International

Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 20:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 28 December, 2008

HAMAS VOWS RETALIATION AFTER ISRAELI STRIKES KILL 225
Israeli airstrikes pounded Gaza on Saturday, a week after a
cease-fire agreement ended, killing at least 225 people. Israeli
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the airstrikes are a response
to escalating rocket attacks against Israel and will continue as
long as necessary. Hamas has vowed to retaliate.

ZIMBABWE'S CHILDREN 'WASTING AWAY'
Some of Zimbabwe's children are "wasting away" as political
turmoil and economic crisis has caused a severe food shortage,
according to a report from Save the Children.

PAKISTAN PLAYS DOWN TENSIONS WITH INDIA
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari played down cross-border
tensions with India in a speech Saturday, telling citizens
democracy and dialogue will end discord and increase regional
stability.

GOP CHAIR CONDEMNS 'MAGIC NEGRO' SONG
The chairman of the Republican National Committee said he was
"appalled" by a song called "Barack the Magic Negro" on a CD
distributed by one of his political rivals.

CHINA DAIRIES TO COMPENSATE VICTIMS
Victims of tainted baby formula, which caused hundreds of
thousands of infants to become sick, six of whom died, are
expected to be compensated by 22 Chinese dairy producers that
made the milk.

U.S. SLUDGE SPILL GROWS TO 1 BILLION GALLONS
Estimates for the amount of sludge that gushed from a coal plant
in the U.S. state of Tennessee have tripled to more than 1
billion gallons (nearly 3.8 million kiloliters), inundating
homes and railroads and threatening a nearby river.

POLL: 75% GLAD BUSH IS DONE
A new national poll suggests that three out of four Americans
feel President George W. Bush's departure from office is coming
not a moment too soon.

MAN SHOOTS TALKER AT MOVIES, POLICE SAY
A man angry that a family was talking during a movie threw
popcorn at the son and then shot the father in the arm,
according to police in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

BUSINESS

JAPAN'S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT SEES RECORD FALL
Japan's industrial output took the largest drop in history in
November over October, tumbling 8.1 percent -- nearly double the
previous high of 4.3 percent in January 2001, according to a
report from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

AMERICANS KEEP TIGHTER GRIP ON CASH
In a troubling sign that U.S. consumers are retrenching this
holiday season, consumer spending and orders for durable goods
fell further in November, according to government reports.

POLL: MOST BACK OBAMA'S $800B STIMULUS PLAN
A new national poll suggests most Americans favor an economic
stimulus package even if it comes with an $800 billion price
tag, although that support doesn't indicate the public wants to
see a new era of big government.

International

Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 05:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 27 December, 2008

U.S. SLUDGE SPILL GROWS TO A BILLION GALLONS
Estimates for the amount of sludge that gushed from a coal plant
in the U.S. state of Tennessee have tripled to more than a
billion gallons (nearly 3.8 million kiloliters), inundating
homes and railroads and threatening a nearby river.

PAKISTAN MOVES TROOPS TO INDIA BORDER
Pakistani troops have been moved to the Indian border amid fears
of an Indian ground incursion, two Pakistani military officials
say. India's prime minister was briefed on the security
situation amid rising cross-border tensions following the
terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

BLAST KILLS 13 IN CHINESE VILLAGE
An explosion early Saturday killed at least 13 people and
collapsed 10 houses in east-central China's Henan province,
state-run media reported.

MILITANTS' ROCKET KILLS 2 CHILDREN IN GAZA
A rocket fired by Palestinian militants fell on a Gaza home and
killed two children, Palestinian sources say, on the same day
Israel opened three Gaza border crossings for the first time in
10 days.

FIVE DIE IN PERU DISCO STAMPEDE
Police in Peru search for the person who threw a tear gas
canister into an unlicensed discotheque early Christmas Day,
causing a stampede that killed five people, Peruvian news
reports said.

POLICE: BURNS ALTERED 'KILLER SANTA' PLAN
Police in the U.S. state of California say Bruce Jeffrey Pardo,
while dressed as Santa Claus, shot people at the home of his
former in-laws, torched the house and then suffered third-degree
burns. That's why he killed himself rather than use the airline
ticket in his pocket to Canada, they said.

NO CHARGES FOR HANUKKAH PARTY CRASH DRIVER
Charges will not be filed against a 76-year-old man who lost
control of his vehicle and crashed into a building where a
Hanukkah celebration was under way, police in Long Island, New
York, say.

IRANIANS TOSS SHOES AT BUSH POSTERS
A few dozen Iranians threw shoes at posters of U.S. President
George W. Bush in Tehran, a demonstration of support for an
Iraqi journalist jailed for throwing his shoes at Bush two weeks
ago in Baghdad.

BUSINESS

JAPAN'S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT SEES RECORD FALL
Japan's industrial output took the largest drop in history in
November over October, tumbling 8.1 percent -- nearly double the
previous high of 4.3 percent in January 2001, according to a
report from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

TWO TRIED OVER TAINTED MILK POWDER
A dealer of a toxic chemical and a producer went on trial Friday
in China, state media reported, in the latest development in the
country's tainted milk powder scandal that left six babies dead
and sickened 290,000 others.

AMERICANS KEEP TIGHTER GRIP ON CASH
In a troubling sign that U.S. consumers are retrenching this
holiday season, consumer spending and orders for durable goods
fell further in November, according to government reports.

Breaking News

Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 05:03:04 -0500

Israeli aircraft launch air attacks across Gaza, causing many deaths
and injuries.

International

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:02:09 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 27 December, 2008

SOURCES: PAKISTAN MOVES TROOPS TO INDIA BORDER
Pakistani troops have been moved to the Indian border amid fears
of an Indian ground incursion, two Pakistani military officials
told CNN on Friday. India's prime minister was briefed on the
security situation amid rising cross-border tensions following
the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

POLICE: BURNS FROM FIRE ALTERED 'KILLER SANTA' PLOT
A pipe bomb exploded Thursday night in a rental car used a day
earlier by a man suspected in a Christmas Eve attack that left
at least eight people dead, police said. Bruce Jeffrey Pardo
committed suicide hours after he allegedly -- dressed as Santa
Claus -- opened fire at a holiday party and then started a fire
inside a Covina, California, home, police said.

'BARACK THE MAGIC NEGRO' DEFENDED AS SATIRE
A candidate for the Republican National Committee chairmanship
said Friday the CD he sent committee members for Christmas --
which included a song titled "Barack the Magic Negro" -- was
clearly intended as a joke.

MILITANTS' ROCKET KILLS 2 CHILDREN IN GAZA
Israel opened three border crossings with Gaza on Friday,
allowing fuels and commodities into the Palestinian territory
for the first time in 10 days.

FIVE DIE IN PERU DISCO STAMPEDE
Police in Peru were searching Friday for the person who threw a
tear gas canister into an unlicensed discotheque early Christmas
Day, causing a stampede that killed five people, Peruvian news
reports said.

CHINESE WARSHIPS SET SAIL TO COMBAT PIRACY
Two Chinese destroyers and a supply ship set sail for the Gulf
of Aden on a mission to protect Chinese merchant ships from an
increasing number of pirate attacks occurring in the waters off
Somalia, state media report.

PRISONERS, OFFICERS KILLED IN IRAQI JAILBREAK
Seven prisoners were killed Friday while attempting to escape
from an Iraqi police station, according to an Interior Ministry
official.

27 DEAD AFTER UKRAINIAN APARTMENT BLAST
The final death toll from a Christmas Eve explosion in a
five-story apartment building in southern Ukraine has increased
to 27 people, including three children, Ukrainian officials said
Friday.

BUSINESS

JAPAN'S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT SEES RECORD FALL
Japan's government releases some key reports indicating the
nation's economy is suffering along with the rest of the world,
with its industrial output tumbling over 8 percent in November.

TWO TRIED OVER TAINTED MILK POWDER
A dealer of a toxic chemical and a producer went on trial Friday
in China, state media reported, in the latest development in the
country's tainted milk powder scandal that left six babies dead
and sickened 290,000 others.

AMERICANS KEEP TIGHTER GRIP ON CASH
In a troubling sign that U.S. consumers are retrenching this
holiday season, consumer spending and orders for durable goods
fell further in November, according to government reports.

Tech stocks mixed while Amazon holds onto gains

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:00:13 -0500

Tech Stocks: Tech stocks mixed while Amazon holds onto gains
12/26/2008 4:09 PM ET

Technology stocks saw mixed trading in a light session on Friday after
online retail giant Amazon.com said it had its "best
ever" holiday season and Wal-Mart announced that it would begin
selling the popular iPhone.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
After Hours: First Solar, F5 on move in low-volume late session
12/26/2008 5:32 PM ET
First Solar and F5 Networks are among the most active stocks in
Friday's after-hours session, as most investors appear to have
extended the Christmas holiday.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Stocks to Watch: Stocks in focus for Monday
12/26/2008 4:34 PM ET
Among the companies whose shares are expected to
see active trade in Monday's session are Cal-Maine Foods Inc., U.S.
meat processors, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Wal-Mart to start selling iPhone this weekend
12/26/2008 4:23 PM ET
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Friday that it will begin selling the
popular 3G iPhone from Apple Inc. in its stores beginning this
weekend.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Amazon calls 2008 holiday season its 'best ever'
12/26/2008 4:11 PM ET
Amazon says the 2008 holiday season "finished as its best ever," in
spite of grim results across much of the overall retail sector.

Markets Friday, 12/26/2008

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:31:03 -0500

| Dow : 8515.55 up 47.07 | S & P : 872.80 up 4.65 |
|
| NASDAQ: 1530.24 up 5.34 | Bond (10Y): 2.13%, 114.31 |

MARKETS:
Wall Street ends higher
Stocks advance as investors respond to preliminary holiday sales figures.

U.S. stocks end higher with holiday sales in play

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:01:35 -0500
U.S. stocks end higher with holiday sales in play

U.S. stocks move mostly higher, led by gains in energy shares as crude
oil prices advance, while retailers are in focus as post-Christmas
sales kick off in earnest.

EARLY SIGNS OF GLOOM FOR RETAILERS, BUT E-TAILERS MAY SHINE

Aggressive price discounting by U.S. retailers are apparently to no
avail, with a new survey showing sinking sales across several
categories as consumers curtailed their holiday shopping this year.

GM SHARES RALLY AFTER LENDING UNIT GETS BANK STATUS

General Motors shares jump after lending unit GMAC receives approval
to become a bank holding company, opening the door to a much-needed
pool of federal funds.

FUTURES MOVERS: OIL RISES FOR FIRST DAY IN FOUR, GAINING 6.7%

Crude-oil futures rise for the first session in four as traders buy the
contracts on the heels of a 33% slump this month.

Stocks finish higher in quiet post-Christmas trading. Dow up 42 points at the close, Nasdaq rises 0.3%, S&P gains 0.8%.

Date: Fri, Dec 26, 2008 at 1:01 PM

Stocks finish higher in quiet post-Christmas trading. Dow up 42 points
at the close, Nasdaq rises 0.3%, S&P gains 0.8%.

News Alert!

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 02:05:57 -0800 (PST)

China warships set sail on anti-pirate mission
12/26/08 02:47 AM, EST
Two Chinese destroyers and a supply ship set sail Friday for the Gulf
of Aden on a mission to protect Chinese merchant ships from an
increasing number of pirate attacks occurring in the waters off
Somalia, state media reported.

U.S. stocks mostly rise with holiday sales in play

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:01:22 -0500
U.S. stocks mostly rise with holiday sales in play

U.S. stocks opened higher on Friday, led by gains in energy shares as
crude oilprices advanced, while retailers were in focus as
post-Christmas sales kick off in earnest.

AMAZON SAYS 2008 HOLIDAY SEASON IS ITS 'BEST EVER'

Amazon says the 2008 holiday season "finished as its best ever," in
spite of grim results across much of the overall retail sector.

JAPAN NOVEMBER INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT FALLS 'OFF THE CLIFF'

Japan's industrial output tumbles at a record pace
in November, stoking fears the country's recession may stretch longer
and be more painful than anticipated.

ASIA MARKETS: TOKYO EXTENDS GAINS ON ASAHI BREWERIES, EXPORTERS

Asian markets mostly advance thin holiday trading,
with Japanese shares rising for a second session as Asahi Breweries
climb on a report the brewer was likely to beat its profit forecast,
while exporters such
as Toyota Motor Corp. extend gains as investors snap them up before
the end of the year.

DIVORCE RATES DROP AS COUPLES STAY TOGETHER DUE TO TIGHT FINANCES

The recession and economic turmoil is creating a new class of casualties:
Married couples who can't afford to get divorced. In these tough times
many people are finding it's cheaper to stay together, even when they
can't stand each other.

GM shares up nearly 20% as financing unit GMAC secures bank status

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:36:19 -0500

GM shares up nearly 20% as financing unit GMAC secures bank status
| 10:34:24 AM EDT

Markets open higher even as a report indicates dismal holiday sales for retailers.

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:34:03 -0500

Markets open higher even as a report indicates dismal holiday sales
for retailers.

International

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 26 December, 2008

CHINESE WARSHIPS SET SAIL TO COMBAT PIRACY
Two Chinese destroyers and a supply ship set sail for the Gulf
of Aden on a mission to protect Chinese merchant ships from an
increasing number of pirate attacks occurring in the waters off
Somalia, state media report.

PRISONERS, OFFICERS KILLED IN IRAQI JAILBREAK
Seven prisoners were killed Friday while attempting to escape
from an Iraqi police station, according to an Interior Ministry
official.

RECOVERY SEEN 4 YEARS AFTER ASIAN TSUNAMI
Four years since a 9.0-magnitude earthquake spawned massive
waves that swept across the Indian Ocean, leaving more than
230,000 dead according to a U.N. estimate, improvements can be
seen in many of the devastated areas, humanitarian groups said.

SOURCES: U.S. TO ARM AFGHANS TO FIGHT TALIBAN
The U.S. military plans to help the Afghanistan government
recruit, train and arm local Afghans to fight a resurgent
Taliban, U.S. military officials say. The first phase of the
program is expected to begin next year in Wardak province, where
the Taliban have overrun many local government institutions.

59 ARRESTED IN TIBET FOR 'SPREADING OF RUMORS'
Chinese authorities have arrested 59 people in Tibet accused of
spreading rumors and inciting sentiment against the state and
public safety, state-run media reported.

GUINEA COUP LEADER OFFERS SAFETY GUARANTEE
The leader of this week's coup in Guinea assured senior
officials Thursday "they are safe."

'SANTA GUNMAN' FOUND DEAD AFTER PARTY KILLINGS
At least three people were found dead after a man dressed as
Santa Claus started shooting at a party in suburban Los Angeles,
police said Thursday.

FIVE YEARS ON, HOPE, BEAUTY RETURN TO BAM
Till Mayer is a photographer working for the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. In 2003
Mayer traveled to Bam, Iran, to chronicle the relief effort
following an earthquake that killed at least 26,000 and
devastated the historic city. This month, five years on, he
returned to Bam to see how the city and its people have changed.

BUSINESS

JAPAN'S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT SEES RECORD FALL
Japan's government releases some key reports indicating the
nation's economy is suffering along with the rest of the world,
with its industrial output tumbling over 8 percent in November.

TWO TRIED OVER TAINTED MILK POWDER
A dealer of a toxic chemical and a producer went on trial Friday
in China, state media reported, in the latest development in the
country's tainted milk powder scandal that left six babies dead
and sickened 290,000 others.

ASIA, PACIFIC MARKETS MIXED
Asia and Pacific markets were mixed in light trading at the end
of the holiday week.

International

Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 20:02:09 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 26 December, 2008

SOURCES: U.S. TO ARM AFGHANS TO FIGHT TALIBAN
The U.S. military plans to help the Afghanistan government
recruit, train and arm local Afghans to fight a resurgent
Taliban, U.S. military officials say. The first phase of the
program is expected to begin next year in Wardak province, where
the Taliban have overrun many local government institutions.

GUINEA COUP LEADER OFFERS SAFETY GUARANTEE
The leader of this week's coup in Guinea assured senior
officials Thursday "they are safe," : a journalist with the
state-run newspaper

'SANTA' GUNMAN FOUND DEAD AFTER PARTY KILLINGS
At least three people were found dead after a man dressed as
Santa Claus started shooting at a party in suburban Los Angeles,
police said Thursday.

ZIMBABWE POLICE IGNORE ORDER TO FREE ACTIVISTS
Police in Zimbabwe appear to be disregarding a High Court order
to release activists in their custody, a lawyer representing
them said Thursday. "We are hearing reports they have been moved
from the remand center where they were being held ... and we
don't know where they have been taken," the lawyer said.

NOBEL WINNER HAROLD PINTER DIES AT 78
Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter has died, his wife confirmed
Thursday to British media. Pinter -- born in London in 1930 and
the son of Jewish immigrants -- became one of the world's best
known playwrights. His stage career spanned six decades and he
was nominated for an Oscar his screen adaptation of "The French
Lieutenant's Woman."

SAUDI CHILD BRIDE ORDER ANGERS RIGHTS GROUP
The decision by a Saudi judge not to annul the arranged marriage
of an 8-year-old girl and a 47-year-old man has been attacked.
The Society of Defending Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia has
condemned the decision, adding that achieving human rights in
the kingdom means standing against those who want to "keep us
backward and in the dark ages."

SINGER, ACTRESS EARTHA KITT DIES AT 81
Singer and actress Eartha Kitt has died, her publicist, Patty
Freedman said.

IN MUMBAI, FESTIVAL REKINDLES JEWISH HOPE
Hundreds gathered in the Indian city of Mumbai on Thursday to
commemorate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah and honor the
memories of the rabbi, his wife and others who were killed in
terror attacks last month on a Jewish center and other
locations.

BUSINESS

AMERICANS KEEP TIGHTER GRIP ON CASH
In a troubling sign that U.S. consumers are retrenching this
holiday season, consumer spending and orders for durable goods
fell further in November, according to government reports

SCANDAL-TAINTED SANLU FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY
Sanlu Group, the company at the center of China's tainted infant
formula scandal, has filed for bankruptcy.

POLL: MOST BACK OBAMA'S $800B STIMULUS PLAN
A new national poll suggests most Americans favor an economic
stimulus package even if it comes with an $800 billion price
tag, although that support doesn't indicate the public wants to
see a new era of big government.

Breaking News: Actress Eartha Kitt dies at age 81

Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:02:49 -0600

One of America's most versatile performers, actress and singer Eartha
Kitt, died today of colon cancer at the age of 81.

Obama has the most work cut out for him in one area: jobs

Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:01:12 -0500

Obama has the most work cut out for him in one area: jobs
As the recession rolls on, keeping workers at work may be
President-elect Barack Obama's toughest job.

MARKETWATCH FIRST TAKE: A CRUDE CHRISTMAS GIFT

On Christmas Eve, crude-oil prices brought a little holiday cheer to
the weary, downtrodden masses. They fell. Again.

FUNDWATCH: CHOOSE CORPORATE DEBT OVER STOCKS, SAY MANAGERS

Falling stock prices this year have left many investors' portfolio
balances out of whack. But some managers argue against the need to
rebalance holdings.

MORTGAGES: RATES ON 30-YEAR MORTGAGES AT LOWEST SINCE AT LEAST 1971

Fixed-rate mortgage rates fell again this week, with the 30-year
fixed-rate mortgage setting another record low, at least since Freddie
Mac began doing its weekly survey in the early 1970s.

DIVORCE RATES DROP AS COUPLES STAY TOGETHER DUE TO TIGHT FINANCES

The recession and economic turmoil is creating a new class of casualties:
Married couples who can't afford to get divorced. In these tough times
many people are finding it's cheaper to stay together, even when they
can't stand each other.

Breaking News

Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:09:03 -0500

Nobel winner Harold Pinter, whose movie credits include 'The French
Lieutenent's Woman,' has died, British media reports.

International

Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:02:09 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 25 December, 2008

SAUDI JUDGE: CHILD BRIDE MUST STAY MARRIED
The decision by a Saudi judge not to annul the arranged marriage
of an 8-year-old girl and a 47-year-old man has been attacked.
The Society of Defending Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia has
condemned the decision, adding that achieving human rights in
the kingdom means standing against those who want to "keep us
backward and in the dark ages."

ISRAEL AND EGYPT DISCUSS HAMAS CLASHES
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni flew to Cairo Thursday for
meetings with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and other top
officials in the midst of escalating cross-border violence with
Hamas.

STRONG EARTHQUAKE JOLTS SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
A strong earthquake jolted the southern Philippines on Thursday,
the U.S. Geological Survey said.

JAPAN MULLS SENDING SHIPS TO TACKLE PIRATES
Japan is considering joining an international effort to protect
ships from a growing threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden near
Somalia, a top official told reporters. Japan's response is the
latest reaction to attacks and hijackings in the all-important
gulf -- which links the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

POPE CALLS FOR MIDEAST PEACE DURING MASS
Pope Benedict XVI called for peace in the Middle East and an end
to the exploitation of children in the homily he delivered early
Thursday during the annual Christmas Eve Midnight Mass in St.
Peter's Basilica.

CAR BOMB KILLS 4 IN BAGHDAD
A car bomb exploded in northwestern Baghdad Thursday morning,
killing four people and wounding 26 others, an Interior Ministry
official said.

BUSH ORDERS PARDON RE-EXAMINED
President George W. Bush on Wednesday ordered one of 19
presidential pardons granted earlier in the week to be
re-examined before making a final decision.

CHINESE MILK FIRM FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY
Sanlu Group, the company at the center of China's tainted infant
formula scandal, has filed for bankruptcy.

BUSINESS

AMERICANS KEEP TIGHTER GRIP ON CASH
In a troubling sign that U.S. consumers are retrenching this
holiday season, consumer spending and orders for durable goods
fell further in November, according to government reports.

POLL: MOST BACK OBAMA'S $800B STIMULUS PLAN
A new national poll suggests most Americans favor an economic
stimulus package even if it comes with an $800 billion price
tag, although that support doesn't indicate the public wants to
see a new era of big government.

JAPAN'S CABINET APPROVES RECORD BUDGET
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso's Cabinet on Wednesday approved
a record budget, including an emergency economic stimulus
package, for the 2009 fiscal year.

International

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 25 December, 2008

COUP LEADER NAMES HIMSELF GUINEA PRESIDENT
A military junta that toppled the Guinean government announced
its new leader Wednesday. Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara declared
himself president of the National Council for Democracy, which
he said was an interim body to oversee the country's return to
democracy.

SAUDI WOMEN'S GROUP SLAMS GIRL'S MARRIAGE
A group fighting for women's rights in Saudi Arabia condemned a
judge Wednesday for refusing to annul the marriage of an
8-year-old girl to a 47-year-old man.

WOMAN BURIED IN SNOW FOR 3 DAYS FOUND ALIVE
No one expected to find Donna Molnar alive.

JUDGE ORDERS RELEASE OF ZIMBABWE ACTIVISTS
A human rights activist who was abducted in Zimbabwe three weeks
ago is to appear in court Wednesday, accused of trying to
overthrow the government of President Robert Mugabe, the
state-run Herald newspaper reported.

EIGHT BODIES FOUND IN GARBAGE BAGS IN MEXICO
The record number of killings in Mexico continues to climb, with
the discovery of eight bodies stuffed in black garbage bags in
the southeastern state of Chiapas, near the Guatemalan border,
authorities said.

BUSH ORDERS PARDON RE-EXAMINED
President George W. Bush on Wednesday ordered one of 19
presidential pardons granted earlier in the week to be
re-examined before making a final decision.

AHMADINEJAD: JESUS WOULD SUPPORT OPPRESSED
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will deliver a Christmas
message on a British TV network.

HOSTAGES TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH PIRATES
More than 260 people will spend Christmas Day held hostage at
sea by armed pirates.

BUSINESS

POLL: MOST BACK OBAMA'S $800B STIMULUS PLAN
A new national poll suggests most Americans favor an economic
stimulus package even if it comes with an $800 billion price
tag, although that support doesn't indicate the public wants to
see a new era of big government.

MADOFF INVESTOR IN APPARENT SUICIDE
Thierry de la Villehuchet, a hedge fund adviser and investor
whose firm said he lost $1.5 billion investing with Wall Street
adviser Bernard Madoff, was found dead in his office in an
apparent suicide, police said.

JAPAN'S CABINET APPROVES RECORD BUDGET
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso's Cabinet on Wednesday approved
a record budget, including an emergency economic stimulus
package, for the 2009 fiscal year.

Tech Daily: AMD, Micron lead higher close

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:00:09 -0500

Tech Stocks: AMD, Micron lead higher close
12/24/2008 1:23 PM ET

Technology stocks close slightly higher, led by chip makers Advanced
Micro Devices Inc. and Micron Technology, Inc.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Micron Technology reports wider quarterly loss; shares rise
12/24/2008 1:45 PM ET
Shares of Micron Technology shrug off early weakness to trade higher,
as investors look past the company's wider first-quarter loss to
embrace expectations for better business conditions in the memory
market.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Telecom Stocks: Qwest, phone companies close higher
12/24/2008 1:02 PM ET
Big phone stocks led by Qwest Communications
International Inc. topped the telecommunications sector Wednesday in
abbreviated pre-Christmas action.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Verizon wins largest ever 'cybersquat' case
12/24/2008 10:40 AM ET
Verizon gets an early Christmas gift, as a federal court awards the
phone giant $33 million in what it called the "largest cybersquatting
judgment ever."

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Stocks to Watch: Stocks in focus for Wednesday
12/23/2008 6:57 PM ET
Among shares expected to see active trade in Wednesday's abbreviated
trading session are those of Micron Technology, Starbucks and Textron.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Micron Technology reports bigger quarterly net loss
12/23/2008 5:27 PM ET
Micron Technology posts a bigger quarterly net loss as the
semiconductor maker reels from "significant decreases" in average
prices for memory-chip products.

Markets Wed, 24 Dec 2008

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:31:07 -0500

| Dow : 8468.48 up 48.99 | S & P : 868.15 up 4.99 |
|
| NASDAQ: 1524.90 up 3.36 | Bond (10Y): 2.18%, 113.84 |

MARKETS:
Stocks end higher
Major indexes rise in quiet trading as investors mull the latest
economic data. Markets to close early.

Obama has the most work cut out for him in one area: jobs

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:01:30 -0500

Obama has the most work cut out for him in one area: jobs

As the recession rolls on, keeping workers at work may be
President-elect Barack Obama's toughest job.

MARKET SNAPSHOT: U.S. STOCKS MAKE MODEST GAINS IN LIGHT PRE-HOLIDAY TRADING

Stocks close slightly higher in light, pre-holiday trading after U.S.
data on consumer spending and durable goods reported for November come
in better than expected.

FUNDWATCH: CHOOSE CORPORATE DEBT OVER STOCKS, SAY MANAGERS

Falling stock prices this year have left many investors' portfolio
balances out of whack. But some managers argue against the need to
rebalance holdings.

MORTGAGES: RATES ON 30-YEAR MORTGAGES AT LOWEST SINCE AT LEAST 1971

Fixed-rate mortgage rates fell again this week, with the 30-year
fixed-rate mortgage setting another record low, at least since Freddie
Mac began doing its weekly survey in the early 1970s.

DIVORCE RATES DROP AS COUPLES STAY TOGETHER DUE TO TIGHT FINANCES

The recession and economic turmoil is creating a new class of
casualties: Married couples who can't afford to get divorced. In these
tough times many people are finding it's cheaper to stay together,
even when they can't stand each other.

Fed grants GMAC, finance arm of General Motors, status as bank holding company - opening door for it to get federal money.

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:40:06 -0500

Fed grants GMAC, finance arm of General Motors, status as bank holding
company - opening door for it to get federal money.

Stocks end slightly higher despite grim economic news, as investors prepare for a day-long holiday break,

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:01:05 -0500

Stocks end slightly higher despite grim economic news, as investors
prepare for a day-long holiday break,

Rates on 30-year mortgages at lowest since at least 1971

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:01:11 -0500
Rates on 30-year mortgages at lowest since at least 1971

Fixed-rate mortgage rates fell again this week, with the 30-year
fixed-rate mortgage setting another record low, at least since Freddie
Mac began doing its weekly survey in the early 1970s.

MARKET SNAPSHOT: U.S. STOCKS RISE SLIGHTLY IN LIGHT PRE-HOLIDAY TRADE

Stocks open higher in light pre-holiday trading, gaining ground as
U.S. data on consumer spending and durable goods reported for November
come in better than expected.

ECONOMIC REPORT: U.S. DURABLE-GOODS ORDERS OFF 1% LAST MONTH ON TRANSPORTATION

Orders for U.S.-made durable goods were not as weak as forecast in
November, Commerce Department data indicate.

ECONOMIC REPORT: UNEMPLOYMENT LINES LONGEST IN 26 YEARS

The U.S. labor market continues to worsen, with unemployment lines
stretching to the longest in 26 years last week, the Labor Department
reports.

EXPORTERS MEET TO CREATE OPEC-STYLE GAS CARTEL: REPORT

Energy ministers from some of the world's biggest exporters of natural
gas have agreed to create a producers' group that will coordinate
forecasts, investments and relations to make the gas market less
unpredictable, according media
reports on Wednesday.

Benchmark 30-year mortgage rate at lowest level on record

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:15:32 -0500

Benchmark 30-year mortgage rate at lowest level on record
12/24/2008 10:13:40 AM EDT

Stocks rise at the start of a shortened Christmas Eve session as a dismal year on Wall Street stumbles to a close.

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:32:19 -0500

Stocks rise at the start of a shortened Christmas Eve session as a
dismal year on Wall Street stumbles to a close.

February crude down 6% to $36.63 a barrel in electronic trading

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:06:06 -0500

February crude down 6% to $36.63 a barrel in electronic trading
12/24/2008 9:04:02 AM EDT

International

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:02:19 -0500

MADOFF INVESTOR FOUND DEAD IN APPARENT SUICIDE
Thierry de la Villehuchet, a hedge fund adviser and investor
whose firm said he lost $1.5 billion investing with Wall Street
adviser Bernard Madoff, has been found dead in his office in an
apparent suicide.

HAMAS MILITANTS LAUNCH MORE ROCKETS INTO ISRAEL
Palestinian militants fired more rockets and mortars from Gaza
into Israel on Wednesday days after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert threatened to respond to the ongoing attacks.

FEARS OF TUMULT AFTER GUINEA PRESIDENT DIES
The African country of Guinea, reeling after the death of its
leader, is staring at the prospect of political instability. A
journalist in Conakry said the Guinean military had staged an
apparent coup, and were holding talks to determine who will
succeed Lansana Conte, who ruled the country for nearly 25
years.

POLL: MOST SUPPORT OBAMA'S $800B STIMULUS PLAN
A new national poll suggests most Americans favor an economic
stimulus package even if it comes with an $800 billion price
tag, although that support doesn't indicate the public wants to
see a new era of big government.

SRINAGAR TENSE AHEAD OF FINAL ELECTIONS
Authorities have imposed curfew-like restrictions in Srinagar in
a bid to thwart separatist anti-vote protests in the capital of
Indian-administered Kashmir during the final phase of state
assembly elections on Wednesday.

CAR BOMB IN PAKISTAN KILLS WOMAN
A woman was killed and four others were injured after a car bomb
exploded Wednesday in the Pakistani city of Lahore.

SATELLITES UNEARTH ANCIENT EGYPTIAN RUINS
Archaeologists believe they have unearthed only a small fraction
of Egypt's ancient ruins, but they're making new discoveries
with help from high-tech allies -- satellites that peer into the
past from the distance of space.

BUSINESS

OBAMA TEAM HAMMERS OUT STIMULUS
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's economic team and
congressional staffers were close to finalizing a massive
recovery proposal but were still hammering out details, Vice
President-elect Joe Biden and economic adviser Larry Summers
said.

JAPAN'S CABINET APPROVES RECORD BUDGET
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso's Cabinet on Wednesday approved
a record budget, including an emergency economic stimulus
package, for the 2009 fiscal year.

Energy: Exporters meet to create OPEC-style gas cartel: report

Date: 24 DEC 2008 10:01:40 GMT

Energy ministers from some of the world's biggest exporters of natural
gas have agreed to create a producers' group that will coordinate
forecasts, investments and relations to make the gas market less
unpredictable, according media reports on Wednesday.

Week-to-week mortgage applications jump 48% on lower rates, MBA data show

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:02:39 -0500

Week-to-week mortgage applications jump 48% on lower rates, MBA data show
12/24/2008 7:00:47 AM EDT

U.S. durable-goods orders fall 1%; transportation category is key factor

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:36:11 -0500

U.S. durable-goods orders fall 1%; transportation category is key factor
12/24/2008 8:32:13 AM EDT

Government: Initial jobless claims spiked 30,000 to 586,000 last week. Personal spending fell for 5th straight month in November.

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:35:20 -0500

Government: Initial jobless claims spiked 30,000 to 586,000 last week.
Personal spending fell for 5th straight month in November.

International

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 24 December, 2008

FEARS OF TUMULT AFTER GUINEA PRESIDENT DIES
The African country of Guinea, reeling after the death of its
leader, is staring at the prospect of political instability. A
journalist in Conakry said the Guinean military had staged an
apparent coup, and were holding talks to determine who will
succeed Lansana Conte, who ruled the country for nearly 25
years.

NASA CAPTURES STUNNING IMAGES OF EARTH
NASA's Earth Observatory has captured some stunning images of
the Earth in 2008 including Hurricane Bertha, a huge section of
the Wilkins Ice Shelf in Antarctica breaking away and cloud
being swept across the Caspian Sea (pictured above).

UGABE: U.S. AND WEST ARE 'STUPID AND FOOLISH'
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe described the U.S. government
and Western nations as "quite stupid and foolish" Tuesday for
trying to be involved in the African country's affairs.

DRIVERS TRAPPED IN FLOOD AFTER WATER PIPE BREAK
A harrowing rescue was under way Tuesday morning to save
motorists who were trapped in a fast moving flood created by a
water main break in suburban Maryland.

POPE'S MESSAGE ANGERS GAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
Pope Benedict XVI has reiterated the Roman Catholic Church's
opposition to homosexual behavior and warned that humanity could
destroy itself. The pope's year-end message to Church leaders
sparked anger among gay and lesbian religious groups.

IRAQ OKS CONTINUED PRESENCE OF FOREIGN TROOPS
Iraq's parliament on Tuesday approved a resolution that will
allow non-U.S. foreign troops to remain in Iraq after a U.N.
mandate expires at the end of the year.

REPORT: OBAMA, BLAGOJEVICH PROSECUTORS TALKED
Two Democratic officials are predicting that the long-awaited
report about aides to President-elect Barack Obama alleged
contact with the office of embattled Illinois Gov. Rod
Blagojevich will largely exonerate Obama's transition team.

IRAQI SOLDIERS SEIZE APPARENTLY STOLEN RELICS
Iraqi soldiers have seized 228 apparently stolen antiquities and
arrested seven members of a gang suspected of trafficking in
such items, a security official in Basra said Tuesday.

BUSINESS

PUTIN: 'CHEAP GAS ERA' ENDING
The sharp growth of costs in the gas industry will inevitably
lead to a significant increase in global gas prices, Russian
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

CHINA SET TO GUARD AFRICAN SHIPPING ROUTE
Two Chinese destroyers and a supply ship will set sail for the
Gulf of Aden on Friday to protect Chinese merchant ships from an
increasing number of pirate attacks in the waters off the coast
of Somalia, navy officials said Tuesday.

Tech: Red Hat gains on earnings report while tech shares weaken

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:00:11 -0500
Tech Stocks: Red Hat gains on earnings report while tech shares weaken

12/23/2008 4:35 PM ET
Technology stocks end in the red in the last full trading session
before Christmas, despite taking modest gains earlier in the day.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Micron Technology reports bigger quarterly net loss
12/23/2008 5:27 PM ET
Micron Technology posts a bigger quarterly net loss as the
semiconductor maker reels from "significant decreases" in average
prices for memory-chip products.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Telecom Stocks: Telecoms mostly drift lower; Nortel up
12/23/2008 1:59 PM ET
Telecommunications stocks sputtered in midday
Tuesday trades after a positive opening to mirror action in the
broader U.S. market.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Analysts lower targets on Activision, citing 'Guitar Hero' sales
12/23/2008 11:52 AM ET
Activision Blizzard Inc. saw two analysts cut
their price targets on its stock Tuesday, citing concerns that sales of
best-selling video game franchises "Guitar Hero" and "Call of Duty"
may be lower than expected for the holiday season.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Indications: U.S. stock futures tilt lower after as-expected GDP data
12/23/2008 9:24 AM ET
U.S. stock futures point to a mildly positive start on Wall Street, as
investors continue to count down to the end of the year.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Therese Poletti's Tech Tales: Outlook for startups next year is grim
12/23/2008 12:01 AM ET
It looks like 2009 is not going to be the best year to start a new
technology company, Therese Poletti writes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Stocks to Watch: Stocks in focus for Tuesday
12/22/2008 6:42 PM ET
Among the companies which are expected to see their shares in active
trade Tuesday are Micron Technology, Textron and Red Hat.

Markets for Tuesday, 12/23/2008

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:31:04 -0500

| Dow : 8419.49 down 100.28 | S & P : 863.16 down 8.47 |
| NASDAQ: 1521.54 down 10.81 | Bond (10Y): 2.13%, 114.28

MARKETS:
Stocks fall, Wall St. counts days to 2009
Major indexes slump as investors weigh mixed economic data and
concerns about the auto industry.

Dow tallies fifth straight loss as autos, GDP weigh

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:01:35 -0500
Dow tallies fifth straight loss as autos, GDP weigh

U.S. stocks decline for a second session this week as worries
intensify that federal funds might not salvage the auto industry, and
economic reports
illustrate the economy's decline and ongoing trouble in the housing market.

DETAILS OF OBAMA'S STIMULUS STILL BEING NEGOTIATED: BIDEN

Barack Obama's transition team is still negotiating the nuts and bolts of its
economic-stimulus plan with Congress, but no deal has been reached, Vice
President-elect Joseph Biden says.
THE TECHNICAL INDICATOR: CLOSING OUT THE HISTORIC 2008 MARKET CRASH

ECONOMIC REPORT: U.S. DATA SHOW SALES OF NEW HOMES AT LOWEST LEVEL IN 17 YEARS

Sales of new homes in the U.S. decline to their lowest level in more
than 17 years during November, falling 2.9% to a seasonally adjusted
annual rate of
407,000, according to the Commerce Department.

ECONOMIC REPORT: U.S. NOV. EXISTING-HOME SALES FALL 8.6%; HOME-PRICE
DROP A RECORD

Resales of U.S. single-family homes and condos fell 8.6% in November to a
seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.49 million, the National Association of
Realtors reported Tuesday, even as home prices fell at the fastest annual pace
on record.

Treasury's bank bailout widens - announces investments in 92 local banks totaling $4.7 billion.

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:55:06 -0500

Treasury's bank bailout widens - announces investments in 92 local
banks totaling $4.7 billion.

Internal inquiry finds no inappropriate talks between Obama camp and Blagojevich

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:35:47 -0500

Internal inquiry finds no inappropriate talks between Obama camp and Blagojevich

Dow industrials close with loss of nearly 100 points to pace day's decline

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:04:08 -0500

Dow industrials close with loss of nearly 100 points to pace day's decline
12/23/2008 4:02:16 PM EDT

News Alert!

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:35:30 -0800 (PST)

Poll: 1 in 5 say Cheney worst vice president ever
12/22/08 04:03 PM, EST
A new national poll suggests that one of out of five Americans think
that Dick Cheney is the worst vice president in American history.

Apollo 8 astronauts remember historic voyage
12/22/08 02:53 PM, EST
Forty years ago this week, three men in a tiny spacecraft slipped
their earthly bonds and traveled where no one else had before,
circling the moon 10 times and beaming back an iconic image of a
blue-and-white Earth in the distance, solitary but bound as one
against the black vastness beyond.

U.S. stocks see-saw between gains and loses in light trade

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:01:15 -0500
U.S. stocks see-saw between gains and loses in light trade

U.S. stocks tilt higher after the government reported an as-expected
drop in gross domestic product for the third quarter and as investors
pored over data on the troubled housing market.

ECONOMIC REPORT: U.S. DATA SHOW SALES OF NEW HOMES AT LOWEST LEVEL IN 17 YEARS

Sales of new homes in the U.S. decline to their lowest level in more
than 17 years during November, falling 2.9% to a seasonally adjusted
annual rate of 407,000, according to the Commerce Department.

ECONOMIC REPORT: U.S. NOV. EXISTING HOME FALL 8.6%; HOME-PRICE DROP A RECORD

Resales of U.S. single-family homes and condos fell 8.6% in November
to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.49 million, the National
Association of Realtors reported Tuesday, even as home prices fell at
the fastest annual pace on record.

ECONOMIC REPORT: CONSUMER SENTIMENT IMPROVES IN DEC. AS PRICES FALL

A closely watched index of consumer attitudes
improved in December, data showed Tuesday, rebounding from
multi-decades lows as falling prices took some of the edge off job
losses.

U.S. November existing-home sales down 8.6%; new-home sales fall 2.9%

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:05:29 -0500

U.S. November existing-home sales down 8.6%; new-home sales fall 2.9%
10:03:27 AM EDT

Final reading on U.S. GDP shows 0.5% contraction; inflation contained

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:34:44 -0500

Final reading on U.S. GDP shows 0.5% contraction; inflation contained
8:32:49 AM EDT

International

Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 23 December, 2008

CHINA PREPPING TO SEND WARSHIPS AFTER PIRATES
Two Chinese destroyers and a supply ship will set sail for the
Gulf of Aden on Friday to protect Chinese merchant ships from
increasing pirate attacks in the waters off the coast of
Somalia, navy officials said Tuesday.

CHILD PORN STING SNAGS EX-CLINTON AIDE
A lawyer who served in the Clinton administration and more
recently was an advisor to California's lieutenant governor
pleaded guilty to a child porn charge in a San Diego federal
court Monday.

JACKSON 'IN FINE HEALTH,' SPOKESMAN SAYS
Michael Jackson's publicist wants you to know that, despite a
tabloid report to the contrary, the 50-year-old singer "is in
fine health."

REPORT: DUBAI 'SEX-ON-BEACH' MAN RE-ARRESTED
A British man convicted of having sex on a Dubai beach was
re-arrested as he prepared to board a flight back to the UK,
according to media reports.

CHINA SENDS GOODWILL PANDAS TO TAIWAN
Two giant pandas left China's Sichuan province on Tuesday for
their new home in Taiwan in a sign of ongoing improving ties
between the cross-strait neighbors.

GUINEA PRESIDENT LANSANA CONTE DIES
Lansana Conte, the president of Guinea, died Monday evening
after a long illness, reported Le Jour, a national newspaper. He
was 74.

OFFICIAL: PLOT TO KILL BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT FOILED
A top Bolivian government official said Monday that the
country's intelligence services had uncovered a plot to
assassinate President Evo Morales. The official said the plan
was to be carried out by an indigenous person while Morales was
in a crowd.

TALIBAN 'NARCO-TERRORIST' GETS LIFE SENTENCE
A distraught, sobbing Afghan Taliban member begged the court for
mercy, but got none as an unmoved federal judge here Monday
handed down maximum life sentences for convictions on drug
trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.

BUSINESS

ASIAN MARKETS FOLLOW WALL STREET DOWN
Asian markets were universally lower Tuesday after a down day on
Wall Street amid concerns about fourth-quarter corporate
earnings, falling oil prices and ongoing woes in the auto
industry.

SLUMPING SALES, SURGING YEN HIT TOYOTA
Japanese automaker Toyota warned it will post its first
operating loss in almost 60 years. The world's second biggest
car maker blamed a slump in sales and a surge in the value of
the yen.

International

Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 23 December, 2008

ALLEGED MUMBAI ATTACKER SEEKS PAKISTANI HELP
The alleged surviving attacker from last month's Mumbai terror
attacks is seeking help from Pakistani officials, India said
Monday. More than 160 people died in the attacks, most of them
at the two luxury hotels.

GANG GUILTY OF PLOTTING TO KILL SOLDIERS IN U.S.
Five of six men were found guilty Monday of plotting to kill
U.S. soldiers at Fort Dix in New Jersey.

POLL: 23 PERCENT SAY CHENEY WORST VP EVER
A new national poll suggests that one of out of five Americans
think that Dick Cheney is the worst vice president in American
history.

U.S. POLL: PUBLIC BACKS AUTO BAILOUT, FOR NOW
A new national poll Monday finds a majority of Americans approve
of recent loans to big U.S. automakers, but less than 3 in 10
would support additional assistance.

SLUMPING SALES, SURGING YEN HITS TOYOTA
Japanese automaker Toyota warned Monday that it will post the
first operating loss in its 71-year history.

BUSINESS

REPORT: TATA TO BAIL OUT JAGUAR LAND ROVER
The Indian owners of car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)
have agreed to pump "tens of millions" of dollars into the
luxury car brand to prevent a cash flow crisis, it was reported
Monday.

OBAMA RAISES JOBS GOAL TO 3 MILLION
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has decided to increase his
goal for new jobs after receiving economic forecasts suggesting
the economy was in worse shape than predicted.

CHINA TO PROVIDE $19B TO TAIWAN FIRMS
China will provide 130 billion yuan ($19 billion) in financing
over the next two to three years to Taiwan-based companies doing
business in the mainland, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State
Council said Monday, the latest sign of warming ties between
Beijing and Taipei.

Tech: Technology sector sinks as Palm jumps on new investment

Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:00:19 -0500
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tech Stocks: Technology sector sinks as Palm jumps on new investment
4:21 PM ET
Technology stocks sink even as Palm shares jump on news that the
handset maker will get an additional $100 million in private-equity
investment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Palm shares rally on new private-equity investment
12/22/2008 4:18 PM ET
Shares of Palm get a shot in the arm as the company secures additional
capital investment from a private-equity firm.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Retail Stocks: Snowy week blankets fresh gloom on retailers
12/22/2008 3:41 PM ET
Retail shares head lower to kick off a holiday-shortened week as
investors react negatively to wintry weather and snowstorms that
promise to deliver additional lumps of coal for retailers and their
already-dismal holiday outlook.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Telecom Stocks: Verizon, AT&T up; Sprint, Motorola fall
12/22/2008 11:28 AM ET
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Most phone stocks rose Monday while shares
of telecommunications equipment makers declined to kick off the
Christmas trading week.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Free-shipping deals fail to lure more last-minute online shoppers
12/22/2008 10:58 AM ET
Last-minute deals for free shipping before the holidays were
apparently not enough to light a fire under online shoppers last week.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Infineon shares soar after Qimonda gets 325M-euro bailout
12/22/2008 5:43 AM ET
Shares of Infineon Technologies AG, Europe's second-largest maker of
semiconductors, rise as much as 21% on Monday after spun-off offspring
Qimonda receives a 325 million-euro ($456 million) loan.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Warner Music videos drop from YouTube in contract dispute
12/21/2008 11:15 AM ET
Certain Warner Music Group videos are being pulled from the
video-sharing site YouTube as contract negotiations between the two
sides have reached an impasse.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Software maintenance firms see opportunity in downturn
12/20/2008 11:01 AM ET
If the small guys have it right, this could be a chance to steal the
titans' lunch.

Markets Monday, 12/22/2008

Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:31:05 -0500

| Dow : 8519.69 down 59.42 | S & P : 871.63 down 16.25 |
| NASDAQ: 1532.35 down 31.97 | Bond (10Y): 2.17%, 113.94
MARKETS:
Stocks fall on drip-drop of bad news
Major indexes fall as Toyota issues profit warning and GM is
downgraded. Walgreens misses first-quarter earnings estimates. Oil
falls below $40.

U.S. stocks end lower with Walgreen, Toyota setting tone; Nasdaq's down 2%

Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:08:48 -0500

U.S. stocks end lower with Walgreen, Toyota setting tone; Nasdaq's down 2%
12/22/2008 4:06:45 PM EDT

Dow industrials plumb day's lows, off 130 points; Nasdaq's down 3.2%

Date: Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 2:33 PM

Dow industrials plumb day's lows, off 130 points; Nasdaq's down 3.2%
[2:31:40 PM EDT]

U.S. stocks mildly lower to begin holiday-shortened week

Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:01:16 -0500

U.S. stocks mildly lower to begin holiday-shortened week
U.S. stocks fall after starting off on a mixed note, with investors back
concentrating on the fortunes of retailers and consumer discretionaries.

FREE-SHIPPING DEALS FAIL TO LURE MORE LAST-MINUTE ONLINE SHOPPERS

Last-minute deals for free shipping before the holidays were
apparently not enough to light a fire under online shoppers last week.

TOYOTA ON TRACK FOR FIRST-EVER LOSS IN FISCAL 2009

Toyota Motor Corp. slashes its profit, revenue and unit sales
forecasts for the year ending March 31, blaming a shocking slump in
the global automobile market and a sharp appreciation in the Japanese
yen against major currencies.

THREE IRISH BANKS WELCOME GOVERNMENT'S $7.8 BILLION RESCUE

Ireland's three major banks welcome the government's weekend decision
to supply them with 5.5 billion euros ($7.76 billion) in a bid to
rescue a financial system on the verge of collapse.

News Alert!

Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:05:06 -0800 (PST)

Vote moves Russia closer to 6-year presidency
12/22/08 07:47 AM, EST
The upper house of Russia's parliament Monday approved an extension of
the presidential term from four years to six, a move many
Russia-watchers believe is designed to bring former President Vladimir
Putin back to the nation's top office.

International

Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 05:02:05 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 22 December, 2008

NINE HEADLESS BODIES FOUND IN MEXICO
Mexican police have found nine human heads and nine headless
bodies in Guerrero, and some of the remains were of soldiers,
officials said. Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora, above,
said this month that organized-crime killings climbed to 5,376
in 2008, more than double of such deaths in 2007.

ALLEGED U.S. MISSILES HIT PAKISTANI AREAS
Suspected U.S. missiles hit targets in Pakistani tribal areas
near the border with Afghanistan on Monday, killing at least
seven people, Pakistani intelligence sources and local officials
said.

DIPLOMAT: U.S. OPPOSES ZIMBABWE UNITY DEAL
The United States no longer supports a power-sharing deal
between Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and the country's
main opposition because a viable unity government is not
possible with Mugabe in power, a top U.S. diplomat has said.

BROTHER: SHOE THROWER HAS COURT DATE
The trial of a reporter charged with throwing his shoes at
President Bush during a news conference will begin next week,
according to the reporter's brother.

LOCKERBIE MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF BOMBING
Events commemorating the bombing of an American airliner over
the Scottish town of Lockerbie are taking place Sunday in both
the UK and the U.S. to mark the 20th anniversary of the attack
which killed 270 people.

COLOMBIAN REBEL GROUP TO RELEASE 6 HOSTAGES
A Colombian rebel group announced plans to release 6 hostages,
including former Gov. Alan Jara and former legislator Sigifredo
Lopez Tobon, according to a statement from the group on Sunday.

CHINA TO PROVIDE $19B TO TAIWAN FIRMS
China will provide 130 billion yuan ($19 billion) in financing
over the next two to three years to Taiwan-based companies doing
business in the mainland, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State
Council said Monday, the latest sign of warming ties between
Beijing and Taipei.

U.S. WINTER STORM SLOWS TRAVEL
Bitterly cold temperatures and heavy snow challenged people
across a broad swath of the United States on Sunday even as more
winter weather was poised to slam into the Northwest and
Northeast on Monday.

BUSINESS

OBAMA RAISES JOBS GOAL TO 3 MILLION
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has decided to increase his
goal for new jobs after receiving economic forecasts suggesting
the economy was in worse shape than predicted, two Democratic
officials told CNN.

ASIAN MARKETS BEGIN HOLIDAY WEEK MIXED
Asian and Pacific markets were mixed but mostly lower on Monday
ahead of what's expected to be a volatile but shortened holiday
week, thanks to a slew of economic reports.

CANADIAN AUTO INDUSTRY GETS BAILOUT
Canada will provide roughly $3.3 billion in aid to its
automotive sector, honoring a previous pledge to provide 20
percent of what the U.S. government offered automakers,
officials announce.

International

Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:02:19 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 22 December, 2008

DIPLOMAT: U.S. RULES OUT ZIMBABWE POLITICAL DEAL
The United States no longer supports a power-sharing deal
between Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and the country's
main opposition because a viable unity government is not
possible with Mugabe in power, a top U.S. diplomat has said.

LOCKERBIE MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF BOMBING
Events commemorating the bombing of an American airliner over
the Scottish town of Lockerbie are taking place Sunday in both
the UK and the U.S. to mark the 20th anniversary of the attack
which killed 270 people.

COLOMBIAN REBEL GROUP TO RELEASE 6 HOSTAGES
A Colombian rebel group announced plans to release 6 hostages,
including former Gov. Alan Jara and former legislator Sigifredo
Lopez Tobon, according to a statement from the group on Sunday.

TERROR-DEVASTATED MUMBAI HOTELS REOPEN
The first guests checked back into the Taj Mahal Palace and the
Oberoi-Trident hotels Sunday, marking the reopening of the two
luxury venues damaged by terrorist attacks in Mumbai last month.

BAGHDAD CELEBRATES FIRST PUBLIC CHRISTMAS
From a distance, it looks like an apparition: a huge
multi-colored hot-air balloon floating in the Baghdad sky,
bearing a large poster of Jesus Christ. Below it, an Iraqi flag.

UK SEEKING WAYS TO KEEP TROOPS IN IRAQ
British government lawyers are studying "all possible options"
to legally extend the presence of British troops in Iraq beyond
New Year's Day.

CLINTON CAMPAIGN DEBT NOW AT $6.4 MILLION
Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton had $6.4 million in
presidential campaign debt at the end of November, according to
a report filed Saturday with the Federal Election Commission.

PASSENGERS HOSPITALIZED AS PLANE CRASH PROBED
At least seven passengers were still hospitalized Sunday, a day
after Continental Airlines Flight 1404 veered off the runway at
Denver International Airport, skidded into a ravine and caught
fire.

BUSINESS

CANADIAN AUTO INDUSTRY GETS BAILOUT TOO
Canada will provide roughly $3.3 billion in aid to its
automotive sector, honoring a previous pledge to provide 20
percent of what the U.S. government offered automakers,
officials announce.

OBAMA RAISES NEW JOBS GOAL TO 3 MILLION
President-elect Barack Obama has decided to increase his goal
for creating new jobs after receiving economic forecasts that
suggest the economy is in worse shape than had been predicted,
two Democratic officials told CNN.

BANKING GROUP HYPO SLASHES WORKFORCE
German financial giant Hypo Real Estate said Saturday it planned
to halve its 1,800 strong workforce by 2013 as part of
cost-cutting measures. The banking group received €50 billion
($70 billion) in emergency government funding in October.

International

Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 21 December, 2008

IRANIAN WARSHIPS JOIN FIGHT AGAINST PIRATES
A group of Iranian warships steams into the Gulf of Aden,
joining an expanding list of navies sent to protect shipping
routes from Somali pirates, state-run media reports.

GAZA MILITANTS FIRE MORE ROCKETS AT ISRAEL
Palestinian militants launched eight rockets and mortars from
Gaza into Israel Sunday morning, according to Israeli sources.

BILL TO KEEP FOREIGN TROOPS IN IRAQ STALLS
Iraq's parliament turns down the first draft of a bill that
would have allowed all foreign troops to remain in Iraq after
the U.N. mandate expires on December 31.

U.S. MAY DOUBLE TROOP STRENGTH IN AFGHANISTAN
Up to 30,000 additional U.S. troops could be sent to Afghanistan
next year, roughly doubling the number already there, military
officials said Saturday. Some 20,000 of the additional personnel
would be combat troops, said Col. Gregory Julian, spokesman for
U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

JET SKIDS OFF U.S. RUNWAY, CATCHES FIRE
A Boeing 737 jet carrying 112 people skidded off the runway
while it was taking off at Denver International Airport in
Colorado on Saturday, an airport spokesman said.

ROAD WARNING FOR U.S. DRIVERS AMID BLIZZARD
The Northwest braced for blizzards Saturday morning while cities
from the Midwest to New England were cleaning up after a major
storm delayed air travel and created havoc on the ground.

OBAMA RAISES NEW JOBS GOAL TO 3 MILLION
President-elect Barack Obama has decided to increase his goal
for creating new jobs after receiving economic forecasts that
suggest the economy is in worse shape than had been predicted.

OBAMA'S INAUGURATION TO CARRY HEFTY PRICE TAG
When President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office next
month, the nation's capital will be the site of a massive
celebration. But local officials are worried they might get
stuck with the check.

BUSINESS

CANADIAN AUTO INDUSTRY GETS BAILOUT TOO
Canada will provide roughly $3.3 billion in aid to its
automotive sector, honoring a previous pledge to provide 20
percent of what the U.S. government offered automakers,
officials announce.

BANKING GROUP HYPO SLASHES WORKFORCE
German financial giant Hypo Real Estate said Saturday it planned
to halve its 1,800 strong workforce by 2013 as part of
cost-cutting measures. The banking group received €50 billion
($70 billion) in emergency government funding in October.

MONEY WOES HITS WORLD'S RICHEST LEAGUE
The falling value of the pound against the euro might be good
for British exporters, but for the country's football clubs it's
a kick in the teeth.