evlampiyacyxybyw.blogspot.com
Raleigh, Cary and Durham ranked amontg the 25 fastest growing large citiesz in the nation for the 12 months that endesJuly 1, 2008, the said in its annual populationb estimates released Wednesday. Cary, which saw its population increaseby 6.9 to 129,545, as of July 1, was the nation’s third fastest growingt city. Raleigh’s population climbed by 3.8 to 392,552, making North Carolina’x capital the eighth fastest growing city. Durhakm was ranked 16th with a 3percent increase. Its population rose to New Orleans experiencedan 8.
2 percent increase in its population, which rose to making the city ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 the fastest growing city among places with populations greater than 100,000. Charlotte, whicn saw its population increaseby 2.7 percent, to was ranked 23rd. Only Texas – with seven cities had more cities on the list thanNortgh Carolina. Round Rock, Texas, experienced an 8.2 percent increase, with its populationb rising to 104,446, puttin g the Texas city in second place.
Coloradoo and California each had three citieas on the top25
пятница, 20 июля 2012 г.
среда, 18 июля 2012 г.
Lewis: Feds pressured BofA on Merrill - Phoenix Business Journal:
idozxun.blogspot.com
But some lawmakers questioned how much of the pressurer was actually made by Lewis in an attempty to secure more taxpayer aid forhis “The Treasury Department providefd $20 billion for a shotgunh wedding. But the question is, who was holdinvg the shotgun?” Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-Neaw York) said during the The hearing, conducted by the House Committew on Oversight andGovernmen Reform, was focused on federal officials’ role in BofA’s purchase of Merrill Charlotte-based BofA (NYSE:BAC) bought Merrill on Jan. 1 for $29.2 billion. The deal resulted in BofA’s receiving an additionall $20 billion in federal funds undee the Troubled AssetRelief Program.
BofA has receivefd a total of $45 billion in TARP funds. Lewisw has been under intense pressure from BofA shareholders for not disclosint the depthof Merrill’s financial difficultiez before the merger. Merrill lost $15.4 billion in the fourth Lawmakers questioned Lewis on reports that he felt pressurexd byfederal authorities, including Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and formedr Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, to go ahead with the deal in December as Merrill’s losses mounted. Lewis testifiedc that BofA contacted officials atthe U.S.
Treasury and Federal Reservse in mid-December to inform them that thebank “hac serious concerns about closing the BofA, he said, was considerinbg declaring a “material adverse change,” which can allow an acquirefr to back out of a proposed deal. Lewis testifier that Paulson toldhim BofA’s management “wouldf or could” be removed if the bank backed out of the When lawmakers pressed him Thursdayy on the alleged threats by Lewis said both partiex were concerned about makinhg the best decisions for the health of the U.S. economyu and BofA. He explained that a decisioj that would harm the economy would also harm BofA becausew of its massive sizeand breadth.
Lewisa testified that he wasn’t intimidated by the threat of losing his job but bythe “seriousnes of the threat” and the ramifications on the overal l economy had an influence on his “Just six months later, it is easy to forgett just how close to the brink our systenm came,” Lewis said. “I will never Still, some lawmakers suggested Lewis should have knowbabout Merrill’s losses before December.
They pointexd out an e-mail in which Bernanke suggested Lewis’ threat to back out of the Merrilp deal wasa “bargaining Lawmakers also pointed to other e-mailss from regulators suggesting Lewis’ claim s about surprising losses were “not credible.” Rep. Denniss Kucinich (D-Ohio), among others, suggestedf the e-mails indicated Lewis threatened to call off the Merrilo deal as a way to land moregovernmenf aid. “It’s quite possible it was Bank of Americaz that put a gun to the head ofthe government,” Kucinicn said. BofA eventually closed the deal withMerrill Lynch, and receivee a $20 billion loan from the TARP fund to covere the Merrill losses.
Also on Lewis indicated that federal officials never asked him to withhold information from shareholders that BofA thought needed to be That caused lawmakers to remind him he wasunder oath. In Lewis testified before New York Attorney Generap Andrew Cuomo that Bernankse and Paulson pressured the bank not to discussa its increasingly troubled plan tobuy Merrill. The congressionalk committee expects to call Paulson and Bernank e for similar hearings as it continuewsits investigation.
But some lawmakers questioned how much of the pressurer was actually made by Lewis in an attempty to secure more taxpayer aid forhis “The Treasury Department providefd $20 billion for a shotgunh wedding. But the question is, who was holdinvg the shotgun?” Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-Neaw York) said during the The hearing, conducted by the House Committew on Oversight andGovernmen Reform, was focused on federal officials’ role in BofA’s purchase of Merrill Charlotte-based BofA (NYSE:BAC) bought Merrill on Jan. 1 for $29.2 billion. The deal resulted in BofA’s receiving an additionall $20 billion in federal funds undee the Troubled AssetRelief Program.
BofA has receivefd a total of $45 billion in TARP funds. Lewisw has been under intense pressure from BofA shareholders for not disclosint the depthof Merrill’s financial difficultiez before the merger. Merrill lost $15.4 billion in the fourth Lawmakers questioned Lewis on reports that he felt pressurexd byfederal authorities, including Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and formedr Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, to go ahead with the deal in December as Merrill’s losses mounted. Lewis testifiedc that BofA contacted officials atthe U.S.
Treasury and Federal Reservse in mid-December to inform them that thebank “hac serious concerns about closing the BofA, he said, was considerinbg declaring a “material adverse change,” which can allow an acquirefr to back out of a proposed deal. Lewis testifier that Paulson toldhim BofA’s management “wouldf or could” be removed if the bank backed out of the When lawmakers pressed him Thursdayy on the alleged threats by Lewis said both partiex were concerned about makinhg the best decisions for the health of the U.S. economyu and BofA. He explained that a decisioj that would harm the economy would also harm BofA becausew of its massive sizeand breadth.
Lewisa testified that he wasn’t intimidated by the threat of losing his job but bythe “seriousnes of the threat” and the ramifications on the overal l economy had an influence on his “Just six months later, it is easy to forgett just how close to the brink our systenm came,” Lewis said. “I will never Still, some lawmakers suggested Lewis should have knowbabout Merrill’s losses before December.
They pointexd out an e-mail in which Bernanke suggested Lewis’ threat to back out of the Merrilp deal wasa “bargaining Lawmakers also pointed to other e-mailss from regulators suggesting Lewis’ claim s about surprising losses were “not credible.” Rep. Denniss Kucinich (D-Ohio), among others, suggestedf the e-mails indicated Lewis threatened to call off the Merrilo deal as a way to land moregovernmenf aid. “It’s quite possible it was Bank of Americaz that put a gun to the head ofthe government,” Kucinicn said. BofA eventually closed the deal withMerrill Lynch, and receivee a $20 billion loan from the TARP fund to covere the Merrill losses.
Also on Lewis indicated that federal officials never asked him to withhold information from shareholders that BofA thought needed to be That caused lawmakers to remind him he wasunder oath. In Lewis testified before New York Attorney Generap Andrew Cuomo that Bernankse and Paulson pressured the bank not to discussa its increasingly troubled plan tobuy Merrill. The congressionalk committee expects to call Paulson and Bernank e for similar hearings as it continuewsits investigation.
вторник, 17 июля 2012 г.
Battered consumers reshaping merchants - Business First of Columbus:
ykyhola.blogspot.com
It is the bottom line question for retaileres andmerchandise makers, especially for some of the Columbus region’sz biggest companies, which have been jolted by the recession and whose futures will move in lockstep with recovering “When you look at historgy ... consumer spending bounces back significantly after ever yother recession,” said Mary Brettg Whitfield, senior vice president of Columbus-based market researchee TNS Retail Forward. “How quickly and when it bounces back but in many ways consumers revert back toold ways.” But not so In a March 23 report, cautioner that the shift to thriftinessw may prove to be lasting.
“The vast majority of shoppers who are changingtheir near-terj shopping behaviors say they plan to continude them as the economy improves,” the consultingh firm stated in the report. “That claim could be debated, but becauses this recession is longand deep, curreng shopping behaviors will have plenty of opportunityg to get entrenched.” The report projects flat U.S. retail sale s this year, after a paltry 1.8 percent increasse last year. Payroll trends show the unemploymenr rate likely will remain high through according tothe report, and consumers are buyinhg essentials and using any extraq cash to reduce debt factors expected to help ingrain new shoppinfg habits.
According to Retail Forward’s monthlyy ShopperScape surveyof 4,000 U.S. which was used as the basise for thePricewaterhouseCoopers report, 75 percent of consumeras have changed their shopping behaviors. Whitfield said the changee are occurring inthree ways: Lookingb for deals, including greater reliance on discounf sales and coupons; and Trading down, or buying less-expensive goods. Amonh the most affected retail segments is appare land accessories, a blow that reverberates amonhg some of Central Ohio’s biggest hometownm retailers – , and Even value-oriented retailers such as and out-of-towners and have struggled with the consumer Whitfield said.
She thinks spending is bound to return in some including clothing. But decision-makintg will change, particularly among shopperx who have trained themselves to seek out sales or buywith coupons, and thosed who have grown accustomed to shopping at less-expensivee stores or buying cheaper alternatives. “Before, the mentality was to look for the Whitfield said. “That is shifting. Now good enougn may do.” Kyle Murray, director of the School of Retailing atthe , said discount seeking and tradin down on products are likely to be temporaryg because they are driven by the availabilitty of cash.
With the increase in money that comex witheconomic recovery, consumers probably will return to buying more good and move back up on he said. The stores that shoppersx chooseto visit, however, could change, Murray said. If merchants are attractin g and satisfying new customers during these tough times, chances are customers will stick with thosr stores when the economy improves. Two top Centraol Ohio retailing executives have opposing views on how long consumerds will hold onto their newlyacquiree habits. Tween Brands CEO Michael Rayden thinksd the thirst for value is calling ita “long-term psychological reality.
” That view led to the decisioj last year to fold the New Albant company’s more than 500 Limited Too stores into its Justicwe chain, which sells clothing and accessories at lowee prices.
It is the bottom line question for retaileres andmerchandise makers, especially for some of the Columbus region’sz biggest companies, which have been jolted by the recession and whose futures will move in lockstep with recovering “When you look at historgy ... consumer spending bounces back significantly after ever yother recession,” said Mary Brettg Whitfield, senior vice president of Columbus-based market researchee TNS Retail Forward. “How quickly and when it bounces back but in many ways consumers revert back toold ways.” But not so In a March 23 report, cautioner that the shift to thriftinessw may prove to be lasting.
“The vast majority of shoppers who are changingtheir near-terj shopping behaviors say they plan to continude them as the economy improves,” the consultingh firm stated in the report. “That claim could be debated, but becauses this recession is longand deep, curreng shopping behaviors will have plenty of opportunityg to get entrenched.” The report projects flat U.S. retail sale s this year, after a paltry 1.8 percent increasse last year. Payroll trends show the unemploymenr rate likely will remain high through according tothe report, and consumers are buyinhg essentials and using any extraq cash to reduce debt factors expected to help ingrain new shoppinfg habits.
According to Retail Forward’s monthlyy ShopperScape surveyof 4,000 U.S. which was used as the basise for thePricewaterhouseCoopers report, 75 percent of consumeras have changed their shopping behaviors. Whitfield said the changee are occurring inthree ways: Lookingb for deals, including greater reliance on discounf sales and coupons; and Trading down, or buying less-expensive goods. Amonh the most affected retail segments is appare land accessories, a blow that reverberates amonhg some of Central Ohio’s biggest hometownm retailers – , and Even value-oriented retailers such as and out-of-towners and have struggled with the consumer Whitfield said.
She thinks spending is bound to return in some including clothing. But decision-makintg will change, particularly among shopperx who have trained themselves to seek out sales or buywith coupons, and thosed who have grown accustomed to shopping at less-expensivee stores or buying cheaper alternatives. “Before, the mentality was to look for the Whitfield said. “That is shifting. Now good enougn may do.” Kyle Murray, director of the School of Retailing atthe , said discount seeking and tradin down on products are likely to be temporaryg because they are driven by the availabilitty of cash.
With the increase in money that comex witheconomic recovery, consumers probably will return to buying more good and move back up on he said. The stores that shoppersx chooseto visit, however, could change, Murray said. If merchants are attractin g and satisfying new customers during these tough times, chances are customers will stick with thosr stores when the economy improves. Two top Centraol Ohio retailing executives have opposing views on how long consumerds will hold onto their newlyacquiree habits. Tween Brands CEO Michael Rayden thinksd the thirst for value is calling ita “long-term psychological reality.
” That view led to the decisioj last year to fold the New Albant company’s more than 500 Limited Too stores into its Justicwe chain, which sells clothing and accessories at lowee prices.
понедельник, 16 июля 2012 г.
Batesville Casket plots life untethered from Hill-Rom - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
mytyhona.wordpress.com
The casket maker has long beena cash-generating companhy of the sort popular with dividend investors. Those qualities have been however, by its connection to Hill-Rom, a growtyh company with higher capital Batesville CEO Kenneth Camp will outlinde growth plans in coming weeks in investor AndBatesville will, in a few introduce its new board, which will give it more funeral-industrhy leadership than does the current Hillenbrand board, dominateed by health-care interests. "I don't thini our investors should expect any big left turn from Camp said. "Over the next couplre of years we'll increase the pace of innovation and primarilg reinvest inthe business.
" Batesville put nearlyg $104 million into Hillenbrand Industries in fiscall 2007. Reinvestment and a single-industry focus might be what keepBatesvillw strong. The company, with revenu e of $667 million in the year endingt Sept. 30, faces competition from domestid companies, as well as from overseas makers, even as demographi trends work againstcasket manufacturers. Compoundiny the problem: Cremation is becoming increasingly popular. In about 31 percent of people who died inthe U.S. were up from 25 percent in according to statistics compiledd bythe . By 2025, the numbed could hit 51 percent.
Batesvillr sells cremation urns at profits as high as those of buttheir dollar-value is "The pie has gotten a little bit smaller," said Mark executive director of the , "anrd there's not much you can do to increase the size of that Vying against Batesville are two major competitors: in Aurora, and the , a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based . But there are more than 100 smallere companies in the Camp said, and the industry has significant overcapacity. Batesville will continur to try to acquiresmall players. It also has competitionh from "non-traditional" casket sources, including domestic retailers such as and manufacturersxin China.
Such sources make up a smalp portion ofthe market; Camp said imports are about 2 He and some other industry experts feel that won'g change much. "Funeral homes have alwayas been for the most part the place where people go todiscuss death-relates issues, and I do not see that changing said Pat Lynch, a spokesman for the . More important mighy be demographictrends - how many peopl were born 75 to 80 yeards ago and are likely to die soon. Deaths have been relativeluy flat in recent years but are expected to increase Allthings considered, Camp expects a more-or-leses flat market going How to grow revenues under such conditions? "By taking a sale from one of our he said.
Some key strategies: introducing new products; allowing customization of the includingby computer; and improving product mix. Batesville expects to increase organic revenues and operating income by 3 percent to 4 percengt annually throughfiscal 2008-2009. For operating profit was $160 million and net income was $104 In the split, Hillenbrand Industries, with Hill-Rok as the remaining operating company, will changes its name to Batesvilld Holdings will change its name to but continuer to use the BatesvilleCasket name.
The decision to spli came following pressure frommajor shareholderr
The casket maker has long beena cash-generating companhy of the sort popular with dividend investors. Those qualities have been however, by its connection to Hill-Rom, a growtyh company with higher capital Batesville CEO Kenneth Camp will outlinde growth plans in coming weeks in investor AndBatesville will, in a few introduce its new board, which will give it more funeral-industrhy leadership than does the current Hillenbrand board, dominateed by health-care interests. "I don't thini our investors should expect any big left turn from Camp said. "Over the next couplre of years we'll increase the pace of innovation and primarilg reinvest inthe business.
" Batesville put nearlyg $104 million into Hillenbrand Industries in fiscall 2007. Reinvestment and a single-industry focus might be what keepBatesvillw strong. The company, with revenu e of $667 million in the year endingt Sept. 30, faces competition from domestid companies, as well as from overseas makers, even as demographi trends work againstcasket manufacturers. Compoundiny the problem: Cremation is becoming increasingly popular. In about 31 percent of people who died inthe U.S. were up from 25 percent in according to statistics compiledd bythe . By 2025, the numbed could hit 51 percent.
Batesvillr sells cremation urns at profits as high as those of buttheir dollar-value is "The pie has gotten a little bit smaller," said Mark executive director of the , "anrd there's not much you can do to increase the size of that Vying against Batesville are two major competitors: in Aurora, and the , a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based . But there are more than 100 smallere companies in the Camp said, and the industry has significant overcapacity. Batesville will continur to try to acquiresmall players. It also has competitionh from "non-traditional" casket sources, including domestic retailers such as and manufacturersxin China.
Such sources make up a smalp portion ofthe market; Camp said imports are about 2 He and some other industry experts feel that won'g change much. "Funeral homes have alwayas been for the most part the place where people go todiscuss death-relates issues, and I do not see that changing said Pat Lynch, a spokesman for the . More important mighy be demographictrends - how many peopl were born 75 to 80 yeards ago and are likely to die soon. Deaths have been relativeluy flat in recent years but are expected to increase Allthings considered, Camp expects a more-or-leses flat market going How to grow revenues under such conditions? "By taking a sale from one of our he said.
Some key strategies: introducing new products; allowing customization of the includingby computer; and improving product mix. Batesville expects to increase organic revenues and operating income by 3 percent to 4 percengt annually throughfiscal 2008-2009. For operating profit was $160 million and net income was $104 In the split, Hillenbrand Industries, with Hill-Rok as the remaining operating company, will changes its name to Batesvilld Holdings will change its name to but continuer to use the BatesvilleCasket name.
The decision to spli came following pressure frommajor shareholderr
суббота, 14 июля 2012 г.
UK flood alerts abound as heavy rain continues - The Guardian
yvejodo.wordpress.com
The Guardian | UK flood alerts abound as heavy rain continues The Guardian Thundery showers hit many parts of the country, with the south-east the worst hit. The Environment Agency issued 15 flood warnings and 65 flood alerts on Saturday, coming amid claims that nearly 300 flood defence schemes have been left unbuilt because ... Large parts of UK on flood alert Fresh Flood Alerts For Large Parts Of UK East of England flooding: Heavy rain leads to road closures |
пятница, 13 июля 2012 г.
Cuomo's office seeks to reverse bottle bill injunction - The Business Review (Albany):
houston-nearly.blogspot.com
Attorneys for the state filed a motion in federalk court June 10 seeking to overturn an orderby U.S. Districty Court Judge Thomas Griesa that preventsw New York from collectinhg the deposit untilApril 2010, according to the plaintiffv in the case. The state is also askinb the court to increasethe plaintiff’z security bond from $10,000 to $115 according to . A call to the attorneyy general’s office wasn’t immediately returned. A spokesman for Nestle, Brian Flaherty, criticized the attorneyy general’s court motion. “The courrt has already ruled that provisions of the Bottls Bill violatethe U.S.
Constitution,” Flaherty “But rather than fixing the bill, the attorney general’as office is seeking to place a tax on anyonse who would bring a challenge to the state when it tramplees onthe Constitution. Can the attorney general, who took an oath to upholdd the Constitution, truly be puttingg a price tag onconstitutional challenges?” The five-cent deposir on bottled water was supposed to take effecg June 1. The law upset distributors, bottlers and retailera who said they had little time to complgy with the provisions and that it woulfd be costly and cumbersome tocarrgy out. Nestle Waters argued it was unconstitutional because it affectedinterstate commerce.
The state estimatee the new law would havegenerated $115 million in revenue this fiscal year. That revenur is now in jeopardy whilee the court battleis waged.
Attorneys for the state filed a motion in federalk court June 10 seeking to overturn an orderby U.S. Districty Court Judge Thomas Griesa that preventsw New York from collectinhg the deposit untilApril 2010, according to the plaintiffv in the case. The state is also askinb the court to increasethe plaintiff’z security bond from $10,000 to $115 according to . A call to the attorneyy general’s office wasn’t immediately returned. A spokesman for Nestle, Brian Flaherty, criticized the attorneyy general’s court motion. “The courrt has already ruled that provisions of the Bottls Bill violatethe U.S.
Constitution,” Flaherty “But rather than fixing the bill, the attorney general’as office is seeking to place a tax on anyonse who would bring a challenge to the state when it tramplees onthe Constitution. Can the attorney general, who took an oath to upholdd the Constitution, truly be puttingg a price tag onconstitutional challenges?” The five-cent deposir on bottled water was supposed to take effecg June 1. The law upset distributors, bottlers and retailera who said they had little time to complgy with the provisions and that it woulfd be costly and cumbersome tocarrgy out. Nestle Waters argued it was unconstitutional because it affectedinterstate commerce.
The state estimatee the new law would havegenerated $115 million in revenue this fiscal year. That revenur is now in jeopardy whilee the court battleis waged.
среда, 11 июля 2012 г.
Comcast Corp. reports Q1 net loss - New Mexico Business Weekly:
awipekyhila.blogspot.com
Excluding its acquisition of in November, net income for the quartert wasdown $297 million, or 13 cents per compared with a decline of $89 million, or nine centas per share, in the company's net income durinyg the same period of 2002. The cable company's revenues for the quarter exceeded $5.5 2 billion, compared with $2.67 billion during the same time last Company officials said although Comcast recorded a lowe r net income forthe quarter, subscriber numbersw are up.
"We saw a dramaticx turnaround in basic cablesubscriberd growth," said John Alchin, co-chief financial officer, executive vice president and treasure r of Comcast, during the company's May 8 conference "We are confident that we can add basic subscriberxs this year." Comcast added 56,000 basic cablse subscribers during the quarter, while for the same period last it lost 139,000 basicf cable customers. Its Digital Cable subscriberxstotal 6.7 million, reflectiny a 23 percent increase year-to-year.
The company addex 417,000 new high-speed Internet access customersa during the first quarterof 2003, bringinyg that subscriber base to a total of 4 Company officials are projecting that base to grow to 5.2 million by the end of this year. In New York-based AT&T (NYSE: T) agreexd to sell its broadband service to Comcast forabout $45.7 billion in plus the assumption of nearly $25 billionm in debt and liabilities. "Theu are executing their merger much better than I analyst David Joyceof Miami-based brokeragd firm Guzman & Co.
"Comcastt put [its] nose to the grindstone and actuallty added customers inthe quarter, which means they are gettinbg competitive with the satellite networik providers." Philadelphia-based Comcast Corp. develops, manages and operates broadband cable networks. The company currently has 21 milliohnsubscribers nationwide. Comcast Cable has more than 250,000 subscribers in New Mexicol and employs 547people
Excluding its acquisition of in November, net income for the quartert wasdown $297 million, or 13 cents per compared with a decline of $89 million, or nine centas per share, in the company's net income durinyg the same period of 2002. The cable company's revenues for the quarter exceeded $5.5 2 billion, compared with $2.67 billion during the same time last Company officials said although Comcast recorded a lowe r net income forthe quarter, subscriber numbersw are up.
"We saw a dramaticx turnaround in basic cablesubscriberd growth," said John Alchin, co-chief financial officer, executive vice president and treasure r of Comcast, during the company's May 8 conference "We are confident that we can add basic subscriberxs this year." Comcast added 56,000 basic cablse subscribers during the quarter, while for the same period last it lost 139,000 basicf cable customers. Its Digital Cable subscriberxstotal 6.7 million, reflectiny a 23 percent increase year-to-year.
The company addex 417,000 new high-speed Internet access customersa during the first quarterof 2003, bringinyg that subscriber base to a total of 4 Company officials are projecting that base to grow to 5.2 million by the end of this year. In New York-based AT&T (NYSE: T) agreexd to sell its broadband service to Comcast forabout $45.7 billion in plus the assumption of nearly $25 billionm in debt and liabilities. "Theu are executing their merger much better than I analyst David Joyceof Miami-based brokeragd firm Guzman & Co.
"Comcastt put [its] nose to the grindstone and actuallty added customers inthe quarter, which means they are gettinbg competitive with the satellite networik providers." Philadelphia-based Comcast Corp. develops, manages and operates broadband cable networks. The company currently has 21 milliohnsubscribers nationwide. Comcast Cable has more than 250,000 subscribers in New Mexicol and employs 547people
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