BEIJING (Reuters) – The breakneck pace of growth in China’s 10 trillion yuan ($1.64 trillion) investment trust industry is unsustainable and earnings risk drying up as the government steps up financial reforms that will change sources of revenue, research shows. Close to 90 percent of revenues in the industry are at risk in the long run with about 40 percent of earnings forecast to disappear completely in five years, according … Read more »
(Reuters) – Macy’s Inc (M.N) and a slew of other U.S. retailers are opening on Thanksgiving for the first time ever in a bare-knuckled brawl for a bigger slice of overall holiday sales. But it might not be so easy to lure most Americans from their turkey and football – particularly if the weather is foul. Department store rivals Kohl’s Corp (KSS.N) and J.C. Penney Co Inc (JCP.N) led a … Read more »
TOKYO (Reuters) – Asian shares were in a buoyant mood, with Japanese stocks charging towards a 5-1/2 year peak on Thursday after the yen fell sharply on the back of relatively positive U.S. economic data, while two major regional currencies slumped. U.S. jobless claims unexpectedly fell last week and the November Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer confidence improved from a preliminary reading, while the Chicago PMI held up better than … Read more »
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Brazilian miner Vale SA (VALE5.SA) said on Wednesday that it agreed to pay 22.325 billion reais ($9.61 billion) in taxes on profit from overseas operations, accepting an offer from Brazil’s government that cuts a disputed back-tax bill in half. The world’s largest producer of iron ore will spread payments over 15 years with 5.965 billion reais, or 27 percent of the total, due this month. … Read more »
(Reuters) – Barclays Capital Inc has been ordered to pay $2.1 million to a New York-based trader it fired last year in connection with the alleged rigging of the London interbank offered rate, or Libor, according to arbitration documents. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in the United States ordered Barclays Capital to pay Dong Kun Lee $2.1 million in damages in their award dated Nov 15. According to regulatory filings, … Read more »
LONDON (Reuters) – The Bank of England will give its latest assessment of Britain’s housing market and whether it sees any risk of a bubble, in a semi-annual report on financial stability due later on Thursday. Housing will be a key theme when the BoE presents its first Financial Stability Report since Governor Mark Carney joined the bank in July, according to a letter from Carney to a British legislator … Read more »
LONDON (Reuters) – Disputes between resource groups and governments are likely to keep increasing as commodity prices fall and companies slash spending on new projects, according to a report by London-based think-tank Chatham House. “In the current climate, companies are focused on cutting expenditures and cutting their investments, especially on big greenfield projects,” Jaakko Kooroshy, a research fellow at Chatham House and an author of the report, told Reuters. Over … Read more »
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – The compensation deal being negotiated between Argentina’s YPF (YPFD.BA) and Spain’s Repsol (REP.MC) will open opportunities for foreign companies to invest in the South American country’s vast untapped oil and natural gas resources, the head of YPF, Miguel Galuccio, told Reuters on Wednesday. The board of Repsol unanimously agreed on Wednesday to start formal talks with Argentina over a compensation offer for YPF assets that Buenos … Read more »
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Dow and the S&P 500 closed at record highs on Wednesday, led by Hewlett-Packard’s jump a day after the personal computer maker’s earnings, while the Nasdaq finished at a 13-year high. The tech-heavy Nasdaq got its biggest boost from Apple Inc (AAPL.O), which rose 2.4 percent to $545.96, the stock’s highest level since January. Technology stocks have lagged the broader market this year, with the … Read more »
NEW YORK (Reuters) – British financier Guy Hands is engaging in “legal tourism” by pursuing a U.S. lawsuit accusing Citigroup Inc (C.N) bankers of defrauding him into overpaying for music company EMI Group Ltd, and his case should be dismissed because it does not belong in the United States, the bank said on Wednesday. Citigroup, the third-largest U.S. bank, sought the dismissal less than six months after the 2nd U.S. … Read more »
CHICAGO (Reuters) – A month ago, Steve Walk was on the brink of deals to sell two big oil refiners some of his company’s specialized oil pumps, which serve up fuel that is 85 percent ethanol, a biofuel made mostly from corn. Walk’s company, Protec Fuel, sells and installs the equipment needed to dispense so-called E85. The deals would have nearly doubled Protec’s business, he said. The number of stations … Read more »
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Brazilian mining company Vale (VALE5.SA) said on Wednesday that it agreed to pay 22.325 billion reais ($9.61 billion) in back taxes to the Brazilian government on profit from overseas operations, after agreeing to a payment plan with tax authorities. The payments will be made over 15 years with 5.965 billion reais, or 27 percent, due this month. The remaining 16.36 billion reais will be made … Read more »
Printer-friendly version
America has always been a nation on the move. Whether you are looking for a career change or a new neighborhood to call home, life decisions affect each of us every day. With roughly half of Americans now owning smartphones, everyone should be able to access the wealth of statistics the Census Bureau collects to make informed decisions … Read more »
Printer-friendly version
Ed. note: This post is part of the Spotlight on Commerce series highlighting members of the Department of Commerce and their contributions to an Economy Built to Last. Guest blog post by Helena Carapellatti, Statistician, U.S. Census Bureau I work as a statistician in the Human Resources Division at the U.S. Census Bureau and my responsibilities include reporting on Federal … Read more »
Printer-friendly version
Today, Acting Deputy U.S. Commerce Secretary Patrick Gallagher delivered remarks at “From DC to Africa: Growing Local, Going Global,” a business forum hosted by the D.C. Office on African Affairs to raise awareness of opportunities for U.S. companies to do business in Africa. D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray also gave remarks at the forum and introduced Dr. Gallagher. The … Read more »
Printer-friendly version
A glowing six-foot diameter sphere, suspended from the ceiling of NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., is the 100th Science On a Sphere® installed around the world. The 3-D display system, which was unveiled November 22, illuminates awe-inspiring animations of planet Earth and is used by educators, curators and scientists alike to explore global environmental data, such as … Read more »
Author: News | November 27th, 2013 |
Category : Alberta
OTTAWA – The federal government has cancelled a tender for a study on the environmental impact of lead shot and bullets. The tender was issued earlier this month by Environment Canada, but immediately ran into opposition from shooting groups. Tony Bernardo, spokesman for the Canadians Shooting Sports Association, called the study complete nonsense — a perspective shared by the Conservative government. Paul Calandra, parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, … Read more »
Author: News | November 27th, 2013 |
Category : Alberta
MADRID – Energy firm Repsol says its board has approved negotiations of terms of payment by Argentina to compensate the Spanish company for last year’s expropriation of the firm’s YPF division and its vast holdings of unconventional oil and gas fields. The company says in a statement that investment bankers will negotiate with Argentina “with the objective of finding a fair, effective and quick solution of the controversy.” The statement … Read more »
Author: News | November 27th, 2013 |
Category : Alberta
The 19th Annual Petro-Canada teddy bear toss goes this weekend, when the Calgary Hitmen host the Medicine Hat Tigers. Last year, just over 21,000 furry critters were thrown onto the ice. Left wing forward, Zane Jones tells 660News, once the first goal is scored by the Hitmen, fans can throw their stuffed toy, or two onto the ice. “All the bears get tossed, and this year we need a record … Read more »
Author: News | November 27th, 2013 |
Category : Alberta
It’s the final day of preparation, at the Calgary Zoo, where they’re getting set for Thursday’s re-opening. The non-profit organization suffered $15-million in damage when the flood hit and it’s taken months of hard work to bring it back into shape. However, the Zoo’s Trish Exton-Parder cautions, you’ll see some big changes. “The South America building had to be taken down; it was too old to repair, and unfortunately those … Read more »
Author: News | November 27th, 2013 |
Category : Alberta
Modular classrooms are now ready for 900 students in High River, impacted by June’s devastating flood. Of the more than 80 schools impacted by this summer’s flooding, only three remain closed. Education Minister Jeff Johnson said restoration is underway for two of High River’s schools, and planning for Elbow Park School in Calgary. Forty two modular classrooms are being used by 700 students in High River, and an additional 12 … Read more »
Author: News | November 27th, 2013 |
Category : Alberta
Calgary’s Jewish community marks its brightest celebration of the season with Hanukkah starting Wednesday night. Hanukkah is marked with the lighting of the menorah, and it has become a very public celebration in our city. An estimated 15,000 community menorahs will light up for the next eight nights in cities around the world. Two of them here in Calgary; where 14 Street commuters will notice a 17 foot menorah at … Read more »
Author: News | November 27th, 2013 |
Category : Alberta
NEW YORK, N.Y. – A handwritten working manuscript of Bruce Springsteen’s 1975 hit “Born to Run” will be offered at auction on Dec. 5, with a presale estimate of $70,000 to $100,000, Sotheby’s said Wednesday. The seller was not revealed. The auction house said the document used to be in the collection of Springsteen’s former manager, Mike Appel. Sotheby’s said most of the lines in this 1974 version, written in … Read more »
Author: News | November 27th, 2013 |
Category : Alberta
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Oil closed below US$93 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time in nearly six months as the U.S. government reported the 10th straight weekly increase in crude oil supplies. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for January delivery fell $1.38 to close at US$92.30 a barrel Wednesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The lowest previous close was $91.97 on May 31. Trading volumes were low … Read more »