News List
Debating Standards for Mortgage Lenders
Just what is a suitable mortgage is likely to depend on a borrower's circumstances. But already, some states, including Ohio and Pennsylvania, are calling on mortgage lenders and brokers to do their best to put borrowers in loans that they are able
Solarfun 4Q Profit More Than Triples
NEW YORK (AP) -- Solarfun Power Holdings Co. Ltd., a Chinese maker of solar cells and modules, said Wednesday its fourth-quarter profit more than tripled, helped by a surge in sales. Net income for the quarter was 33.1 million yuan, or .17 yuan per A
Labor Violence Imperils U.S. Pact
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- More than 800 trade unionists have been killed in Colombia over the past six years, by government count, yet the number of those murders solved can be counted on one hand. Union organizing can be a deadly activity anywhere bu
FBL Financial Plans $100M Debt Offering
Obama Camp: Companies Weren't Helped
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Wednesday that he was not aware that he had invested in two companies backed by some of his top donors and did nothing to aid their business before the government. The Illinois se
Producer Timbaland Wants to Save Britney
NEW YORK (AP) -- Timbaland, who's crafted hits for Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, wants to help Britney Spears reclaim her once-stellar career. "I feel her pain, it really bothers me," the 34-year-old rapper-producer says in an interview in Ent
Ill. House OKs Electric Rate Freeze
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- With outraged consumers calling for action, the Illinois House again approved an electric rate freeze despite complaints that it was an act of legislative futility. The House voted 92-5 on Tuesday to roll back rate increases
Putin to Visit Greece for Pipeline Deal
MOSCOW (AP) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Greece next week for the signing of a long-delayed oil pipeline deal, the Kremlin said. During the March 14-15 visit, Putin will meet with the Greek and Bulgarian presidents, the Kremlin
Neenah Paper to Close Plant
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (AP) -- Neenah Paper, a maker and distributor of specialty paper, said Wednesday it will close a plant it acquired when it bought Fox Valley Corp., parent of paper maker Fox River Paper Co. The plant is located near Great Barrington,
EU to Fix Targets to Cut Greenhouse Gas
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- European Union leaders are expected to approve plans this week to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by the year 2020, a first step in a strategy to fight global warming and reduce Europe's dependence on oil and gas
Fossil to Delay Filing Annual Report
NEW YORK (AP) -- Watch maker Fossil Inc. said Wednesday it will delay filing its fourth-quarter and fiscal year financial statements due to an ongoing review of its stock option granting practices. The Richardson, Texas-based company said in a filing
Crash a Sign of Zimbabwe's Economic Woes
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Investigators were looking at a host of factors that could have led to a bus-train collision in the Zimbabwean capital that killed 35 people. The bus had been speeding, it carried double its passenger capacity and the driver
Official Warns Against Trade With Iran
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- A top U.S. Treasury Department official warned Arab businessmen and bankers on Wednesday that even innocuous trade with Iran could help bankroll the country's disputed nuclear program. Stuart Levey, the U.S. unders
Kraft Foods Buys Shares From Altria
NEW YORK (AP) -- Kraft Foods Inc., maker of namesake cheeses and other foods, said it bought about 1.4 million shares of its stock from parent Altria Group Inc. for $46.5 million, or about $32.09 per share. In a filing Tuesday with the Securities and
S&P Lowers Pentair Outlook to 'Negative'
NEW YORK (AP) -- Standard Poor's Ratings Services on Wednesday lowered its outlook on Pentair Inc. to "negative" from "stable" the day after the maker of pumps and pool equipment announced a $225 million acquisition that could stress its credit profi
