Business News - UPI.com

Cost of living shifts on global scale

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:40:26 -0400

NEW YORK, July 24 (UPI) -- Shifting currency values make the United States a better bargain for foreigners living in U.S. cities this year, a private research group said.

Survey says fraud hits 1 in 4 S'pore firms

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:51:19 -0400

SINGAPORE, July 24 (UPI) -- Company fraud in Singapore is rising, purports a survey noting 23 percent of the city-state's firms were victimized last year for an average $4.4 million each.

Japan first-half trade surplus plunges

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:42:57 -0400

TOKYO, July 24 (UPI) -- Japan's trade surplus in the first half of 2008, hit by rising imports and soaring oil prices, fell 42 percent from a year ago, the government said Thursday.

Alaska House approves pipeline plan

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:15:08 -0400

JUNEAU, Alaska, July 23 (UPI) -- The Alaska House has approved a license for a Canadian energy company that wants to build a natural gas pipeline down the Alaska Highway to Alberta.

Grain prices lower in Chicago Wednesday

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:34:44 -0400

CHICAGO, July 23 (UPI) -- Grains tracked lower on the Chicago Board of Trade Wednesday as crude oil prices dropped more than $4 per barrel in New York.

UPI NewsTrack Business

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:00:00 -0400

U.S. stock indexes rise slightly ... Officials upset over Starbucks closings ... LA fast-food moratorium bill advances ... U.S. appeals court reviews patent decision ... News from United Press International.

U.S. says Arctic holds oil and gas

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:56:00 -0400

WASHINGTON, July 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the Arctic holds 13 percent of the world's undiscovered oil and 30 percent of its undiscovered gas, a report said.

Gas supplies up, oil prices drop Wednesday

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:17:16 -0400

NEW YORK, July 23 (UPI) -- The price of crude oil fell more than $4 to $124.20 a barrel Wednesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

U.S. stock indexes rise slightly

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:13:52 -0400

NEW YORK, July 23 (UPI) -- Major U.S. stock indexes rose slightly Wednesday amid mixed earnings reports and a continued retreat in oil prices.

More cuts likely at Anheuser-Busch InBev

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:17:15 -0400

ST. LOUIS, July 23 (UPI) -- Belgian beer giant InBev has targeted $500 million in operating cost cuts for its new U.S. franchise Anheuser-Busch, executive Carlos Brito said.

U.S. appeals court reviews patent decision

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:48:11 -0400

WASHINGTON, July 23 (UPI) -- A U.S. appellate court in Washington is reviewing a patent case, in part, to see if a business method can be patented, experts say.

LA fast-food moratorium bill advances

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:42:42 -0400

LOS ANGELES, July 23 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles City Council committee has endorsed a proposal to ban the opening of new fast-food establishments in a 32-square-mile area of the city.

U.S. vehicle sales estimates go down

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:22:54 -0400

FRANKLIN, Tenn., July 23 (UPI) -- The slump in U.S. auto sales will likely continue through 2009, a top industry executive said.

Officials upset over Starbucks closings

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:05:27 -0400

MIAMI, July 23 (UPI) -- Two Florida officials say they are trying to talk Starbucks out of closing under-performing stores in their towns.

Toyota's sales edge widens

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:01:06 -0400

TORRANCE, Calif., July 23 (UPI) -- Toyota Motor Corp. has a slim, but widening lead in the race to beat U.S. auto giant General Motors Corp. in total vehicle sales for the year, sources said.

UPI NewsTrack Business

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:08:48 -0400

U.S. stock indexes open mixed … Oil prices lower as hurricane threat fades … U.S. trade deficits likely to continue … China foreign trade outlook seen positive … News from United Press International.

U.S. telephone giants fight for customers

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:04:12 -0400

NEW YORK, July 23 (UPI) -- Growing U.S. telecommunications options are changing the business plans of traditional phone service giants, industry analysts say.

Consumer confidence still low says poll

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:59:05 -0400

PRINCETON, N.J., July 23 (UPI) -- Consumer ratings of the U.S. economy aren't providing much basis for retailers' hopes of a rebound in the upcoming back-to-school season, a poll indicates.

U.S. trade deficits likely to continue

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:39:28 -0400

WASHINGTON, July 23 (UPI) -- Big imbalances between the debt-laden United States and its cash-rich trading partners are likely to persist longer than expected, an economic official says.

Pilot walkout grounds Lufthansa flights

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:13:09 -0400

MUNICH, Germany, July 23 (UPI) -- Lufthansa says a strike by German pilots that began Tuesday forced the cancellation of nearly 1,000 flights.

Canadian consumer prices jump in June

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:22:37 -0400

OTTAWA, July 23 (UPI) -- Canada's consumer price index took a 3.1-percent, 12-month jump in June, almost half of which was attributed to gasoline prices, Statistics Canada reported.

Ford Canada postpones 350 new jobs

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:42:00 -0400

OAKVILLE, Ontario, July 23 (UPI) -- Ford Canada has informed 350 new recruits not to report for work at its Toronto-area plant because of sluggish vehicle sales.

China foreign trade outlook seen positive

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:52:51 -0400

BEIJING, July 23 (UPI) -- China's trade surplus in this year's first half was off nearly 12 percent from year-ago level, but a top official sees a positive picture in the second half.

Japan growth forecast lowered

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:49:29 -0400

TOKYO, July 23 (UPI) -- The Japanese government, citing worsening business conditions, lowered its fiscal 2008 real growth forecast to 1.3 percent from 2 percent.

Tesco reaches into Outer Hebrides

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:22:10 -0400

STORNOWAY, Scotland, July 23 (UPI) -- Tesco, the British supermarket giant, has breached the last region in Scotland where its stores were unknown, the Outer Hebrides.