Oil rises above $87 in Asia as investors eye stronger US economy, possible yuan revaluation

Oil up above $87 on signs of stronger US economy

SINGAPORE – Oil prices rose above $86 a barrel Friday in Asia after robust U.S. retail sales in March pointed to growing consumer demand in the world’s biggest energy market.
Benchmark crude for May delivery was up 71 cents to $86.10 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Oil rises above $87 in Asia as investors eye stronger US economy, possible yuan revaluation.

German exports rebound in February, increase by 5.1 percent on month

German exports rebound in February
BERLIN – Official figures show that German exports rebounded in February – increasing by 5.1 percent on the month after declining in January.

The Federal Statistical Office also said Friday that exports were up a strong 9.6 percent on the year in February.
Exports traditionally power the German economy. The country is the … Original article on : German exports rebound in February, increase by 5.1 percent on month.

As the head of government, Obama is forced to remind voters that government isn’t all bad

Obama reminding voters government not all bad
WASHINGTON – As a candidate, Barack Obama pledged to “make government cool again.” After a year that gave birth to the anti-government tea party movement, the president can hardly claim to have succeeded.
Now, Obama appears to be embracing a humbler goal: making the case that …. Source article  : As the head of government, Obama is forced to remind voters that government isn’t all bad.

ASEAN urges Myanmar to ensure its elections later this year ‘inclusive,’ free and fair

SE Asian leaders urges credible Myanmar elections

HANOI, Vietnam – Southeast Asian leaders urged Myanmar’s isolated military regime Friday to hold “inclusive” elections amid controversy over planned polls the opposition has vowed to boycott and denounced as designed to extend the junta’s rule.
The 16th annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations wrapped up Friday …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : ASEAN urges Myanmar to ensure its elections later this year ‘inclusive,’ free and fair.

Alaska issues 1st commercial cheese-making rules in response to growth in mom-and-pop dairies

Goat farms spur growth in Alaskan cheese making

JUNEAU, Alaska – When Jennifer Ansley saw goats for the first time at a state fair, her heart nearly skipped a bleat.
“Oh, that’s what I want,” she told her husband. “I’m going to learn to make cheese. And I did.”
A decade later, Ansley is among a growing number …. Source  : Alaska issues 1st commercial cheese-making rules in response to growth in mom-and-pop dairies.

ASEAN chair urges Myanmar to ensure its elections later this year are free and fair

SE Asian leaders urge open elections in Myanmar

HANOI, Vietnam – Southeast Asian leaders urged Myanmar’s isolated military government to hold free and fair elections later this year and pledged Friday to enhance economic cooperation among themselves as they ended a regional summit.
“The elections should be free and democratic with the participation of all parties,” said … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : ASEAN chair urges Myanmar to ensure its elections later this year are free and fair.

Jones Soda’s New President, CEO is Meissner

New York (GaeaTimes.com) Jones Soda has named its new President, CEO this Wednesday. Joth Ricci has left the company to pursue other opportunities and beverage industry veteran William R. Meissner is chosen as the new President and CEO.

Meissner was president of privately held Talking Rain beverages and was the chief marketing officer for Fuze [..] Read the original article: here.

Asian markets mostly higher as investors look to next week’s first quarter GDP numbers

Asian markets mostly higher as traders eye 1Q GDP

SINGAPORE – Asian stock markets were mostly higher Friday ahead of the region’s first peek next week at first quarter economic growth numbers.
Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng index led gainers, advancing 1.6 percent while India rose 1.4 percent, China increased 0.9 percent, Malaysia inched up 0.4 percent, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Asian markets mostly higher as investors look to next week’s first quarter GDP numbers.

Oil rises to near $86 in Asia as investors eye stronger US economy, possible yuan revaluation

Oil rises near $86 on signs of stronger US economy

SINGAPORE – Oil prices rose to near $86 a barrel Friday in Asia after robust U.S. retail sales in March pointed to growing consumer demand in the world’s biggest energy market.
Benchmark crude for May delivery was up 32 cents to $85.71 a barrel at midday Singapore … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Oil rises to near $86 in Asia as investors eye stronger US economy, possible yuan revaluation.

Asian markets mixed as investors look to next week’s first quarter GDP numbers

Asian markets mixed as investors eye 1Q GDP data

SINGAPORE – Asian stock markets were mixed Friday ahead of the region’s first peek next week at first quarter economic growth numbers.
South Korea’s Kospi index led decliners, slipping 1.3 percent to 1,711.37 while Hong Kong rose 0.5 percent and Malaysia gained 0.2 percent.
Japan, China, Australia, Singapore and …. Original source  : Asian markets mixed as investors look to next week’s first quarter GDP numbers.

Former execs, regulators to face questions about Fannie Mae’s role in housing bust

Ex-Fannie Mae executives to face special panel

WASHINGTON – Two former top executives of Fannie Mae will face questions Friday about the government-created mortgage titan’s role in fomenting the housing boom and its eventual bust.
Daniel Mudd, Fannie Mae’s chief executive during the housing boom, and Robert Levin, the company’s former chief business officer, are due to …. Source  : Former execs, regulators to face questions about Fannie Mae’s role in housing bust.

Officials: CO deputy on leave after shocking high school students with stun gun at career fair

Officials: Colo. deputy used stun gun on students

LEADVILLE, Colo. – A sheriff’s deputy in Colorado has been placed on unpaid administrative leave after he used a stun gun to shock 30 students at a high school career fair.
Officials with Lake County High School, in the small central Colorado town of Leadville, say the students asked …. Read the original article  : Officials: CO deputy on leave after shocking high school students with stun gun at career fair.

Union Pacific: Court fight over $61M in fines for drugs on trains continues after talks fail

Talks break down over fines for drugs on trains

OMAHA, Neb. – The long-running dispute between Union Pacific Corp. and the federal government about restricting drug smuggling on trains crossing from Mexico returned to court Thursday after the railroad said settlement talks over the $61.2 million in fines fell apart.
The railroad asked a federal judge in …. Source  : Union Pacific: Court fight over $61M in fines for drugs on trains continues after talks fail.

Money Market Operations as on April 08, 2010

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Most Asian markets open higher in early trading after gains on Wall Street

Most Asian markets open higher in early trading

TOKYO – Most Asian stock markets edged up in early trading Friday, led by overnight gains on Wall Street as strong U.S. retail sales data boosted confidence in a recovery in the world’s biggest economy.
Australia’s benchmark rose 0.1 percent, as did the Shanghai Composite index. Markets in Taiwan, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Bank of Korea keeps key rate at record low 2 percent under new governor

Bank of Korea keeps key rate at 2 percent
SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea’s central bank left its key interest rate at a record low Friday as its new governor begins weighing when to end an 18-month-old easy money regime implemented to help fight the global financial crisis.
The Bank of Korea announced that …. Original source  : Bank of Korea keeps key rate at record low 2 percent under new governor.

NKorea’s rubber-stamp parliament convenes amid questions about future leadership, economy

NKorea’s parliament likely to focus on economy

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament convenes an annual session Friday expected to show solidarity and perhaps indications of the impoverished and reclusive nation’s future leadership and economy.
The Supreme People’s Assembly meets one day a year in Pyongyang to approve bills vetted by the ruling Workers’ Party. …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : NKorea’s rubber-stamp parliament convenes amid questions about future leadership, economy.

Tribune says deal with creditors clears way for filing Chapter 11 plan

Tribune says deal clears way for Ch. 11 plan

NEW YORK – Tribune Co. said Thursday it has struck an agreement to head off some legal claims against the company and its lenders stemming from real estate mogul Sam Zell’s 2007 deal to take Tribune private.
The company said the agreement clears the way for it to … Original source on Gaea Times at : Tribune says deal with creditors clears way for filing Chapter 11 plan.

Itar-Tass: Anatoly Dobrynin, Soviet diplomat at center of Cuban missile crisis, dead at 90

Anatoly Dobrynin, key Soviet diplomat, dead at 90
MOSCOW – Anatoly Dobrynin, a Soviet diplomat who represented Moscow during the Cuban missile crisis and later in key superpower negotiations to curb the growth of nuclear arsenals, the Kremlin says. He was 90.
His death came the same week …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Itar-Tass: Anatoly Dobrynin, Soviet diplomat at center of Cuban missile crisis, dead at 90.

Bernanke: Lessons learned from 1930s allowed policymakers to avert second Great Depression

Fed boss: Lessons from ’30s averted worse crisis

WASHINGTON – Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says forceful action by policymakers in the United States and abroad during the financial crisis allowed the global economy to dodge a second Great Depression.
Bernanke, a scholar of the Great Depression, says policymakers learned from the mistakes of their predecessors in … Read : Bernanke: Lessons learned from 1930s allowed policymakers to avert second Great Depression.