WSJ: MGM Mirage looking to divest Borgata stake

MGM Mirage (MGM.N) is looking to divest its 50 percent stake in the Borgata casino resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing a person with knowledge of the negotiations.
The Journal said the casino operator has been looking for buyers but has not reached a deal, according to two [...]

Economy grows at 5.7 pct pace, fastest since 2003

The economy grew faster than expected at the end of last year, though the engine of that growth — companies replenishing stockpiles — is likely to weaken as consumers keep a lid on spending.
The 5.7 percent annual growth rate in the fourth quarter was the fastest pace since 2003, The Commerce Department reported today. It [...]

IF YOUR PR FIRM ISN’T SAYING “NO” START LOOKING FOR A NEW ONE

…OR CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC RELATIONS PRACTITIONER
In most savvy and mature organizations today, the public relations function is accorded a prominent role in management decision making. Frequently, the senior public relations manager reports directly to top management; generally to the chief executive officer. The reason for this is simple: If public relations is [...]

December Durable Goods Rise By A Weak 0.3 Percent; Down 20.2 Percent for 2009

Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods  posted a modest increase in December, but the gain was not enough to prevent orders from plunging by a record amount for the entire year.
The Commerce Department reported today that orders for durable goods edged up a slight 0.3 percent last month, a much weaker showing than [...]

Full text of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address, as prepared for delivery

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For two hundred and twenty years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They have done so during periods of prosperity and [...]

New Study: Las Vegas Is The Most Undervalued Housing Market In The U.S.

The 10 Most Undervalued Housing Markets
Nationwide, only 87 markets are in the overvalued category, according to a newly released 2010 report compiled by IHS Global Insight and PNC Financial Services.
That means 242 of the 299 largest U.S. housing markets are selling for prices that even bankers think are less than fair market value. The judgment [...]

December 2009 Mass Layoffs Lowest Since July 2008

In December, employers took 1,726 mass layoff actions involving 153,127 workers. Both figures were at their lowest levels since July 2008. Manufacturing events and initial claims both decreased in December to 433 and 44,072, respectively. Annual totals for 2009 mass layoff events, at 28,423, and initial claims, at 2,847,065, both were at program highs.

New home sales fell 7.6 Percent in December; 2010 Sales Down 27 Percent

New home sales  fell 7.6 percent last month, capping the industry’s weakest year on record.
The Commerce Department reported that December sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 342,000 from an upwardly revised November pace of 370,000. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had forecast a pace of 370,000 for December.
The results were the weakest [...]

Consumer Confidence Index Climbs in January; Home Prices Up Slightly

Americans’ confidence in the economy improved modestly in January for the third straight month, as they begin to feel slightly better about business conditions and the job picture, according to a survey released today.
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index increased to 55.9 — the highest in more than a year but still relatively gloomy. That [...]

Car seller targeting the credit-challenged

Car seller targeting the credit-challenged
‘It’s just a huge market’
By JOHN G. EDWARDSLAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Las Vegans who complain about driving in the metropolitan area should ponder the predicament of low-income, small-town residents who have no car and no access to intracity bus or taxi service.
Randy Henderson, founder and chairman of Alternative Motors, has thought about those [...]