Eurozone finance ministers and the IMF have agreed on a deal on emergency bailout for debt-laden Greece. They have agreed to cut debts by 40 billion euros ($51 billion) and have paved the way for releasing the next tranche of bailout loans – some 44 billion euros. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras welcomed the deal,… Continue reading Eurozone deal on Greece bailout
Category: Business
Cyber Monday 2012 biggest ever online shopping day
Cyber Monday 2012 in the US is projected to be the biggest ever online shopping day, according to analysts. Research firm Comscore said consumers would have spent $1.5 billion on so-called Cyber Monday, up 20% from last year. Online-sales tracker IBM Benchmark put the internet shopping rise even higher – up nearly 27% compared with… Continue reading Cyber Monday 2012 biggest ever online shopping day
Arcelor Mittal no longer welcome in France
Arcelor Mittal is no longer welcome in France, Minister for Industrial Recovery Arnaud Montebourg has said, accusing the steelmaker of “lying” and “disrespecting” the country. The multinational angered workers and the government when it announced a plan in October to close two furnaces at its steel plant in Florange. It gave the government a grace… Continue reading Arcelor Mittal no longer welcome in France
Catalan separatists win majority in Spain’s regional election
Voters in Spanish region of Catalonia have given a majority to parties seeking Catalan independence. However, Catalan President Artur Mas, who called the early election and pushed for independence, lost seats. His centre-right CiU remains the largest bloc, winning 50 seats out of 135, down from 62 last time. The left-wing separatist ERC won 21… Continue reading Catalan separatists win majority in Spain’s regional election
Kweku Adoboli case: UBS fined $47.6 million by FSA
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined UBS $47.6 million for failings that led to trader Kweku Adoboli losing $2.2 billion. The fine, the third largest imposed by the FSA, was for “system and control failings” that allowed Kweku Adoboli to trade in London well beyond authorized limits. Kweku Adoboli was last week convicted of… Continue reading Kweku Adoboli case: UBS fined $47.6 million by FSA
Black Friday 2012 in-store retail sales down from last year
A recent survey shows in-store retail sales on Black Friday, the “busiest shopping day”, dropped from last year. Holiday shoppers spent $11.2 billion at stores across the US this Black Friday, down 1.8% from last year, according to a Saturday report from the Chicago-based retail technology company ShopperTrak. Those lower in-store sales figures were apparently… Continue reading Black Friday 2012 in-store retail sales down from last year
Quarter Pounder: McDonald’s launches Habanero Ranch, Deluxe and Bacon and Cheese Quarter Pounder
McDonald’s disappointing sales have led the fast food giant to begin testing new menu items, including three new varieties of its prized Quarter Pounders. The new burgers in development include a Habanero Ranch Quarter Pounder, with white cheddar, hickory-smoked bacon and a new habanero-ranch sauce; a Deluxe Quarter Pounder, with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red… Continue reading Quarter Pounder: McDonald’s launches Habanero Ranch, Deluxe and Bacon and Cheese Quarter Pounder
Egypt Stock Market plunges 10% following Mohammed Mursi’s decree
Egypt’s stock market sees a plunge in its shares of almost 10% on Sunday, days after President Mohammed Mursi granted himself sweeping new powers. Protests against Mohammed Mursi’s decision have continued in Cairo, while the Muslim Brotherhood is planning rallies backing him later. Trading was suspended for 30 minutes as shares slumped in the first… Continue reading Egypt Stock Market plunges 10% following Mohammed Mursi’s decree
Catalonia to vote in key elections after campaign focused on independence
Catalonia, one of the most important regions of Spain, is holding key regional elections, after a campaign that has focused on the issue of independence. Catalan nationalists want to hold a referendum on whether the region should break away from the rest of Spain. Polls suggest Catalan nationalist parties are set to do well. Catalan… Continue reading Catalonia to vote in key elections after campaign focused on independence
Cyber Monday 2012 Best Deals: Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Sears, Walmart, Kmart
If you don’t want to face the Black Friday crowds, there’s no reason to miss out on the holiday bargains. Cyber Monday, the lazy person’s answer to the seasonal sales, is almost upon us. In fact, with 97% of online retailers getting in on the action, some might argue that Cyber Monday deals are even… Continue reading Cyber Monday 2012 Best Deals: Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Sears, Walmart, Kmart
Mitt Romney aides blast Republican “hypocrites” like Bobby Jindal and Newt Gingrich
Former senior aides to Mitt Romney have hit back at the “hypocrites” in the Republican party who just days before the election were clamoring for jobs in a Romney administration and are now belittling him. “I’m sure Governor Romney is finding out now who his real friends are,” said a former adviser. “There were one… Continue reading Mitt Romney aides blast Republican “hypocrites” like Bobby Jindal and Newt Gingrich
Cyber Monday 2012: Amazon sales tax collection for California, Texas and Pennsylvania shoppers
A new survey has found that more customers are opting to shop from the comfort of their homes this Thanksgiving weekend, forgoing the chaos of Black Friday for the ease of Cyber Monday deals. But web shoppers beware: For the first time, residents in California, Texas and Pennsylvania will be automatically charged state sales tax… Continue reading Cyber Monday 2012: Amazon sales tax collection for California, Texas and Pennsylvania shoppers
EU 2014-2020 budget talks end without deal
EU budget summit held in Brussels has ended without agreement on the 27-strong union’s next seven-year budget. Another meeting will have to be called to sort out the difficulties but it is unclear how differences will be resolved. European Council chief Herman Van Rompuy said he was confident a deal would be reached early next… Continue reading EU 2014-2020 budget talks end without deal
Black Friday Extreme Bargain Hunter Tricks
Black Friday’s extreme shoppers are coming up with such conniving ways to thwart the competition that some people decided to forgo their Thanksgiving feast altogether. The biggest consumer spending day of the year isn’t what it used to be; with retailers now opening earlier than ever, day-long lines, and watchful policemen, so shoppers have revised… Continue reading Black Friday Extreme Bargain Hunter Tricks
EU 2014-2020 budget agreement unlikely to be reached at Brussels summit
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she doubts an agreement can be reached on the European Union’s 2014-2020 budget at the summit taking place in Brussels. Angela Merkel spoke after negotiations on the 2014-2020 budget were adjourned until midday on Friday. The opening of the summit was delayed for three hours because of stark differences over… Continue reading EU 2014-2020 budget agreement unlikely to be reached at Brussels summit
Black Friday 2012 Top Deals
If you can face the lines! Top deals on BLACK FRIDAY Target Canon T3 body, lens, memory card and camera bag: $499 – usually $749 Nook Simple Touch: $49 – usually $99 Best Buy 8GB iPhone 4S with a two-year contract: $1 Kohl’s 50% of all toys 60% off certain kids’ clothing lines Discovery Kids… Continue reading Black Friday 2012 Top Deals
Black Friday: most of products are not cheaper despite heavily advertised deals
Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year, with customers queuing for days and sometimes even resorting to violence in order to get their hands on the best deals. But the post-Thanksgiving sales may not in fact be the best time to snap up low-priced merchandise, according to a new analysis. Researchers found… Continue reading Black Friday: most of products are not cheaper despite heavily advertised deals
Thanksgiving shopping: How Gray Thursday becomes the new Black Friday
Millions of bargain-hungry shoppers are set to scour shops for deals on Thanksgiving as an increasing number of stores across the country throw open their doors a day early. Some of the nation’s largest chains, including Toys R Us and Target, have nudged their opening times into Thursday in a bid to make more money… Continue reading Thanksgiving shopping: How Gray Thursday becomes the new Black Friday
Thanksgiving Shopping: retailers require customer identification to prevent repeated store returns
Retailers are now tracking what you take back – catching “serial returners” red handed in the process – in an effort to prevent repeated store returns. Stores like Victoria’s Secret, Home Depot and Target require shoppers to hand over photo identification when requesting a product return, and according to the National Retail Federation, 62% of… Continue reading Thanksgiving Shopping: retailers require customer identification to prevent repeated store returns
Nicolas Sarkozy questioned over illegal campaign donations received from Liliane Bettencourt
Frence’s ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy has arrived at a court in Bordeaux to be questioned over allegations he received illegal campaign donations in 2007. Nicolas Sarkozy is suspected of accepting thousands of euros from L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, France’s richest woman. Police raided his home and offices in July as part of an inquiry ordered by… Continue reading Nicolas Sarkozy questioned over illegal campaign donations received from Liliane Bettencourt
EU leaders set for 2014-2020 budget battle
EU leaders are to begin talks on the bloc’s 2014-2020 budget, with many of them calling for cuts in line with the savings they are making nationally. Countries that rely heavily on EU funding, including Poland and its ex-communist neighbors, want current spending levels maintained or raised. The UK and some other net contributors say… Continue reading EU leaders set for 2014-2020 budget battle
Cyber Monday vs. Black Friday: Pros and Cons
Cyber Monday vs. Black Friday: As the two streams of commerce – retail stores and online stores – converge, it’s hard to say where the best deals will be. And, of course, many of the stores that consumers might visit in person are the same brand names that one might visit online. But who ever… Continue reading Cyber Monday vs. Black Friday: Pros and Cons
Wal-Mart 2012 Thanksgiving Day Pre-Black Friday Deals, Coupons and Special Discounts
Wal-Mart stores will be open Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012, beginning at 8:00 PM. Wal-Mart’s in-store doorbuster deals on Thanksgiving Day will be launched at two different times. One set of deals will begin at 8:00 PM (local time) and the second set of Thanksgiving Day doorbuster deals will be available starting at 10:00 PM… Continue reading Wal-Mart 2012 Thanksgiving Day Pre-Black Friday Deals, Coupons and Special Discounts
Black Friday 2012: TV and Electronics Best Deals
Even thought TVs have been among the most popular Black Friday purchases in recent Christmas Holiday Shopping Seasons, televisions aren’t always priced with the kind of drastic discounts that Black Friday shoppers are accustomed to receiving on other items in the electronics department. So, while retailers like Best Buy, Kmart, Wal-Mart, HH Gregg, and Sears… Continue reading Black Friday 2012: TV and Electronics Best Deals
Black Friday 2012: Amazon Pre-Black Friday Deals
The name of the Christmas shopping game for the next 11 days is pre-Black Friday. No longer just a term to describe the days when consumers are waiting for Black Friday, pre-Black Friday has its own official space on the 2012 retail sales calendar, and the biggest U.S. retailers like Amazon (AMZN), Wal-Mart (WMT), Target… Continue reading Black Friday 2012: Amazon Pre-Black Friday Deals