Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Tech workers can look on bright side - Washington Business Journal:

http://insenewsker.wordpress.com/
He also wanted to tap into the deep poolof Austin-areza microprocessor industry workers who have been laid off duringy the last couple of years. Such workers possesa the skills that translate well to the sola renergy industry, Van Dell said. And as the numbee of local microprocessor industry workers reacheda three-year low in April, the timingf of solar companies migrating to Central Texas couldn’ft be better for area workers — nor the businessez that need them. “ A solar cell is a semiconductor that generates electricity when you shins lighton it,” Van Dell said. “Fortunately, I was quitd well aware of the strong mix of companies and the skil basein Austin.
That was definitely on my mind when I moved thecompany here.” SolarBridge’s move is a scenari o that local officials want to repeat multiple times with the hope that soladr panel manufacturing fills the void left by the contractioj in the microprocessor industry. But the lack of financia incentives from the state is creating a dampening effectg on attracting solar companies to theAustin area, observerxs say.
Proposed state legislation to createa $1 billion so-called “Sunngy Day Fund” for Texads to obtain federal grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act would have been used to attracyt such businesses, especially foreign solar companiezs that want to establish theif North American headquarters in the Austin area, expertsx say. But the legislation, which receivedx a public hearing in died in the state HouseAppropriations Committee. To date, which was founded in 2004 as SmartSpark EnergtSystems Inc., and HelioVolgt Inc. are the two most prominent solar energy businesses operating in theAustin area.
which is backed with at least $118 million in venture is wrapping up a planty that will eventually crank out a thin film that acts as asolaer panel. “After June, I think theree are going to be some projects rollingin here,” said Raj managing partner of the Mercom Capital Group LLC, an Austin-based technolog y research firm. “It is more, ‘Who is going to give me the best incentive packagedright now?’” The semiconductor industry is and jobs that are leaving Texasd are not expected to return. Central Texas has lost 500 microprocessof industry jobs justthis year.
Local chip companiee now employ 15,700 workers — the lowesrt level of such local jobs sinceApril 2006, according to the U.S. Bureay of Labor Statistics. During the firsy quarter, worldwide sales of semiconductorsreachede $44 billion versus $62.8 billion durinv the same period last a nearly 30 percenf decline, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported. On the the demand for solar technology isgrowingh fast. Randall Baker, the principal of Austin-base PuraVida Ventures LLC, said other state s are throwing big money at prospective solar companies to woo them into establishingf manufacturing plants intheir states.
Many state officials believde Texas doesn’t need to do that, so it isn’t. But it also has the formeer chip workers to offer such and those workers can be retrained for solat in eight weeks to16 weeks, Baker But the clock is In March, Bret Raymis, who worked for 30 years in the semiconductod industry, joined Austin-based Apache-Solar Corp., where he is now the vice presiden of business development. The company is developing a systejm with photovoltaic cells combined with architecturakglass panels, and plans to begin production within 12 months. He said solarr is still early in its developmenf compared with the progress that semiconductors made inrecenf decades.
Investors and companies need to ramp up soladr technology in the United Statex before the technology gains a footholdin “They’re sitting on the fencw with their money,” Raymis said, “and they’re goinv to wake up and all that [solar] businessx will go to China.”

Monday, July 25, 2011

EUR 750m in financing secured for new integrated PVC hub / State-of-the-art ... - Plasteurope

http://vvutrecht.nl/lustrum.html


Plasteurope


EUR 750m in financing secured for new integrated PVC hub / State-of-the-art ...

Plasteurope


Parent company SolVin will provide the plant's PVC technology license, while French engineering group Technip (Paris; www.technip.com) is managing the facility's design, procurement and construction. Russia's OJSC Globalstroy-Engineering (Moscow; ...



Saturday, July 23, 2011

Smuggler of Cuban migrants gets 15 years - KeysNet

glafirarynyxu.blogspot.com


Smuggler of Cuban migrants gets 15 years

KeysNet


In addition to the 15 years, US District Court Judge Jose Martinez sentenced Hector Pena, 45, to three years of supervised release following his prison term. Pena pleaded guilty on April 25 to  »

Thursday, July 21, 2011

White Says His $666 Price Target for Apple `Reasonable' - Washington Post

iwibacibem.wordpress.com


White Says His $666 Price Target for Apple `Reasonable'

Washington Post


July 20 (Bloomberg) -- Brian White, an analyst at Ticonderoga Securities LLC, talks about Apple Inc.'s third-quarter profit and his $666 price target for the company's shares. Apple, the maker of Mac computers, iPod, iPhone mobile devices and iPad ...



and more »

Monday, July 18, 2011

The Overnight Report: Europe Stressed - Ninemsn

aplecheevlgupy.blogspot.com


USA Today


The Overnight Report: Europe Stressed

Ninemsn


Tax Time 2011Doing your tax doesn't need to be daunting! Check out ninemsn Finance's Tax Time for tips and advice on how to make your 2011/12 tax return work for you. By Greg Peel The Dow closed down 94 points or 0.8% while the S&P lost 0.8% to 1305 ...


After The Not-So-Stressful Stress Tests, Europe Is Stressed

Business Insider


London Session: Stress tests not stressed enough

FXstreet.com


Europe, stressed, awaits bank tests

Washington Post


Reuters -Business Spectator -FT Alphaville (blog)


 »

Saturday, July 16, 2011

40 Under 40: Steve Newmark - Charlotte Business Journal:

idellecromwell1991.blogspot.com
1996 Career history: U.S. District Court for the Eastern Districttof N.C., judicial law clerk for U.S. District Judge W. Earl Britt, Fourth Circuit Federal Courtof Appeals, judiciapl law clerk, U.S. Appellate Judge Dickson Phillips, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, 1998-present Family: Wife, Laura; Scott, 7, Andrew, 3 Neighborhood: Greatest businesx accomplishments of thepast year: Greatest civixc accomplishments of the past year: Completed term as president of the board of the Carolinaz Raptor Center and served as vice chairmanm of the board of when both organizations expanded their educational offerings Civic/volunteer activities: Carolina Raptor board member; ArtsTeach, board member; Arts & Science Councip Cultural Education in Schools program, grants panelist; Victory Junction Gang Camp, volunteer; McColl Graduate School of leadership mentor; youth basketball coach What you like best aboutt living in the Charlotte region: Charlotted has a great sense of community and presents opportunities to be engagedd in its growth and development.
The most important issue facingthe region: Your most valued Last book read: The Nine , Jeffreu Toobin Last movie seen: Artic Tale Last vacation: Favorits Web site: Favorite Hobbies: Basketball, hiking, boating, collegiate sports Dean Smith, Terry Sanford, John Stewart Fantasy job: One-word descriptiohn of self:

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Crescent files Chapter 11, replaces CEO - Austin Business Journal:

oryzacody.wordpress.com
The moves are part of an effort to cutthe company’z debt and rework its capital the Charlotte, N.C.-based developer says. and some of its subsidiariesd have filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions in the in the Westerbn Districtof Texas, Austibn Division. Crescent also announced today that Arthur the company’s chief executive officer, has retired, effective He will continue to work in an advisor capacity. Crescent had been struggling to refinancea $1.2 billiobn loan, with payment due in full by September 2012. The companu amended the loan in June 2008 because it was in violationm of theoriginal terms.
Before the Chapterr 11 filing, Crescent faced paymentz of $50 million by the end of this year, $75 milliom in 2010 and $100 million in 2011 on its The company, which has developedx more than 1 million squarwe feet of office space in Cool Springs since the has been facinglocal too. Pat Emery, Crescent’s long-time vice presideng and regional managerin Tennessee, left the company last And the developer’s Crescent’s Greenwayh One, a $33 million, 168,000-square-footr building near completion on Carothers Parkway, has been boardedf up for months as contractors filed millionsz of dollars in liens against it.
Another similarlyt sized Crescent project next to it is about 90 percent vacant a year afterrbeing built. The companhy says it plans to continue businesse without any significant interruptionduring restructuring. Crescent has obtained a debtor-in-possession financing facility of $110 million from a grouo of its existing which will provide funds so it can continue Andrew Hede will replace Fielde as CEO and will be charged with leadingthe restructuring. a managing director with LLC, has more than 15 yeare of financial restructuring andbusinese experience.
“We have been in active discussione with our lenders and othedr stakeholders as we work toward an agreemen that will bring our capital structure in line with the currentgeconomic environment,” Hede says in a “Those discussions are continuing, and we are pleased with the ongoinvg support we have received from our lenders. We intenfd to reach an agreement on our new capital structure and emerg e frombankruptcy quickly.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Capital One, others downgraded by S&P - Washington Business Journal:

inofiquxi.wordpress.com
“We believe the banking industry is undergointg a structural transformation that may includew radical changes withpermanent repercussions,” said S&P credi t analyst Rodrigo Quintanilla. “Financial institutions are nowshedding balance-sheet risk and alterintg funding profiles and strategies for the marketplace’ds new reality.” Capital One’s counterpartg credit rating was cut to BBB from BBB+ with its outlookj “negative.” In addition to Capital One, S&oP cut its ratings on , , and 14 other banks.
Standard & Poor’s says it believes loan losseas will continueto increase, although recengt capital rebuilding should help banks defray thosed losses. It notes the high number of banksawith “negative” outlooks, which suggests ratings could decline further. Capital One was not one of the banks orderer to raise additional capital after the completionb ofthe government’s stress The McLean-based company says it will repau $3.6 billion in TARP money it received last Capital One stock (NYSE: COF) was down 83 cent to $22.32 per share in afternoonm trading. Its shares have lost 30 percentt of their valuethis year.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Chase commits to Central Ohio expansion - Portland Business Journal:

http://saratogaforest.com/the-benefits-of-black-friday-ads.html
The New York company, Central Ohio’s second-largest bank and third-largest employer, said it plans to add several hundresd jobs atits 8,000-employee McCoy Centedr operation at Polaris while several hundred jobs will be adde to a lending facility near Easto Town Center. About 150 jobs will be addee atthe company’s Cleveland Avenue operationw in Westerville. Chase (NYSE:JPM) said it’s boostinf employment in the region to handle additional support functions needed after buying Washingtom Mutuallast September.
The move comesz after state and local officials extended a roun d of incentive packages valued atabout $20 That includes a more than $6 million package from Columbuz and a 15-year, 75 percen t tax credit valued at about $14 million from the Gov. Ted Strickland in a statemen called Chase’s announcement “a tremendouws boost to our economy and very welcome newsfor Ohio.”

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Protect IP Act more restrictive than Chinese law, say profs - TG Daily

guronelogoh.blogspot.com


ITProPortal


Protect IP Act more restrictive than Chinese law, say profs

TG Daily


More than 90 law professors have written to Congress, claiming that the proposed Protect IP Act, designed to  »

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Jazz breaking news: Write In For The Write Stuff - Jazzwise magazine

bestimmung-amendments.blogspot.com


Jazz breaking news: Write In For The Write Stuff

Jazzwise magazine


Now in its ninth year The Write Stuff is run by Jazzwise in partnership with the London Jazz Festival and gives new writers the opportunity to work with professional journalists to improve their writing skills and develop an understanding of jazz ...



Saturday, July 2, 2011

Retailers, landlords offer more for less - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

http://shortridgehouse.com/looking-for-online-dell-computers.html
That’s how Whiskey Joe’s on Rocky Poingt is filling its dining room most said CEOHoward adding, “Our biggest problem is our parking lot isn’tt big enough.” Bell contends sales at Whiskey Joe’ss are up 25 percent since the waterfrontr restaurant, formerly known as was renovated and renamed late last year. The original Whiskeyg Joe’s, owned by the Anaheim, Calif.-baser chain, closed years ago after sufferinbghurricane damage. “Despite the economy you can be successfulo inthis market,” said Bell, echoinb the sentiments of CEO Mike Duke.
Some national including Circuit City andLinens ‘n have shut down, while other retaill companies, along with shopping centere landlords, are struggling to survive the recession. Centers acrosa the country are cutting costs and shavingvbusiness hours, including , one of the largesft shopping center owners in the nation. Westfield has three local malls — Westfieled Citrus Park, Westfield Brandoj and Westfield Countryside. Not all retailer are suffering. Discount retailers — including Wal-Mart, , Marshalls and Corp. — are growing market share at the expense of otherdepartment stores.
“Theres are discount store cycles and departmenftstore [full price offerings] cycles in the retaill business,” said broker Jim Roberts. The industry is now in the midsyt of a discount store he said. Grove at Wesley Chapel, an 800,000-square-foo t center opened by in 2007, has mostly discount retailers, includinh a Dollar Tree. Its other discount tenants include TJ Maxx, Ross Dress for Less, Dick’sz Sporting Goods, , Babies Us and Toys “R” Us. “T o a number of shoppers, Dollar Tree has a certain entertainmentf value. It has gotten a whole lot more fashionabl over last two or three years as theeconomyg declined,” Roberts said.
“Everyone is tryingh to stretchtheir budget.” Despite those national discount many of the outparcelo buildings remain vacant at Grove, and the there is Landlords squeezed by closings, Rentws Landlords are feeling the pinch as stores close and rents decline. The closingf of big-box stores, such as Circuit illustrates “the challenges facing our industry,” said Davidf Conn, EVP of the retail servicea divisionat . Conn, a longtime Bay area contendsthe region’s retaikl market is among the hardest hit in the country due to the housingy market collapse, high foreclosure rate and growing jobless.
Conn’w assessment is supported by the 2009 retail markeg report released inlate March. The Bay area was ranked No. 35 amonbg 43 markets, according to the report. The area was only ahea of Detroit, Jacksonville, Cleveland, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Kansa City, Sacramento, Calif., and Tucson, Ariz. The Tampza region’s retail vacancy rate is expected to see one of the largest increases in the nationin 2009, hitting 10.3 states the report.
Pinellas is expected to fare bette inthe mid-9 percent broker Patrick Berman contends the local retail markef was one of the first in the country to feel the pain of the housingf collapse and it should be one of the first to Berman doesn’t think the region is faring as badl as the Marcus & Millichap report He thinks the area is more in the middlr of the pack. East Pasco County, with its newetr subdivisions and shopping has been among the hardesthit locally, the Marcuds & Millichap report states. The area saw fast growthh as builders put up houses and retai l developments inthe Today, empty new storefronts dot State Road 56 near Interstate 75.
CBRE data shows that east Pasco’se vacancy rate was 10.3 percent at the end of 2008. Urbaj areas with more residents and established subdivisions and shoppinhg centers in Hillsborough County also are but notas much. It’s stilpl unclear what businesses will fill thelocal big-bos locations vacated by Circuit City and Linenz ‘n Things.