"Wallstreet" Reader

"Wallstreet" Reader

Patent Overhaul Gets Close, Draws Opposition

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 06:08 PM PDT

Corporate America has been calling for an overhaul of U.S. patent laws for years, but now, as Congress inches closer to delivering a bill backed by the Obama administration, some companies are crying foul.

Tokyo Shares Down on Nuclear Concerns

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 06:18 PM PDT

Asian stock markets were mixed Monday, with Tokyo shares hit by renewed concerns as repair work was slowed at the stricken nuclear-power complex. The Nikkei was off 0.6%.

Networks, Advertisers Call New Plays Amid NFL Strife

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 05:07 PM PDT

Television networks and advertisers are preparing contingency plans in case the NFL lockout leads to the cancellation of games this fall.

Harry & David Nears Chapter 11

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 06:02 PM PDT

Harry & David Holdings, the specialty gourmet fruit retailer known for its gift baskets, is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as soon as Monday morning.

Firms Face Uncle Sam's Cuts

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 05:35 PM PDT

Companies that rely on government contracts for large parts of their business are staring down almost certain belt tightening by the federal government.

Santander, CCB to Target Smaller China Towns

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 05:32 PM PDT

Spain's Banco Santander will take a 19.9% stake in a joint venture with China Construction Bank to provide banking services outside of China's major cities. They will initially invest $534 million.

Foreign Shocks Temper America's Export-Led Rebound

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 06:11 PM PDT

The U.S. climb out of recession has been led by selling crops, natural resources and goods to the rest of the world. Now that important engine for U.S. growth—the rest of the world—is damping the improving outlook.

Southwest Expands Service

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 05:22 PM PDT

Southwest Airlines launched service Sunday from Newark, N.J., a vital part of the discount carrier's effort to expand in the New York-metro market.

Goldman Switch Irks Clearwire Directors

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 08:48 PM PDT

A decision by Goldman Sachs to advise Sprint after working for Clearwire has drawn special notice in recent weeks.

Nasdaq, ICE Weigh Price of an NYSE Bid

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 04:41 PM PDT

Nasdaq and IntercontinentalExchange have continued talks in recent days about a possible joint bid for NYSE Euronext, but the two companies still are working to overcome sticking points, including how much to bid.

Mortgage Servicers Grumble, But Still Cut Debts

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 04:57 PM PDT

U.S. banks are resisting efforts by state attorneys general to force them to cut the amounts owed by some borrowers facing foreclosure. Yet mortgage companies already have reduced home-loan balances for more than 100,000 borrowers.

Google Pursues Role in Mobile Payments

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 04:31 PM PDT

Google is teaming up with MasterCard and Citigroup to embed technology into Android mobile devices that will allow consumers to make purchases by waving their smartphone in front of a small reader at the cash register.

Money Pours Into Mines

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 07:54 PM PDT

Cash-rich mining companies are investing heavily to increase output of key raw materials but expansion is unlikely to be enough to meet robust demand and tame rising commodity prices.

NCAA Tournament Diary: UNC-Kentucky

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 03:34 PM PDT

No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth shocked top-seeded Kansas and advanced to the program's first Final Four with a 71-61 win.

Chip Firm Gains $108 Million Infusion

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 05:14 PM PDT

Silicon Valley start-up Tabula has raised $108 million, one of the biggest funding rounds in years in the semiconductor industry.

Stocks Shining as Bonds Lose Luster

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 03:30 PM PDT

The U.S. stock market has powered back in the face of major global uncertainty. It may have bond investors to thank for that. Money managers and advisers say there has been a steady undercurrent of cash heading out of bonds and into equities.

ECB Seeks New Plan for Irish Banks

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 07:02 PM PDT

The European Central Bank is working on a plan to keep Irish banks afloat in the medium term, a euro-zone central-banking official said. The new facility would aim to replace the use of so-called Emergency Liquidity Assistance.

Generali Chairman to Call Board Meeting Amid Rift

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 01:26 PM PDT

Generali Chairman Cesare Geronzi is planning to call an extraordinary board meeting in the coming days to clarify the governance of Europe's third-largest insurer, people with knowledge of the situation said.

Little Success for Loan-Reduction Effort

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 04:50 PM PDT

Government efforts to encourage mortgage companies to reduce loan balances voluntarily for more borrowers haven't had much success so far.

Syria Struggles as Unrest Rises

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 01:54 PM PDT

After a weekend of more turmoil, and a dozen people killed and hundreds injured during a Saturday antigovernment protest, Syria's leadership is facing a crisis on how to proceed with the unrest gripping the country.