“G-20 summit to clear out Pittsburgh - Akron Beacon Journal” plus 4 more |
- G-20 summit to clear out Pittsburgh - Akron Beacon Journal
- ConAgra sees1Q profit fall, raises outlook - WCAX
- Dell buys tech services firm Perot Systems - Nashville Tennessean
- Rent-a-Friend Business Booming - Who Needs a BFF? - National Ledger
- Business Briefs - Houston Community Newspapers
| G-20 summit to clear out Pittsburgh - Akron Beacon Journal Posted: 21 Sep 2009 10:10 PM PDT PITTSBURGH: Nick Mancini Hartner is like a lot of downtown Pittsburgh business operators: He doesn't know what to expect if thousands of protesters show up for the Group of 20 economic summit or, for that matter, how many customers will show up either. That's why he'll try something new during this week's summit at his Mancini's Hearth Baked Bread shop. He'll lock the doors and instead sell a limited menu of fresh breads on the sidewalk out front. ''That way, we can react to whatever's happening,'' said Hartner, whose mother's family owns the business. ''If it's a regular lunch crowd, we can open up the store. If it's slow, we can pull back and come inside and lock up.'' Security plans include a vehicle-free, three-block perimeter around the convention center and a ban on most vehicles elsewhere in the city's dense, triangular downtown — leaving protesters and foreign dignitaries to likely experience an emptier-than-normal Pittsburgh when the two-day summit begins Thursday. Commuters will have to park outside downtown and either walk or take mass transit into the business district. Thousands of protesters and media are expected to come to town for the summit, a gathering of the leaders of the world's 20 top economies. What's unclear is how many commuters will come downtown. Many businesses are closing or — like Highmark, the health insurance giant that normally has 5,000 employees in the area — having most employees telecommute or work at other offices. ''We tried very hard to create a sense that Pittsburgh did not have to shut down for the G-20 . . . but I think the momentum was so strong that Please see G-20, B9 Continued from Page B8 The city, with a population of about 310,000, usually draws about 200,000 commuters on a typical weekday. In addition to many businesses, the city's public and Catholic schools will be closed along with most city, state and federal offices, cultural centers like the Carnegie museums, many bank branches, and most colleges and universities in the area. Then again, if President Barack Obama spills food on his tie, Macy's says its downtown department store will be open to sell him a new one. Amtrak trains will pass through Pittsburgh, but passengers will be allowed only to transfer to other trains; no boarding or disembarking here. Greyhound, the bus company, is temporarily moving its city operations to McKeesport, about 10 miles away. Commuting uncertainty, fear of protests like those that rocked April's G-20 in London, and fear of the unknown are all fueling the momentum to stay away, said Robert Arnoni, president and CEO of Specialized Security Response Inc., based in the Pittsburgh suburbs. Arnoni's company has regular security guards, but also ex-military personnel with special operations experience who are in demand for the summit. He said the Pittsburgh Pirates have hired his firm for two games that will be played as scheduled during the summit at PNC Park, just across the Roberto Clemente Bridge from the heavily restricted downtown area. The uncertainty has also caused larger businesses to take precautions against nontraditional protests or violence — including targets like FirstEnergy Corp.'s Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station about 30 miles away. FirstEnergy, based in Akron, has spent more than $30 million to secure three nuclear power plants since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and took unspecified ''extra steps'' for the G-20, spokesman Todd Schneider said. ''Our biggest effort has been to ensure that our security force is in coordination with local, state and federal agencies if an event should happen,'' he said. |
| ConAgra sees1Q profit fall, raises outlook - WCAX Posted: 22 Sep 2009 07:21 AM PDT OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - ConAgra Foods Inc. said Tuesday that its fiscal first-quarter profit dropped 63 percent because of a gain last year, but adjusted results beat analysts' estimates. The maker of Chef Boyardee, Slim Jim and Reddi-wip also lifted its adjusted full-year earnings guidance on the strength of its consumer foods unit. ConAgra earned $165.9 million, or 37 cents per share, for the period ended Aug. 30. That's down from $442.4 million, or 94 cents per share, a year ago. The previous year's results included a gain of 71 cents per share related to the sale of its trading and merchandising operations. Excluding a 1-cent-per-share charge related to investments, ConAgra's adjusted results of 38 cents per share topped the 34 cents-per-share estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. Analysts' estimates generally exclude one-time items. Revenue dipped 3 percent to $2.96 billion on lower sales in its commercial foods segment, which missed Wall Street's $3.09 billion sales forecast. Omaha-based ConAgra said the sales decline at its commercial foods segment - which makes up 37 percent of its revenue results - was due to reduced flour prices that were prompted by lower wheat costs. The consumer foods division - which made up 63 percent of revenue - reported its quarterly sales edged up 1 percent to $1.86 billion as its Healthy Choice, Hunt's, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's and Snack Pack brands recorded market share gains and sales growth. ConAgra said its 2010 adjusted earnings from continuing operations will likely be near $1.70 per share. Its prior forecast was for adjusted income from continuing operations in a range of $1.63 to $1.66 per share. Analysts expect 2010 net income of $1.65 per share. "We expect the balance of the year to show strong profits for (the consumer foods) segment due to manageable inflation, good cost savings, sales growth, and favorable mix," CEO Gary Rodkin said in a statement. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
| Dell buys tech services firm Perot Systems - Nashville Tennessean Posted: 22 Sep 2009 06:10 AM PDT NEW YORK Dell Inc. will spend $3.9 billion for the technology services company Perot Systems Corp. in an attempt to expand beyond the PC business and compete more aggressively with Hewlett-Packard Co. which recently bought another tech-services company founded by H. Ross Perot. Dell said Monday that it will offer $30 per share in cash for Perot Systems a 68 percent premium over its closing price Friday. Perot Systems' shares rose $11.65, or 65 percent, to close at $29.56. Dell shares fell 68 cents, or 4.1 percent, to $16.01. Former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot Sr., 79, serves as chairman emeritus of Perot Systems, which he founded in 1988. According to an April regulatory filing, Perot and related trusts controlled at least 25 percent of the company's stock, though the beneficiary of those shares was not clear. The company did not respond to a request for comment on Perot's stake. Perot had already made a fortune from founding Electronic Data Systems Corp. in 1962 and selling it to General Motors Corp. in a 1984 deal worth $2.5 billion. Hewlett-Packard bought EDS last year for $13.9 billion as it, too, tried to augment its services offerings and diversify beyond hardware. In a conference call with analysts, Dell's founder and CEO, Michael Dell, said Perot Systems will serve as an "anchor" acquisition for a global information-technology services business. Plano, Texas-based Perot Systems would bring Dell more than 1,000 customers, including the U.S. military and the Department of Homeland Security. About 48 percent of Perot Systems' revenue comes from the health-care industry and 25 percent from government. Last year Perot Systems earned $117 million on sales of $2.8 billion. A more competitive DellDell's services business is more basic than those of its larger competitors, and its revenue comes mainly from the hard-hit PC business. As a result Dell's profits have been slumping, down 23 percent in the second quarter. Perot Systems would add consulting and other kinds of computing services, such as "systems integration," to Dell's lineup. |
| Rent-a-Friend Business Booming - Who Needs a BFF? - National Ledger Posted: 22 Sep 2009 07:50 AM PDT Need a pal in Japan? A new report claims a "Rent-a-friend business" is booming for the country. Before you think prostitution or something along those lines, this one is more like a stand in actor, or at least it is described as such by an article from WAVY Channel 10. Ryuichi Ichinokawa started his rent-a-friend business almost four years ago as a way for people to avoid embarrassment in social situations, and the report notes he "was first hired to be a best man at a wedding." He now has 30 agents who stand in as friends, relatives or colleagues. They get paid pretty good money for the stand in roles, about $150 a day (15,000 yen). The agency is called Hagemashi Tai [I Want to Cheer You Up]. The UK Guardian blames the culture and notes the "rise of the phony friend is a symptom of social and economic changes, combined with a deep-seated cultural aversion to giving personal and professional problems a public airing."
|
| Business Briefs - Houston Community Newspapers Posted: 22 Sep 2009 08:40 AM PDT Compiled by JENNIFER SUMMER "IloveitInteriors" offers tips Tips to prepare a home for the real estate market: 1. Curb Appeal: Your yard and your front walkway is the first area a prospective buyer will see and the last area a prospective buyer will see. You only have one chance to make a good first impression so make it positively memorable. Draw their eye to freshly mulched beds, neatly trimmed hedges and colorful flowers. Give the hardware on your front door a shine too. 2. Appeal to the senses: Instead of a fish fry the day before your open house, bake some frozen cookies or mini bread loaves that morning to welcome prospective buyers. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Business - Bing News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 comments:
Post a Comment