Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News articles from February 12 2005

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News archives from February 12 2005

Agere may buy Israeli firm.
February 12, 2005... By Jeanne Bonner, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--An Israeli newspaper is reporting Agere Systems plans to buy a small chip company for $150 million. The company, Modem-Art of Israel, is...

Loss of Southeast felt as airport traffic slumps.
February 12, 2005... By Jeanne Bonner, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Passenger traffic fell 27 percent at Lehigh Valley International Airport in January compared with January of last year. About 55,000...

PPL seeks to defer part of cost for January ice storm repairs.
February 12, 2005... By Kurt Blumenau, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--PPL Electric Utilities, facing at least $20 million in costs from last month's Poconos ice storms, asked the state Friday for permission to...

Prenuptial agreements are rare, but useful for couples with assets.
February 12, 2005... By James Gallagher, The Augusta Chronicle, Ga. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Nothing says "I love you" like a prenup. Prenuptial agreements, those contracts a couple signs before their wedding date that outline who gets...

Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio, Mad Shopper column.
February 12, 2005... By Mary Ethridge, Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--What price can you put on love? Get a load of this: $75-$100 for a dozen red roses, $7.99 for a glittery card and $18.25 for a red thong as big...

Profits grow at Bakersfield, Calif.-based bank.
February 12, 2005... By Matt Phillips, The Bakersfield Californian Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Profits leapt 31 percent in 2004 as Bakersfield-based San Joaquin Bank claimed a larger cut of the local lending market, CEO Bart Hill said Friday....

Homebuying season begins in Bakersfield, Calif., area.
February 12, 2005... By Jennifer Plotnick, The Bakersfield Californian Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Spring fever's in the air -- and it's not just for cleaning homes. It's for buying and selling them, too. Mohamed Muthana III started...

Bakersfield, Calif., pizzeria makes heart-shaped pies for Valentine's Day.
February 12, 2005... By Matt Phillips, The Bakersfield Californian Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--For the last 12 years, Valentine's Day has meant one thing at The Pizza Market: heart-shaped pies. It started one Valentine's Day when a...

California utility predicts smaller consumer bills.
February 12, 2005... By Erin Waldner, The Bakersfield Californian Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Residential heating bills have reached record highs this winter, but relief is around the corner. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. expects its...

Belleville News-Democrat, Ill., business beat column.
February 12, 2005... By Will Buss, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MAKE HER A QUEEN FOR A DAY: A St. Louis radio personality and her mother have come up with a royal promotion for Valentine's Day. Debra Donze,...

Microbrewer set to revive old tradition in Belleville.
February 12, 2005... By Scott Wuerz, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--BELLEVILLE -- After seven years of planning, Chuck Helwig is finally ready to put the city back on the map as a brewery town. Helwig...

Shopping center targets fall 2006 grand opening.
February 12, 2005... By Greg Avery, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Shoppers eager to spend money at the Twenty Ninth Street shopping center may want to find something else to do for 18 months. Excavating and...

Sweetheart Bread cuts routes.
February 12, 2005... By Jan Falstad, Billings Gazette, Mont. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--The Belfry Country Store has been selling groceries in this small town near the Wyoming border for about 80 years now, and Bob and Marcia Cichosz want...

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers to open first airport store at BWI.
February 12, 2005... By Andrea K. Walker, The Baltimore Sun Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. has signed a lease to open its first airport store at the mall taking shape at Baltimore-Washington International Airport....

Maryland-based restaurant firm withdraws bid to go public.
February 12, 2005... By Blanca Torres, The Baltimore Sun Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Crofton-based DavCo Acquisition Holding Inc. withdrew its registration for an initial public offering this month, fearing lukewarm sales of the stock, a...

Grocery workers OK contract.
February 12, 2005... By James Temple, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--A solid majority of Bay Area grocery workers approved a three-year contract with major supermarkets, formally averting a rerun of the...

Opponents question grouping of low- to moderate-priced units on Daniel Island.
February 12, 2005... By Adam Ferrell, The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--DANIEL ISLAND--Plans for low- to moderate-income apartments have upset residents here who say they were surprised by the project. ...

Box Clever In This Battle Of The Skies.
February 12, 2005... By Brian O'Connor, Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--The deserts of New Mexico have been home to scientific innovation since the fateful day in July 1945 when Robert Oppenheimer's team set off the first atomic...

Daily Mail, London, business briefs column.
February 12, 2005... Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--BODY SHOP DEALS: Body Shop founders Dame Anita Roddick and Gordon Roddick have sold 4m shares at 185p each, raising [pounds sterling]7.4m. Gordon still owns a 9.5pc stake in...

Kroll cuts another 670 jobs at Allders.
February 12, 2005... Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Allders' administrator Kroll has cut another 670 jobs in an attempt to conserve cash while the company is broken up. Kroll said 209 head office staff and 461 shop staff...

US watchdogs probe Lazard.
February 12, 2005... By Ruth Sunderland, Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Private investment bank Lazard is being investigated by US regulators over gifts and gratuities. The bank -- based in the City, New York and Paris --...

Manchester United chiefs hit back over takeover bid by Buccaneer.
February 12, 2005... By James Quinn, Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Manchester United's board has poured scorn on Malcolm Glazer's [pounds sterling]800m bid for the club. Chairman Roy Gardner, making his first comments...

Daily Mail, London, market report column.
February 12, 2005... By Geoff Foster, Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Ten years ago professional punters would have put their shirt on US giant International Paper swallowing David S Smith. The UK's biggest manufacturer of...

Spending slump: Rate hikes slow consumption.
February 12, 2005... Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--It is depressing for Britain's leading High Street chains that after the initial fizz of the post-Christmas discounts, 2005 is off to such a terrible start (see Page 108)....

Retail sales have "fallen off a cliff ".
February 12, 2005... By Lucy Farndon, Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Retail executives say sales have been dismal so far this year, raising fears that there could be a spate of profit warnings unless trading perks up. ...

Why Shares Are Still Your Best Bet By Far.
February 12, 2005... Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Many investors are still wary of shares after the three-year bear market and the technology crash. But shares are still the best bet in the long term -- outperforming...

Glazer Pierces The Defence.
February 12, 2005... By Alex Brummer, Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--What Manchester United least needs, as the football season enters its vital final third, is uncertainty swirling around the boardroom. But that is exactly...

[pounds sterling]800 million tag on Energis as banks plan an exit.
February 12, 2005... Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Business telecoms carrier Energis is being groomed for sale with a price tag of [pounds sterling]800m. Banks including Barclays and HSBC took control of the bombed-out...

Uniq's pension deficit daunts prospective buyers.
February 12, 2005... By Brian O'Connor, Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Food group Uniq's [pounds sterling]102m pension deficit has put off all but one of its prospective buyers. The group has agreed to pay up to [pounds...

Venture Warily In The Trusts Jungle.
February 12, 2005... By Justin Harper, Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--With the end of the tax year looming, venture capital trusts are out in force promoting their generous tax breaks to wily investors. More than 40 VCTs...

Are The Knives Out For Women In Boardroom?
February 12, 2005... By Simon English, Daily Mail, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--When Carly Fiorina was unceremoniously dumped by Hewlett Packard this week, some wondered what it meant for the future of women at the top of giant...

Sports memorabilia business booming, but there are many fakes in the market.
February 12, 2005... By Jeff Zimmer, The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MEBANE -- "I want that," says Jacob Stephenson, pointing to a green and yellow jersey with the name Favre on its back. The Bahama 11-year-old...

Workers at senior-care chain Elant vote to join service employees union.
February 12, 2005... By Tim Logan, The Times Herald-Record, Middletown, N.Y. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--GOSHEN -- If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. That's what Elant decided when its workers started organizing with New York's mightiest...

Northeastern Minnesota job market tightens.
February 12, 2005... By Jane Brissett, Duluth News-Tribune, Minn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--The Northeastern Minnesota job market appears to have tightened up at the end of 2004. The number of job openings in the region fell 9.1 percent...

Cost account records & auditing for services sector soon.
February 12, 2005... By Gireesh Chandra Prasad, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--NEW DELHI -- The government may make cost accounts record keeping and its auditing mandatory for the service sector too. Industries...

Choppers to grab more airspace.
February 12, 2005... By Girish Rao, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--BANGALORE, India -- While the fixed wing aircraft business, be it military or commercial, grabs more attention, the low decibel helicopter and engine...

Airlines look at discount sales as traffic slows.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--KOLKATA, India -- After the hectic end-of-the-year schedule, it's time to take a breather. The pressure seems to be easing on the domestic travel industry as it enters...

Jet Airways to buy brand from promoter Goyal.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MUMBAI, India -- Jet Airways India will buy out the Jet Airways name and trademark from Jet Enterprises, a company owned by chairman Naresh Goyal. The brand was...

More flights to UK, US on runway.
February 12, 2005... By Girish Rao, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--BANGALORE, India -- The party in the skies may just be starting. Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told The Economic Times that the seat capacity to...

Sahara bags only one slot at London airport.
February 12, 2005... By Cuckoo Paul, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MUMBAI, India -- Jet Airways has bought three slots at London's Heathrow airport, that give it landing and take-off rights every day of the week. ...

Left with no choice, government to hike FDI in private banks.
February 12, 2005... By Amita Shah, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--NEW DELHI -- The government today formally conveyed to the Left leadership, its resolve to hike FDI in private banks. Finance minister P Chidambarm...

Government may plan bonds to fill core gap.
February 12, 2005... By Tina Edwin, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--The Centre's booster shot for big-ticket infrastructure plans is set to come in the form of a Rs 4,000-crore viability gap fund and a special purpose...

No counter bid to top Holcim's offer for ACC.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MUMBAI, India -- It was a rather quiet Friday for ACC shareholders. The day passed off without any counter bid to top the Holcim open offer at Rs 370 per share. ...

Mumbai, Pune drive state's appetite for cement up 24%.
February 12, 2005... By Abhinaba Das, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MUMBAI, India -- Backed by a robust surge in demand from the housing sector in Mumbai and Pune, Maharashtra has topped cement consumption charts,...

Mocha anyone? Coffee prices look up in global markets.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Coffee growers are unable to make good their losses although prices are looking up in global markets. Things are finally looking up for Indian coffee. Growers'...

HLL '04 net tumbles 32%, sales stagnant.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MUMBAI, India -- Consumer goods major Hindustan Lever's results for the year ended December '04 had no major surprises. Net profit declined by 32.4 percent to Rs...

Domicile is passe, development is on.
February 12, 2005... By Swaraj Thapa, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--RANCHI -- Unusual as it may seem, emotional issues, a key ingredient of any election, for once has taken a backseat in the Jharkhand polls. There...

Emcure signs deal with Iceland pharma firm.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--PUNE, India -- Emcure Pharmaceuticals, which inaugurated its plant with capacity to manufacture 3-5bn tablets annually, is eyeing global markets, including the US and...

On war footing: CII takes up ITC issue with PM & FM.
February 12, 2005... By Vivek Sinha, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--NEW DELHI -- The show is not over for the industry on the ITC tax imbroglio with the government. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is taking...

RBI to focus on financial stability: Udeshi.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MUMBAI, India -- India's banking regulator will continue to focus greatly on financial stability, considering that the country is more vulnerable to real sector...

Govt looks at HFCs' plea for relaxing ECB norms.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--New Delhi: The government is considering a request from the housing finance companies (HFCs) and its regulator -- the National Housing Bank (NHB) -- for relaxing the...

Financial outsourcing the next big thing.
February 12, 2005... By Keshav Patankar, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MUMBAI, India -- We know outsourcing's getting bigger, and the next big thing in its realm will be financial management outsourcing. But exactly...

Food subsidy bill may not exceed estimates.
February 12, 2005... By Prabha Jagannathan, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--NEW DELHI -- The food subsidy bill for this fiscal is likely to be contained at the revised estimates for 2004-05, although the food ministry...

Finmin may prune food subsidy bill.
February 12, 2005... By Prabha Jagannathan, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--NEW DELHI -- The food subsidy bill for this fiscal is likely to be contained at the revised estimates for '04-05, although the food ministry...

For investors, it's 'Go for India'.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MUMBAI, India -- Industry experts at the Nasscom Leadership Forum 2005 affirmed that India continues to be an attractive destination for global investment. It is...

No crutches for exports.
February 12, 2005... By G Ganapathy Subramaniam, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--NEW DELHI -- Despite great expectations about a dream Budget, exporters are in for a major disappointment on February 28. None of the...

Re at 1-month low of 43.82/83 as PSU banks mop up dollars.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MUMBAI, India -- The rupee slid to a one-month low on Friday as state-run banks bought dollars heavily for a fourth straight day, adding to market speculation that...

Government plans forex special purpose vehicle for core projects.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--NEW DELHI -- The government will soon create a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for making forex reserves available for "financially viable" infrastructure projects. A...

Garment companies hire pros from US, Europe.
February 12, 2005... By Abhishek Shanker, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--AHMEDABAD, India -- It's destination India for managers of the closed textile and garment units in the US and Europe. With increasing...

Apollo eyes China, West is next target.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--CHENNAI, India -- The country's leading health care service provider, Apollo Hospitals Group, is sending a team along with doctors from the UK to China to explore the...

Zero-duty imports from Lanka hurt local copper companies.
February 12, 2005... By Suresh Nair, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MUMBAI, India -- The domestic copper industry, which has seen profit margins shrinking as a result of lower customs duty, is sinking into deeper...

PM for new ways to fund Bangalore growth.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--BANGALORE, India -- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday promised to come out with new mechanisms for providing additional resources for the infrastructural...

Birla Life recasts pension plan.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MUMBAI, India -- Birla Sun Life Insurance has slashed charges under its individual pension scheme by launching a new version of its retirement plan. The flip side is...

LIC moves from lumpsum to weighted incentive.
February 12, 2005... By Nandini Goswami, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--KOLKATA, India -- The need to get the best out of its employees is on at Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). The life insurance major, which is in...

Hind Copper plans to raise mining output.
February 12, 2005... By Anuradha Himatsingka, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--KOLKATA, India -- Hindustan Copper Ltd has decided to increase India's copper mining production and develop small mines scattered across the...

Merck to pump in Rs 67 cr in India.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--NEW DELHI -- US drug major Merck, has said that soon it will set up a wholly-owned subsidiary in India. Merck will announce its operations here in a month, the...

HLL takes wind out of P&G's margins.
February 12, 2005... By Ravi Ananthanarayanan, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Procter & Gamble Home Products' (PGHP) segmental performance gives a unique perspective of how price reductions in shampoos and detergents...

Looking for a job? Check out the retail scene.
February 12, 2005... By Sabarinath M, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MUMBAI, India -- Till a few years ago, an entry-level job in a shop was not considered a very good career option for youngsters. But times are...

HLL's got a mixed bag this quarter.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--ET Intelligence Group: HLL's segmental results reflect a mix of positive and negative factors which combine to give an impression that its restructuring is not paying...

SriLankan Airlines joins the fare fest.
February 12, 2005... The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--NEW DELHI -- Here's more cheer for the Indian consumer aspiring to fly the world. Even as competition for traffic originating out of India is hotting up, SriLankan...

Plunging ARPU's no show stopper for cellcos.
February 12, 2005... By Kalyan Parbat, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--KOLKATA, India -- The arrival of 74 percent FDI in the telecom sector couldn't have come at a better time for cellular players. If not anything...

India beckons textile pros.
February 12, 2005... By Abhishek Shanker, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--AHMEDABAD, India -- It is destination India for managers of the closed textile and garment units in US and Europe. With increasing opportunity in...

Valentine's Day is among the top three sales periods for jewelry stores.
February 12, 2005... By Cathy Jett, The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Blame it on Jennifer Lopez. When Ben Affleck gave the singer-actress a 6-carat, rosy-hued diamond engagement ring several years ago,...

Myersville, Md., officials look for ways to stop truck stop construction.
February 12, 2005... By Erin Cunningham, The Frederick News-Post, Frederick, Md. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--MYERSVILLE -- "Don't! Please don't! Under no circumstances," Louna Parrish said after being asked if a truck stop should be built in...

Palm Beach County, Fla., cut rolls of hurricane victim jobs program.
February 12, 2005... By Niala Boodhoo, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Palm Beach County workforce officials have fired at least two dozen people they said were no longer eligible for federally-funded program designed...

Developer looks to rejuvenate struggling Plantation, Fla., mall.
February 12, 2005... By Karen-Janine Cohen, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Sipping coffee outside a coffee shop at the Fashion Mall at Plantation, occasional mall customer Sandy Holtzman said she felt bad to see the...

South Florida radio station adopts 'Spanglish' format.
February 12, 2005... By Tom Jicha, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Rock n' roll died Friday on Zeta 4. Simultaneously, a new "Spanglish" format was born. The hard rock sounds, which have driven WZTA (FM 94.9) for...

Affordable housing coalition looks to raise profile in Fresno, Calif.
February 12, 2005... By Sanford Nax, The Fresno Bee, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--A coalition dedicated to preserving affordable housing is raising its profile in an attempt to seek more financing, land and programs that could lead to...

California is 12th state to join Mega Millions lottery game.
February 12, 2005... By John Moritz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--AUSTIN, Texas -- The Golden State wants its own key to the treasure chest. The California Lottery Commission voted this week to join Mega...

Will a proposed school finance overhaul get Texas out of court?
February 12, 2005... By R.A. Dyer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--AUSTIN -- Although it lowers property taxes, a plan by state Rep. Kent Grusendorf to fix Texas' beleaguered school finance system might not pass...

Fire Commission To Match Grant.
February 12, 2005... The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--In a specially called meeting, the Orangeburg County Fire Commission unanimously agreed Thursday to match federal grant funds for the Canaan Volunteer...

New OCAB training facility slated for June opening.
February 12, 2005... The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Construction is ahead of schedule at the Orangeburg-Calhoun-Allendale-Bamberg Community Action Agency Inc.'s 4,000-square-foot worker training and...

State regulators to expand annuities probe.
February 12, 2005... By Andrew Caffrey, The Boston Globe Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--Massachusetts regulators said they got two dozen more complaints yesterday about elderly clients being sold inappropriate variable annuities and will expand...

Powered by iPod, Apple splits stock.
February 12, 2005... By Peter J. Howe, The Boston Globe Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12--CAMBRIDGE -- As a home and work user of traditional personal computers, Stephanie Burnham would never have had much reason to set foot inside the Apple...