Business - Page 33

Reuters - The Walt Disney Co. on Friday launched a global marketing blitz -- teaming for the first time with celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz -- to support a promotion at its 11 theme parks worldwide that it hopes will shore up attendance gains made over the past year.

Reuters - Surprisingly strong gains reported in sales of new homes and new orders for costly manufactured goods in December signaled more vigor in some soft economic sectors but dashed hopes for early interest-rate cuts.

Reuters - Investors often scrutinize insider stock sales for what they suggest about a company's prospects. Now researchers say there's evidence that corporations could be in for trouble when top executives cash out quickly.

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , the world's largest retailer, has decided not to participate in New York's upcoming Fashion Week.

Reuters - Amgen Inc. shares fell 5 percent on Friday after two of the company's medicines posted disappointing data, including a higher death rate for some cancer patients on its anemia treatment Aranesp. More Info...  

AP - After a five-year boom, the nation's housing market cooled considerably in 2006 with existing home sales falling by the largest amount in 17 years. More Info...  

Reuters - AT&T Inc. posted a higher quarterly profit on Thursday, bolstered by growth in Internet and wireless subscribers and said cost savings from its recent BellSouth purchase would be higher than forecast.

Business

Reuters - Microsoft Corp.'s quarterly net profit beat Wall Street expectations on Thursday, driven by sales of database software and its Xbox 360 game console, and the company raised its full-year profit target.

Reuters - Dow Chemical Co. said on Thursday that fourth-quarter earnings fell, hurt by weaker prices and a dip in sales of basic chemicals.

Reuters - Ford Motor Co. on Thursday capped the worst year in its 103-year history with a wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss and said it would cut production this quarter and lose market share through September.

Reuters - U.S. home electronics retailer Best Buy Co. Inc., which last month opened its first store outside North America, in Shanghai, plans a foray into other markets this year, the head of its overseas business said on Thursday.

Reuters - Irish media magnate Tony O'Reilly's Independent News and Media Plc teamed up with two buyout firms to launch a renewed takeover for APN News and Media , valuing the Australasian group at A$2.8 billion ($2.2 billion). More Info...  

Reuters - German conglomerate Siemens AG (SIEGn.DE) said on Wednesday it has agreed to buy industrial design software maker UGS Corp. for $3.5 billion and will sell shares in automotive engineering unit VDO.

Reuters - Qualcomm Inc. posted a 4.5 percent rise in quarterly profit, driven by sales of chips for high-end cell phones, and affirmed its 2007 outlook, reassuring investors after disappointing views from rivals.

Business

Reuters - Online marketplace eBay Inc.'s quarterly net profit rose 24 percent on strong international revenue growth, and the company said 2007 earnings would be at the high end of analysts' forecasts.

AP - Germany's chancellor urged the world to exploit the positive aspects of globalization on Wednesday and told international political and business leaders that battling climate change and securing energy supplies had to be among the planet's key priorities.

Reuters - ConocoPhillips , the No. 3 U.S. oil company, said on Wednesday fourth-quarter earnings fell 13 percent on lower natural gas prices and shrinking gasoline margins, but beat recently reduced Wall Street expectations.

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said on Wednesday that it is reorganizing its U.S. marketing and merchandising operations as the world's largest retailer works to boost sales after a lackluster holiday season. More Info...  

Reuters - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. (NWSa.N) has joined the Chandler family in its bid for newspaper and television station owner Tribune Co. , a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. More Info...  

Reuters - Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. posted a surprise quarterly loss on Tuesday as a price war with Intel Corp. took a heavier toll than expected.