"Wallstreet" Reader

"Wallstreet" Reader

Charles River Labs Pushed to Sell Itself

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 06:51 PM PST

Relational Investors and the California teachers' pension fund have upped their stakes in Charles River Laboratories International and are pushing it to explore a sale.

FCC to Look at TV-Fee Blackouts

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 06:10 PM PST

Federal regulators said they will look at what the government can do to help prevent customers from losing TV channels during disputes between pay-TV operators and broadcast station owners.

Data Helps Australia; Yen Aids Japan

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 05:33 PM PST

Asian stock markets rose with Australian shares higher after a strong employment report and Tokyo up on a lower yen.

Investor Survey Says: Bet Oppositely

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 05:05 PM PST

When the AAII's weekly gauge of sentiment hits the tape early Thursday, much of Wall Street will be ready to pore over the numbers—and do the opposite, as the survey is often a solid contrarian indicator.

Madoff Kin, Global Banks Sued for Funds

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 07:21 PM PST

Five of Bernard Madoff's grandchildren, former directors of his London investment branch and seven global banks were among those sued on Wednesday by a trustee seeking a total of more than $30 billion in an avalanche of lawsuits intended to recover money for the fraudster's victims.

Holiday Inn Recasts Itself

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 07:21 PM PST

Holiday Inn, one of the world's largest hotel chains and an icon of roadside America, has recast itself, upgrading its hotels in a bid to catch up with rivals Hilton Garden Inn and Courtyard by Marriott.

Taking a Hit at the Indian Casino

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:44 PM PST

A debt crisis engulfing several American Indian casinos is coming to a head, and while lenders are taking big hits, they can take comfort that they aren't losing it all.

Myhrvold Patent Firm Sues 9 Tech Firms

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 06:26 PM PST

Intellectual Ventures, which was started by former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold and has spent a decade buying and filing for patents, filed its first-ever infringement suits against nine big technology companies.

Microsoft Wins U.S. Agency Deal

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 06:12 PM PST

Microsoft signed a deal with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to supply online e-mail and other applications.

Fed Unlikely to Alter Monetary Policy

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The central bank is likely to leave monetary policy largely unchanged next week at its final meeting of the year as the central bank assesses the impact of its bond-buying program and the unfolding tax debate in Washington.

Defense Suppliers Fear Cuts

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 06:35 PM PST

The defense industry's hopes are dimming that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates may be able to stave off serious cuts to weapons-buying programs.

House Passes Bill to Fund Government

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 05:42 PM PST

The House on Wednesday approved a $1.2 trillion bill to fund the federal government through the remaining nine and a half months of fiscal 2011.

Brazil Holds Rates Steady

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:08 PM PST

Brazil's central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged for a third consecutive meeting, refraining to take a more aggressive stance to tame rising prices and cool the country's economy.

Niche Soda Goes National

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 03:23 PM PST

Dr Pepper Snapple plans to start selling its regionally popular Sun Drop soda nationwide early next year.

Demand for U.S. Cash Surges

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 12:25 PM PST

The drubbing delivered to the dollar on foreign exchange markets over recent months obscures the fact that global demand for U.S. currency, in its elemental form of cash, has been growing at a strong rate.

IPads as Weapon in Medical Sales

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:02 PM PST

Medical-device makers and drug companies are passing out thousands of iPads to salespeople to spruce up their pitch to doctors, and at the same time giving Apple an avenue to business customers.

Rep. Bachus Criticizes Handling of Fannie, Freddie

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 01:59 PM PST

Rep. Spencer Bachus (R., Ala.), the chairman-elect of the House Financial Services Committee isn't happy with the Obama administration's pressure on government-controlled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to reduce balances on mortgages that total more than the homes are worth, and he plans to pursue the matter early next year.

AIG Unveils How U.S. Will Exit Its Stake

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 05:20 PM PST

AIG entered into an agreement with the U.S. government that details, among other things, the rights the Treasury Department will have as it begins to sell its controlling stake in an accelerated exit plan.

Chavez Threatens Bank Takeover

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 12:58 PM PST

Venezuela's president threatened to take control over the local unit of Spanish bank BBVA and other large financial institutions if they don't ensure that homes and apartments they finance are occupied immediately.

Mexico Allows Private Oil Service Contracts

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 01:25 PM PST

Mexico's Supreme Court allowed state oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos to continue with plans to award service contracts to private companies that want to drill for oil in the country.