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Summary: Hexion gets $540M to aid Huntsman buyout

AP — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:08:34 +0000

WHAT HAPPENED: Hexion Specialty Chemicals received a $540 million pledge from parent Apollo Management LP to help it close its fiercely contested takeover of Huntsman...

Summary: AMD spins off chip factories

AP — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:04:35 +0000

AMD’S SPLIT: Advanced Micro Devices Inc. will now focus on designing chips and spin off a new venture focused on making them. Chip-making factories are massively expensive, and AMD can’t afford to compete dollar-for-dollar with Intel...

Summary: eBay to cut work force by 10 percent

AP — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:48:44 +0000

THE LAYOFFS: EBay Inc. is eliminating 1,600 jobs, about 10 percent of its work force. The online auction site operator will cut 1,000 full-time employees and let several hundred temporary and part-time workers go. It will also leave some open...

Payrolls drop by most in 5 years; more pain ahead

AP — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:21:50 +0000

THE LATEST: Employers slashed 159,000 jobs in September, the most in more than five years and the ninth month in a row of nationwide job losses. So far this year, the economy has lost a staggering 760,000...

Summary Box: Financial crisis moves to stores

AP — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:16:32 +0000

MELTDOWN MOVES TO THE MALL: Stores worry the financial meltdown will make for slower sales this holiday season. They’re stepping up discounts on fall goods.

Summary Box: Tighter credit slows economy

AP — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:55:00 +0000

THE LATEST DATA: Signs emerged that tighter credit is harming the broader economy, as more people than expected sought unemployment benefits last week and factory orders plunged by the largest amount in two...

Summary Box: Anheuser-Busch's new Bud Light ads

AP — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:43:43 +0000

THE MESSAGE: Anheuser-Busch is touting the so-called drinkability of top-selling Bud Light. The company says in ads the beer has the right balance of taste without being too heavy, meaning drinkers can have lots of...

Summary Box: Demand for Wis. cranberries grows

AP — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:18:46 +0000

DEMAND: Worldwide demand for cranberry juice and sweetened dried cranberries is growing. Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., which processes two-thirds of the world’s crop, estimates it needs 5,000 more acres planted to meet demand in the next five...

Summary Box: Ballot measures tout cleaner energy

AP — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:00:48 +0000

CLEAN ENERGY PROMISE: Two California ballot measures promise to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lead to cleaner electricity and vehicles.

Summary Box: Foodmakers expand ads in down economy

AP — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:48:25 +0000

MARKETING BOOST: Foodmakers are squeezed right now because of high commodity prices, but they’re planning boosts in advertising this year. It comes as they’re raising prices and in some cases shrinking products as a way to recoup these...