/25/2008 3:45:52 PM

U.S. stocks climb on better-than-expected housing data

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:01:04 (GMT)

U.S. stocks climb on better-than-expected housing data

U.S. stocks pull higher after better-than-expected home sales report.
See full story.

The Ratings Game: Goldman sees Citigroup facing $12 billion in fresh
write-downs

NEW YORK
Analysts at Goldman Sachs cut estimates for the nation's top banks and
brokers Monday and said these major institutions would likely report
write-downs of between $1 billion and $12 billion for soured real-estate
loans and related exposures.

Movers & Shakers: Monday's biggest gaining and declining stocks

Companies whose shares are expected to move significantly in Monday
trading include Ambac, Clear Channel, Genentech, GM, Getty Images,
Lowe's, Merck, Microsoft, Henry Schein, Teva, Tesco, Time Warner, UBS,
Visa, and Yahoo.

IPO Report: Visa would be richest-ever U.S. IPO of nearly $19 billion

NEW YORK
Visa Inc. has set its sights on generating the largest proceeds ever
raised in a U.S. initial public offering, proposing Monday a whopping
$18.8 billion deal that will likely begin trading on the New York Stock
Exchange within the next several weeks.


EA makes bid for Take-Two Interactive

Electronic Arts Inc. on Sunday unveiled a $2 billion unsolicited bid to
buy Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., its second offer in recent
weeks.

Existing home sales drop 0.4% to a better-than-expected 4.89 million units.

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:04:03 -0500

Existing home sales drop 0.4% to a better-than-expected 4.89 million
units.

"No Country " Top Winner At Oscars

Breaking News
February 25, 2008

"No Country " Top Winner At Oscars

The Coen brothers' dark thriller, "No Country For Old Men," picked up
the most trophies at the 80th Annual Academy Awards Sunday night,
winning in four out of the eight categories in which it was nominated,
including best picture. 
--------------------
U.S.

Woman Dies On Flight With Bad Oxygen Tanks

An American Airlines passenger died after a flight attendant told her he
couldn't give her any oxygen and then tried to help her with faulty
equipment, including an empty oxygen tank, a relative said.
--------------------
World

Dozens Of Iraqi Pilgrims Killed In Attacks

Violence targeting Shiite pilgrims in Iraq has now left more than 60
people dead and scores injured. In the latest attack, a roadside bomb
struck pilgrims on a road outside Baghdad, killing at least four
people. 
--------------------
Politics

Democratic Party Wants FEC To Probe McCain

The national Democratic party wants campaign finance regulators to
investigate whether Sen. John McCain would violate money-in-politics
laws by withdrawing from the primary election's public finance system. 
--------------------
Business

Congress To Grill Mortgage Executives

Congress is set to examine another round of possible repairs for
consumers and investors threatened by widening cracks in the housing
market. 

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Ralph Nader announces run for president...

BREAKING NEWS
February 24, 2008

Ralph Nader is launching a third-party campaign for president.