World Business

Watch original video:

Q:Can you tell me grant that the BlackBerry Storm (or anything comparable) might allow its user to access another computer via Remote Desktop?

— Josh Brady

A: That’s a great question. And techies have been blogging about variegated efforts to yield such capabilities for the accomplished two of years.

The quick answer is, alas, no. I’m not aware of any application that allows the BlackBerry Storm to remotely control personal computers via the Windows Remote Desktop feature.

That declared, you can accomplish many of the same goals by subscribing to a official function from WebEx called PCNow. The utility allows you to view your computer’s screen over the Web — from your cellphone or from any other computer — and remotely control it.

You have power to transfer files and impress slightly. The service even allows you to store selected data files online so that you can access them when your computer is distant from.

The service starts at $10.35 per month, though some service providers volunteer the utility at a reduced rate with some plans. You can find out more at: pcnow.webex.com.

Another service that offers generally the same feature immovable is GoToMy PC from Citrix; the subscription rate starts at $17.95 a month. More information is available at: gotomypc.com.

Finally, another love that I’ve written about previously — Microsoft’s Live Mesh — costs nothing at the whole of, at least for the time inner reality. The service — which provides remote control over the Web and offline data approach — is still in beta and doesn’cheek by jowl even now support cellphones, admitting such support is planned.

Q: I know that Vista has gotten some disingenuous squeeze, mostly because people could not transport programs from XP to Vista. I have 32-bit Vista and I had surpassingly few problems transferring my programs. Those people who I talk to who had a hard time transferring files, it turns out, had a 64-bit Vista.

I, like most computer owners, be favored with years of information on my laboriously drive. Pictures, financial records, exercise records, and just stuff.

I unravel in one computer magazine that the 64-bit operating plan is the computer of the future. I understand you slip on’t have a magic ball, but do you reflect the 32-bit operating system is a thing of the past? If so, is in that place a program that can alienation 32-bit programs into a 64-bit operating system? I know my 32-bit computer won’t last forever, so what are we supposed to do?

Original text: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/qa/2008541572_ptmrsh20.html?syndication=rss

Watch original video:

If in that place is one accessory that can improve the portable digital-music experience, it would be headphones. Few MP3 players ship with decent headphones or earbuds, making this a competitive product category and great during the time that celebration gifts.

The most prevalent trend is the noise-canceling or sound-isolating style, that helps to get rid of exterior noise for more completely and safer listening at grow dark levels. (Turning up the volume to drown out external tumult — we’ve all sat nearest to people using headphones or earbuds on a bus, plane or train and heard their music — can damage your hearing distance.)

A account: The models designed to work with music phones were tested without interruption one iPhone. They should work with most others, but please check.

PlaneQuiet Platinum

$100 at ProTravelGear.com

Style: Ear potion.

Comfort: I generally prefer earbuds to ear cups, unless these by Outside The Box were the most snug I’ve worn. Plus, they double as ear warmers in spite of commuters.

Sound: Very good. Warm tones, more bass than treble; good at picking up details that standard headphones many times miss.

Noise reduction: Very ready, but I heard traces of conversations.

Best feature: Could wear these totally day. Also, a good price for ear-cup style, which can be pricey.

Drawback: Size; could be cumbersome for traveling.

Speaker for phone: No.

Original text: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/personaltechnology/2008541566_ptheadset20.html?syndication=rss

Watch original video:

Weyerhaeuser divide its dividend by more than half and said fourth-quarter earnings will be “significantly” lower than the company expected.

The dividend was reduced 58 percent to 25 cents a share from 60 cents, the Federal Way-based sawed producer said Friday. The company expects “challenging” market conditions to continue end next year.

Chief Executive Officer Daniel Fulton has sold businesses, fired workers and close up trash mills to contend with slowing U.S. housing construction, which has cut ask for for building materials. The pace of single-family-home starts slumped 46 percent in November from a year earlier.

“These are the overcome markets I’ve seen during my career,” Fulton declared Friday on a conference call by analysts. “We expect the difficult conditions to continue through 2009, and the timing and strength of the recovery are uncertain.”

Revenue at Weyerhaeuser, which has investments in residential real-estate development, timberland management and wood-pulp production, fell 25 percent to $2.17 billion in the third part quarter. The decline partly reflected the $6 billion market of Weyerhaeuser’s industrial-packaging business to International Paper in August.

Analysts expected the gang to postman a fourth-quarter loss of 31 cents a contingent, excluding some items, according to the average of 16 estimates in a Bloomberg mensuration. Weyerhaeuser had a 51-cent make improvement a year earlier.

Friday’s news pushed Weyerhaeuser stock down $3.54, or 9.5 percent, to $33.59; the shares have declined 54 percent this year.

Charges attributable to home-purchase cancellations, lower prices for homes and land and other losses in Weyerhaeuser’s real-estate-development division may rise to $650 million in the fourth quarter, Chief Financial Officer Patricia Bedient said on the call.

The company plans to use up $200 million to $250 million on capital projects in 2009, on the ground from $425 million this year. Weyerhaeuser also said it may repurchase as abundant as $250 million of its due shares.

On Nov. 6, Weyerhaeuser announced it would indefinitely close the door upon an engineered-wood facility in Colbert, Ga., affecting about 105 employees.

Weyerhaeuser attributed the closing to decreased interrogation because of the U.S. housing slowdown.

Original text: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008541573_weyco20.html?syndication=rss

Stocks in the news Friday

From Standard & Poor’s Equity Research

Watch original video:

General Motors (GM) - the White House announced a $17.4 billion rescue package for the sake of the troubled Detroit auto makers that avoids bankruptcy. The conduct one’s self would extend $13.4 billion in loans to GM and Chrysler LLC in December and January, with another $4 billion likely available in February. The deal is contingent on the companies’ showing that they’re financially viable by March.

Oracle (ORCL) posts $0.34, vs. $0.31, second quarter non-GAAP EPS on 6% return mount. S&P maintains buy.

Research In Motion (RIMM) posts $0.69, vs. $0.65, third quarter GAAP EPS on 66% receipts rise. Sees fourth proper position revenue of $3.3-$3.5 billion, 2.9 million net subscriber account additions, EPS of $0.83-$0.91. S&P maintains buy.

Darden Restaurants (DRI) posts $0.42, vs. $0.30, second deal out EPS from continuing operations on 9.6% total sales rise. Combined same-restaurant sales against Olive Garden, Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse were down 0.2% in quest of the second quarter. Expects combined U.S. same-restaurant sales declines in fiscal year 2009 of about 1.25%-2.25% for Red Lobster, Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. Expects total sales growth of between 8%-9%, EPS from continuing operations decline of 1%-6%.

Provident Bankshares (PBKS) agrees to be acquired by M&T Bank (MTB) in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at about $401 million. Terms: 0.171625 MTB shares for each PBKS share held. Based upon MTB’s closing stock price Dec. 16, the deal values PBKS shares at $10.50 each. MTB expects the transaction to be accretive to GAAP and operating EPS in 2010, estimates its internal rate of return upon the investment to exceed 16%.

Express Scripts (ESRX) rises 2.35 to 61.70. S&P looks for pharmacy benefit managers like ESRX to gain as governments, employers, and freedom from disease plans pursue help limiting their rising drug costs, particularly in a weak economy; S&P upgrades ESRX to strong pervert with money from buy.

Accenture (ACN) posts $0.74, vs. $0.60 a year ago, on 6% revenue rise (in U.S. dollars). New bookings for the location were $5.80 billion, with consulting bookings of $3.56 billion and outsourcing bookings of $2.24 billion. Revises outlook for rest of financial year 2009 primarily to reflect changing forex assumptions, and continued market doubtfulness. Now sees third quarter return of $5.45-$5.65 billion, fiscal year 2009 revenue growth of 6%-10%. Cuts $2.85-$2.93 financial year 2009 EPS eye to $2.78-$2.85. S&P keeps stubborn buy.

Stryker (SYK) says due to lower-than-expected fourth share sales, full year 2008 constant currency revenue growth now projected at 9%-10% vs. its prior forecast of 11%-12%. Cites significant and swift contraction in hospital capital budgets, which has depressed demand as antidote to determinate MedSurg Equipment products. Also says it demise incur a restructuring instruction of about $20M (toil of income rate benefit) in fourth divide in four equal parts, which will reduce EPS by about $0.05. SYK now sees 2008 EPS of $2.77-$2.79.

Weyerhaeuser (WY) says continued covering slump, a weaker pulp emporium will result in significantly lower-than-expected fourth quarter earnings; expects challenging market stipulations to continue through 2009. Declares $0.25 quarterly dividend, lower than previous $0.

Original text: http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/dec2008/pi20081219_879538.htm?campaign_id=rss_null

From Standard & Poor’s Equity Research

Watch original video:

MORGAN KEEGAN RAISES ESTIMATE FOR RESEARCH IN MOTION

Morgan Keegan analyst Tavis McCourt says Research In Motion’sitting (RIMM) third quarter results were at high end of pre-released ranges, with revenues rising 66% year-over-year to $2.78 billion, $0.83 non-GAAP EPS.

McCourt says fourth quarter guidance is slightly better than he anticipated by EPS at $0.87 (midpoint) forward much higher revenue growth, albeit by a great deal of lower gross margins than expected.

He raises $3.25 fiscal year fiscal year 2009 (February) operating EPS estimate to $3.37 to reflect higher-than-expected third quarter and increased fourth quarter estimate; he keeps $3.61 financial year 2010 look forward to. He notes RIMM trades (pre-open) at 11 epochs forward p-e as the company expects to expand EPS, take allotment, and begins a product upgrade cycle. He keeps outperform opinion in succession the stock.

PACIFIC CREST KEEPS OUTPERFORM ON ORACLE

Pacific Crest analyst Brendan Barnicle says Oracle’s (ORCL) second quarter maintenance revenue is adversely affected through forex; being of the class who a result, maintenance revenue down sequentially, no more than up 21% on constant-currency basis.

Barnicle finds the company’s third quarter guidance credible, but he’s vexation a more conservative approach to the fourth locality. He cuts $1.49 fiscal year 2009 (May) EPS estimate to $1.45, $1.67 fiscal year 2010 to $1.66.

He says despite the tremendously challenging economic and currency environments and results, guidance is largely in line through estimates. He says very lately that the risk of its second quarter is behind us, ORCL seems in the same manner as one of best stocks in software. He has a $30 12-month price target.

Original text: http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/dec2008/pi20081219_529840.htm?campaign_id=rss_null

Analysts’ opinions on stocks in the news Friday

From Standard & Poor’sitting Equity Research

Watch original video:

S&P REITERATES SELL OPINION ON SHARES OF GENERAL MOTORS (GM; 4.40):

As expected, the U.S. government approved loans to GM and Chrysler. However, the loans are just a temporary bridge until Mar. 31, when the automakers sourness show plans as far as concerns long-term viability, including concessions from industry participants such while debtors and unions, or repay the loans. We expect GM to quickly run from one side the funds and to exigency additional multi-billion dollar funding just to meet 2009 needs for the time of what looks like an auto depression. We view the news as good for suppliers, as it provides a lifeline to automakers, but labor outlook fragments extremely challenging. -E. Levy, CFA

S&P MAINTAINS BUY OPINION ON RESEARCH IN MOTION (RIMM; 40.23):

RIMM posts November-quarter EPS of $0.83, vs. $0.65, a penny above our recently lowered estimate. Revenues were in line with our reduced forecast, hurt as expected by the late rollout of a new smartphone and by forex. RIMM’s strong reward leadership for February-quarter indicates to us its new products are in demand, but will pressure gross margins more than we expected. We are lowering our fiscal year 2010 (February) EPS calculate by $0.15 to $3.75, but up 10% from our fiscal year 2009 estimate. Despite slightly slower growth prospects, we maintain our p-e-based target value of $51 and eye RIMM’s balance sheet as a positive. -T. Rosenbluth

S&P MAINTAINS BUY RECOMMENDATION ON SHARES OF ORACLE CORP. (ORCL; 16.61):

November-quarter operating EPS of $0.32, vs. $0.30, is in line with our explore. Sales rose 6% to $5.69 billion, modestly below our $5.73 billion forecast, given to reflection forex impact. Licenses lay low 3%, but non-GAAP maintenance extension of 15% was above our survey. Operating margins widened notably. We continue to view ORCL as one of the greater degree of defensive software vendors given its operating leverage, maintenance streams, and cash flows. We trim our fiscal year 2009 (May) EPS value $0.02 to $1.43 and fiscal year 2010’s by the agency of $0.01 to $1.60, adhering a higher projected demand rate and lower interest income. We keep our mark price of $20. -Z. Bokhari

S&P LOWERS RECOMMENDATION ON SHARES OF DARDEN RESTAURANT TO HOLD FROM BUY (DRI; 27.56):

November-quarter EPS of $0.42, vs. $0.30, slightly exceeds our $0.41 estimate. DRI’s 0.2% same-store sales decline for the quarter was substantially more usefully than DRI’s peer group, reflecting marketshare gains. However, we lower our fiscal year 2009 (May) same-store outlook from flat to -1%, and cut our EPS set a price on by $0.20 to $2.55. We also trim our fiscal year 2010 valuation through $0.25 to $2.75. On revised DCF analysis to reflect higher debt levels, we lower our 12-month target price by $4 to $30. And with DRI having nearly doubled since the Nov. 20 S&P 500 low, we see the shares as near appropriate value. -M. Basham

S&P REITERATES SELL RECOMMENDATION ON SHARES OF ELECTRONIC ARTS (ERTS; 17.31):

ERTS sets another 400 cut in its workforce, for a total of 1,000, and closure of at least nine facilities as part of its restructuring plan. The company expects to redeem $120 the multitude in annual operating expenses and will take $55-$66 million in restructuring charges. We believe the increased staff reduction and a profit warning from a competitor shadow forth that the slowdown in the video game busy vigor is more keen than previously seen. However, we raise our fiscal year 2010 (March) EPS estimate by $0.05 to $0.48 on lower operating expenses, in some measure offset by means of lower revenues. We withhold our mark price of $15. -J. Yin

S&P MAINTAINS SELL OPINION ON SHARES OF M&T BANK (MTB; 56.89):

MTB agrees to acquire Provident Bankshares (PBKS; 9.33, NR) in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at $401 million, pending indispensable thing approvals. We think the transaction would fit strategically, expanding branches in MTB’s Maryland and Virginia footmark and adding roughly $4.5 billion in deposits. We rate highly the do business at 1.4 times PBKS’s corporeal part value, and think the price is expensive, given the current environment and the roughly $650 million of additional loan writedowns MTB plans to take at closing. We are also wary of a possible require for every additional first-class raise.-S. Plesser

Original text: http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/dec2008/pi20081219_026675.htm?campaign_id=rss_null

Investors weighed news of conduct loans to the beleaguered U.S. auto assiduity and some S&P Ratings downgrade of 12 big banks

By Will Andrews and Karyn McCormack

Watch original video:

U.S. stocks finished mixed Friday following recent accounts of a $17.4 billion rescue plan from the founded in continuance commonwealth for beleaguered U.S. automakers General Motors (GM) and Chrysler LLC.

The funding is expected to be sufficient to carry the auto makers to the time when the Obama administration has a chance to present its own plan. The rescue plan removes a stratum of uncertainty in the market, at least for the near term, though the overall household watch remains bleak, according to S&P MarketScope.

Details on the auto sector bridge loans were released by the White House Friday morning. The design includes $17.4 billion in TARP funds, with $4 billion of that contingent on a second drawdown of the TARP and the balance given in December and January to GM and Chrysler, which are expected to give consent to terms today. The loans can be recalled if the companies are not viable by March 31, 2009.

Limits to executory pay and jet perks will have existence put in place and warrants will be required in exchange to the government for non-voting stock, that would have existence older to other debt outstanding. The government be able to also block somewhat corporate transactions over $100 million and not at all new dividends can subsist declared under the plan, while compliance with Federal fuel efficiency and emissions regulations will be mandated.

Shares of GM and Ford Motor Co. (F) were higher Friday.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told BusinessWeek Editor-in-Chief Stephen Adler Thursday night that an orderly bankruptcy might end up being the lawful solution for troubled U.S. automakers if other measures fail.

On Friday, the 30-stock Dow Jones industrial average completed down 25.88 points, or 0.30%, to 8,579.11. Exxon Mobil (XOM), DuPont (DD), Bank of America (BAC), Home Depot (HD) and Disney (DIS) were mixed the pedantic chips weighing down the DJIA.

The broader S&P 500 index edged up 2.60 points, or 0.29%, to 887.88.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite table of contents rose 11.95 points, or 0.77%, to 1,564.32. Gains in Research In Motion (RIMM) and Oracle (ORCL) amid earnings news helped boost the index.

Bonds fell Friday, snapping a string of gains won since Tuesday’s Federal Reserve interest rate cut. Oil futures were mixed after sinking underneath $35 per barrel. Gold futures were off as the dollar rose.

There were no significant economic reports scheduled for release Friday.

Original text: http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/dec2008/pi20081219_217938.htm?campaign_id=rss_null

Jay Meattle

December 19, 2008 03:52 PM

Watch original video:

The key question that I think baffles a lot of us - Why did Satyam’session board not oppose the move?

“They include Harvard Business School Professor Krishna G. Palepu; Mendu Rammohan Rao, dean of the prestigious Hyderabad-based Indian School of Business; and Vinod Dham, a venture capitalist and former Intel (INTC) executive who earned bruit in opposition to his role in the progressive growth of the Pentium fragment.”

From http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/dec2008/gb20081218_849301.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_global+business

Original text: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/blog/globespotting/archives/2008/12/whats_going_on.html?campaign_id=rss_blog_bangaloretigers

With fewer African Americans and Hispanics pursuing MBAs, companies are demanding B-schools graduate more minorities or face consequences

By Dan Macsai

Watch original video:

During a sunny day highest move with activity on the leafy Bloomington campus of Indiana University’session Kelley School of Business, Dean Daniel C. Smith struck up a converse with a visiting recruiter from General Mills, one of Kelley’s crown of the head MBA employers. The talk quickly turned to Kelley’s low African American and Hispanic enrollment numbers: At a combined 5%, they were among the very worst in BusinessWeek’s Top 30 U.S. MBA Programs. Enough was enough, the recruiter said: "Diversify not beyond three years, or we’ll start recruiting elsewhere."

As prominent B-schools struggle to attract African Americans and Hispanics—groups traditionally underrepresented in MBA programs—threats like that have become commonplace. But just as rising minority populations in the U.S. have made hiring a multi-ethnic workforce a business imperative for manifold companies, the percentage of African American and Hispanic graduate students majoring in business has dropped to 29%—the lowest level from the time of 2003, according to the Council of Graduate Schools. So companies are scrambling to get well nonage MBA graduates and urging schools to produce more. "Our staff should mirror our customer unknown," says Cenona Taveras, a dissimilitude manager at Procter & Gamble. "And our purchaser base is getting more diverse."

In the past year, recruiters from P&G, General Mills, Kraft, and Kimberly-Clark have pushed for more minority MBAs—and for good conception. On average, African American and Hispanic students make up accurate 9.5% of U.S. residents enrolled at BusinessWeek’session Top 30 B-schools. At some programs—including those at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Cornell University—the figures are fair lower; 7.7% and 7%, respectively.

It’s not that B-schools aren’t deplorable. Indiana, Northwestern University, and others have made special efforts. The Yale School of Management’session Pre-MBA Leadership Program offers a two-week crash course for minority juniors, seniors, and recent college graduates. Some companies are contributing guidance, internships, and scholarship cash. Last year, for illustration, Kimberly Clark pledged nearly $25,000 toward a minority student’sitting tuition at the Wisconsin School of Business. "We’re not facing this alone," says Indiana’s Smith.

Why are minority MBAs on the endangered list? The problem is complex. Prominent African American and Hispanic business role models are scarce—law and medicine attract most top students of flush— for a like reason minority MBA applications have been dwindling. In the business world, minorities by the in the greatest degree MBA potential are in such high demand that there’s small degree incitement for them to attend B-school; the dream jobs may already lie within their space. Diversity-starved companies further complicate matters by steering African American and Hispanic employees away from B-school, where it’s feared they’ll succumb to offers from rival recruiters with "sweet siren songs," says Stacey Kole, Chicago’s deputy dean in opposition to the full-time MBA program.

Companies unquestionably benefit from expanding their minority toil force, even if they haven’t yet figured out how to vouchsafe it. "You get a unimpaired new vista," says Carmen Williams, 28, an African American MBA employed at Barclays Capital. "There needs to be else of that."

Original text: http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/dec2008/bs20081218_755652.htm?campaign_id=rss_null

Watch original video:

LOS ANGELES — The group representing the U.S. music assiduity says it will abandon its policy of suing people for sharing songs protected by copyright.

The Recording Industry Association of America says that now it will try to stop alleged music pirates by working with Internet service providers to cut access to frequent abusers.

The incense ends a polemical program that saw the industry sue more than 30,000 people after 2003 as antidote to swapping songs online.

The recording association said today that its new efforts by several leading U.S. Internet reverence providers would engage a meaningful deterrent, so it will curve down its legal assault. The group says it will still transfer out cases already filed.

The determination was first reported in The Wall Street Journal.

Original text: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008540437_webdownload19.html?syndication=rss