Retail Sales in US Exceeded Forecasts in November

BloombergDec. 11 (Bloomberg) — Sales at U.S. retailers rose more than forecast in November, a sign consumer spending is gathering speed heading into 2010.The 1.3 percent increase followed a 1.1 percent gain the prior month that was smaller than previously estimated, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. Purchases excluding autos climbed 1.2 percent, also more than anticipated… Read more

US STOCKS-Futures rise as data on consumer eyed

Forbes* Reports on retail sales, consumer sentiment on tap* Boeing ( BA – news – people ) says 787 Dreamliner test flight may come Dec. 15* Futures up: S&P 5.8 pts, Dow 53 pts, Nasdaq 7.5 pts(Adds details, quote, byline, updates prices)NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures rose Friday as investors awaited data that could provide a look at the health of the consumer, including reports… Read more

US judge declares Swiss banker, lawyer fugitives

sacbeeWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A federal judge in Florida has declared a banker and lawyer from Switzerland who were indicted on fraud charges as fugitives from justice.U.S. District Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley signed the order against banker Hansruedi Schumacher and attorney Matthias Rickenbach on Thursday in West Palm Beach.Schumacher and Rickenbach are accused of helping rich Americans evade… Read more

State officials unveil Health Improvement Plan

ForbesOKLAHOMA CITY — Improving children’s health and reducing obesity and tobacco use are the focus of a plan released Thursday for improving the health outcomes of Oklahoma residents, who officials said have higher rates of disease and mortality than almost every other state.Oklahoma ranks 49th in the nation in the health outcomes of its citizens – ahead of only Mississippi – and 5,320 lives… Read more

Live chat: Tony Grossi analyzes beating the Steelers at noon

clevelandChat live with Tony Grossi today at noon.How did the Browns beat the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers for the first time in 13 games last night? Does Eric Mangini deserve another year solely based on beating Pittsburgh? What does this win mean for the rest of the season?Tony Grossi will be online for a special live Friday chat at noon to provide the answers and field your questions… Read more

China’s Consumer Prices Rise 0.6% Amid Recovery

Wall Street JournalBEIJING — China is moving out of deflation after nearly a year of falling consumer prices, a turnaround driven in part by changes in government policies that kept costs of oil, water and electricity artificially low.China’s consumer price index climbed 0.6% from a year earlier in November, the National Bureau of Statistics said Friday, after declining every month since… Read more

California Justices Hear Arguments in Polanski Case

New York TimesLOS ANGELES – The legal brawl over the fate of Roman Polanski moved to California on Thursday, where an appeals court heard a trio of lawyers debate whether Mr. Polanski, an Oscar-winning director, should be allowed to challenge his conviction on a 32-year-old sex charge while still under house arrest in Switzerland.Speaking before a courtroom packed with reporters and camera crews,… Read more

SABCS: More Evidence that Bisphosphonates Prevent Breast Cancer

MedPage TodayAction Points Explain to patients that two studies have shown that drugs used to treat osteoporosis may help reduce the risk of breast cancer.Note that the findings came from retrospective reviews of databases and cannot prove that bisphosphonates prevent breast cancer.Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should… Read more

KAR Auction IPO raises less than hoped

ForbesKAR Auction Services Inc. shares will make their trading debut Friday, but the auctioneer of used and salvaged vehicles raised less than it had hoped in its initial public offering. The company’s IPO priced well below its expected range at a time of deep uncertainty in the auto industry.Vehicle sales in the U.S. have been at historic lows this year as the recession weighed on consumers’… Read more

Slowing Expansion, Harvard Suspends Work on Tower

New York TimesBOSTON – Harvard announced Thursday that it would indefinitely suspend construction on a high-tech science complex in the Allston neighborhood of Boston because of money problems.’The altered financial landscape of the university, and of the wider world, necessitates a shift away from rapid development in Allston,’ Drew Gilpin Faust, Harvard’s president, wrote in a letter released… Read more

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