More Breaking News
U.S. Stocks, Commodities Decline as Bonds Gain on Dubai Crisis U.S. and emerging-market stocks
slumped and commodities dropped as Dubai’s attempt to delay debt
repayments unnerved investors. Treasuries and the dollar rose
while credit-default swaps surged.
Secret Service Probes Breach of White House Security (Update1) The Secret Service is reviewing
whether criminal charges may be warranted for a Washington-
area couple who got past security to crash a state dinner at the
White House, a spokesman for the agency said.
Madoff Trustee Overreaching in Clawback, Picower Says (Update2) The wife of Jeffry Picower, the
longtime Bernard Madoff investor who drowned in his pool last
month, told a judge that the trustee for Madoff’s firm is
“overreaching” in his $7.2 billion lawsuit against the couple.
Dubai Crisis May End in ‘Major’ Default, BofA Says (Update3) Dubai’s debt woes may worsen to
become a “major sovereign default” that roils developing
nations and cuts off capital flows to emerging markets, Bank of
America Corp. said.
Rogers Plans On-Demand Television for Handsets in Early 2010 Rogers Communications Inc., Canada’s
largest wireless carrier, plans to extend its new online-
television service to smart phones in early 2010 as consumers
watch more shows on their handsets.
GM’s Saab Asks Sweden to Relax Terms of Rescue Loans (Update1) Saab Automobile, offered for sale by
General Motors Co., asked Sweden’s government to relax the rules
of state rescue loans and provide funding, a union chief said.
Fed, Treasury Extend Compliance Date on Gambling Act (Update1) The U.S. Treasury and the Federal
Reserve extended by six months the compliance date on rules
intended to limit the use of U.S. payment systems in some forms
of Internet gambling, the agencies said in a release.
Shoppers Seek ‘Elusive Game’ at U.S. Best Buy, Target (Update2) Shoppers took advantage of Black
Friday discounts to snap up televisions, laptop computers and
robot hamsters at Best Buy Co., Target Corp. and Toys “R” Us
Inc. stores from New Jersey to Texas.
Corzine Seeks Cuts to Schools, Cities Amid Deficit (Update1) New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine
plans to cut pension contributions as well as aid to schools,
cities and hospitals to close a deficit of more than $1 billion
that has emerged less than five months into the fiscal year.
VIX Jumps Most Since October as Dubai Seeks Debt Payment Delay The benchmark index for U.S. stock
options jumped the most this month after Dubai said it would
seek to postpone repayment on much of its debt.
UN’s Atomic Agency Censures Iran Over Nuclear Plant (Update2) The United Nations atomic agency
censured Iran for concealing a uranium enrichment plant,
repeating calls for the government in Tehran to suspend nuclear
activities and cooperate more fully with investigators.
Crude Oil Futures Tumble to Six-Week Low on Dubai Debt Crisis Crude oil in New York fell to the
lowest level in six weeks as Dubai’s attempt to reschedule its
debt bolstered the dollar and prompted investors to sell
commodities.
Mobius, Das, Mowat's Own Words on Dubai's Debt Crisis: Video Strategists and investors comment on
the risks facing Dubai after its attempt to delay debt
repayments.
De Beers Said to Discuss Stake Sale With Investors (Update1) De Beers, the world’s largest
diamond company, discussed with shareholders the possibility of
selling a stake ahead of a March deadline to refinance a $1.5
billion facility, said two people familiar with the proposal.
MAN Loses Second Top Official as CFO Hornung Resigns (Update1) MAN SE, the German truckmaker whose
chief executive officer resigned this week, said Chief Financial
Officer Karlheinz Hornung will also step down.
Walmart Wins Canada High Court Ruling on Union Suit (Update2) Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s
biggest retailer, won an appeal to Canada’s highest court,
letting it reject a lawsuit over its 2005 closing of a Quebec
store after employees unionized.
Fed, Treasury Extend Compliance Date on Internet Gambling Act The U.S. Treasury and the Federal
Reserve extended by six months the compliance date on rules
intended to limit the use of U.S. payment systems in some forms
of Internet gambling, the agencies said in a release.
Miami May Delay $120 Million Bond on Audit, Possible SEC Probe Miami may delay a $120 million bond
sale after an audit showed lax budget practices and the city
learned of a possible U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
inquiry, Mayor Tomas Regalado said.
Faltering Climate Deal Prodded by U.S., China Pledges (Update3) Pledges by China and the U.S. to set
numerical targets for their greenhouse-gas emissions through
2020 may reignite stalled progress for a global climate
agreement at negotiations next month in Copenhagen.
Sarkozy Wins Bid to Install Ally as EU Financial-Services Chief French President Nicolas Sarkozy won
his bid to install an ally as the European Commission’s next
financial-services regulator, fueling British concern that
traders and hedge funds will face stricter rules.
Walmart Promotions Sell Out at Store Where Worker Died in 2008 The Walmart store where a worker was
fatally trampled by a holiday crowd in 2008 ran out of vouchers
for some promotional items before the start of this year’s sale,
leaving more than 1,000 waiting shoppers empty-handed.
German Minister Jung Quits on Afghan Air Strike (Update2) German Labor Minister Franz Josef
Jung, the former defense minister, resigned a day after the
opposition accused him of withholding information on an air
strike in Afghanistan that killed as many as 142 people.
Russia, Renault Seal Deal on AvtoVAZ Cash, Technology (Update2) Russia pledged to inject 50 billion
rubles ($1.7 billion) into OAO AvtoVAZ in return for technology
from 25 percent shareholder Renault SA.
BofA Shouldn’t Delay Lewis Departure, Finger Says (Update1) Bank of America Corp., the biggest
U.S. bank by assets, shouldn’t delay the departure of Chief
Executive Officer Kenneth D. Lewis and should continue looking
outside for a replacement, said investor Jonathan Finger.
BMW Heiress Klatten Wins Ruling Against Jailed Sex-Blackmailer Susanne Klatten, Germany’s
wealthiest woman and member of automaker BMW’s controlling
family, won a 9.5 million euro ($14.2 million) judgment against
the man who blackmailed her over sex tapes.
Almunia Named European Union Competition Commissioner (Update3) European Economic and Monetary
Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, a Spanish Socialist known
for tackling countries’ deficits, will be antitrust chief in
the next European Commission, succeeding Neelie Kroes.
Dubai Means Emerging Markets ‘Correction’ to Mobius (Update1) Dubai’s attempt to reschedule debt
may spur a “correction” in emerging markets, according to Mark
Mobius, while the global slump in equities shows government
spending alone won’t protect financial markets, Arnab Das of
Roubini Global Economics said.
S. Korea’s Lee Says Ready to Meet North’s Leader, Yonhap Reports South Korean President Lee Myung-bak
said today that he’s ready to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-
il “anytime and anywhere,” if it will help convince the North
to give up its nuclear programs, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Almunia, Barnier, Rehn Given Top EU Economy Positions (Update2) Jose Barroso picked Spain’s Joaquin
Almunia to be the European Union’s antitrust chief and France’s
Michel Barnier to lead a push for tougher bank regulation on a
new team that will manage the EU’s $15 trillion economy as it
emerges from the recession.
Dubai Debt May Be Higher Than $80 Billion, UBS Says (Update1) Dubai, the Persian Gulf emirate
whose state-run companies are seeking to defer debt payments,
may owe more than the $80 billion to $90 billion in liabilities
assumed by investors, UBS AG analysts said.
RBS Led Dubai World Lenders; HSBC Most at Risk in UAE (Update2) Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc was
the biggest underwriter of loans to Dubai World, the state
company seeking to reschedule debt, while HSBC Holdings Plc has
the most at risk in the United Arab Emirates, according to
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Feinberg’s Pay Decisions May Shield White House From Backlash Kenneth Feinberg, the Obama
administration’s special master for executive pay, has taken the
blame for Bank of America Corp.’s protracted search for a new
leader and for putting at risk Wall Street’s ability to lure top
talent, helping the White House deflect the same criticism.
Cisco Leads Company Bond Sales in Busiest November Since 2006 Cisco Systems Inc. and U.S. wireless
carrier Clearwire Corp. led $96.9 billion of bond sales this
month, the busiest November since 2006, as companies took
advantage of near-zero interest rates.
Shuttle Atlantis Lands After Delivering Spare Parts to Station The space shuttle Atlantis landed
safely in Florida today, ending an 11-day mission to deliver
spare parts to the International Space Station before the
shuttle fleet is retired next year.
Vivendi Should Seize Moment to Sell NBC Stake, Union Says Vivendi SA should seize the moment
to sell its 20 percent stake in entertainment unit NBC
Universal and bolster its strategy of expanding in emerging
markets, the French company’s biggest union said.
European Confidence Improves to Highest in 14 Months (Update3) European confidence in the economic
outlook improved in November to the highest since the collapse
of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., suggesting the recovery in the
16-nation euro region is gathering strength.
Oil Drops to Six-Week Low as Dubai Debt Delay Rattles Investors Crude oil tumbled to a six-week low
as Dubai’s attempt to reschedule its debt prompted investors to
sell commodities.
Emerging Stocks, Currencies Decline on Dubai Debt Concern Developing-nations’ stocks dropped
the most in a month and currencies weakened as Dubai’s attempt
to reschedule its debt drove investors away from higher-yielding
assets and commodities retreated.
Morgan Stanley Banker’s Son Disappears in Frankfurt (Update1) A Morgan Stanley executive’s son was
reported missing in Frankfurt, German police said.
Cadbury Investors Should Sell as Higher Bid Unlikely, CER Says Cadbury Plc investors should sell
their shares in the U.K. candy maker because Kraft Foods Inc. is
unlikely to raise its cash-and-stock offer above the current
share price, Consumer Equity Research said today.