Stop & Shop operator Ahold reports 8.2 percent fall in 4th quarter profit

Supermarket operator Ahold profit drops in Q4

AMSTERDAM – Royal Ahold NV, the Dutch owner of the Stop & Shop and Giant supermarket chains in the US, reported an 8.2 percent fall in profit for the fourth quarter on Thursday.
The company said sales and margins were hit by deflation.
Net profit was ???267 million ($365 million), compared … Read more : Stop & Shop operator Ahold reports 8.2 percent fall in 4th quarter profit.

Greece to issue new 10-year government bond a day after announcing new austerity cuts

Greece to issue new 10-year bond through 5 banks

ATHENS, Greece – Greece has appointed five banks to handle a new 10-year bond issue that will come due on 19 June 2010.
The country’s Public Debt Management Agency named Barclays Capital, HSBC, National Bank of Greece, Nomura and Piraeus Bank as lead managers for the bond issue.
The …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

World stock markets fall as Fed signals slow recovery, Greece drags on sentiment

World markets fall as Fed report, Greece weigh

HONG KONG – Global stock markets fell Thursday as the U.S. central bank signaled recovery in the world’s largest economy would be slow and anxiety about Greece’s debt crisis weighed on investors.
It was Asia’s first decline after four straight days of gains. The euro, meanwhile, eased following a … Read this article on Gaea Times at : World stock markets fall as Fed signals slow recovery, Greece drags on sentiment.

Official: Greece needs solidarity from Germany, but not seeking direct financial aid

Greece seeks German solidarity but no direct aid

BERLIN – Greece needs a strong vote of confidence from Germany and other European nations but hasn’t sought direct financial aid and believes it can overcome its debt crisis alone, a senior Greek official said Thursday.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is expected in Berlin on Friday to meet … Read more >>.

Oil falls to near $80 in Asia as investors anticipate increased crude demand

Oil falls to near $80 after 2-day jump
SINGAPORE – Oil prices fell to near $80 a barrel Thursday in Asia after a two-day jump fueled by growing investor optimism that global crude demand is recovering.

Benchmark crude for April delivery was down 56 cents to $80.31 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Oil falls to near $80 in Asia as investors anticipate increased crude demand.

Brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev sees flat year for beer in 2010 after posting Q4 profit

AB InBev sees flat beer sales
BRUSSELS – The world’s largest brewer and maker of Budweiser reported Thursday a fourth quarter profit of $1.28 billion, helped by cost cuts and price hikes, but said beer sales were stagnant and forecast no improvement in 2010.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA sold 0.7 percent less beer and soft drinks in 2009 … Original source on Gaea Times at : Brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev sees flat year for beer in 2010 after posting Q4 profit.

Despite scores of deaths, government has been slow to force safer designs for window blinds

Gov’t slow in efforts to force safer window blinds

WASHINGTON – When 3-year-old Brandyn Coppedge became entangled on a window blind cord, it took less than a minute for the toddler to strangle. His father says the safety device designed to prevent such a tragedy had broken, but the window blind was never recalled.
“They need to …. Read the original article  : here.

House to vote on jobs bill awarding tax breaks for businesses that hire the unemployed

House to vote on tax breaks for new hires
WASHINGTON – A measure blending highway funding eagerly sought by the states with tax breaks for companies that hire unemployed workers appeared headed for House passage Thursday as Democrats work to send President Barack Obama the first of several promised election-year jobs bills.
Some Democrats, especially …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : House to vote on jobs bill awarding tax breaks for businesses that hire the unemployed.

Not quite the 51st state, but Washington, DC, getting more freedom under Democratic Congress

Congress slowly loosens its grip on Washington, DC
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton didn’t flinch when comedian Stephen Colbert congratulated her on D.C. becoming a state.
“Not quite,” she replied during a segment on his show not long after President Barack Obama’s election.
Colbert may have been joking, but with Democrats in control, Congress seems …. Read the original article  : Not quite the 51st state, but Washington, DC, getting more freedom under Democratic Congress.

GDF Suez reports little changed full year profit and says well placed to benefit from recovery

GDF Suez makes $6.15B profit in 2009, flat on year

PARIS – French utility GDF Suez SA on Thursday cut a core earnings target after sharply lower gas prices kept 2009 net profit flat.
The company said that excluding contributions by companies sold as part of its 2008 merger and the proceeds of those sales, net profit …. Source article  : GDF Suez reports little changed full year profit and says well placed to benefit from recovery.

Union members occupy Greek Finance Ministry building in Athens to protest new austerity plan

Union activists occupy finance ministry in Athens

ATHENS, Greece – Members of a labor union occupied Greece’s finance ministry building in central Athens early Thursday, hanging a massive banner from the top to protest harsh new austerity measures designed to pull the country out of its financial crisis.
Dozens of union activists holding flags and chanting slogans … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Union members occupy Greek Finance Ministry building in Athens to protest new austerity plan.

Official: 5 Pakistani road construction workers killed in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar city

5 Pakistani road workers shot dead in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Five Pakistani road construction workers were shot dead Thursday in Afghanistan’s restive southern city of Kandahar, police said
The workers were traveling to their construction site when two gunmen on motorbikes opened fire on their minivan at about 7 a.m., said Kandahar’s deputy police chief, Mohammad … Read more »».

Bank of England expected to hold interest rates steady, leave asset purchases on hold

Bank of England in “wait and see” mode
LONDON – The Bank of England is expected to keep interest rates at a record low of 0.5 percent and take no further action on purchasing assets to boost the money supply when it announces its monthly monetary policy decision later Thursday.

Economists anticipate the “wait and see” stance … Read more >>.

Sarah Palin working on book that will honor ‘American virtues and strengths’

Palin working on book about virtues and strengths
NEW YORK – Sarah Palin is ready for the next chapter of her publishing career.
Publisher HarperCollins announced Wednesday that the former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate is working on a “celebration of American virtues and strengths.” The book is currently untitled and no release …. Source article  : Sarah Palin working on book that will honor ‘American virtues and strengths’.

Asian stock markets fall after Fed signals slow recovery; Tokyo down 1 percent

Asia stocks fall after Fed points to slow recovery

HONG KONG – Asian stock markets fell Thursday after the U.S. central bank signaled recovery in the world’s largest economy would be slow.
It was the region’s first decline after four straight days of gains. The euro, meanwhile, held onto most of its big advance overnight after Greece … Original article on : Asian stock markets fall after Fed signals slow recovery; Tokyo down 1 percent.

China announces 7.5 percent increase in defense spending for 2010; smaller boost than expected

China announces 7.5 pct jump in defense spending

BEIJING – China on Thursday announced its smallest increase in defense spending in more than two decades, a likely result of both financial constraints and growing concern over perceptions of Beijing as a regional military threat.
The planned 7.5 percent boost in defense spending in 2010 follows at least …. Original article  : China announces 7.5 percent increase in defense spending for 2010; smaller boost than expected.

Oil hovers below $81 in Asia as investors anticipate increased crude demand

Oil hovers below $81 after 2-day jump
SINGAPORE – Oil prices hovered below $81 a barrel after a two-day jump fueled by growing investor optimism that global crude demand is recovering.

Benchmark crude for April delivery was down 23 cents to $80.64 a barrel at midday Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. … Original article on : Oil hovers below $81 in Asia as investors anticipate increased crude demand.

Comtech fiscal 2nd-qtr profit rises, but company slashes 2010 forecast

Comtech says 2Q profit climbed, cuts 2010 forecast

MELVILLE, N.Y. – Comtech Telecommunications Corp. said Wednesday that its fiscal second-quarter profit climbed, but the communications equipment maker reported revenue below analyst expectations and cut its first-quarter guidance.
Comtech shares sank $4.68, or 14.2 percent, in after-hours trading, having finished regular trading up 36 cents at $32.93.
For the …. Original source  : Comtech fiscal 2nd-qtr profit rises, but company slashes 2010 forecast.

Top Geithner aide Lee Sachs to step down, another sign economic crisis is easing

Top Geithner aide in Treasury to step down

WASHINGTON – The Treasury Department says a top aide to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is leaving the department next month.
Treasury spokesman Andrew Williams confirmed late Wednesday that Geithner aide Lee Sachs, the department’s point man in the financial crisis, is stepping down.
Sachs is leaving because he views his …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Top Geithner aide Lee Sachs to step down, another sign economic crisis is easing.

Money Market Operations as on March 03, 2010

… Original article on : Money Market Operations as on March 03, 2010.