By Martin Hutchinson Contributing Editor For the last couple of years, every time problems have emerged in the stock market, investors have rushed into U.S. Treasury Bonds, assuming they're a catchall "safe haven" against stock-market storms. But there are signs that at least long-term Treasuries may no longer provide that safe haven – and actually […]
Archives for February 2008
February 2008 - Page 2 of 15 - Money Morning - Only the News You Can Profit From
Growth - Not Inflation - Remains the Fed's Main Concern
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By Jason Simpkins Associate Editor U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke yesterday (Wednesday) echoed Vice Chairman Donald Kohn's earlier view that market turmoil and slowing growth pose the "greater threat" to the U.S. economy, a comment that clearly relegates inflationary concerns to the back burner. "The Federal Open Market Committee will be carefully evaluating […]
Google Joins Consortium Planning High-Speed Undersea Cable to Asia
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By William Patalon III Executive Editor Money Morning/The Money Map Report When the telecommunications revolution was still in its infancy, it was the clickety-clack of the telegraph key that signified that information was being sent to a distant locale. But it was the construction of the transatlantic cable that really unleashed the first global telecom […]
Sharp and Sony Link up in Joint Venture to Make LCD Panels for Burgeoning Flat Panel TV Market
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By William Patalon III Executive Editor Money Morning/The Money Map Report Consumer-electronics giant Sony Corp. (SNE) announced it will take a one-third stake in a $3.5 billion LCD plant that Sharp Corp. (OTC: SHCAY) is building to meet the soaring worldwide demand for flat-screen television sets. Sharp markets the Aquos line of LCD TVs. It […]
Hong Kong Makes Huge Tax Cuts, Increases Spending on Infrastructure Intangibles
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By Mike Caggeso Associate Editor Sitting on an estimated $15 billion budget surplus, Hong Kong's financial chief, John Tsang, said he would slash taxes, eliminate duties on beer and wine, increase spending on health services and introduce measures to bridge the income gap and reduce air pollution, AFP reported. Income taxes will be cut from […]
Midday Market Update: Bernanke Testimony Hints at More Easing
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By Jennifer Yousfi Managing Editor Stocks moved forward for the fourth consecutive day as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke's testified before Congress today that the Fed would "act in a timely manner" to mitigate "downside risks" to the U.S. economy. At noon ET, the three major U.S. stock indices had all posted gains. The blue-chip […]
Fed Can't Hide From Inflation; Bernanke Appears Before Congress
By Jason Simpkins Associate Editor Wholesale food, energy and medicine costs soared in January, pushing inflation up at the fastest pace in a quarter century, the Labor Department reported yesterday (Tuesday). Producer prices jumped by 1% for the month, more than double the increase analysts expected. The abrupt increase follows a 0.3% drop in December. […]
Despite its Billion-Dollar Loss in Blackstone Deal, China SWF CIC Sees the Bigger Picture
By William Patalon III Executive Editor Money Morning/The Money Map Report When China Investment Corp. (CIC) opted to make The Blackstone Group LP (BX) its first investment last May, leaders of China's $200 billion sovereign wealth fund clearly expected a better outcome. CIC invested $3 billion for a 10% stake in Blackstone, which many analysts […]
Shareholders 1, Subprimes 0: Ailing Countrywide Gets "Countryfried" for Expensive Ski Junket
By Keith Fitz-Gerald Investment Director Money Morning/The Money Map Report I don't know whether to be furious or relieved. While at our Oxford Club Chapter Meeting in Colorado Springs last week, I happened to learn that Countrywide Financial Corp. (CFC) was planning to host several dozen mortgage company reps at the nearby Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch […]
With Domestic Sales Slowing, Fast Food Players Carry Out International Expansion Plans
By Jennifer Yousfi Managing Editor Fast food companies are feeling the squeeze. On one hand, sales are growing in the emerging markets abroad. At the same time, however, the quick-service restaurants also are wrestling with a slowdown in their home U.S. market, and a backlash from media-fueled concerns about the spread of obesity. In a […]
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