News and Finance

Canada's two largest private television companies have recently announced layoffs to cope with a slump in advertising revenues, but one analyst questions just how challenged the companies' television divisions really are.
Both CTV Inc. and Canwest Global Communications Corp. (TSX: CGS) bemoaned the state of the conventional TV industry as they announced spending and […]

On the day of the first public discussion between lawmakers and the administration about the Treasury’s $700 billion financial rescue proposal, the debate is being framed by a few key issues.
Lawmakers from both parties, while acknowledging the urgency of the moment, nevertheless object to giving what they characterize as a "blank check" to Treasury […]

The disruption tearing through financial markets bounced from Wall Street down to Charlotte, N.C., and out to St. Louis on Thursday.
Wachovia Corp. of Charlotte, one of the nation’s biggest banks, is reported to have held preliminary merger talks with Morgan Stanley, one of the nation’s most storied investment houses. A deal could be […]

Oil prices fell to a 5 1/2 month low Thursday, testing the $100-a-barrel mark, as the market remained focused on slumping demand and the stronger dollar while watching the threat Hurricane Ike poses to the Texas Gulf Coast.
U.S. crude for October delivery settled down $1.71 to $100.87 a barrel as floor trading ended […]

Unilever named company outsider Paul Polman, a veteran of its two biggest consumer goods rivals, as chief executive on Thursday in a surprise choice to revive its sluggish performance that sent its shares surging.
Polman, who missed out on the top job at the world’s biggest food group Nestle SA (NESN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock […]

Gold, down 21 percent from a record $1,033.90 an ounce in March, may be headed down after open interest in New York futures contracts for the precious metal plunged to the lowest level in 11 months.
The CHART OF THE DAY shows open interest, or the total number of contracts yet to be closed, […]

Economic growth in Belgium weakened to the slowest pace in more than three years in the second quarter as soaring inflation sapped consumers' purchasing power and foreign demand cooled.
The Belgian economy, the sixth-largest in the euro region, expanded 0.3 percent from the prior quarter, the lowest rate since the first three months of […]

Computer and consumer electronics maker Apple reported fiscal third-quarter earnings Monday that beat forecasts on strong sales of Mac computers and iPhones. But shares fell after-hours as the company’s outlook for the fourth quarter disappointed investors.
The Cupertino, Calif.-based company posted fiscal third-quarter net income of $1.07 billion, or $1.19 per diluted share, up 31% […]

Investor confidence in the Swiss economy dropped to the lowest ever as soaring raw material costs and flagging growth in the U.S. and Europe dimmed the outlook.
An index of investors' and analysts' expectations for the next six months fell to minus 76.9 in July from minus 63.8 the previous month, the ZEW Center […]

Retail gas prices set records again Friday on their seemingly relentless march toward $3.50 a gallon as the price of oil surged to a record $117 a barrel.
At the pump, the national average price of regular gas rose 2.7 cents overnight to a record $3.445 a gallon, according to a survey of stations […]