Archive for July, 2008

Economy grows at soft pace

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An emergency dose of government stimulus helped the economy grow at a 1.9 percent annual rate in the second quarter, a soft pace but enough to take it off a path perilously close to recession.

Oil company profits soar, but Exxon disappoints

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp broke its own record for the highest-ever quarterly profit for a U.S. company on Thursday, but it was lower than Wall Street expected largely due to lost output from Venezuela and Nigeria and lower yields from some oil fields.

Credit crisis hits 1-year mark

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Jul. 31 - International markets remain on edge a full year after the credit crisis took hold amid turmoil in the American subprime mortgage market.

US economy sputters along

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Jul. 31 - The U.S. economy grew 1.9 percent in the second quarter but recession fears still linger as unemployment lines grow longer.

Stressed banks borrow record amount from Fed

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Banks borrowed a record amount of funds from the Federal Reserve in the latest week as the year old credit crisis took a persistent toll, while the commercial paper market continued to contract, signaling tough conditions for short term borrowers.

Carlyle liquidating Blue-Wave hedge fund

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Carlyle Group , the big private equity firm, said on Thursday it is liquidating its only hedge fund, Carlyle-Blue Wave Partners Management LP, after the fund failed to achieve "critical mass."

Philip Morris takes over Rothmans

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

The tobacco giant behind Marlboro announces plans to take over rival Rothmans, the maker of Benson and Hedges cigarettes.

Company bankruptcies may top 100 next year: Bain

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Corporate bond defaults are on track to quadruple this year and company bankruptcies may soar to more than 100 in 2009, a senior Bain & Co consultant said on Thursday.

Global slowdown may put U.S. in recession: Greenspan

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Thursday that a slowing global economy may push the United States into recession, though it is not yet in one.

Data quirk blamed for U.S. jobless claims spike

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new law extending the number of weeks unemployed U.S. workers can collect jobless benefits may cause initial filings for aid to overstate labor market weakness over the next several weeks.