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$ALU Scores $2.1 Billion in Loans With $GS

Alcatel-Lucent SA (ALU) reached a 1.6 billion-euro ($2.1 billion) financing deal, gaining time to overhaul the French phone-equipment maker and try to sell as much as 1.5 billion euros of assets.

The senior secured credit facilities underwritten by Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) will be denominated in U.S. dollars and euros, with maturities of 3 1/2 to six years, the Paris-based company said today. The stock gained as much as 15 percent and the company’s 8.5 percent bonds jumped to the highest since in almost eight months.

The funding will allow Alcatel to “aggressively” consider all options to boost profitability, improve its strategy and shore up the company’s finances, Chief Executive Officer Ben Verwaayen said in the statement.

The CEO has so far sold smaller assets, cut jobs and costs and signed a patent-licensing agreement. Those measures have failed to reduce an average annual cash consumption of 700 million euros since the 2006 merger of Alcatel SA and Lucent Technologies.

The company, whose debt is rated junk by Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s, faces more than 2 billion euros of debt repayments over three years.”

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Gallup: Small Business Curtail Cap. Ex.

“U.S. small business owners are planning to put capital spending on hold next year, according to a recent survey by Gallup. Only 20% of business owners expect to increase capital spending in 2013, compared with 34% who expect to spend less. The difference yields Gallup’s index reading of -14, the lowest level in more than two years…”

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$NOK Catches a Break as Windows Phone Class Action Suit is Dismissed

Nokia may be struggling to reach a critical mass of users to adopt its Windows Phone-based smartphones instead of Android or iPhone devices, but today it got a little light relief in its bigger battle: it’s had a class action suit over its choice of the Windows Phone platform formally dismissed, with no compensation paid.

“After further investigation, the plaintiffs have agreed to dismiss the case against all defendants without any compensation being paid to any plaintiff or their counsel by any defendant,” Nokia notes in a statement. “The complaint has been withdrawn and dismissed with prejudice by the court.”

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Gapping Up and Down This Morning

NYSE 

GAINERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
ABT_w.N 32.78 +1.85 +5.98
RKUS.N 18.99 +0.86 +4.74
TRQ.N 7.77 +0.32 +4.30
GMED.N 11.80 +0.23 +1.99
HCI.N 20.64 +0.40 +1.98

LOSERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
CORR.N 6.48 -1.01 -13.48
ABBV_w.N 33.36 -1.96 -5.55
HY.N 45.58 -1.00 -2.15
BGB.N 18.58 -0.39 -2.06
ASGN.N 19.29 -0.40 -2.03
NASDAQ 

GAINERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
APPY.OQ 2.72 +0.62 +29.52
JASO.OQ 4.08 +0.67 +19.65
GMETP.OQ 8.84 +1.34 +17.87
ICPT.OQ 33.13 +4.63 +16.25
SPMD.OQ 2.67 +0.32 +13.62

LOSERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
CENTA.OQ 10.00 -1.85 -15.61
PAMT.OQ 5.32 -0.98 -15.56
ACUR.OQ 2.96 -0.53 -15.19
CENT.OQ 9.64 -1.52 -13.62
USMD.OQ 9.40 -1.37 -12.72
AMEX 

GAINERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
FU.A 3.58 +0.10 +2.87
SAND.A 12.43 +0.34 +2.81
WVT.A 11.50 +0.25 +2.22
BXE.A 3.80 +0.05 +1.33
CTF.A 24.50 +0.05 +0.20

LOSERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
SVLC.A 2.57 -0.05 -1.91

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$DISH Wins a $9 Billion Spectrum Prize

“For more than a decade, telecom moguls and hedge fund titans have wrangled with regulators in a bid to wring billions of dollars out of thin air. This week, the government crowned a winner.

The Federal Communications Commission late Tuesday said Dish Network Corp.,DISH +1.77% led by satellite-TV pioneer Charlie Ergen, would be able to use a slice of the airwaves designated for satellite-phone transmissions to instead offer much more lucrative cellphone service.

Mr. Ergen started assembling that spectrum for a total of about $3 billion half a decade ago. At a stroke, the FCC has now raised its value to as much as $12 billion, according to some analysts’ estimates. Mr. Ergen has to do the hard work of putting that spectrum to use or getting FCC approval to sell it…”

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$GOOG Maps Comes Back to iPhone

“(Reuters) – Google’s navigation tool has returned to the iPhone, months after Apple’s home-grownmapping service flopped, prompting user complaints, the firing of an executive and a public apology from Apple’s CEO.

The Google Maps app will be compatible with any iPhone or iPod Touch that runs iOS 5.1 or higher, the company said in a blog post. (http://link.reuters.com/jek64t)

Apple launched its own service in early September, and dropped Google Maps, when it launched the iPhone 5 and rolled out iOS 6, an upgrade to its mobile software platform.

Users complained that Apple’s new map service, based on Dutch navigation equipment and digital map maker TomTom’s data, contained errors and lacked features that made Google Maps popular….”

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$AMZN Wins EU e-Book Pricing Battle with $AAPL

“BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union regulators ended an antitrust probe into e-book prices on Thursday, accepting an offer by Apple and four publishers to ease pricing restrictions on Amazon and other retailers.

The decision hands online retailer Amazon a victory in its attempt to sell e-books cheaper than rivals in a fast-growing market publishers hope will boost revenue and customer numbers. Reuters first reported in November that the Commission was accepting the settlement offer.

The European Commission said on Thursday the concessions from Apple and the publishers soothed concerns that their pricing deals curbed competition.

“The commitments proposed by Apple and the four publishers will restore normal competitive conditions in this new and fast-moving market, to the benefit of the buyers and readers of e-books,” EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said.

Apple and the publishers offered to let retailers set prices or discounts for a period of two years, and also to suspend “most-favored nation” contracts for five years.

Such clauses bar publishers Simon & Schuster, News Corp. unit HarperCollins, Lagardere SCA’s Hachette Livre and Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck, the owner of German company Macmillan, from making deals with rival retailers to sell e-books more cheaply than Apple.

The agreements, which critics say prevent Amazon and other retailers from undercutting Apple’s charges, led to the EU antitrust investigation in December last year.”

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BoA: WTI Could Hit $50 Over the Next Two Years

 

“U.S. oil prices could sink to $50 a barrel at some point over the next two years, according to analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

But don’t expect a corresponding drop in gas prices.

Merrill analysts expect U.S. oil prices to still average about $90 a barrel over the same time period. Global oil prices meanwhile, which more closely dictate the price of gasoline in the United States, are expected to remain high as growth in global oil supplies lags population growth and economic output.

The drop in U.S. oil prices would likely be temporary, caused by the difficulty in moving huge amounts of new oil from places like North Dakota’s Bakken shale or Texas’ Eagle Ford to market. Already, all the new production has led to a glut of oil in the region.

“No one expected output to grow by a million barrels per day last year,” Francisco Blanche, Merrill’s head of commodity research, said at a press briefing in New York. “No one.”

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Honda Recalls More Than 800k Minivans and SUVs

“DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling more than 870,000 minivans and SUVs worldwide because they can roll away even though drivers have removed the keys from the ignition.

The recall announced Wednesday affects older-model vehicles sold mainly in the United States. They were big sellers with families because of their ample space and reputation for quality.

Here are details of the recall:

MODELS AFFECTED: 347,000 Honda Odyssey minivans and 277,000 Pilot SUVs from the 2003 and 2004 model years. Also 247,000 Acura MDX SUVs from the 2003 through 2006 period. All have automatic transmissions. More than 807,000 were sold in the U.S.

THE PROBLEM: The mechanism that locks the key in the ignition while the vehicles are in gear can wear out. When that happens, drivers of the vans and SUVs are able to remove keys without shifting into park. Some have left the vehicles, which have rolled off unexpectedly while in gear. The U.S. safety regulators began investigating the problem in October after owners filed 43 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Owners reported 16 crashes due to the problem.

INJURIES:

Two people were hurt in the crashes, according to NHTSA’s database. In the most serious case, the driver reported a broken leg after being run over by a 2003 Odyssey. The driver parked the van in a sloped driveway and after leaving the Honda, the van started to roll backward. The driver tripped while trying to stop the van. “I had an open fracture of my fibula (lower leg bone) and crush injuries on my shin area,” the driver reported. NHTSA does not identify drivers who file complaints.

THE FIX: Dealers will repair the ignition interlock system free of charge. Owners will get notices starting in February.”

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$AAPL Tests TV Designs

“TAIPEI—Apple Inc. AAPL +2.14% is working with component suppliers in Asia to test several TV-set designs, people familiar with the situation said, suggesting the U.S. company is moving closer to expanding its offerings for the living room.

Officials at some of Apple’s suppliers, who declined to be named, said the Cupertino, Calif.-based company has been working on testing a few designs for a large-screen high-resolution TV.

Two people said Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., 2317.TW +0.63% which assembles the iPhone and iPad, has been collaborating with Japan’s Sharp Corp.6753.TO +7.80% on the design of the new television.

“It isn’t a formal project yet. It is still in the early stage of testing,” said one of the people.

Apple, which works with suppliers to test new designs all the time, has been testing various TV prototypes for a number of years, according to people familiar with the efforts. The company generally tests and develops products internally before doing so with outside suppliers….”

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Gapping Up and Down This Morning

NYSE 

GAINERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
HCI.N 20.24 +1.01 +5.25
CEB.N 47.22 +1.09 +2.36
TRLA.N 18.00 +0.37 +2.10
MANU.N 13.89 +0.26 +1.91
PES.N 7.41 +0.13 +1.79

LOSERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
RKUS.N 18.13 -0.83 -4.38
LOCK.N 7.61 -0.23 -2.93
SSTK.N 25.57 -0.61 -2.33
USPH.N 27.00 -0.39 -1.42
GMED.N 11.57 -0.16 -1.36

 

NASDAQ 

GAINERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
APAGF.OQ 13.56 +0.90 +7.11
ARRY.OQ 3.86 +0.24 +6.63
FES.OQ 2.74 +0.06 +2.24
FIVE.OQ 34.95 +0.57 +1.66
CLRX.OQ 4.15 +0.05 +1.22

LOSERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
IDSA.OQ 2.17 -0.06 -2.69
ICCC.OQ 4.20 -0.10 -2.33
SUPN.OQ 7.77 -0.16 -2.02
HGSH.OQ 3.74 -0.07 -1.84
MDRX.OQ 11.19 -0.07 -0.62

 

AMEX 

GAINERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
PW.A 10.15 +0.95 +10.33
SED.A 2.37 +0.20 +9.22
BTC.A 2.60 +0.20 +8.33
NCQ.A 2.11 +0.15 +7.65
MDM.A 3.73 +0.26 +7.49

LOSERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
FU.A 3.48 -0.16 -4.40
WVT.A 11.25 -0.25 -2.17
BXE.A 3.75 -0.07 -1.83
CTF.A 24.45 -0.40 -1.61
SAND.A 12.09 -0.06 -0.49

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Report: $FDX ‘Systematically’ Overcharged Customers For Years

“While the U.S. Postal Service struggles to drum up business, one of its biggest competitors stands accused of regularly taking advantage of customers.

A FedEx executive said in an email that the company “systematically” overcharged businesses and government offices for years, according to a Bloomberg report on Tuesday.

“I have brought this to attention of many people over the past five or six years, including more than one managing director, and no action has been taken to address it,” said Alan Elam, a FedEx sales executive, in a 2011 email revealed in a lawsuit, according to Bloomberg.

FedEx fought back against the charges on Tuesday. “We highly value our relationships with our customers and these relationships are at the core of all we do,” FedEx spokesperson Sally Davenport wrote in an email to The Huffington Post. “These 11 documents do not tell the entire story of this case. We will continue to defend these allegations in a court of law and not the media.”

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U.S. Banks Brace for Another Round of Islamic Web Hacking Terrorism

“Developing: A group claiming to be aligned with Islamic terrorism that launched a massive attack against U.S. bank websites in the fall has threatened another round, set to start this week.

The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Cyber Fighters posted on a popular message board late Monday, saying it will target the websites of J.P. Morgan Chase, Bank of America, U.S. Bancorp, PNC Financial Services and SunTrust Banks…”

FOXBusiness gauges the banks’ reaction.

Read more:

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$LINTA Buys a Boatload of $TRIP Gaining Voting Rights

Source 

“Digital business holding company Liberty Interactive has purchased a bulk of stock in TripAdvisorgiving it voting control over the web travel operator, both companies announced on Tuesday.

In a statement, the companies stated that Liberty had purchased about 4.7 million common shares from Barry Diller — the chairman of IAC/Interactive and the foundation bearing his name. As part of the deal, Diller’s ownership stake in TripAdvisor has been terminated, granting Liberty a controlling stake.

As a result, Liberty now owns more than 18 million common shares and an additional 12.8 million Class B stock, which adds up to 22 percent of the equity and 57 percent of the total votes of TripAdvisor’s common stock.”

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Gapping Up and Down This Morning

NYSE 

GAINERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
RKUS.N 18.96 +1.36 +7.73
ANFI.N 8.06 +0.36 +4.68
LOCK.N 7.84 +0.19 +2.48
TRQ.N 7.40 +0.17 +2.35
NHF.N 6.47 +0.14 +2.21

LOSERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
CORR.N 7.57 -0.68 -8.24
ABBV_w.N 35.00 -2.00 -5.41
FLTX.N 19.81 -0.94 -4.53
WWAV.N 15.54 -0.29 -1.83
TRLA.N 17.63 -0.23 -1.29

 

NASDAQ 

GAINERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
MITL.OQ 3.31 +0.75 +29.30
TLAB.OQ 3.56 +0.61 +20.68
FIVE.OQ 37.15 +5.76 +18.35
FUNC.OQ 7.87 +1.13 +16.77
DRWI.OQ 2.43 +0.32 +15.17

LOSERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
NTLS.OQ 12.90 -3.27 -20.22
SUPN.OQ 7.99 -1.84 -18.72
USMD.OQ 9.00 -1.93 -17.66
VRSN.OQ 34.13 -5.21 -13.24
MDRX.OQ 11.12 -1.30 -10.47

 

AMEX 

GAINERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
SAND.A 12.15 +0.37 +3.14
SVLC.A 2.62 +0.03 +1.20
WVT.A 11.50 +0.13 +1.14
CTF.A 24.85 +0.10 +0.40

LOSERS

Symb Last Change Chg %
FU.A 3.64 -0.15 -3.96
BXE.A 3.82 -0.08 -2.05
EOX.A 4.92 -0.03 -0.61

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