Deals of the Hour

Trying to find out what's the deal with the world, tracking what's on sale and who's talking about it on Twitter. Update hourly.

Deals of the Hour / October 9, 2010, 12:41 pm

New Buick Verano to drive Orion plant

General Motors Co. hopes the new Buick compact it will build at its Orion assembly plant, alongside a new version of its Chevrolet Aveo, will lead the way toward manufacturing profitable small cars in the United States. The Detroit automaker Thursday ... (Source: Detroit News 2010-10-09T09:33:15Z)

GM, UAW reach deal to cut wages, build car in U.S.

ORION TOWNSHIP (AP) — General Motors and the United Auto Workers have reached a cost-cutting deal that could help accomplish what once seemed impossible: Making a profit on small cars built in the United States. The deal, announced Thursday, could cut in ... (Source: Morning Sun 2010-10-09T05:37:02Z)

Adobe's stock drops as Microsoft deal speculation ebbs

Adobe Systems shares Friday gave up part of Thursday's surge as speculation dimmmed that the company may be bought by Microsoft. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer recently met with Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen to discuss closer collaboration, The New York Times ... (Source: San Jose Mercury News 2010-10-09T03:56:49Z)

Sheikh Hedges $1 Billion Barclays Stake

Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan hedged his entire stake in Barclays , with Nomura Holdings , the counterparty in the agreement, selling £649 million ($1 billion) in shares in the British lender as part of the deal, Bloomberg News reports ... (Source: New York Times Blogs 2010-10-08T10:53:11Z)

Mystery Continues to Surround UAE Blackberry Deal

The United Arab Emirates has announced it will not implement a ban on certain functions of the BlackBerry smartphone following "positive collaboration" with the device's developer Research in Motion (RIM) . Details of the agreement, however, remain unclear ... (Source: Voice of America 2010-10-09T16:35:36Z)

Abu Dhabi Hedge Hits Barclays

LONDON—Barclays PLC shares fell Friday after Abu Dhabi's ruling family hedged its entire 6.3% stake in the U.K. bank, selling 220 million shares in the U.K. lender as part of the deal. PCP Gulf Invest 3 Ltd., which is controlled by Sheikh Mansour Bin ... (Source: Wall Street Journal 2010-10-08T11:14:39Z)

Auntie Anne sells to unit of Roark Capital

ATLANTA — A unit of private equity firm Roark Capital will buy pretzel chain Auntie Anne's, the companies said Friday. Terms of the deal with Focus Brands were not disclosed. Auntie Anne's is based in Lancaster, Pa., and has nearly 1,100 stores in 21 ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-10-09T06:41:27Z)

A Few More Things: Eminem, Jay-Z & Ozzy

In a recent interview, Eminem told "60 Minutes" correspondent Anderson Cooper that the language he uses at home around his children is quite different from the often violent, explicit lyrics of his Grammy-award winning albums. "Profanity around my ... (Source: POLLSTAR 2010-10-09T00:29:14Z)

Tony Gwynn, Hall of Fame outfielder, says he has cancer

San Diego, Calif. – Hall of Fame outfielder Tony Gwynn says he cancer in a salivary gland. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Saturday that the parotid cancer was discovered last month. The 50-year-old Gwynn faces radiation and chemotherapy treatments ... (Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer 2010-10-09T19:13:05Z)

'Gangsters' in police web banner look like Jay-Z

The Miami Police Department encouraged residents to report gang activity — with a website banner depicting two gangsters bearing a striking resemblance to rapper Jay-Z. The graphic depicting the Jay-Z lookalikes and three other figures had been removed ... (Source: San Francisco Gate 2010-10-08T18:59:57Z)

UAE cancels BlackBerry suspension

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Oct 9, 2010 (UPI via COMTEX) -- United Arab Emirate regulators said BlackBerry smart phone services would run uninterrupted, having settled an disagreement with the phone's manufacturer. The UAE's Telecommunication ... (Source: Investors Business Daily 2010-10-09T13:00:51Z)

Miami Police Department Thinks Jay-Z Looks Like a Gangbanger

The department's website is currently featuring a large mural-esque banner depicting five tough-looking characters, including one holding a bat and one throwing up a gang sign, and the plea: "Report Gang Activity". By our estimation, forty percent of the ... (Source: Miami New Times Blogs 2010-10-07T12:41:45Z)

Apple Rivalry at the Heart of Possible Microsoft-Adobe Merger

The CEOs of Microsoft and Adobe reportedly met to talk about a possible merger to combat Apple . An Adobe spokesperson said that the two companies do meet from time to time, but declined to confirm whether Apple was the topic of their last discussion ... (Source: Softpedia 2010-10-09T12:25:03Z)

Barclays profit windfall for Abu Dhabi

LONDON: The main Middle East investor who pumped billions of pounds into Barclays two years ago has locked in a profit of about £3 billion ($4.8bn) on the investment after a complex deal that sent the bank's shares lower. The sale came as concern mounted ... (Source: Gulf Daily News 2010-10-08T23:53:26Z)

UPDATE 3-Abu Dhabi bags big Barclays profit as Q3 fears grow

LONDON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - The main Middle East investor who pumped billions of pounds into Barclays ( BARC.L ) two years ago has locked in a profit of about 3 billion pounds on the investment after a complex deal that sent the bank's shares lower. The sale ... (Source: Reuters 2010-10-08T16:22:28Z)

Barclays Falls as Abu Dhabi Sheikh Buys Protection on Stock

Oct. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Barclays Plc, the U.K.'s third- biggest bank, dropped after Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan bought protection against a loss in value of his entire 6.3 percent stake in a deal with Nomura Holdings Inc. Barclays ... (Source: BusinessWeek 2010-10-08T11:00:20Z)

GM, UAW agree on wage deal

ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. — General Motors and the United Auto Workers have reached a cost-cutting deal that could help accomplish what once seemed impossible: making a profit on small cars built in the United States. The deal, announced Thursday, could cut ... (Source: Denver Post 2010-10-08T06:56:58Z)

Auntie Anne's Gets New Owner; Deal Could Lead to IPO

It's a good bet you've never heard of Focus Brands. But you definitely know the company's holdings. They include restaurant and snack chains like Carvel Ice Cream, Cinnabon, Schlotzsky's and Moe's Southwest Grill. Well, this week Focus has picked-up ... (Source: Daily Finance 2010-10-08T16:51:06Z)

3P: Tony Gwynn Battling Cancer; Bruins Reach New Deal With Zdeno Chara; UNC Without ...

Hall of Fame outfielder Tony Gwynn has been diagnosed with cancer of the parotid gland. Gwynn, who spent his entire 20-year career with the Padres, has had three procedures since 1997 to remove non-cancerous tumors to the largest of the salivary glands, he ... (Source: ESPN.com 2010-10-09T18:58:46Z)

Ford trumpets lower price of '12 Focus

The all-new Ford Focus won't hit the market for about four months, but with strong competition in the compact car segment, Ford Motor Co. is getting the news out early that the 2012 Focus will cost less than its predecessor. The new base Focus will start ... (Source: Detroit News 2010-10-09T05:01:14Z)

Ford, UAW reach deal on Focus plant

Ford and the UAW have reached a tentative local agreement that would allow the automaker to build the 2012 Ford Focus compact car profitably at Michigan Assembly Plant without a second-tier wage rate like the one announced earlier this week at a General ... (Source: Detroit Free Press 2010-10-09T12:46:32Z)

Mulally: Time's right for Lincoln

Detroit -- The time to build a new Lincoln brand is now, Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Alan Mulally said this morning before being honored as the Goodfellow of the Year at a breakfast at Cobo Convention Center. "It is a fabulous opportunity to take ... (Source: Detroit News 2010-10-08T17:05:25Z)

Adobe Pares Gains as Microsoft Deal Speculation Ebbs

(Updates share price in sixth paragraph.) Oct. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Adobe Systems Inc. shares gave up part of yesterday's surge as speculation diminished that the company may be bought by Microsoft Corp. Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer ... (Source: BusinessWeek 2010-10-08T20:18:41Z)

Blackberry Service Won't Be Shut Down In UAE

Blackberry users in Dubai won't be going dark on Monday. The United Arab Emirates had been threatening to shut down Blackberry service on October, 11th unless Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of the Blackberry, made some security concessions. It seems ... (Source: NPR News 2010-10-08T19:57:13Z)

Hall of Famer Gwynn to begin cancer treatment

Hall-of-Famer Tony Gwynn is fighting a case of parotid cancer, according to a story in his hometown newspaper, the San Diego Union-Tribune. Gwynn has had three surgeries since 1997 to remove tumors on the parotid gland, and the former Padres outfielder ... (Source: Seattle Mariners 2010-10-09T19:05:55Z)

FOCUS Brands buying Auntie Anne's

FOCUS Brands Inc. will buy hand-rolled soft pretzel chain Auntie Anne's for an undisclosed amount. The Lancaster, Pa.-based chain has about 1,100 stores in 44 states and 21 countries. The deal should close later this fall. Atlanta-based FOCUS Brands runs ... (Source: Birmingham Business Journal 2010-10-08T13:09:11Z)

Ford prices Focus to match Chevy Cruze

Ford has set the pricing for its entry level 2012 Ford Focus compact car at $16,995, according to the company's Web site, matching the starting price of the Chevrolet Cruze. The most expensive version, Focus Titanium, starts at $22,995. The Titanium model ... (Source: TradingMarkets.com 2010-10-08T12:47:43Z)

GM's Lake Orion plant set to use lower wage

General Motors' plant in Lake Orion will employ an outsized percentage of workers at about half the standard wage in a bid to make a profit on the subcompact Chevrolet Aveo, said Mike Dunn, chairman of UAW Local 5960. Under contract details the UAW ... (Source: Detroit Free Press 2010-10-05T02:49:59Z)

Abu Dhabi raises Barclays profit

LONDON — The main Middle East investor who pumped billions of pounds into Barclays has effectively sold a chunk more of shares to lift his profit on the deal to over $3 billion and send the British bank's shares lower. Abu Dhabi exercised 131.6 million ... (Source: Khaleej Times 2010-10-09T05:58:30Z)

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