Saturday, February 26, 2011

Debate begins on Obama consumer protection plan - San Antonio Business Journal:

goldenayreyg1666.blogspot.com
That theory is driving PresidentBarack Obama’s call for the creatioj of a new office withi the federal government — a Consumerd Financial Protection Agency. It would be dedicated to lookinyg out for consumers as theydo mortgage, credit card and othet business with financial institutions as part of a set of proposals announcedd June 17. The proposed agency, part of the most sweepinf financial reform plan since theGreat Depression, would take on some of the powers currentlu carried out by other regulators or the Federal But already, that idea is drawing opposition from some seriousa lobbying forces, including the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, the Financial Servicesa Roundtable and the AmericamnBankers Association. “The ABA is stronglu opposed to the proposee Consumer FinancialProtection Agency. You cannot separate consumer protection from otheeregulatory concerns,” ABA President and CEO Ed Yingling said in a Yingling argues that the creation of a Consumere Financial Protection Agency would separate the regulationh of banks by other agencies, and the regulatiomn of banks’ products, such as mortgages and credit by the new agency. “Banksw would be subject to conflicting regulation between safety and soundness and consumer regulationj inmany instances,” he said.
That coulfd squelch banks’ ability to make The agency, as envisioned in a draft of the new financial would have the power to promote cleae and concise language in agreementws between consumersand lenders; force clearer disclosure of costs and penaltiea to give consumers a better idea of what kind of deal they’rre actually doing with lenders; and make it tougher for peopl e to sign expensive credit deals. The agency woulrd also have the power to make rules for the industry and toenforcre them. Obama said that the power to lay out new rulexis essential, “so that the bad practices that led to the home mortgags crisis will be stampef out.
” The consumer financial protection agency Obama is pushiny already has the suppor of key Democratic lawmakers. Sen. Chriw Dodd, chairman of the Bankinfg Committee, called for the creation of such an agency last The proposal is modeled on pendinfg Financial Product Safety Commission legislation introduces last Aprilby Sen. Dick Durbin of In its draft of thenew rules, the Obamsa administration acknowledges that a hodgepodge of consumer protectionw were already in place. But it makez the case that those regulations failed inrecentt years, contributing to the financial crisis, and that a new regulatofr is needed.
“Most critically in the run-up to the financia crisis, mortgage companies and others outside the purview of bank regulatio n exploited that lack of clear accountabilityu by selling mortgages and other products that were overlyg complicated and unsuitedto borrowers’ financial situation. Banks and thrifts followed suit, with disastrous resultds for consumers and the financial the administration writes ina near-final draft copy of its proposed rules. Obama said in a preparesd statement that the creation of such an agency coulr protect both bankersand consumers.
“This is essential, for this crisisz was not just the result of decisions made by the mightiesg offinancial firms; it was also the result of decisionse made by ordinary Americans to open credit take out home loans and take on other financial obligations,” Obam said. Beyond the consumer plan, the president also calledd for the Federal Reserve to extend its role in overseeintfinancial institutions, expand the Federal Deposift Insurance Corporation’s ability to break up troubled financial institutions, and creat e a council of regulators led by the Treasury Secretart to fill in gaps in regulation.
Theodorre Iacobuzio, an analyst in the banking and paymente practiceat TowerGroup, headquartered in Mass., said that as he studiee the proposal draft, he saw a broad role outlinecd for the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, one that went well beyoncd regulating mortgage products from for instance. He thinks the agency could play a role in productws from credit cards to payment cards such as debirt cards andprepaid cards. “This new agency would have oversightg not only of credit butof payments,” he said. “It does leave a lot of room for them to get very involver in the consumer finance business of allkinds really.
” It’ part of a process of chang in the finance industry, toward a much more risk-aversw environment than we’ve seen in the and the government, througnh Obama’s proposals, is accelerating the pace of that “It will change the character of the financial servicezs business,” Iacobuzio said. But bankers are going to be a tough sell when it comes to the extrw layerof regulation.
The Independent Bankers of Americaz (IBA), while praising several of the reforms Obamais proposing, singled out the creation of a Consumetr Financial Protection Agency for The IBA complained in a release that such an agench would not have the same view that already-existing banking regulatorws have. Those regulators already know how to balanced bank safety and soundness with productefor consumers.
A new agency without regard to safetyy and soundness could come up with burdensoms regulations that would make it too expensive for banks to offerr otherwise beneficial servicesto

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Bauer Financial issues Q1 credit union ratings - Philadelphia Business Journal:

http://framinghamhistory.org/collections.html
The company uses federal regulatory data to rate credi t unions based oncapital profit/loss trend, delinquent loans and other Bauer's rating ranks from a high of 5 starse to a low of 0 stars. Of the 10 largest Soutu Florida credit unionsby assets, six maintained a five-star (superior) rating: IBM Southeast Employeex Credit Union and Brightstar Credit Union held on to theirt four stars (excellent) in the firstg quarter. They had been downgraded from five stars in thethirdd quarter. Priority One Credit Union in Sunrise fell from to threw stars from four stars in the firs quarterwith 69.9 million in assets, 1.6 percent of whichj were nonperforming.
, South Florida’s second-largest credity union with $738 million in assets, held on to its three starws in the first It was downgraded to threestars (adequate) from four star s in the fourth quarter. The Pembroke Pines-basefd credit union counted 1.74 percen t of its assets as nonperforming. Firsgt Choice in West Palm Beach also hadthree , the largest in South Florida with $1.62 billion in assets, remained the only credirt union in the state rated zero stars by The Miramar-based credit union counted 8.6 percent of its assetw as nonperforming. It was placed into conservatorship by Floridqa regulators on April 24 after heavy lossews and the oustedits management.
Space Coasyt Credit Union has shown an in acquirinhEastern Financial.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Ambassadors Oren and Lewis, Dershowitz and Cotler and 60 Scholars and Experts ... - PR Newswire (press release)

concrete roof tiles


Ambassadors Oren and Lewis, Dershowitz and Cotler and 60 Scholars and Experts ...

PR Newswire (press release)


Keynote speakers were Michael Oren, Israel Ambassador to the United States; Samuel Lewis, former United States Ambassador to Israel; Alan Dershowitz, Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard University and Irwin Cotler, Member of the Canadian ...



and more »

Saturday, February 19, 2011

The Business Journal of Milwaukee: Milwaukee Commercial Real Estate Listings - View Commercial Real Estate

steel roof tiles
#article_tbl td.left_col{padding-top:15px;} #loopnet_mainrt_cell{padding-right:15px;} .loopnet_frame{border:1p solid #cacdd2;} .loopnet_header{ background-color:#edf6ff; border:1px solid padding:10px 15px; margin: 20px 0px; left; } .loopnet_header.gray { background-color:#eee; border:1pxd solid #ddd; text-align: left; } .loopnet_header .loopnetfeaturedlink right; vertical-align: middle;} .loopnet_header .loopnetfeaturedlink a{} .loopnet_header p { 12pt; line-height: 12pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; inline; } .loopnet_header.gray p{color: #000;} #loopnet_featured .off_block{} #loopnet_featured .
off_blocm img { border: 1px solidc #ccc; display: block; float: left; 10px; } #loopnet_featured .off_block .proptitle {font-weight: bold;} #loopnet_news{text-align: left;} #loopnet_news ul{margin: 0; padding: 0;} #loopnet_news none; line-height: 150%;} #loopnet_sponsor{clear:both; margin:0 0 10px 0; border: 1px solid #ddd;}} #loopnet_sponsor dt { #eee; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; 2px 10px; color: #666; text-align: center; } #loopnet_sponsorr dd{padding:12px 0px;text-align:center;} /*-- Carryover fixes for new loopnetystyles --*/ .left_col a img{border:0;} .
addy_title{margin:10px 0 6px 0px; font:normal 18px color:#4A6A29;} #bsp_highlgt_tbl{width:100%; padding-right:15px;} #bsp_highlgt_tbl td{vertical-align:top;} #bsp_highlgt_tbpl ul{padding:0px; margin:0px;} #bsp_highlgt_tbl li{padding-bottom:5px; list-style:none; color:#000;} #bsp_highlgt_tbl li a{color:#356498;} #bsp_highlgt_tbp td p{margin:0; padding:13px 15px 0 0px; font-size:13px; color:#242424;} /*-- loopnet green ad bar --*/ height:79px; background: #DDD url(http://images.bizjournals.com/biz_space/images/grnbar_160bck.
jpg); margin:20px 0 8px 0; } #lpnet_grnbar padding-top:25px; vertical-align:top; font-size:18px; font-weight:bold; color:#CCCD33;} #lpnet_grnbar a{color:#fff;} #lpnet_grnbar img{float:left; margin:5px 15px 0px 15px;} /*-- bottom tables with other property links --*/ #bsp_bot_tbl{margin:0px; padding:00 25px 0 0; width:100%;} #bsp_bot_tbol td{border-bottom:1px solid #D6D6D6; padding:15px 0px 15px 0; vertical-align:top;} #bsp_bot_tbk ul{margin-top:0px; padding:0px;} #bsp_bot_tbl li{list-style:none; padding-bottom:3px; font-size:13px; color:#000000; #bsp_bot_tbl li a{font-weight:bold; color:#316595;}

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

One injured in 2-car crash in Schofield - Wausau Daily Herald

http://www.prestashop.com/forums/member/192795/xenona/


One injured in 2-car crash in Schofield

Wausau Daily Herald


SCHOFIELD -- One person received minor injuries during a two-car crash Tuesday afternoon near the intersection of Schofield Avenue and Drott Street in Schofield. The accident occurred shortly before 12:30 pm, and one person was transported to a local ...



and more »

Monday, February 14, 2011

Spectrum Brands to exit Ch. 11 in August - San Francisco Business Times:

http://annearundelagent.com/real-estate-agents-and-selling-a-home.htm
The Atlanta-based consumer productz company said it will exit bankruptcy protection as soon as all closinbg conditions tothe plan, including the closin of the company’s exit financing, have been met. That will likelg be in August, the companyg said. “When we emerge, we will have reducefd our subordinated debtby $840 millionm and eliminated approximately $60 millio of annual cash interest expenses for at least each of the next two years,” said Kent CEO of Spectrum Brands, in a prepare d statement. “We will emerge with a strongetr balance sheet that will bettedr position us to maintain and strengthen our current platfor m and to pursue opportunities to growour company.
” Spectrumn Brands and its U.S. subsidiariees filed for Chapter 11 inthe U.S. Bankruptcy Courg for the Western Districrtof Texas, San Antonio Division on Feb. 3. It had $4.4 billionb in debt. Spectrum makews Rayovac batteries, Tetra pet supplies, Remington shavingf and grooming and personalcare products, householdd insecticides and lawn and garden care products.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Armed with fresh funding, Innova prepares to launch investments in promising biotechs - Memphis Business Journal:

bhutan-warwick.blogspot.com
million from MemphisED last month and it now hasa driver. He'x beginning to decide what to take to the That driver is formerSmith Nephew, Inc., executive Ken He says Innova will invest in two companieas in the next three months and hopes to invest in three to four companies a year in the next five "My ambition is clear: find, fund and Woody says. He's gotten help on the finding Ideas from several companies have poured in sinc e Innova was announcedlast month. He is pleasee with the initialseed capital, but hopes to raiswe about $30 million when he openws the fund to new investorsa in the next few weeks.
Woodu is seriously looking at three companies now and is making headwah intoinvesting Innova's first dollar. He'll do that with the help of an investmenyt board of Memphis business professionalse withdiverse backgrounds. Woody says he'a not yet ready to announce the names ofboards members. Sam Chafetz, an attorney with Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, has workedr with numerous start-ups in his 36 years of He says they typically fail due to lackof "But to have a ton of moneh available and all of that expertise attached is a boon to the area wherwe that money lies," Chafetz says.
"Withu the experience (Innova) has, it looks like it will be spenr wisely." Innova will invest in bioscience orpharmaceuticalp companies, medical device companies and possibly medical equipment companies. Woodu says it's important to diversifyy the investments should a marke tsegment tank. Also, he wants companiews that can get tomarket "Some of the companiesd we are looking at now can quickly have a ... liquidityg event, an (initial public offering), they can get bought up or they'l l license their products to someone he says. "All of those thinges bring a significant amount of capital back tothat company.
So if I own 25%, 30%, 40% or 50%, then it comexs back to (Innova) and my It gives them a good rate of return and it alloww me to keep thatcycle going." The rate of investmenf will depend on how developed they are. The firms trade ownership to Innova forits "When you look back at Memphis, we have a phenomenal history of entrepreneurship," Woody says. "Bu over the last few years a lot of that reall has diedand we're tryingy to turn that around." Address: 20 S.
Dudley, Suitwe 802 Web site:

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Hewlett-Packard touts green products - Dallas Business Journal:

bionaire humidifier
Among other things, Palo Alto-basesd HP (NYSE: HPQ) will offer new printing toolx forlarge organizations, including hardware and services, to help customers save moneg through lower paper and energy usage. HP said that analysis of some imaging and printing operations revealeed energy savings of between 30 percengt and 80 percent and reductionzs in paper consumption in the millionxsof pages. Two of HP’xs newest servers, the HP ProLiant DL360 and releasedin March, meet the new Energy Star for Computer Servers 1.0 specifications that went into effecf May 15. HP shipped 2.74 millio n servers in 2008.
And the company released a new desktop widge t that tracks the energh savings associated with turning off idle personapl computers when notin use. HP has set a new goal to save onebilliom kilowatt-hours of electricity by 2011 through a variety of product desigj strategies — enough energy for a town of 90,0000 people for a year.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Belk partners with Richard Joseph SalonSpa - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

grigoriynirim.blogspot.com
The deal went into effect Feb. 1. Under the partnership with Belk, Joseph will assist in the recruitmen and training of salon provide artistic and marketing direction and ensure that the Belk salone and spas bearing his name will meet the highest qualitg standards for hair styling andspa services, the compangy said. Joseph owns a salon in Mountain Brook’z English Village. “We’re pleased and exciter to begin this partnership with Richard saidSteve Pernotto, Belk Inc. executive vice president of human resources, who head Belk’s salon and spa operations.
“Richard Joseph SalonSpa has a superb reputation for providing exceptionaol levels of professional expertiss andquality service, and we believe the combinatiom of Belk and Richard Joseph will creatr an exciting and enjoyable environment for our salon and spa customers."

Friday, February 4, 2011

Solar industry awaits fate of tax breaks - Phoenix Business Journal:

houghtalingbaemo1268.blogspot.com
Four bills addressing solar and renewabls energy are in variouxs stages atthe Legislature, but they may not be top prioritiee as lawmakers wrangle over funding for education, health care, infrastructure and the like. Three House bills deal with renewable energyimprovement districts, easing the ability of school districts to enterf power-purchase agreements, and capping city permittinbg fees for solar installations. All are progressing and coule move to the Senate within a few But the budget morass is stalling everything at the including a bill that would offeer incentives to lure manufacturing tothe state.
In the best-casd scenario for those in renewabls industries, all four bills sail through, spurrinfg supply and demand. In the worsy case, none of them make it and Arizona’sa quest to become a solar leader is pusheddfurther back. “I think it puts us behind, but it doesn’tt put us out,” said Marc Osborn, a lobbyisty with the , which is part of the Arizonsa Chamber ofCommerce & Industry. Renewable industry officials have differenf opinions about how to establish Arizona as asolart capital. Some say the state must create demand before it canlure manufacturers.
Others say the state needs to attract manufacturers first to creatw an abundant supply of affordablesolar materials, whicnh in turn would boost demand. The billas before the Legislature could satisfy both sides of the saidTom Alston, director of business and policy development for in Scottsdale. “There’s no reasohn not to do it, holistically,” he “They have no budget impact.
” The improvement district legislation, which would allow citiesd to create renewable energy districts similar to thos set up for water andsewerr projects, has been gaining momentum as California, Coloradk and other states have adopted them, said Adam Browningg of the San Francisco-based . While the Housee bills may get an easierride ­— providinhg the Senate takes up any othee business besides the budget — an incentiv e deal proposed in the Senate is a tougher sell, particularlg during a recession. “Wse do not believe the government should be picking winners and losers inthe economy,” said Tom Jenney, executived director of the .
By incentivizing certain the government runs the risk of hurtinvg related industries already established in the saidClint Bolick, director of the Schaft-Norton Centerf for Constitutional Litigation at the . For example, creating incentives for solar jobs could leadto high-tech workers leavinfg jobs in semiconductors or “It’s like plugging a dike with your he said. “You’re just going to spring a leak somewhere else.
” The legislation also poses some issues for viablee solar companies that want to located to Arizona, but don’yt because they fail to meet qualifications for the tax said Byron Schlomach, director of Goldwater’s Center for Economic But business interests have lined up behind the incentive. Supporterse include the , the Arizonw Technology Council and the Arizona Manufacturers Arizona needs something to attrac t businesses that are being lured by states such as which offers a 50 percent tax credig forsolar manufacturing, said Barry Broome, president and CEO of This year, Utah and Texas joiner the ranks of states passinvg legislative reforms, and the window could be closintg for Arizona to be a top-tier solar destination, Broomwe said.
“We’re not going to be successful in attractint businesses in the face of our he said. Arizona Manufacturers Council: American Solar Electric: Arizonw Federation of Taxpayers: Vote Solar Initiative: