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, 1:40 pm

Vranos's Bond Fund Falls as More Than Half of U.S. IPOs Delayed

Ellington Financial LLC , the mortgage-backed bond fund run by Michael Vranos , declined after its $101 million initial public offering as more than half of this week's U.S. IPOs were postponed or delayed. The company fell 3.3 percent to $21.75 in U.S ... (Source: Bloomberg 2010-10-09T04:18:17Z)

Grand jury probing anti-abortion conspiracy

WICHITA, Kan. — A federal grand jury is investigating whether the murder last year of Dr. George Tiller, one of the nation's few late-term abortion providers, was connected to a broader case involving radical anti-abortion activists, according to a ... (Source: Goshen News 2010-10-09T18:58:46Z)

Nathan Deal's steady career leads to GOP bid

Elissa Eubanks, eeubanks@ajc.com Throughout his career, Deal, 68, has been the kind of cautious candidate who relies on a steady string of hits to score runs, rather than swinging for the fences. He casts himself as a proven leader and a consensus builder ... (Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution 2010-09-27T13:15:05Z)

Vranos's Bond Fund Falls as More Than Half of U.S. IPOs Delayed

Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Ellington Financial LLC, the mortgage-backed bond fund run by Michael Vranos, declined after its $101 million initial public offering as more than half of this week's U.S. IPOs were postponed or delayed. The company fell 3.3 percent ... (Source: San Francisco Gate 2010-10-09T08:07:21Z)

Abortion doc's killing part of bigger case?

WICHITA, Kan. - A federal grand jury is investigating whether the murder last year of Dr. George Tiller, one of the nation's few late-term abortion providers, was connected to a broader case involving radical anti-abortion activists, according to a federal ... (Source: AZCentral.com 2010-10-09T16:49:55Z)

Moody's backs Penn's rating after M Resort deal

NEW YORK -- Moody's Investors Service said Friday that Penn National Inc.'s purchase of all of The M Resort LLC's secured bank debt and subordinated debt for $230.5 million has no immediate impact on its corporate family rating or rating outlook. Penn ... (Source: Forbes 2010-10-08T20:40:10Z)

'For sale' sign posted outside closed clinic of murdered Kan. late-term abortion doctor

WICHITA, Kan. - A "for sale" sign has been posted outside the Kansas medical clinic formerly operated by murdered abortion provider Dr. George Tiller. Tiller was among the few late-term abortion providers in the U.S. before he was fatally shot in his ... (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010-10-07T23:54:37Z)

Premier: China won't block rare earth exports

Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 | 12:25 a.m. China is not using its control over supplies of rare earth _ exotic metals crucial in advanced manufacturing _ as a diplomatic "bargaining chip," state media quoted Premier Wen Jiabao as saying during a visit to Europe ... (Source: Las Vegas Sun 2010-10-09T08:21:40Z)

China's CNOOC signs LNG deal with GDF Suez

Chinese offshore oil and gas company CNOOC agreed Saturday to buy 2.6 million tons of liquefied natural gas from French utility GDF Suez SA. The deal, signed in Shanghai with CNOOC's wholly owned CNOOC Gas and Power Group, calls for France's partially ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-09T10:16:12Z)

Obama promises 'hand to hand combat' if GOP wins

A Republican majority in Congress would mean "hand-to-hand combat" on Capitol Hill for the next two years, threatening policies Democrats have enacted to stabilize the economy, President Obama warned Wednesday. Speaking on Michael Baisden's syndicated ... (Source: American Thinker 2010-10-08T13:30:40Z)

Skittish retailers mean great holiday deals

The Christmas shopping season doesn't kick off for another six weeks, but retailers already are signaling they're prepared to discount aggressively to entice shoppers still skittish about spending. Gift buyers are likely to scrutinize every purchase, from ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-07T15:40:42Z)

Israel edges toward deal on settlements

JERUSALEM: In the clearest sign that a deal may be emerging to keep the troubled U.S. Mideast peace push alive, a top Palestinian official said Thursday that his side would accept an American proposal for Israel to curtail settlement construction for two ... (Source: Akron Beacon Journal 2010-10-08T06:35:29Z)

Ryan Seacrest in talks for cable network deal

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest is in preliminary talks to launch his own cable network, The Hollywood Reporter says. Seacrest, 33, is reportedly developing a music, pop culture and lifestyle channel with concert promoter AEG and Hollywood talent agency ... (Source: AZCentral.com 2010-10-08T22:56:10Z)

U.S. Retailers' Holiday Sales to Rise Most in 4 Years, NRF Says

U.S. holiday retail sales will climb 2.3 percent, for the best season in four years, as customers lured by promotions purchase apparel and electronics, the National Retail Federation said. The increase in retail sales to $447.1 billion in November and ... (Source: Bloomberg 2010-10-06T04:21:51Z)

Ryan Seacrest Plans Own TV Channel

Ryan Seacrest will reportedly add to his ever-growing media empire by launching a "music, pop culture and lifestyle oriented" cable channel with the help of concert giant AEG and talent agency CAA, The Hollywood Reporter writes. Talks are still in the ... (Source: Artistdirect.com 2010-10-09T00:50:42Z)

Ningbo Port Falls on Shanghai Debut After $1.1 Billion Initial Share Sale

Ningbo Port Co. , operator of the world's second-busiest harbor by total throughput, declined on its Shanghai trading debut after a reduction in the size of its initial share sale failed to allay concern about Chinese stocks. The company, which raised 7 ... (Source: Bloomberg 2010-09-28T02:58:17Z)

NYT: Adobe, Microsoft executives discussed sale of Adobe to Microsoft

The chief executives of software makers Adobe Systems and Microsoft discussed the possibility of Microsoft acquiring Adobe to take on Apple in the mobile-phone market, according to a report by the New York Times. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Adobe CEO ... (Source: Reuters 2010-10-07T21:45:46Z)

Obama hits GOP proposal to cut education spending

W ASHINGTON — Offering voters a reason to keep Democrats in power on Capitol Hill, President Barack Obama says Republicans would cut education spending and put the country's economic future at risk if they had their way. A quality education is ... (Source: Boston Herald 2010-10-09T18:30:08Z)

Biz Break: Tech 'frenemies': Adobe vs. Apple vs. Google vs. Microsoft

Today: Would Microsoft buy Adobe? "No comment," Steve Ballmer says. Plus: U.S. jobs report. BofA suspends foreclosure sales in all 50 states. The Dow climbs above 11,000. Adobe stock slides back Adobe Systems stock gave back some of yesterday's gain ... (Source: San Jose Mercury News 2010-10-08T20:18:41Z)

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)

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)

Moody's says Penn's $230.5M purchase of M Resort's debt has no immediate impact on rating

NEW YORK — Moody's Investors Service said Friday that Penn National Inc.'s purchase of all of The M Resort LLC's secured bank debt and subordinated debt for $230.5 million has no immediate impact on its corporate family rating or rating outlook. Penn ... (Source: Washington Examiner 2010-10-08T20:40:10Z)

Holiday sales forecast to rise 2.3%, retailers say

As the holidays approach, consumers are getting back in the buying mood, but only if the price is right. Holiday retail sales are expected to increase 2.3% this year to $447.1 billion, according to a study released Wednesday by the National Retail ... (Source: Yahoo Finance 2010-10-06T12:28:37Z)

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)

China livid as dissident Liu wins Nobel Peace Prize

Jailed Chinese democracy activist Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for two decades of non-violent struggle for human rights, infuriating China, which called the award "an obscenity". The prize shines a spotlight on human rights in China at a ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-10-09T07:31:34Z)

Seacrest channel in works

"American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest is in talks with talent agency CAA and concert promoter AEG Entertainment to launch a new music-focused entertainment channel, sources told The Post. The group has been canvassing prospective candidates to run the venture ... (Source: New York Post 2010-10-08T04:19:29Z)

Israelis, Palestinians signal deal on settlements

Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 | 12:31 a.m. In the clearest sign that a deal may be emerging to keep the troubled U.S. Mideast peace push alive, a top Palestinian official said Thursday that his side would accept an American proposal for Israel to curtail ... (Source: Las Vegas Sun 2010-10-09T07:53:02Z)

Penn National Gaming Acquires M Resort Debt From Bank Of Scotland For $230.5 Mln

(RTTNews) - Gaming and racing facilities operator Penn National Gaming, Inc. (PENN: News ) announced Friday that it has acquired all of the outstanding bank debt of M Resort LLC, plus $160 million of subordinated debt formerly held by MGM Resorts ... (Source: RTT News 2010-10-09T08:14:31Z)

New signs point to deal on saving Mideast talks

JERUSALEM - In the clearest sign that a deal may be emerging to keep the troubled U.S. Mideast peace push alive, a top Palestinian official said Thursday that his side would accept an American proposal for Israel to curtail settlement construction for two ... (Source: Philadelphia Daily News 2010-10-08T06:56:58Z)

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)

Blog Archive