updated Fri November 02, 2007

Heritage Commerce Increases Quarterly Dividend 33 Percent to 8 Cents Per Share

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Heritage Commerce Corp. raised its quarterly dividend 33 percent to 8 cents per share on Thursday.The California bank holding company paid a dividend of 6 cents per share in the prior q...

updated Fri November 02, 2007

Cigna Posts 3rd-Quarter Profit Rise on Stronger Premiums and Fees, Lifts Outlook

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Health insurer Cigna Corp. said Friday its third-quarter earnings rose 23 percent on increased premiums and fees to top Wall Street expectations, and raised its outlook for the full year. C...

updated Fri November 02, 2007

Asian, European Stock Markets Slide Following Wall Street Losses on Concerns About US Slowdown

TOKYO (AP) -- Markets in Asia and Europe slumped Friday, tracking losses on Wall Street overnight as investors worried about a possible end to U.S. interest rate cuts and a slowing American economy.Hong Kong's ...

updated Fri November 02, 2007

ProLogis Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend of 46 Cents Per Share

DENVER (AP) -- ProLogis, an industrial real estate investment trust, declared a regular quarterly dividend of 46 cents per share.The company said Thursday it will pay the dividend on Nov. 30 to shareholders of ...

updated Fri November 02, 2007

Tempur-Pedic Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend of 8 Cents Per Share

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Tempur-Pedic International Inc. declared a regular quarterly dividend of 8 cents per share.The mattress and pillow provider said Thursday it will pay the dividend on Dec. 14 to shareholde...

updated Fri November 02, 2007

Dollar Slips Against Euro Before US Non-Farm Data Announcement

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- The U.S. dollar fell against the euro in early trading Friday as markets looked ahead to the release of non-farm payrolls data amid continuing worries about the credit crunch. The 13-...

updated Fri November 02, 2007

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez to Lead Business Mission to Vietnam Next Week

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez will lead a delegation of business leaders to Vietnam next week to enhance ties between the United States and Southeast Asia's fastest-growing ...

updated Fri November 02, 2007

Broadband Service Provider Hanarotelecom Shares Rise 1.8 Percent on Talk of Macquarie Buy

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Shares of South Korea's second-largest broadband service provider Hanarotelecom Inc. rose 1.8 percent Friday on talk that Australia's Macquarie Bank Ltd. may become the preferred buye...

updated Fri November 02, 2007

Japan Minister Warns That Higher Oil Prices, Lower Housing Investment Could Slow Growth

TOKYO (AP) -- Economy Minister Hiroko Ota warned Friday that declining housing investment and high oil prices could put pressure on Japan's economic growth.Ota also said that she shares the Bank of Japan's conc...

updated Fri November 02, 2007

Nelnet 3rd-Quarter Loss Narrows As Fee-Based Revenue and Student Loan Assets Rise

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Nelnet Inc. said Friday its third-quarter loss narrowed, in part, on strong fee-based revenue growth.The student loan company reported a loss of $15.7 million, or 32 cents per share, compa...

updated Fri November 02, 2007

US Stock Futures Edge Lower As Investors Await Report on October Jobs Creation

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stock futures edged lower Friday as investors, pummeled by a sharp drop on Wall Street a day earlier, awaited the Labor Department's October jobs report.After a week of contradictory economic n...

updated Fri November 02, 2007

Hollywood Writers Say They'll Strike but Leave Door Open for Last-Minute Talks

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Hollywood writers said they would strike for the first time in nearly 20 years but left open the door for last-minute talks to avert a crippling walkout.Writers Guild of America President Pa...

updated Tue October 30, 2007

Perot Systems to Cut Work Force by 650 Positions, Offers 4th Quarter Profit Outlook

PLANO, Texas (AP) -- Information technology services provider Perot Systems Corp. said Tuesday it will cut its work force by 650 positions in an attempt to lower costs..The company also said its fourth-quarter ...

updated Tue October 30, 2007

Finnish Paper Maker UPM's 3Q Net Profit Drops 19 Percent on Falling Sales

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) -- UPM-Kymmene Corp., the world's largest magazine paper maker, on Tuesday reported a 19-percent drop in net profit to 119 million euros ($171 million) on decreasing revenue, caused by lo...

updated Tue October 30, 2007

Ceradyne Predicts Earnings Per Share Will Be on Low End of Guidance for 2007

COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) -- Ceradyne Inc., which makes ceramic products and parts for defense applications, said Tuesday said it expects 2007 earnings on the low end of its guidance.The company said it expects e...

updated Tue October 30, 2007

Texas Bumps New Mexico From Top Spot in Pecan Production After Late Surge of Nuts Hit Market

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- New Mexico pecan producers went nuts when initial estimates showed the state was No. 1 in pecan production for the first time, beating out the usual top producers, Georgia and Texas. B...

updated Tue October 30, 2007

Agco 3rd-Quarter Profit Increases on 'Robust Global' Demand; Shares Climb to New High

DULUTH, Ga. (AP) -- Agricultural equipment distributor Agco Corp. said Tuesday its third-quarter profit surged on strong global demand for farm machinery and a lower tax rate.Net income for the three months end...

updated Tue October 30, 2007

China Rationing Diesel Amid Shortages Blamed on Price Controls

BEIJING (AP) -- Frustrated truck drivers lined up to buy as little as a quarter of a tank of diesel Tuesday because of shortages that one Chinese oil company blamed a shortage of refining capacity due to price ...

updated Tue October 30, 2007

Sirius Satellite Radio Posts 3Q Loss As Subscribers Grow; Sees Year-End Close for XM Deal

NEW YORK (AP) -- Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. narrowed its loss in the third quarter on continued growth in subscribers and said it still hopes to close its deal to combine with XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. ...

updated Tue October 30, 2007

LCA-Vision 3rd-Quarter Profit Jumps 88 Percent, but Revenue Falls Short of Forecasts

CINCINNATI (AP) -- LCA-Vision Inc., which offers laser-vision correction services under the LasikPlus brand, said Tuesday its third-quarter earnings doubled but revenue fell short of Wall Street forecasts and t...