Stamp Price to Hit 42 Cents on Monday There's a run on the post office today as Americans snap up first class stamps before they cost a penny more on Monday, the Los Angeles Times reports. If the 42-cent price seems insignificant, just think of Netflix, which sends and receives nearly 2 million parcels a day, and pays both ways.

ArcelorMittal sells U.S. steel mill PARIS: ArcelorMittal on Saturday said it had finalised the $810-million sale of a plant in the U.S. to Russian steelmaker Severstal. It was ordered to dispose of the Sparrows Point plant in Baltimore, Maryland, by U.S. authorities. ...

Dish TV to offer free set-top boxes NEW DELHI: Direct-to-home service provider Dish TV said it would provide free set top boxes to its subscribers, a move to take on competitors, especially the new entrants like Reliance, Bharti and Videocon. ...

Bangladesh to reopen talks with Tata DHAKA: The Bangladesh Government would reopen negotiations with Indian conglomerate Tata on Sunday on the group's record $3-billion investment plan, officials said. ...

Nilekani to give IT impetus to power sector 'Smart green grids' are the new concept unfolding

Godrej Appliances to make foray into TV To go in for third party manufacturing initially

Global community keenly looking forward to Chinese tea party Two-day session begins from May 12

Judges affirms Louisville's dog law A judge in Kentucky has upheld the city of Louisville's dangerous-dog law, ruling that it was properly approved by the Metro Council Dec. 20.

Consumers prepare for postage hike U.S. consumers said they are doing their best to prepare for another budget strain as the postal rate hike approaches.

That Must Be Bob at the Door. I Hear His New Hip Squeaking. Many patients with artificial hips made of ceramic hips say they have begun to squeak, interfering with their daily life.

Losing a Home, Then Losing All Out of Storage The foreclosure crisis is hitting the self-storage center, and some companies are auctioning off the property of people who cannot keep up with their bills.

News Corp unexpectedly drops bid for Newsday NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp on Saturday dropped its $580 million bid for Tribune Co's Newsday newspaper, just days after Murdoch said a deal was imminent, leaving cable television operator Cablevision as the likely winner of the Long Island daily.

Murdoch Drops Newsday Bid Rupert Murdoch has dropped his $580 million bid for Newsday. Cable operator Cablevision has offered $650 million for the Long Island daily, and Murdoch's News Corp. said a higher bid would be "uneconomical." The media tycoon's dropout was unexpected, Reuters says, considering Murdoch recently told investors a deal was nearly done. A $580 million bid from Mortimer Zuckerman, owner of the rival Daily News, remains on the table.

Report says SoCal needs $531 billion for transit Southern California will need $531 billion in the next 30 years for its transportation system to keep pace with a soaring population, a regional planning group said. The region will need that much money to maintain its roads, build more busways, make freeway...

Chevron to give $2 million to help Myanmar cyclone victims Chevron Corp. says it will give $2 million to help victims of the devastating cyclone in Myanmar, where the oil company owns a natural gas pipeline. The San Ramon-based energy giant says it will contribute $1 million to the International Federation of the Red...

ANALYSIS: Myanmar set for political, economic shocks Military-ruled Myanmar, among the globe's poorest and most authoritarian nations, is reeling from a natural disaster of such magnitude that both the people's suffering and political aftershocks are certain to persist long after the last emergency aid has been...

Murdoch Ends Bid to Buy Newsday The withdrawal of News Corporation's $580 million offer leaves Mortimer B. Zuckerman and Cablevision in the bidding for Newsday.

British Energy sale attracts few offers A requirement that any firm that buys British Energy must sell one of the company's eight nuclear plants has impeded the utility's sale, analysts say.

BAMS contract boosts Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Corp.'s military contract to build a new robotic plane could be a boon for the company and Southern California, experts say.

Private Equity's Bog Investors had hoped to make a quick buck in ailing Detroit by 'stripping and flipping.' No such luck.

SoCal grape grower settles suit for $500,000 A grape grower in the Coachella Valley agreed to pay nearly $500,000 to farmworkers who claimed they were denied breaks and forced to taste unwashed grapes. More than 1,000 workers from the 2001 and 2002 harvests could share in the settlement signed by...

Forever stamp sales rise ahead of rate increase The cost of mailing a letter goes up a penny to 42 cents on Monday, the latest in what are expected to be annual price adjustments by the Postal Service.

News Corp. Withdraws Its Bid for Newsday Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has withdrawn its bid to buy Newsday from the Tribune Company, a spokesman said.

Syndicates Sign Deal for Bulgaria Steel-maker Kremikovtzi with Potential Buyer The leaders of the Metallurgists Federation from the Bulgarian Podkrepa Labor Confederation signed an agreement for guaranteeing the future of the Kremikovtzi steel plant with one its potential buyers. The deal with VORSKLA STEEL BULGARIA, which is related to the Ukrainian tycoon Konstantin Zhevag...

News Corp. Pulls Newsday Bid News Corp. revoked its bid for Tribune's Newsday, leaving Cablevision the likely victor of the auction for the Long Island daily.

News Corp pulls bid for Newsday NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp has withdrawn its bid to buy Tribune Co's Newsday newspaper, a spokesman said on Saturday.

ArcelorMittal sells off US steel mill PARIS : The world's largest steel group ArcelorMittal said Saturday it has finalised the 810 million dollar (525 million euro) sale of a plant in the United States to Russian steelmaker Severstal.

Italy seeks private Italian hands for Alitalia ROME : Italy is seeking solutions for Alitalia that would keep it both Italian and privately owned, the government said Saturday, responding to EU warnings against renationalising the ailing air carrier.

Tax on new services from May 16 Service tax on new services, including services provided by stock and commodity exchanges, as proposed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram will come int

Leckey: What's next for J&J? Q: Can I expect my shares of Johnson & Johnson to increase in price soon? -- F.C., via the Internet

St. Francis Hospital's savior facing challenging task For-profit owners have had trouble competing in area Faced with the challenge of turning around St. Francis Hospital & Health Center in Blue Island, a start-up hospital operator is hoping to succeed where other for-profits have failed.

Brokers, bankers unite to question deal on appraisals WASHINGTON—A major legal brawl is brewing over how homes are appraised, at what cost, and by whom.

Choosing wrong batteries can be draining to your budget On a list of purchases that annoy consumers, gasoline, razor blades and ink-jet printer refills probably rank high. But how about batteries? It's a hassle and expense to change batteries in remote controls, audio players, cameras, children's toys and other devices.

Lancer's back -- with more woof than growl Y ou can get a 650-watt premium sound system with nine speakers plus a subwoofer that, when adjusted properly, will not only dissolve anything in your sinus cavities, but also melt the wax in your ears.

Marketing: Indiana Jones and the inescapable ads With tie-ins ranging from Lunchables to Indy cars, it's one of the largest-ever marketing campaigns Indiana Jones could outrun huge boulders, escape being sacrificed and outwit Nazis, but mere mortal consumers can't duck "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." The first movie in the franchise in 19 years is being promoted by one of the largest-ever marketing campaigns for a blockbuster film.

Going global: Macy's is looking overseas for growth Foreign markets offer growth opportunities The treacherous U.S. retail climate is prompting many retailers to turn their sights overseas.

Trapped by Web loan with the 842% interest rate Rochelle Parker needed money for Christmas gifts and medicine, so she went online and found a Web site promising easy money. After a few key punches she was zapped a $300 loan -- but there was a catch.

Bangladesh's Imports Falls By 8.0 Percent In April Bangladesh's imports fell by nearly 8.0 percent in April over that of the previous month due to drop in demand for some commodities, including rice, officials say in Dhaka.

UPI NewsTrack Business May 10, 2008 UPI NewsTrack Business May 10, 2008

Analysis: Good economic news something of a mirage The unemployment rate drops. Productivity grows. The trade deficit shrinks. Sounds great, right? Not so fast. Borrowing radio broadcaster Paul Harvey's signature saying: let's hear the rest of the story. Some seemingly good economic numbers can be something...