Thursday, December 28, 2006
Schwarzenegger seeks $95M for green research
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed nearly $95 million in state spending on "clean" energy, biotech and nanotech research, the governor's office said on Wednesday.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Glut of attractive businesses spurs big year for mergers, acquisitions
Glut of attractive businesses spurs big year for mergers, acquisitions A high-tech buying spree at both the state and national levels turned 2006 into one of the biggest years for mergers and acquisitions in...
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
U.S. producer prices, housing starts jump
U.S. producer prices, housing starts jump
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. producer prices posted their largest gain in more than three decades last month as energy and vehicles prices jumped, while home building rebounded from a six-year low.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. producer prices posted their largest gain in more than three decades last month as energy and vehicles prices jumped, while home building rebounded from a six-year low.
Americans like free trade but fret about jobs, poll finds
Americans like free trade but fret about jobs, poll finds
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 40 percent of Americans think free trade is a good idea, but residents of the world's biggest economy are split over whether trade pacts hurt or help them personally, according to a poll released on Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 40 percent of Americans think free trade is a good idea, but residents of the world's biggest economy are split over whether trade pacts hurt or help them personally, according to a poll released on Tuesday.
Health tax among options
Health tax among options Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Monday that his plan for reforming California's health care system will not include new taxes, but he did not rule out considering legislative proposals that do.
Wages of average workers trailing far behind surge in corporate profits
Wages of average workers trailing far behind surge in corporate profits U.S. companies are about to wrap up their fourth consecutive year of spectacular profit growth, filling corporate coffers with cash and...
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Will Housing Slowdown Have Dual Effect?
Will Housing Slowdown Have Dual Effect? The housing slowdown may affect economic growth not only by curtailing construction, but also by slowing the home price appreciation that has helped fuel consumer spending, according to a publication of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. http://www.mortgage-technology.com/newsletter/current/
The bank can be found online at http://www.dallasfed.org.
The bank can be found online at http://www.dallasfed.org.
Health care proposal boils down to who pays
Health care proposal boils down to who pays
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn't unveiled his proposal to provide health insurance coverage to the millions of Californians who don't have it, but Don Perata has already made the challenge much easier....(more)
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn't unveiled his proposal to provide health insurance coverage to the millions of Californians who don't have it, but Don Perata has already made the challenge much easier....(more)
Naughty fundies get their lumps
Naughty fundies get their lumps Usually, bad little boys and girls get lumps of coal in their Christmas stockings in the privacy of their own homes. In the mutual-fund business...
M&N Pro Blend to beat S&P 500 8 years in a row
M&N Pro Blend to beat S&P 500 8 years in a row The Manning & Napier Pro Blend Maximum Term Series Fund is joining the handful of mutual funds that are beating the Standard & Poor's...
Want in on real estate? Try a REIT
Want in on real estate? Try a REIT Behind the dark predictions of further drops in U.S. home sales and prices is some light in the form of nonresidential property markets...
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Breach at UCLA exposes data on 800,000 - Computerworld
Breach at UCLA exposes data on 800,000 - Computerworld
Tuesday, 12:25 PM
China DailyBreach at UCLA exposes data on 800,000Computerworld - 17 hours agoDecember 12, 2006 (Computerworld) -- The University of California at Los Angeles today began sending out letters to more than 800,000 individuals whose personal information may have been compromised in a database breach that remained undetected for more ...
Tuesday, 12:25 PM
China DailyBreach at UCLA exposes data on 800,000Computerworld - 17 hours agoDecember 12, 2006 (Computerworld) -- The University of California at Los Angeles today began sending out letters to more than 800,000 individuals whose personal information may have been compromised in a database breach that remained undetected for more ...
New Home and Issues for Civil Rights Project
New Home and Issues for Civil Rights Project
11/29/2006 9:17 PM by SAM DILLON
The Civil Rights Project is moving from Harvard University to the University of California, Los Angeles, the universities said.
11/29/2006 9:17 PM by SAM DILLON
The Civil Rights Project is moving from Harvard University to the University of California, Los Angeles, the universities said.
High health care costs in U.S. found to impact incomes, says new study
High health care costs in U.S. found to impact incomes, says new study
An increasing number of Americans are compelled to spend large parts of their income on health care and more number of middle class citizens are spending disproportionately on medical care expenses, according to a study.
An increasing number of Americans are compelled to spend large parts of their income on health care and more number of middle class citizens are spending disproportionately on medical care expenses, according to a study.
Monday, December 11, 2006
New Tax Bill Includes Boost to Health Accounts
New Tax Bill Includes Boost to Health Accounts
1:00 PM
One feature of the tax bill passed in the wee hours of Saturday morning is a provision that will allow Americans to contribute more money to health spending accounts. Michele Norris talks with NPR's Julie Rovner.
1:00 PM
One feature of the tax bill passed in the wee hours of Saturday morning is a provision that will allow Americans to contribute more money to health spending accounts. Michele Norris talks with NPR's Julie Rovner.
Allstate Pulls Back from Insuring Coastal Homes
Allstate Pulls Back from Insuring Coastal Homes
9:07 AM
Global warming is already beginning to hit the pocketbooks of coastal homeowners. Allstate Insurance has added New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware to a list of states where it will no longer accept new business.
9:07 AM
Global warming is already beginning to hit the pocketbooks of coastal homeowners. Allstate Insurance has added New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware to a list of states where it will no longer accept new business.
Marketplace: Dubai Ports Impact on Foreign Firms
Marketplace: Dubai Ports Impact on Foreign Firms
10:06 AM
Dubai Ports World has agreed to sell its U.S. port operations to the American International Group Global Investment Group. It did so to allay concerns about U.S. national security. Meanwhile, more foreign companies are asking for an "all clear" on national security before trying to do business in the U.S.
10:06 AM
Dubai Ports World has agreed to sell its U.S. port operations to the American International Group Global Investment Group. It did so to allay concerns about U.S. national security. Meanwhile, more foreign companies are asking for an "all clear" on national security before trying to do business in the U.S.
California economy seen overcoming housing slump
California economy seen overcoming housing slump
4:41 PM
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The worst part of the housing market downturn may be over in California and how long it will weigh on the state's economy may be shorter than expected, according to a report released on Monday.
4:41 PM
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The worst part of the housing market downturn may be over in California and how long it will weigh on the state's economy may be shorter than expected, according to a report released on Monday.
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Illegal immigrants aid Texas by $18b
Illegal immigrants aid Texas by $18b
9:28 PM
"The absence of the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants in Texas in fiscal 2005 would have been a loss to our gross state product of $17.7 billion," said Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn. The report says that would be a loss of 2.1 percent to the state's gross domestic product, which is the broadest measure of all goods and services produced in the state. "Undocumented immigrants produced $1.58 billion in state revenues, which exceeded the $1.16 billion in state services they received. However, local governments bore the burden of $1.44 billion in uncompensated health care costs and local law enforcement costs not paid for by the state," Strayhorn added.
9:28 PM
"The absence of the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants in Texas in fiscal 2005 would have been a loss to our gross state product of $17.7 billion," said Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn. The report says that would be a loss of 2.1 percent to the state's gross domestic product, which is the broadest measure of all goods and services produced in the state. "Undocumented immigrants produced $1.58 billion in state revenues, which exceeded the $1.16 billion in state services they received. However, local governments bore the burden of $1.44 billion in uncompensated health care costs and local law enforcement costs not paid for by the state," Strayhorn added.
Sudhir Venkatesh's new book on the underground economy.
Sudhir Venkatesh's new book on the underground economy. [by Patrick Radden Keefe]
America's underground economy stubbornly resists reliable study or measurement. Its overall size may be anywhere from 5 percent to 10 percent of America's GDP. Estimates of annual unpaid taxes range from $200 billion to $500 billion. Even the low ballparks are high. So, why do the dynamics remain so mysterious?
America's underground economy stubbornly resists reliable study or measurement. Its overall size may be anywhere from 5 percent to 10 percent of America's GDP. Estimates of annual unpaid taxes range from $200 billion to $500 billion. Even the low ballparks are high. So, why do the dynamics remain so mysterious?
Small Business Mergers and Acquisitions
Small Business Mergers and Acquisitions
To survive, Small Business must follow much the same itinerary as big business or brave a never ending struggle to exist. To grapple with those so far in front is difficult, occasionally impossible, but small business survival depends on expeditious counter punching.
Unfortunately, many small business operators do not have what it takes to grow. Some owners lack business basics, or merely do not have the tolerance to endure the hardships necessary to expand. Some suffer from ego problems - a need to have only one name on the door. Others, with dogmatic business dispositions, close doors to new ideas. Many promising entrepreneurships are doomed because of an owner's self defeating demeanor. But, in the end, the biggest obstacle to expansion is lack of sufficient capital.
To survive, Small Business must follow much the same itinerary as big business or brave a never ending struggle to exist. To grapple with those so far in front is difficult, occasionally impossible, but small business survival depends on expeditious counter punching.
Unfortunately, many small business operators do not have what it takes to grow. Some owners lack business basics, or merely do not have the tolerance to endure the hardships necessary to expand. Some suffer from ego problems - a need to have only one name on the door. Others, with dogmatic business dispositions, close doors to new ideas. Many promising entrepreneurships are doomed because of an owner's self defeating demeanor. But, in the end, the biggest obstacle to expansion is lack of sufficient capital.
Why China Affects Your Mortgage Payment
Why China Affects Your Mortgage Payment
Every economist will tell you that China's surging economic growth has a direct effect on U.S. consumers. But how, exactly? Sure, cheap Chinese imports help lower our shopping bills. But Communist Party ministers in Beijing also touch the average American through more abstruse things, like what they do with foreign-exchange reserves and currency valuations.
Every economist will tell you that China's surging economic growth has a direct effect on U.S. consumers. But how, exactly? Sure, cheap Chinese imports help lower our shopping bills. But Communist Party ministers in Beijing also touch the average American through more abstruse things, like what they do with foreign-exchange reserves and currency valuations.
On road to clean fuels, automakers cover some ground
On road to clean fuels, automakers cover some ground
11/30/2006 6:27 PM
The international Los Angeles Auto Show highlights the industry's renewed focus on driving 'green.'
11/30/2006 6:27 PM
The international Los Angeles Auto Show highlights the industry's renewed focus on driving 'green.'
Daily Trojan Editor Resigns Under Pressure
Daily Trojan Editor Resigns Under Pressure
11/29/2006 9:00 AM
After they're elected by their staff, editors in chief of the University of Southern California's Daily Trojan must also receive the recommendation of the school's vice president of student affairs. In the paper's history, no student has ever been denied--until now, reports the Daily Trojan. Present editor-in-chief Zach Fox sought substantial changes to the paper, including more student budgetary control. Calling those changes too much, the V.P. of student affairs has decided not to recommend Fox for approval next semester. In response, Fox resigned last night.
11/29/2006 9:00 AM
After they're elected by their staff, editors in chief of the University of Southern California's Daily Trojan must also receive the recommendation of the school's vice president of student affairs. In the paper's history, no student has ever been denied--until now, reports the Daily Trojan. Present editor-in-chief Zach Fox sought substantial changes to the paper, including more student budgetary control. Calling those changes too much, the V.P. of student affairs has decided not to recommend Fox for approval next semester. In response, Fox resigned last night.
Small Business Cheers Changes at Export-Import Bank
Small Business Cheers Changes at Export-Import Bank
The Senate brought some holiday cheer this week to little residents of Whoville, passing new rules that force the Export-Import Bank to loosen its purse strings when it comes to small companies. If President Bush signs the bill reauthorizing the bank's charter, as expected, sledding through the export loan process will be a lot less bumpy for companies with fewer than 500 employees.
The Senate brought some holiday cheer this week to little residents of Whoville, passing new rules that force the Export-Import Bank to loosen its purse strings when it comes to small companies. If President Bush signs the bill reauthorizing the bank's charter, as expected, sledding through the export loan process will be a lot less bumpy for companies with fewer than 500 employees.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Welcome to San Fernando Valley Business Blog
I have recently accepted a position as Membership Director for the Mid Valley Chamber of Commerce in Van Nuys, and am working to increase the size of the membership at this time.
In my work for the Chamber, I come across information that both members and non-members tell me non-confidentially that I find of value and will share in this blog.
My purpose for this blog is not to publish on behalf of the Chamber, but to publish on my own behalf any information that will advance business and employment opportunities in the San Fernando Valley. Please feel free to write or call 805-413-6099 with comments or details on any business-related activity that will benefit either workers or businesses.
Thank you, Gary Cook
In my work for the Chamber, I come across information that both members and non-members tell me non-confidentially that I find of value and will share in this blog.
My purpose for this blog is not to publish on behalf of the Chamber, but to publish on my own behalf any information that will advance business and employment opportunities in the San Fernando Valley. Please feel free to write or call 805-413-6099 with comments or details on any business-related activity that will benefit either workers or businesses.
Thank you, Gary Cook
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