Breaking News

Date: Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:45:21 -0800 (PST)

Baseball star Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003,
sources tell Sports Illustrated.

News Alert!

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:05:22 -0800 (PST)

KBR charged with bribing Nigerian officials for contracts
02/06/09 10:03 PM, EST
The former Halliburton subsidiary KBR has been charged with bribing
Nigerian government officials with "tens of millions of dollars" to
obtain "billions of dollars in contracts," according to court
documents filed late Friday in Houston, Texas.

Georgia's FirstBank Financial closed by U.S., marking seventh bank failure of 2009

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:21:18 -0500

Georgia's FirstBank Financial closed by U.S., marking seventh bank
failure of 2009
2/6/2009 5:19:32 PM EDT

Senators set tentative pact on $780 billion stimulus bill: reports

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:05:38 -0500

Senators set tentative pact on $780 billion stimulus bill: reports
2/6/2009 6:03:19 PM EDT

Tech: Gains from Apple, Microsoft help sector extend advance

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:00:57 -0500

Tech Stocks: Gains from Apple, Microsoft help sector extend advance
2/6/2009 2:07 PM ET
Bellwether tech stocks gain further ground, leading the tech sector
upward along with the broader market in the face of the latest U.S.
unemployment figures.

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Salesforce.com shares fall as top executive departs
2/6/2009 4:08 PM ET
Shares of business software provider Salesforce.com Inc. fall sharply
after the company discloses the resignation of its president and chief
strategy officer and analysts speculate that the company may have
struggled in the fourth quarter.

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As chips outpace Nasdaq, investors ask: Is optimism justified?
2/6/2009 1:38 PM ET
Despite being stung by dramatic drops in sales, many chip
manufacturers have seen their shares rise over the past month, as some
investors appear to anticipate a bottom for semiconductor industry.

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Sharp swings to quarterly loss, plans to cut 1,500 contract jobs
2/6/2009 8:52 AM ET
Headed toward its first annual loss in nearly 60 years, Japan's Sharp
plans to cut positions among contract workers and will likely trim its
dividend.

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Netflix hit by downgrade on video-streaming concerns
2/5/2009 7:12 PM ET
Needham & Co. downgrades shares of online DVD-rental pioneer Netflix
to underperform from hold, citing concerns that the stock may be
overpriced.

Markets Friday, 02/6/2009

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 17:31:03 -0500

| Dow : 8280.59 up 217.52 | S & P : 868.60 up 22.75
|
| NASDAQ: 1591.71 up 45.47 | Bond (10Y): 2.98%, 106.44

MARKETS:
Big rally on Wall Street
Wall Street breaks its four-week losing streak on optimism about the
government's stimulus package and bank bailout plan.

Consumer credit fell by $6.6 billion in December, the third straight month in which shoppers cut borrowing, according to the Fed.

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 15:06:07 -0500

Consumer credit fell by $6.6 billion in December, the third straight
month in which shoppers cut borrowing, according to the Fed.

Dow closes 216 points higher and Nasdaq ends at highest level in a month as lawmakers debate the fate of economic rescue plan.

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 16:03:07 -0500

Dow closes 216 points higher and Nasdaq ends at highest level in a
month as lawmakers debate the fate of economic rescue plan.

International

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 05:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 06 February, 2009

BONG PHOTO COSTS PHELPS A SPONSOR
Olympic hero Michael Phelps is suspended from competitive
swimming for three months-- just hours after one of his sponsors
announced it would not renew his contract after a photo surfaced
of him smoking from a bong.

CLINTON: KYRGYZSTAN BASE CLOSURE 'REGRETTABLE'
Kyrgyzstan's decision to close a strategic U.S. military base is
"regrettable," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said
Thursday, but added it wouldn't affect the U.S. military effort
in nearby Afghanistan. The United States uses the base as a
route for troops and supplies for Afghanistan.

U.S. DIPLOMAT IN ETHIOPIA FOUND DEAD
Brian Adkins, a newly assigned American diplomat in Ethiopia,
was found dead last weekend at his home in the Ethiopian
capital, Addis Ababa, an embassy spokesman and a senior State
Department official said.

ZIMBABWE'S PARLIAMENT PASSES UNITY BILL
In a move that may signal the beginning of the end of the
political crisis that has gripped Zimbabwe for months, the
parliament has unanimously passed a resolution to form a unity
government with President Robert Mugabe and the opposition.

SRI LANKA MILITARY: REBEL NAVAL BASE CAPTURED
The Sri Lankan military claimed it has struck a decisive blow
against Tamil rebels in the taking of a rebel naval base at
Chalai.

CHILD WORKERS RESCUED IN FACTORY RAID
Indian labor authorities rescued 18 child workers in raids at
metal-embroidery units in the western state of Gujarat,
officials said Friday.

TOYOTA REVENUE FALLS 28 PERCENT
Toyota announced Friday that its third-quarter revenues fell
about 28 percent from a year ago, which means the auto giant
will face an operating loss for the fiscal year. That news came
a day after the automaker halted all but one of its Japanese
assembly lines, a move that idled tens of thousands of workers
across the country.

OBAMA FIRES UP PARTY ON STIMULUS BILL VOTE
President Barack Obama said Thursday that "the scale and the
scope" of his economic plan is right, turning up the heat on
critics he said were hawking "phony arguments" and "false
theories of the past" to chip away at the bill's programs.

---------------------------------
BUSINESS

U.S. SENATE ADJOURNS WITHOUT STIMULUS DEAL
The U.S. Senate wrapped up Thursday night after hours of
sometimes acrimonious work without voting on a massive economic
recovery plan championed by President Barack Obama.

SSANGYONG WINS BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION
Ssangyong Motor Company bought itself time to attempt a
turnaround on Friday, receiving court approval for bankruptcy
protection.

SCANDAL-HIT INDIAN FIRM NAMES NEW CEO
Scandal-hit Satyam Computer Services has appointed a senior
executive as its new chief operating officer.

Breaking News

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 08:49:03 -0500

U.S. unemployment rose by 598,000 to 7.6 per cent in January, Labor
Dept. reports, the worst monthly job loss since 1974.

NEWS Alert!

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:05:15 -0800 (PST)

FEMA food kits may contain tainted peanut butter
02/04/09 10:07 PM, EST
Food kits recently distributed as part of a disaster relief effort in
Kentucky and Arkansas may contain peanut butter contaminated with
salmonella linked to a nationwide outbreak, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency said Wednesday.

Dow surges over 200 points as Wall Street rally accelerates on optimism about the economic stimulus plan.

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 13:10:03 -0500

Dow surges over 200 points as Wall Street rally accelerates on
optimism about the economic stimulus plan.

Senate may vote Friday on stimulus package

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:01:26 -0500
Senate may vote Friday on stimulus package

The top Democrat in the Senate says there's sufficient support to pass
the Obama administration's massive economic-stimulus package, but the
search for Republican support continues.

FIVE REASONS BUYING A HOUSE NOW IS A WISE MOVE

People are afraid to buy a home in times like these, with the economy
tanking and home prices continuing to fall. But if you're brave enough
to stray from the herd, you might be in for the home-buying
opportunity of a lifetime.

FIVE REASONS BUYING A HOME IN 2009 IS A BAD IDEA

The unemployment rate is creeping up and home prices keep falling: Two
great reasons why it might be best to put your home buying plans on
hold.

BRITISH AIRWAYS' SHARES GAIN IN THE FACE OF QUARTERLY LOSS

British Airways swings to a third-quarter loss, a reflection of
business passengers traveling less and the weakening of the British
pound. Shares trade higher amid hints of optimism over the renewed
potential for a merger with Spain's Iberia.

Treasury's Geithner to unveil 'comprehensive' bank-rescue plan Monday

Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:02:45 -0500

Treasury's Geithner to unveil 'comprehensive' bank-rescue plan Monday
2/5/2009 4:00:43 PM EDT

News Alerts!

Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:38:28 -0800 (PST)

Study: Hormone therapy caused breast cancer for thousands
02/04/09 05:08 PM, EST
U.S. breast cancer cases have dropped in women aged 50 to 69 in recent
years because many women have stopped taking hormone therapy,
according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine.

WWII vet frozen to death leaves estate to hospital
02/04/09 04:04 PM, EST
A 93-year-old World War II medic who froze to death last month in his
Bay City, Michigan, home left his entire estate to a local hospital,
an estate attorney said.

Markets Thursday, 02/5/2009

Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 17:31:03 -0500

| Dow : 8063.07 up 106.41 | S & P : 845.85 up 13.62
|
| NASDAQ: 1546.24 up 31.19 | Bond (10Y): 2.91%, 107.00

MARKETS:
Stocks stage a rally
Wall Street climbs as hopes for government bailout plan lift
financials. Wal-Mart's January sales results help, too

Breaking News Thu., February 5, 2009

Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:20:18 -0800 (PST)

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospitalized for Pancreatic
Cancer Surgery [1:05 p.m. ET]

Grim January for most retailers, same-store sales show

Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:01:24 -0500

Grim January for most retailers, same-store sales show

As consumers continue to retrench, retailers' sales results for
January paint hardly a pretty picture of the state of play in the
industry -- so much so that Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer,
has decided to forego monthly sales reports altogether in favor of a
quarterly timetable.

KELLOGG PROFIT RISES 2%, HELPED BY PRICE HIKES

Kellogg's net income sweetens by 2% on a boost in sales helped by
price increases.

BANK OF ENGLAND CUTS, WHILE ECB STANDS PAT

Bank of England continues a campaign of aggressive rate cuts Thursday,
while the European Central Bank leaves its key lending rate unchanged
at 2%.

SWISS RE GETS INJECTION FROM BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY, POSTS LOSS

Swiss Re will raise up to 5 billion Swiss francs ($4.3 billion) of fresh
capital, including 3 billion francs from Warren Buffett's investment
firm Berkshire Hathaway, in order to protect its AA credit rating. S&P
warns of a possible downgrade.

Newws Alert!

Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:42:31 -0800 (PST)

Judge hears case alleging circus elephant abuse
02/04/09 03:39 PM, EST
A federal judge began hearing a lawsuit alleging the abuse of circus
elephants, including the use of heavy chains, tethers and sharp tools

Mumbai: Where dreams can come true
02/04/09 02:26 PM, EST
Mumbai is extreme India. In this booming metropolis all the wealth,
inequalities, colors, flavors and passions of India are magnified to
an almost unbearable degree.

Mumbai: A city of celebration
02/04/09 02:24 PM, EST
Mumbai is always colorful and dynamic but if you're lucky enough to be
in town for one of the city's major festivals you'll witness Mumbai
erupting into glorious Technicolor.

Research shows Hispanic women get breast cancer treatment late
02/04/09 02:00 PM, EST
When Maria Rubeo closed her arm, she felt something "very big -- like a lemon."

Nation's mayors press Congress to act quickly on stimulus
02/04/09 01:49 PM, EST
Mayors from across the country descended on the nation's capital
Wednesday with a clear message to Washington that their cities were in
urgent need of an immediate economic stimulus.

'Shocking' number don't know obesity causes cancer
02/04/09 01:17 PM, EST
A "shocking" number of people around the world are not aware that
obesity and weight are one of the main risk factors that can lead to
cancer, a new survey has found.

Facebook turns 5 -- but can it survive?
02/04/09 12:03 PM, EST
A Web site started by a student as a way of staying in touch with
friends which became a billion-dollar business and a global phenomenon
celebrated its fifth birthday Wednesday.

U.S. embassy guard shot by Athens police
02/04/09 11:46 AM, EST
A Greek police officer shot a private security guard on the grounds of
the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece, on Wednesday, seriously wounding
him, local police said.

Google Latitude keeps tabs on friends' locations
02/04/09 10:50 AM, EST
Just because the Internet has broken down geographic barriers, don't
assume that Google doesn't care about geography.

Gunmen assassinate prominent Somali journalist
02/04/09 10:26 AM, EST
A prominent Somali journalist was shot and killed by suspected
Islamist gunmen in broad daylight on Wednesday, as one of his
colleagues watched in horror.

Key Obama officials reveal executive pay limits
02/04/09 07:33 AM, EST
Executives of companies receiving federal bailout money will have
their pay capped at $500,000 under a financial compensation plan that
President Barack Obama is expected to announce Wednesday, two senior
administration officials said.

Wal-Mart tallies stronger-than-projected 2.1% growth in U.S. comp-store sales for January

Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:55:08 -0500

Wal-Mart tallies stronger-than-projected 2.1% growth in U.S.
comp-store sales for January
2/5/2009 7:52:58 AM EDT

Breaking News

Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 07:14:03 -0500

Bank of England cuts key interest rate half a point to new record low
of 1.0 percent in latest bid to tackle recession.

First-time unemployment filings surge 35,000 to 626,000, a 26-year high, in latest week.

Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 08:32:08 -0500

First-time unemployment filings surge 35,000 to 626,000, a 26-year
high, in latest week.

Stocks open lower following a bigger-than-expected jump in jobless claims and dismal retail sales reports.

Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 09:31:13 -0500

Stocks open lower following a bigger-than-expected jump in jobless
claims and dismal retail sales reports.

Markets Wednesday, 02/4/2009

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 17:31:03 -0500

| Dow : 7956.66 down 121.70 | S & P : 832.23 down 6.28 |
| NASDAQ: 1515.05 down 1.25 | Bond (10Y): 2.94%, 106.81

MARKETS:
Stocks slip in choppy session
Blue chips lead retreat as investors focus on weak earnings from
Disney and Kraft, and more worries about the bank sector.

Dow ends down 1.5% on weak earnings reports and dour forecasts from blue-chip companies. Nasdaq, S&P end lower as well.

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 16:03:03 -0500

Dow ends down 1.5% on weak earnings reports and dour forecasts from
blue-chip companies. Nasdaq, S&P end lower as well.

Stock investors overlook earnings in favor of Washington

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:01:28 -0500

Stock investors overlook earnings in favor of Washington

Another day of stock gains have more to do with the unfolding drama on
Capitol Hill than economic data and corporate results, which on
Wednesday mostly
underscored the need for government moves to stem the recession.

OBAMA LIMITS BAILED-OUT BANK CEO PAY TO $500,000

Responding to concerns about Wall Street excesses, President Barack
Obama announces that executives at financial institutions receiving
"exceptional assistance" from the government will have their pay
limited to $500,000.

ECONOMIC REPORT: ISM SERVICES INDEX SHOWS SURPRISE RISE FOR JANUARY

U.S. nonmanufacturing sectors contracted but at a slower pace in
January, according to a report from the Institute for Supply
Management that shows that
the global slowdown is still taking its toll on demand.

WEEK-TO-WEEK REFINANCING APPLICATIONS RISE 15.8%: MBA

Applicants eager to lock in lower rates give rise to a 15.8% increase
in the number of applications filed to refinance existing mortgages
compared with the week before, Mortgage Bankers Association data show.

TIME WARNER REPORTS $16 BILLION QUARTERLY LOSS ON WRITE-OFFS

Time Warner posts a fourth-quarter loss of $16 billion after writing
down the value of intangible assets held by the company's cable
operations, AOL and Time Inc. Quarterly revenue slips 3%.

Obama details his salary crackdown – caps pay at $500,000 for senior execs at firms that got 'exceptional' bailout help.

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 11:13:07 -0500

Obama details his salary crackdown – caps pay at $500,000 for senior
execs at firms that got 'exceptional' bailout help.

International

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 05:02:03 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 04 February, 2009

OBAMA: 'I SCREWED UP' ON DASCHLE APPOINTMENT
President Barack Obama admits he made a mistake in handling the
nomination of Tom Daschle as his Health and Human Services
secretary, saying Daschle's tax problems sent a message that the
politically powerful are treated differently from average
people.

SRI LANKAN HOSPITAL CLOSES AFTER SHELLING
A hospital caught in the middle of fierce fighting between
government forces and Tamil rebels in northern Sri Lanka has
been closed down after being shelled for a ninth time in four
days, the United Nations says.

NATO TRUCKS ATTACKED IN NORTHWEST PAKISTAN
Suspected militants fired rockets on NATO trucks in northwest
Pakistan early Wednesday -- the latest in a series of recent
attacks meant to choke supplies into Afghanistan for the United
States and its allies.

CLINTON TALKS WITH EURO ALLIES ON AFGHANISTAN
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sought Tuesday to shore up
cooperation with two key European allies on Iran and other
issues, capitalizing on the goodwill earned by the election of
President Barack Obama.

REPORTS: KYRGYZSTAN TO SHUT KEY U.S. BASE
The Kyrgyz government is planning to close a strategically
important U.S. military base that Washington uses as a route for
troops and supplies heading into Afghanistan, Russian media
reported Tuesday.

PANASONIC TO CUT 15,000 JOBS
Panasonic, hard hit by the global recession, will cut 15,000
jobs by March 2010, the company announced Wednesday.

MYSPACE BLOCKS 90,000 SEX OFFENDERS
MySpace.com has identified and removed 90,000 convicted sex
offenders from its popular online social-networking site,
according to one of the dozens of state attorneys general who
pressured the site to beef up its safety standards.

AL QAEDA LEADER'S MESSAGE FOCUSES ON GAZA
Al Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, released a new
audio message Tuesday, condemning Israel and calling for renewed
attacks.

-----------------------------------------
BUSINESS

BANK OF MEXICO MOVES TO HELP PESO
The Bank of Mexico auctioned off billions of dollars Tuesday in
an attempt to support the faltering Mexican peso.

BP PROFITS RISE BY 39 PERCENT
Oil giant BP announced Tuesday that its annual profits had
jumped by 39 percent to $25.6 billion, as last year's soaring
oil prices fueled results.

AIRLINE SAS CUTS JOBS, PLANS RESTRUCTURE
Swedish airline SAS has announced it is to ax 3,000 jobs and
sell off several of its stakes in other airlines after unveiling
its fourth quarter results.

Time Warner reports $16 billion fourth-quarter loss; sales down 3%

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:05:24 -0500

Time Warner reports $16 billion fourth-quarter loss; sales down 3%
2/4/2009 6:03:09 AM EDT

U.S. service sector still shrinking in January -- but at reduced rate

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:11:08 -0500

U.S. service sector still shrinking in January -- but at reduced rate
2/4/2009 10:08:50 AM EDT

U.S. private-sector payrolls fell by 522,000 in January, ADP survey data show

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:18:38 -0500

U.S. private-sector payrolls fell by 522,000 in January, ADP survey data show
2/4/2009 8:16:19 AM EDT

Breaking News

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 09:19:03 -0500

Vatican orders Holocaust-denying bishop to publicly "distance himself"
from his views, Catholic official says.

Treasury to sell $67 billion in new debt, a record for a quarter.

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 09:08:07 -0500

Treasury to sell $67 billion in new debt, a record for a quarter.

Stocks open mixed amid more bad news on job cuts and ongoing dismal corporate results.

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 09:32:07 -0500

Stocks open mixed amid more bad news on job cuts and ongoing dismal
corporate results.

Energy: Stocks in focus for Wednesday

Date: 3 FEB 2009 23:36:06 GMT

Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in
Wednesday's session are Visa, Time Warner, Kraft, Pepsi and Sara Lee.

Breaking News Tue., February 3, 2009

Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:19:31 -0800 (PST)

Obama to Announce Exec Compensation Limits for Banks Receiving TARP
Funds [6:02 p.m. ET]

Tech: Cisco leads broad tech rise at market close

Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:00:27 -0500

Tech Stocks: Cisco leads broad tech rise at market close
2/3/2009 4:18 PM ET
Late gains from the likes of Cisco Systems leads the tech sector to
close with broad gains and offset some earlier losses that were fueled
by disappointment over the earnings report and outlook of flash-memory
maker SanDisk.

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Cisco shares rise on upgrade
2/3/2009 5:08 PM ET
Shares of Cisco finish higher after an analyst upgrades the tech giant
to a buy rating, citing the company's ongoing bid to cut expenses in a
time of slowing demand.

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Electronic Arts to lay off 1,100 as net losses grow
2/3/2009 4:49 PM ET
Electronic Arts Inc. said Tuesday that net losses slid deeper in its
third fiscal quarter as video game sales for the crucial holiday
period came in below expectations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
SanDisk shares plunge on huge loss, weak outlook
2/3/2009 4:30 PM ET
Shares of SanDisk Corp. plunge by more than 20% after the chip maker
posts a huge fourth-quarter net loss and issues a
weaker-than-anticipated revenue outlook.

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Amazon Kindle a big seller in 2008, analysts say
2/3/2009 1:34 PM ET
Amazon.com has steadfastly refused to disclose details on the sales of
its popular e-book reader known as the Kindle, which hasn't stopped
Wall Street analysts from trying to pinpoint the number anyway.

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Europe Markets: European shares close higher, telecoms pace gains
2/3/2009 12:10 PM ET
European shares advance in a choppy session, with telecoms among the
best performers as investors welcome earnings from Vodafone Group.

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Motorola posts $3.6 billion loss, suspends dividend
2/3/2009 12:08 PM ET
Investors already know Motorola Inc. had a poor fourth quarter. What
they want to know Tuesday when Motorola reports full results is if the
company will suffer even more in the first few months of 2009 -- and
beyond.

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RealNetworks warns of big charges for fourth quarter
2/3/2009 11:19 AM ET
RealNetworks Inc. says it expects to take big charges in the fourth
quarter due to restructuring and the write-down of assets related to
past acquisitions.

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Vodafone lifts view as weak pound helps 14% sales rise
2/3/2009 10:53 AM ET
Vodafone Group posts a 14% increase in third-quarter sales, helped by
growth in India and positive currency trends, and raises its guidance
for the year to reflect the pound's decline.

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Israel Stocks: Market broadly higher; banks and technology in focus
2/3/2009 9:17 AM ET
Israeli shares snap three-session losing streak with a broad rise on
Tuesday, led by strength in Isramco, banks, the tech sector and real
estate.

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Indications: U.S. stock futures turn higher as Merck tops expectations
2/3/2009 9:09 AM ET
U.S. stock futures point to a mildly higher start after a few
companies, including drug maker Merck & Co. Inc. and homebuilder D.R.
Horton Inc. offer
earnings that topped market expectations.

Markets Tuesday, 02/3/2009

Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 17:31:03 -0500
| Dow : 8078.36 up 141.53 | S & P : 838.51 up 13.07
|
| NASDAQ: 1516.30 up 21.87 | Bond (10Y): 2.88%, 107.31

MARKETS:
Stocks stage rally
Wall Street charges an advance after a mixed morning as investors
welcome Merck earnings and a surprise rise in pending home sales.

Disney shares slammed after results miss expectations

Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:02:01 -0500

Disney shares slammed after results miss expectations

Walt Disney Co. shares are hit hard late after the media giant's
quarterly earnings and revenue come in lighter than expected by Wall
Street.

ELECTRONIC ARTS TO LAY OFF 1,100 AS NET LOSSES GROW
Electronic Arts Inc. said Tuesday that net losses slid deeper in its
third fiscal quarter as video game sales for the crucial holiday
period came in below expectations.

POOR U.S. CAR SALES COULD SIGNAL START OF A BOTTOM FOR
INVESTORS

While January's car sales prove just as awful as expected, and in some
cases worse, the fact they seem to be stabilizing -- albeit at an
awful rate -- couldbe a positive for an equities market looking for a
floor.

DETROIT TRIO POST SALES DECLINES OF MORE THAN 40% IN JANUARY

Ford Motor Co. reports a 42.1% drop in January U.S. sales, pinning the
blame on a big pullback from its fleet customers and saying its retail
business has. stabilized since the swift retreat last fall.

AMAZON KINDLE A BIG SELLER IN 2008, ANALYSTS SAY

Amazon.com has steadfastly refused to disclose details on the sales of
its popular e-book reader known as the Kindle, which hasn't stopped
Wall Street analysts from trying to pinpoint the number anyway.

Markets stage a late rally, with Dow up 1.8% to close above 8,000. S&P up 1.5%, Nasdaq up 1.3%.

Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:01:04 -0500

Markets stage a late rally, with Dow up 1.8% to close above 8,000. S&P
up 1.5%, Nasdaq up 1.3%.

General Motors vehicle sales in January tumble 49%.

Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 13:48:05 -0500

General Motors vehicle sales in January tumble 49%.

Breaking News Tue., February 3, 2009

Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:05:40 -0800 (PST)

Tax-Troubled Tom Daschle Withdraws Nomination; Obama Accepts With
'Sadness and Regret' [12:50 p.m. ET]

US Stocks Get Boost From Home Sales Data,Industrials Over 8000

Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:01:24 -0500

U.S. stocks got a boost from a rise in pending home sales, though
gains remained modest after a mixed finish Monday that left blue chips
within sight of their bear-market lows. The Dow Jones Industrial
Average was up about 60 points to move over 8000 in recent trade. It
was bolstered by gains for drug
maker Merck, which rose 4.1% after posting a profit for the fourth
quarter, and Alcoa, which advanced 3.9% amid a broad gain among
basic-materials stocks.

General Motors fell 5.2% ahead of what are expected to be grim
auto-sales figures to be released later in the day. The S&P 500 Index
was up 0.6%, with. its basic-materials sector up 2.1% and its
financial index down 1.1%.

U.S. CAR SALES COULD SIGNAL THE START OF A BOTTOM FOR
INVESTORS

While January's car sales are projected to be terrible, the fact they
seem to be stabilizing -- albeit at an awful rate -- could be a
positive for an equities market looking for signs of a floor that
might begin to indicate better times ahead.

MERCK SWINGS BACK TO PROFIT DESPITE SALES DECLINE

Merck returns to profitability in the fourth quarter, after losing
money in the year-earlier period due to a legal hit over a pulled pain
killer.

EARNINGS OUTLOOK: MOTOROLA POSTS $3.6 BILLION LOSS, SUSPENDS DIVIDEND

Investors already know Motorola Inc. had a poor fourth quarter. What
they want to know Tuesday when Motorola reports full results is if the
company will
suffer even more in the first few months of 2009 -- and beyond.

DISNEY KICKS OFF BIG EARNINGS WEEK FOR MEDIA

Walt Disney Co. reports its first-quarter fiscal results after the
market closes Tuesday, a report that will be closely watched as a
guide to what to expect from big media conglomerates in 2009.

International

Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 05:02:06 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 03 February, 2009

CHAVEZ HOPES FOR BETTER RELATIONS WITH OBAMA
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who once called George W. Bush
"the devil," says he hopes for better relations with U.S.
President Barack Obama. Marking 10 years as head of state in the
oil-rich nation, the leftwing leader said he backed
Obama's plans to develop alternative energy -- but said he
doubted the U.S. could shake its oil needs.

MYANMAR REFUGEES FOUND OFF INDONESIA
Indonesian authorities have found some 200 refugees from Myanmaroff
the country's west coast who said they had been drifting in a boat for
three weeks. The discovery comes after allegations arose one month ago
that a group of Myanmar's Rohingya minority had been dumped at sea by
Thai military authorities.

10 ARRESTED IN SPAIN FORGERY INVESTIGATION
Police arrested at least 10 people in Barcelona and Valencia
early Tuesday on suspicion of document forgery, possibly for
Islamic terrorists, a government source said.

ROCKET FROM GAZA FIRED INTO ISRAEL
Palestinian militants fired a long-range rocket from Gaza into
southwestern Israel on Tuesday morning. It was the first such
attack into the city of Ashkelon since the two sides declared a
cease-fire, the Israeli military said.

HILLARY CLINTON TO HEAD TO ASIA FIRST
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will bypass Europe and
travel to Asia on her maiden voyage overseas, diplomats familiar
with the planning have said. Clinton is expected to visit China,
Japan and South Korea on her first trip. The diplomats said she
may also add other stops, including one in Southeast Asia.

SOMALIA FIGHTING KILLS AT LEAST 39 CIVILIANS
At least 39 civilians were killed in Somalia's capital Monday
after a convoy of African Union peacekeepers was hit by a
roadside bomb, causing the troops to open fire, officials and
eyewitnesses said.

CHINA JOB LOSSES SEND 20M MIGRANTS HOME
Job losses triggered by the global financial crisis have driven
some 20 million Chinese workers from cities back to their rural
homelands, according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency.

SUSPECTED MILITANTS BLOW UP PAKISTAN BRIDGE
Suspected Taliban militants have blown up a bridge in the border
region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, suspending NATO supply
lines.

--------------------------------------
BUSINESS

HITACHI POSTS $4B LOSS IN THIRD QUARTER
Japanese electronics company Hitachi on Tuesday announced a
third-quarter loss of more than $4 billion. The company also
reshuffled its executive leadership.

SOURCES: REPUBLICAN GETS TOP COMMERCE NOD
Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire has accepted U.S.
President Barack Obama's offer to be commerce secretary, two
administration officials said.

AUSTRALIA CUTS KEY RATE, UNVEILS STIMULUS
The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday cut its cash rate, or
overnight money market interest rate, by 1 percent to 3.25
percent to stimulate demand and cushion the nation's economy
amid a global recession.

Energy: Dow Chemical, Merck & Co. Citi, Motorola in the spotlight

Date: 3 FEB 2009 13:44:26 GMT

U.S. stock market futures were broadly flat Tuesday as investors eyed
heavy losses from the likes of Dow Chemical, Motorola and BP.

Bill could collapse credit default swaps market, strategist says

Date: 3 FEB 2009 01:18:32 GMT

Industry: Energy

Ahead of a two-day hearing on derivatives, a bond analyst is warning
that a proposed House bill to ban speculation in the once-obscure
securities would annihilate the $31 trillion credit-default swaps
market.

news Alert!

Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:44:16 -0800 (PST)
02/02/09 10:49 AM, EST

Meeting the Obama Administration's goal of putting 1 million plug-in
electric vehicles on the road by 2015 will only happen with a
coordinated set of policies and technology advances, according to an
electric vehicle association.

Gates to brief Obama on shifting troops to Afghanistan
02/02/09 10:19 AM, EST
Defense Secretary Robert Gates will brief President Obama on Monday
afternoon about specific plans for adding 15,000 troops to
Afghanistan.

Comfortable family resort evokes another era
02/02/09 10:18 AM, EST
We miss the turn on the dark, winding road, a road that seems to go on
forever. But, then, there it is, right in front of us: a castle, a
sprawling, Victorian castle.

Zimbabwe removes 12 zeroes from currency
02/02/09 10:11 AM, EST
Zimbabwe slashed 12 zeroes from its currency as hyperinflation
continued to erode its value, the country's central bank announced
Monday.

Iraq reconstruction history details waste, failures
02/02/09 09:28 AM, EST
Iraqis in Diyala province sarcastically call it "the whale."

McConnell: Republican senator may not take Cabinet post
02/01/09 10:40 PM, EST
U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg won't take the job of commerce secretary in the
Obama administration if his appointment would tip the Senate balance
of power in favor of Democrats, the chamber's Republican

Analysis: Sri Lanka's media faces growing pressure
02/01/09 09:43 PM, EST
Journalists in Sri Lanka have come under a growing number of attacks
and intimidation, with some fleeing the country or losing their lives,
media analysts and rights groups say.

Obama's half brother says he's out of jail
02/01/09 05:49 PM, EST
George Obama, the half brother of U.S. President Barack Obama, said on
Sunday that he was released from a Kenyan jail hours after his arrest
on suspicion of marijuana possession.

Phelps admits 'bad judgment' after pot pic published
02/01/09 03:17 PM, EST
Record-setting Olympic champion Michael Phelps admitted Sunday to
"regrettable" behavior and vowed it wouldn't happen again, after a
British newspaper published a photograph of the swimmer smoking
marijuana.

Hamas leader meets Iran's Khamenei
02/01/09 11:29 AM, EST
Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal met with Iran's supreme leader on Sunday,
and provided Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a detailed account of Hamas'
"victory" over Israel in Gaza, according to Iranian media reports.

Pakistan: 43 civilians die in Taliban crossfire
02/01/09 10:35 AM, EST
At least 43 civilians were killed Sunday when they were caught in the
crossfire between Pakistani forces and Taliban militants, a Pakistani
military official said.

Breaking News Mon., February 2, 2009

Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 15:46:26 -0800

Eric Holder Is Confirmed as Attorney General, The First
African-American to Hold the Post [6:39 p.m. ET]

Energy: Stocks in focus for Tuesday

Date: 2 FEB 2009 23:34:09 GMT

Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in
Tuesday's session are Motorola, UPS, Yum Brands, Electronic Arts, and
Disney.

Breaking News Mon., February 2, 2009

Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:02:34 -0800 (PST)

Kellogg Recalls Some Keebler Cookies and Special K Bars on Salmonella
Fears [4:35 p.m. ET]

Tech: Chip gains give big boost to tech sector

Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:00:33 -0500

Tech Stocks: Chip gains give big boost to tech sector
2/2/2009 4:27 PM ET
After seesawing throughout the day, technology stocks come back to
life in latetrading with several chip companies leading the advance.
Nasdaq finishes up 1%.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Google expands its scope to the oceans
2/2/2009 5:51 PM ET
Google Inc. broadens the scope of its mission to organize the world's
information to the oceans by releasing an expanded version of its
Google Earth map and imaging technology.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
SanDisk swings to big loss, hit by charges
2/2/2009 5:31 PM ET
SanDisk Corp. posts a huge fourth-quarter net loss, weighed down by
nearly $2 billion in one-time charges, weak consumer spending and
pricing pressures in the memory chip market.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sun tries to remain steady with business outlook
2/2/2009 4:55 PM ET
Less than a week after Sun Microsystems Inc. delivered
better-than-expected results for its second fiscal quarter, the
company told analysts that it remains upbeat about its long-term
outlook.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Global chip sales make first yearly drop since 2001: group
2/2/2009 4:19 PM ET
Global chip sales fell 2.8% in 2008, the first year-over-year drop
since 2001 as falling consumer demand took its toll, an industry group
reports.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings Outlook: Motorola's wireless future in focus
2/2/2009 2:44 PM ET
Investors already know Motorola Inc. had a poor fourth quarter.What
they want to know Tuesday when Motorola reports full results is if the
company will suffer even more in the first few months of 2009 -- and
beyond.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Applied Materials warns of weaker results
2/2/2009 1:13 PM ET
Applied Materials now sees a first-quarter loss as sales weaken more
than the chip-equipment manufacturer anticipated.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Telecom Stocks: Verizon, Qualcomm rise; ADC plunges
2/2/2009 11:21 AM ET
Verizon Communications Inc. and Qualcomm Inc. lead the
telecommunications sector slightly higher even though the U.S. market
declined. ADC Telecommunications Inc. plunges after warning of weaker
results.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Israel Stocks: Tel Aviv trades lower for third day; energy shares higher
2/2/2009 7:25 AM ET
The losing streak reaches three for Israeli stocks, although shares of
oil producer Isramco leaped by double digits.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Israel Stocks: Market lower; Nortel cancels Alvarion venture
2/1/2009 12:42 PM ET
Israeli stocks fall for a second day, led by weakness at Bank Hapoalim
and in technology bellwethers Alvarion and VeriFone.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Stocks to Watch: Stocks in focus for Monday
1/31/2009 12:01 AM ET
Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in
Monday's session are Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Aflac Inc. and Humana
Inc.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Google, others fret over digital TV 'translators'
1/30/2009 6:38 PM ET
Google Inc. and other technology giants have complained to the Federal
Communications Commission about its proposal to offer a new
replacement "translator" service for TV broadcasters meant to help
them shore up coverage following the digital transition in February.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate debt soars in January; Verizon on tap Friday
1/30/2009 5:40 PM ET
Companies brought a near record amount of debt to bond markets in
January, taking advantage of the thaw in investors' appetite for risk.

Market Briefing Newsletter for Monday, 02/2/2009

Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 17:31:03 -0500

| Dow : 7936.75 down 64.11 | S & P : 825.44 down 0.44 |
| NASDAQ: 1494.43 up 18.01 | Bond (10Y): 2.72%, 108.75
MARKETS:
Techs rise, blue chips slide
A rally in big technology shares helps lift the Nasdaq, but economic
fears limit bigger gains.

US Stocks: Industrials, Financials Weak; Tech Bounces

Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:01:46 -0500

US Stocks: Industrials, Financials Weak; Tech Bounces

Industrial and financial stocks fell again Monday as the stock market
awaits hints about the outlook of the banking system, economic growth
and corporate earnings. Technology stocks, which are less dependent on
financing than corporations in most sectors, were strong. The stock
market remains on tenterhooks, waiting for the latest Treasury
Department plan to rescue the banking sector. Treasury Secretary
Timothy Geithner will divulge that plan next
week, according to reports. Currently, traders are flying blind,
because many corporations are refusing to give financial projections
in the absence of a specific economic-recovery plan, which in many
cases will be decisive for their earnings prospects.

MACY'S JOINS THE LAYOFF PARADE: 7,000 JOBS TO BE SHED IN REORG

Joining the parade of companies laying off thousands, department-store
giant Macy's announces its will cut loose 7,000 jobs in a
restructuring while slashing its quarterly dividend by 62%.

EARNINGS OUTLOOK: MOTOROLA'S WIRELESS FUTURE IN FOCUS

Investors already know Motorola Inc. had a poor fourth quarter. What
they want to know Tuesday when Motorola reports full results is if the
company will suffer even more in the first few months of 2009 -- and
beyond.

ECONOMIC REPORT: U.S. REAL CONSUMER SPENDING DROPS SIXTH TIME IN SEVEN MONTHS

As U.S. real consumer spending falls for the sixth time in seven
months, Americans' savings rate grows, December data compiled by the
Commerce Department show.

GM SEEKS $7 BILLION IN TAX RELIEF FROM CONGRESS: REPORT

General Motors Corp. is struggling to avoid a $7 billion tax
associated with a U.S. Treasury Department plan to give much of the
troubled company's outstanding stock to debt holders, the United Auto
Workers union and the federal government, according to a published
report.

Fed says credit remains tight but fewer banks toughened lending standards in 4th quarter; demand for loans remains weak.

Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 14:07:03 -0500

Fed says credit remains tight but fewer banks toughened lending
standards in 4th quarter; demand for loans remains weak.

Macy's says it will cut 7,000 jobs, or 4% of total workforce.

Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 13:08:03 -0500

Macy's says it will cut 7,000 jobs, or 4% of total workforce.

U.S. real consumer spending drops sixth time in seven months

Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:01:29 -0500
U.S. real consumer spending drops sixth time in seven months

As U.S. real consumer spending falls for the sixth time in seven
months, Americans' savings rate grows, December data compiled by the
Commerce Department show.

MATTEL TO SHRINK TOY LINES AFTER PROFIT FALLS 46%

Mattel's fourth-quarter profit falls 46%, as toy maker cites ongoing
economic slump. Shares tumble 15% in early trading.

ECONOMIC REPORT: ISM FACTORY INDEX BOUNCES OFF LOWS IN JAN.

The nation's manufacturing sector contracted again in January, but at
a less rapid pace than the prior two months, the Institute for Supply
Management reports.

GM SEEKS $7 BILLION IN TAX RELIEF FROM CONGRESS: REPORT

General Motors Corp. is struggling to avoid a $7 billion tax
associated with a U.S. Treasury Department plan to give much of the
troubled company's outstanding stock to debt holders, the United Auto
Workers union and the federal government, according to a published
report.

BRITISH SNOW STORM COULD BE TOUGH ON TEETERING FIRMS

London's transport system may not be the only victim of Britain's
biggest snow storm in 18 years, an economist said Monday.

Purchasing managers' manufacturing index rises in January, but remains at recessionary level.

Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 10:02:08 -0500

Purchasing managers' manufacturing index rises in January, but remains
at recessionary level.

Breaking News: Pittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII

Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:16:41 -0600

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 to win
Super Bowl XLIII and capture Pittsburgh's sixth Super Bowl title.

International

Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 05:01:08 -0500

TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 01 February, 2009
IRAQIS LAUDED FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS
Iraqis won praise from U.S. President Barack Obama for voting in
peaceful provincial elections, which contrasted with the
violence, intimidation and apathy that marked the balloting in
2005. It is truly a proud moment," Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister
Barham Saleh said.

GAZA MILITANTS FIRE ROCKETS INTO ISRAEL
Palestinian militants fired four rockets that landed in southern
Israel Sunday, the Israeli military said.

KENYA PETROL TANKER EXPLOSION KILLS 100
A petrol tanker exploded in Kenya's Rift Valley early Sunday,
killing at least 91 people and wounding more than 117, police
said.

MADAGASCAR OPPOSITION LEADER CLAIMS POWER
The head of the opposition to Madagascar's government took to
the streets Saturday, declaring himself the nation's leader
after a week of violence and looting that killed at least 83
people and wounded more than 300.

INDIA PM SINGH DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was discharged from a
hospital Sunday, a week after he underwent a heart bypass
surgery.

DEATHS RISE IN RUSSIA NURSING HOME FIRE
The death toll in a nursing home fire in northwestern Russia
rose to 23 Sunday, as rescue workers discovered more bodies in
the ruins, officials said.

CHINA NIGHTCLUB FIRE KILLS 15
A group celebrating a birthday shot off fireworks at their table
and set fire to a bar in China's Fujian province, leading to the
deaths of 15 people, China's state-run Xinhua news agency
reported.

VENEZUELA SYNAGOGUE VANDALIZED
Armed men forced their way into a Caracas synagogue, defacing
its administrative offices with anti-Semitic graffiti and
vandalizing an interior room where the Torah is kept, officials
said.

---------------------------------------------------
BUSINESS

JAPAN UNVEILS $17B ASIAN AID PACKAGE
Japan will hand out $17 billion in development aid to other
Asian countries to help them face the global financial crisis,
Prime Minister Taro Aso said at the World Economic Forum.

U.S. JOB CUTS TOP 100,000 FOR WEEK
In a brutal week for the job market, an assortment of companies
across various industries announced more than 100,000 job cuts.
Two of the biggest announcements came Monday. Drugmaker Pfizer
and heavy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar each said they
would cut 20,000 jobs.

WORST JANUARY EVER FOR WALL STREET
The Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500
finished their worst January ever, as investors eyed abysmal
reports on economic growth and quarterly earnings.