Money and politics go together like cookies and milk, unless you’re apolitical or lactose intolerant. As the Democratic National Convention winds up in Denver and the scene moves on to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, technology titans are making their presence …
Archive for August, 2008
It’s not quite the S&L crisis, but thrifts continue to feel the pain of the mortgage mess
by Ryan Caione, August 28, 2008, 7:00 amThe Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) announced on Wednesday that thrifts — consisting of some 830 savings and loan associations (S&Ls), savings banks, and cooperative banks — lost approximately $5.4 billion in the second quarter. …
Will hostile takeovers become the norm for drugmakers?
by Anne Law, August 27, 2008, 7:00 amConsolidation is a practical solution when the competitive squeeze gets put on an industry, and large pharmaceutical companies are predictably falling into the acquisitive suitor role in an effort to solve their woes, despite their quarry’s occasional reluctance to fall into line.
Prescription drugmaker …
Back-to-School Spending Barely Makes the Grade
by Alexandra Biesada, August 26, 2008, 7:00 amWhen the mercury dips below 95 degrees here in Central Texas it can only mean one thing: The back-to-school shopping season is upon us. Actually, yesterday was the first day of school for my daughters, while parents in the Northeast and other parts of the country still …
Stem cell alchemy: Advanced Cell Technology researchers turn cells into blood
by Kristi Park, August 25, 2008, 7:00 amER docs and vampires take note: Scientists have figured out how to turn embryonic stem cells into human blood.
In a study published in the (aptly named) journal Blood last week, researchers at a company called Advanced Cell Technology tell how exposing …
Coors joins brewers trying to tap women’s market for beer
by Barbara Murray, August 22, 2008, 7:00 amWanna be one of the guys? Belly up to the bar? Patronize your local pub? Coors is courting the ladies. Yep, despite women’s sadly inadequate belching talents and less rabid devotion to football (American-style, or soccer, if you live on the other side of the Atlantic) as …
Just kidding! Banks agree to buy back auction rate securities
by Patrice Sarath, August 21, 2008, 7:00 amAdd Wachovia to the list of banks that have agreed to buy back auction rate securities. Investors claimed that these securities were marketed to them as safe as cash, but when the market …
A Rare Exxon Mobil TV Interview … Looking for Some PR Love?
by Stuart Hampton, August 20, 2008, 7:00 amExxon Mobil’s top executive gave a rare TV interview on ABC News in prime time. Was he looking for a little peace, love, and understanding?
Exxon Mobil is the 800-pound gorilla in the muscular band of Big Oil (BP, …
Making hay while the sun shines
by Jeff Dorsch, August 19, 2008, 7:00 amThe burgeoning growth of photovoltaic solar power and other sources of alternative, “green” energy are having positive consequences for an unexpected line of business: semiconductor production equipment.
Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells are semiconductor devices, as you may or may not know. Most …
Don’t Shoot the Messenger
by Ryan Caione, August 18, 2008, 7:00 amThe world of finance is rarely a happy-go-lucky place (unless you’re making money hand over fist), but the news coming out of the sector this past week has been downright gloomy.
Pundits, politicians, and professionals …
