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Friday, February 28, 2014

Aetna Board of Directors Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend, Authorizes Additional Share Repurchases

Aetna Press Release:

Aetna Board of Directors Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend, Authorizes Additional Share Repurchases

Friday, February 28, 2014 1:50 pm EST

Dateline:

HARTFORD, Conn.

Public Company Information:

NYSE:
AET
HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Directors of Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) today announced the following actions.
  • The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.225 per share on the company’s common stock. The dividend was declared on February 28, 2014, and is payable on April 25, 2014, to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 10, 2014. Declaration and payment of future quarterly dividends is at the discretion of the Board and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.
  • The Board authorized the company to repurchase up to an additional $1 billion of its common stock from time to time. This authorization is in addition to the approximately $388 million of repurchase authority available under Aetna’s prior authorization as of February 27, 2014. The company intends to continue buying shares in the open market from time to time.
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 44 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.

Your bank data may be at risk if you use an iPhone

If you haven't updated your iPhone recently, your personal information—and possibly your financial data—is at risk.



Your bank data may be at risk if you use an iPhone

Sage Launches Subscription Small Business Invoicing

One of the biggest challenges and frustrations of running a small business is getting paid. Now Sage has announced a new monthly subscription-based invoicing service. Called Sage One Invoicing and costing $9 a month, it is targeting small businesses as its core customers.



Sage Launches Subscription Small Business Invoicing

The dysfunctional debate on debt - Feb. 28, 2014

Yes, annual deficits are falling dramatically. But the long-term debt isn't.

The dysfunctional debate on debt - Feb. 28, 2014

How To Do Government Contracting Research Before Market Entry

There is nothing worse than attending an event where a speaker will whet your appetite for a new market, then leave you hanging. At many small business conferences around the country, inevitably one of the speakers will bring up doing business with the government, and perhaps they will offer accurate advice, but not always.



How To Do Government Contracting Research Before Market Entry

25 highest paying internships - Feb. 28, 2014

Internships have long been thought of as an entrée into full-time jobs and resume boosters, but not big money makers.



25 highest paying internships - Feb. 28, 2014

Transforming energy's impact

Lord John Browne, "Seven Elements That Changed the World" author, discusses the pros and cons of all energies, including fracking and its impact on climate change.

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000248697

Save vs splurge: What we really do with tax refunds

When it comes to tax refunds, many Americans say they plan to do something virtuous with the money they get back from Uncle Sam, like pay down debt or put it in the rainy day fund.
We're not completely fooling ourselves: Experts say people who plan to save their refund or use it to pay off bills do that—with at least part of the money.


Save vs splurge: What we really do with tax refunds

Friday Links - Feb. 28, 2014

Friday Links - Feb. 28, 2014

A clean start: From real estate exec to laundromat owner - Feb. 28, 2014

If Louise Mann had kept her dirty laundry to herself, she might not be where she is today.



A clean start: From real estate exec to laundromat owner - Feb. 28, 2014

Don't be Late for a Waste of Time

Don't be Late for a Waste of Time

Economy just muddling along - Feb. 28, 2014

The economy merely muddled along at the end of the year, but economists call it "impressive" given the federal spending cuts and the government shutdown in October.



Economy just muddling along - Feb. 28, 2014

GSK announces submission to U.S. regulatory authorities for Promacta™ (eltrombopag) for severe aplastic anaemia

GSK News Release:

GSK announces submission to U.S. regulatory authorities for Promacta™ (eltrombopag) for severe aplastic anaemia

Issued: 28 February 2014, London UK
GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE:GSK) announced today the submission of a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Promacta (eltrombopag) for the treatment of cytopenias (a reduction in blood cells) in patients with severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) who have had an insufficient response to immunosuppressive therapy (IST). 
SAA is a rare disorder in which the bone marrow fails to make enough new blood cells. There are no approved therapies available for SAA patients unresponsive to IST. Of those patients unresponsive to initial IST, approximately 40% die from infection or bleeding within 5 years of their diagnosis.[i]
On 3 February 2014, GSK announced that the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for Promacta in SAA.
The sNDA application is based on the results from an open-label, Phase II National Institute of Health (NIH) study of eltrombopag in 43 heavily pre-treated SAA patients with an insufficient response to IST.

About Eltrombopag

Eltrombopag—marketed as Promacta in the U.S. and as Revolade in Europe and other countries across the world—is not approved or licensed anywhere in the world for use in severe aplastic anaemia.
Eltrombopag is approved in 100 countries worldwide for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and in 43 countries worldwide for the treatment of for the treatment of thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet counts) in patients with chronic hepatitis C to allow them to initiate and maintain interferon-based therapy.
For full Promacta U.S. Prescribing Information and Medication Guide and EU Patient Information Leaflet or Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) for Revolade (eltrombopag) please visit http://www.gsk.com/products.html.
GSK – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.  For further information please visit www.gsk.com.
Promacta and Revolade are registered trade marks of the GSK group of companies.

Mobile apps overtake PC Web usage in U.S. - Feb. 28, 2014

Americans used smartphones and tablet apps more than PCs to access the Internet last month -- the first time that has ever happened.



Mobile apps overtake PC Web usage in U.S. - Feb. 28, 2014

United canceled 22,500 flights so far this year - Feb. 28, 2014

United Continental, the No. 2 airline in the world, was forced to cancel 22,500 flights in the first two months of this year due mostly to bad weather.



United canceled 22,500 flights so far this year - Feb. 28, 2014

CHMP Issues Positive Opinion for Tablet Formulation of Merck’s NOXAFIL® (posaconazole)

Merck News Release:

CHMP Issues Positive Opinion for Tablet Formulation of Merck’s NOXAFIL® (posaconazole)

Friday, February 28, 2014 8:30 am EST
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion recommending approval of a new, investigational tablet formulation of NOXAFIL® (posaconazole).
The CHMP positive opinion will be reviewed by the European Commission, which if approved, grants a centralized marketing authorization with unified labeling that is valid in the 28 countries that are members of the European Union, as well as European Economic Area members Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
NOXAFIL in the U.S.
In the U.S., NOXAFIL delayed-release tablets are indicated for the prophylaxis of invasiveAspergillus and Candida infections in patients, 13 years of age and older, who are at high risk of developing these infections due to being severely immunocompromised, such as hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or those with hematologic malignancies with prolonged neutropenia (low white blood cell counts) from chemotherapy.
Selected Safety Information
NOXAFIL is contraindicated in persons with known hypersensitivity to posaconazole, any component of NOXAFIL, or other azole antifungal agents.
NOXAFIL (posaconazole) is contraindicated with sirolimus. Concomitant administration of NOXAFIL with sirolimus increases the sirolimus blood concentrations by approximately 9-fold and can result in sirolimus toxicity.
NOXAFIL is contraindicated with CYP3A4 substrates that prolong the QT interval. Concomitant administration of NOXAFIL with the CYP3A4 substrates, pimozide and quinidine may result in increased plasma concentrations of these drugs, leading to QT prolongation and cases of torsades de pointes.
NOXAFIL is contraindicated with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that are primarily metabolized through CYP3A4 (e.g., atorvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin) as increased plasma concentration of these drugs can lead to rhabdomyolysis.
NOXAFIL is contraindicated with ergot alkaloids. NOXAFIL may increase the plasma concentrations of ergot alkaloids (ergotamine and dihydroergotamine) which may lead to ergotism.
Concomitant administration of NOXAFIL with cyclosporine or tacrolimus increases the whole blood trough concentrations of these calcineurin inhibitors. Nephrotoxicity and leukoencephalopathy (including deaths) have been reported in clinical efficacy studies in patients with elevated cyclosporine or tacrolimus concentrations. Frequent monitoring of cyclosporine or tacrolimus whole blood trough concentrations should be performed during and at discontinuation of NOXAFIL treatment and the tacrolimus or cyclosporine dose adjusted accordingly.
Some azoles, including NOXAFIL, have been associated with prolongation of the QT interval on the electrocardiogram. In addition, cases of torsades de pointes have been reported in patients taking NOXAFIL. NOXAFIL should be administered with caution to patients with potentially proarrhythmic conditions. Do not administer with drugs that are known to prolong the QT interval and are metabolized through CYP3A4. Rigorous attempts to correct potassium, magnesium and calcium should be made in these patients before starting NOXAFIL.
Hepatic reactions (e.g., mild to moderate elevations in ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin and/or clinical hepatitis) have been reported in clinical trials. The elevations in liver function tests were generally reversible on discontinuation of therapy, and in some instances these tests normalized without drug interruption. Cases of more severe hepatic reactions including cholestasis or hepatic failure including deaths have been reported in patients with serious underlying medical conditions (e.g., hematologic malignancy) during treatment with NOXAFIL. Liver function tests should be evaluated at the start of and during the course of therapy. Patients who develop abnormal liver function tests during posaconazole therapy should be monitored for the development of more severe hepatic injury. Consider discontinuation of NOXAFIL (posaconazole) if clinical signs and symptoms consistent with liver disease develop that may be attributable to NOXAFIL.
Concomitant administration of NOXAFIL with midazolam increases the midazolam plasma concentrations by approximately 5-fold which could potentiate and prolong hypnotic and sedative effects. Concomitant use of NOXAFIL and other benzodiazepines metabolized by CYP3A4 (e.g., alprazolam, triazolam) could result in increased plasma concentrations of theses benzodiazepines. Patients must be monitored closely for adverse effects associated with high plasma concentrations of midazolam and other benzodiazepines metabolized by CYP3A4. In addition, benzodiazepine receptor antagonists must be available to reverse these effects.
The most frequently reported adverse reactions (>25%) with posaconazole delayed-release tablets (300 mg) were diarrhea, fever, and nausea.
Posaconazole is primarily metabolized via UDP glucuronidation and is a substrate of p-glycoprotein efflux. Therefore, inhibitors or inducers of these clearance pathways may affect posaconazole plasma concentrations. Coadministration of drugs that can decrease the plasma concentrations of posaconazole should generally be avoided unless the benefit outweighs the risk. If such drugs are necessary, patients should be monitored closely for breakthrough fungal infections. Posaconazole is also a strong inhibitor of CYP3A4. Therefore, plasma concentrations of drugs predominantly metabolized by CYP3A4 may be increased by posaconazole.
Coadministration of NOXAFIL with rifabutin, phenytoin and efavirenz should be avoided unless the benefit outweighs the risk. Monitoring for toxicity and/or adverse events is recommended when tacrolimus, cyclosporine, benzodiazepines, ritonavir, atazanavir, vinca alkaloids and calcium channel blockers and rifabutin are coadministered with NOXAFIL. Dosage adjustments should also be considered when tacrolimus, cyclosporine, vinca alkaloids, calcium channel blockers and phenytoin are administered with NOXAFIL. Monitor plasma concentrations when coadministering digoxin, phenytoin, tacrolimus and cyclosporine with NOXAFIL. Although no dosage adjustment of glipizide is required, it is recommended to monitor glucose concentrations when coadministering glipizide with NOXAFIL. Monitor for breakthrough fungal infections when coadministering fosamprenavir, rifabutin and phenytoin with NOXAFIL.
No clinically relevant effects on the pharmacokinetics of posaconazole delayed-release tablets were observed when concomitantly administered with drugs affecting gastric pH (i.e., antacids, H2-receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors). Concomitant administration of metoclopramide with posaconazole delayed-release tablets did not affect the pharmacokinetics of posaconazole.
The safety and effectiveness of NOXAFIL in patients below the age of 13 years old have not been established.
Patients weighing greater than 120 kg may have lower posaconazole plasma drug exposures. It is therefore, suggested to closely monitor for breakthrough fungal infections.
About Merck
Today's Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer care and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on TwitterFacebookand YouTube.

U.S. House Passes Bill Allowing People to Unlock Their Phones, But....

A new bill that makes it legal to unlock your smartphone at the end of your service contract has narrowly passed the U.S. House. However, some language in the bill may stifle businesses that sell unlocked phones to consumers.



U.S. House Passes Bill Allowing People to Unlock Their Phones, But....

Bitcoin exchange Mt.Gox files for bankruptcy - Feb. 28, 2014

It looks like Mt.Gox has finally thrown in the towel.



Bitcoin exchange Mt.Gox files for bankruptcy - Feb. 28, 2014

Police smash new "Wolf of Wall Street" scam, arrest 110 people - Feb. 28, 2014

The ring leaders in a "Wolf of Wall Street" scam have been busted in a global police raid.



Police smash new "Wolf of Wall Street" scam, arrest 110 people - Feb. 28, 2014

Credit card issuers urged to provide free credit scores - Feb. 28, 2014

The nation's top credit card issuers are being urged to give customers free access to their credit scores.



Credit card issuers urged to provide free credit scores - Feb. 28, 2014

The truffles in the Oscar swag bag - Feb. 28, 2014

Ally Sinclair knows all about the jet-setting, celebrity schmoozing and red carpet treatment that comes with attending the Oscars. But Sinclair isn't an up-and-coming Hollywood starlet. She's the owner of Cocopotamus, a five-year-old, artisanal chocolatier in Albuquerque, N.M.



The truffles in the Oscar swag bag - Feb. 28, 2014

Russian ruble rattled by Ukrainian tensions - Feb. 28, 2014

The ruble has taken a big hit as political tensions escalate over the fate of Ukraine and the Russian economy falters.



Russian ruble rattled by Ukrainian tensions - Feb. 28, 2014

GM recall was delayed by internal miscues - Feb. 28, 2014

General Motors engineers knew 10 years ago about a problem with ignition switches in some of its most popular models, but it took until this month to issue a recall. By that time, there had been at least 13 deaths as a result of the issue.



GM recall was delayed by internal miscues - Feb. 28, 2014

Yuan drops again as central bank targets speculators - Feb. 28, 2014

China let its currency fall sharply again Friday, sending another clear message to speculators that the yuan is not a one-way bet.



Yuan drops again as central bank targets speculators - Feb. 28, 2014

Thursday, February 27, 2014

98 Percent of Mobile Malware is Aimed at Android Users

98 Percent of Mobile Malware is Aimed at Android Users

CDC Genomics & Health Impact Update features data sharing, rare diseases, SCID & more

CDC Genomics & Health Impact Update features data sharing, rare diseases, SCID & more

Ben Bernanke grilled on AIG bailout - Feb. 27, 2014

Former Fed chairman Ben Bernanke was grilled on Thursday about some of his toughest days in the job.



Ben Bernanke grilled on AIG bailout - Feb. 27, 2014

Briton charged with hacking the Fed - Feb. 27, 2014

A U.K. man with an alleged penchant for targeting the U.S. government has been charged with hacking into the Federal Reserve.



Briton charged with hacking the Fed - Feb. 27, 2014

CrowdtiltOpen Allows Free Crowdsourcing on Your Own Domain

The free, open-source crowdfunding site was launched last week. Unlike Indigogo, Kickstarter and similar sites, CrowdtiltOpen allows for full customization of the look and feel of your business’ crowdfunding site. You can even use your existing domain or another one.



CrowdtiltOpen Allows Free Crowdsourcing on Your Own Domain

Consumer complaints: Identity theft tops list - Feb. 27, 2014

Identity thieves were once again consumers' greatest gripe last year, followed by pesky debt collectors and frustrating banks and lenders.



Consumer complaints: Identity theft tops list - Feb. 27, 2014

Customer Service Matters Much More Than You May Think

Customer Service Matters Much More Than You May Think

Boeing to sell phone that can self-destruct - Feb. 27, 2014

It's the smartphone every "Mission Impossible" fan would love to have.



Boeing to sell phone that can self-destruct - Feb. 27, 2014

Is the most bearish Tesla analyst too extreme? - Feb. 27, 2014

Tesla bulls, meet the Tesla bear.



Is the most bearish Tesla analyst too extreme? - Feb. 27, 2014

Apple ends security updates for Snow Leopard - Feb. 27, 2014

If you're reading this on a Mac, there's a one-in-five chance you're not getting security patches anymore.



Apple ends security updates for Snow Leopard - Feb. 27, 2014

J.C. Penney shares soar 20% - Feb. 27, 2014

Is the worst over for J.C. Penney?



J.C. Penney shares soar 20% - Feb. 27, 2014

China Based Huawei Introduces Five New Devices, Eyes U.S. Market

China Based Huawei Introduces Five New Devices, Eyes U.S. Market

New chapter begins in net neutrality fight - Feb. 27, 2014

The battle for the open Internet has entered a new phase.



New chapter begins in net neutrality fight - Feb. 27, 2014

Union Pacific Railroad Most Admired in Industry

Union Pacific News Release:

Union Pacific Railroad Most Admired in Industry

Named Industry Best on Fortune’s Most Admired List for Fourth Consecutive Year

OMAHA, NEB., FEBRUARY 27, 2014
Fortune named Union Pacific Railroad the most admired among trucking, transportation and logistics companies for the fourth consecutive year. The magazine's annual World's Most Admired list is published in the Feb. 27 edition.
Union Pacific ranked No. 1 in seven of nine reputation attributes identified by Fortune:
  • People management
  • Use of corporate assets
  • Social responsibility
  • Quality of management
  • Financial soundness
  • Long-term investment
  • Quality of products/services
The company was ranked fourth for innovation and global competitiveness.
"Every day the men and women of Union Pacific work to provide safe, reliable and efficient transportation solutions that support businesses, communities and the American economy," said Union Pacific CEO Jack Koraleski. "Union Pacific's ranking as the most admired trucking, transportation or logistics company reaffirms our commitment to creating value for our 10,000 customers in America and abroad."
Fortune's research partner, the Hay Group, surveyed more than 3,900 executives, directors and analysts to select companies they admired most from a list that began with approximately 1,400 companies.
About Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2007-2013, Union Pacific invested more than $21.6 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.
The statements and information contained in the news releases provided by Union Pacific speak only as of the date issued. Such information by its nature may become outdated, and investors should not assume that the statements and information contained in Union Pacific's news releases remain current after the date issued. Union Pacific makes no commitment, and disclaims any duty, to update any of this information.

Top debt collection complaints - Feb. 27, 2014

Nasty, careless and annoying debt collectors are sparking thousands of complaints from consumers.



Top debt collection complaints - Feb. 27, 2014

Are You Guilty of Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace?

Are You Guilty of Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace?

How young tech millionaires invest - Feb. 27, 2014

As soon as the sale of his company was announced in 2012, Mike Zhang, who was barely above the legal drinking age at the time, started getting a flood of phone calls.



How young tech millionaires invest - Feb. 27, 2014

She's back! Yellen testifies before the Senate - Feb. 27, 2014

The last time Janet Yellen testified before lawmakers, stocks rallied. Now, she's back.



She's back! Yellen testifies before the Senate - Feb. 27, 2014

Russian jets patrol Ukraine border, markets pull back

Military muscle flexing by Russia accentuated risk aversion in global markets on Thursday, with investors once again rushing for safe havens.



Russian jets patrol Ukraine border, markets pull back

Planting the seeds for 1-800-Flowers.com - Feb. 27, 2014

How did a nighttime social worker at the St. John's Home for Boys in Queens, N.Y., get the audacity to think he could launch a national chain of flower shops? As Jim McCann says of his younger self, "Sometimes naivetĂ© can be an asset." McCann parlayed a single shop into the easy-to-remember 1-800-Flowers.com (FLWS). Today it's a florist and gift-shop company that serves 70 countries and generated $1 billion in revenue last year. McCann, 62, has been running the business for 38 years, and, he maintains, he's still not quite ready to stop and smell the roses. His story:



Planting the seeds for 1-800-Flowers.com - Feb. 27, 2014

Have You Ever Been to a 3D-Printed Fashion Show?

Have You Ever Been to a 3D-Printed Fashion Show?

Ukraine crisis spills onto world markets - Feb. 27, 2014

Fear that Russia could be drawn into a conflict in Ukraine rattled world markets Thursday.



Ukraine crisis spills onto world markets - Feb. 27, 2014

Five ways to protect your ideas - Feb. 27, 2014

Shielding your innovations is almost as crucial as the innovations themselves. Here's how to do it.



Five ways to protect your ideas - Feb. 27, 2014

RPX: Taking on the patent trolls - Feb. 27, 2014

Last year wireless carrier AT&T was sued for patent infringement by so-called patent trolls a startling 54 times -- more than once a week, according to statistics being published here for the first time. If you count open cases from previous years, AT&T was fighting 70 such cases at the end of the year.



RPX: Taking on the patent trolls - Feb. 27, 2014

Shanghai cracks down on taxi apps - Feb. 27, 2014

Shanghai slapped new rules on smartphone apps used to hail rides on Thursday, a major setback for tech firms hoping to capitalize on the booming trend.



Shanghai cracks down on taxi apps - Feb. 27, 2014

O'Leary Schools CNN's Erin Burnett on Economics, Obama and the "1%"

And to think that Erin Burnett used to be an achor on CNBC...



O'Leary Schools CNN's Erin Burnett on Economics, Obama and the "1%"

Delta takes off - Feb. 27, 2014

Standing on the tarmac at the Atlanta airport, Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson suddenly finds himself face-to-face with an unusually inquisitive baggage handler. It happens to be Valentine's Day. But more to the point, it's Delta's fifth-annual "Profit-Sharing Day," a rah-rah corporate celebration. At airports around the country, most of the airline's 80,000 employees are receiving bonus checks equivalent to about a month's pay. And outside Concourse A here in Atlanta, the event has the feel of a house party. The folks who refuel aircraft and drive "tugs" are filling plates with barbecue and listening to a DJ spin hip-hop at earsplitting volume as planes take off and land nearby. After 15 minutes of shaking hands and making small talk, Anderson is about to make his exit when he is cornered by James F. Martin, a burly 40-year Delta veteran whom Anderson instantly anoints the Dean of the Baggage Room. The Dean doesn't waste any time getting to his point. "All the TV business shows say we've been making big profits," he says. "So are we going to get bought?"



Delta takes off - Feb. 27, 2014

China's tech companies target bank business - Feb. 27, 2014

Yuan Ye has just sunk his $17,000 in life savings into an unusual investment: Yu'ebao, a fund run by Chinese e-commerce heavyweight Alibaba.



China's tech companies target bank business - Feb. 27, 2014

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

New TouchBase Business Card Could Transfer Digital Profile to a Smartphone

New TouchBase Business Card Could Transfer Digital Profile to a Smartphone

Tesla to raise $1.6 billion for 'Gigafactory' - Feb. 26, 2014

Tesla's grand expansion plans will be funded in part by raising $1.6 billion through a bond issue that the automaker announced Wednesday.



Tesla to raise $1.6 billion for 'Gigafactory' - Feb. 26, 2014

Aetna Announces Appearance at Raymond James 35th Annual Institutional Investors Conference

Aetna News Release:

Aetna Announces Appearance at Raymond James 35th Annual Institutional Investors Conference

Wednesday, February 26, 2014 4:51 pm EST

Dateline:

HARTFORD, Conn.

Public Company Information:

NYSE:
AET
HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced today that Thomas F. Cowhey, vice president of Investor Relations, is scheduled to make a presentation at the Raymond James 35th Annual Institutional Investors Conference on March 4, 2014, in Orlando, Fla.
Aetna’s presentation is scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. EST. Investors, analysts and the general public are invited to listen to this presentation over the Internet via Aetna’s Investor Information link. To listen to this presentation live on the Internet, visit Aetna’s website prior to the presentation to download and install any necessary audio software. A webcast replay will be available via Aetna’s Investor Information link for 14 days.
Anyone listening to the presentation is encouraged to read Aetna’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of Aetna's historical results of operations and financial condition. Information reconciling certain financial and other measures that may be disclosed in the presentation to relevant GAAP measures will be available prior to the presentation via the Investor Information portion of Aetna’s website.
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 44 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.

Credit Suisse 'regrets' aiding tax evasion - Feb. 26, 2014

Top executives at Credit Suisse Group told a Senate hearing Wednesday that the Swiss bank "regrets very deeply" that it aided billions of dollars of tax evasion by American clients, but said the apparent U.S. law violations were limited to a small number of rogue private bankers.



Credit Suisse 'regrets' aiding tax evasion - Feb. 26, 2014

Dabs—marijuana's explosive secret

Two months into Colorado's great marijuana experiment, a single trend may be poised to tarnish the "natural and healthy" image of legal weed: hash oil concentrate. Washington, the next state to roll out legal recreational marijuana, has banned it. Colorado is trying to regulate it.



Hash oil concentrate, a powerful distillation of marijuana's essential active ingredients, is mixed into many new and popular cannabis products: edibles, drinks and liquids that can be "smoked" in vaporizer pens like e-cigarettes. The problem-child of concentrates may turn out to be the actual concentrate itself—a hardened or viscous mass of cannabinoids created via a process of butane-gas extraction.



Dabs—marijuana's explosive secret

Innovation vs. Regulation | National Review Online

When entrenched interests face competition, wealth and opportunity can skyrocket. 



Innovation vs. Regulation | National Review Online

11 Direct Mail Marketing Secrets You Can Use Now

11 Direct Mail Marketing Secrets You Can Use Now

Verizon, McAfee Expand Security Solution to Cover Smartphones and Tablets

Verizon, McAfee Expand Security Solution to Cover Smartphones and Tablets

Sturm Ruger says sales are becoming more "realistic" - Feb. 26, 2014

Sturm Ruger gun sales surged last year, but are coming down to more "realistic" levels in 2014, the company's chief executive said Wednesday.



Sturm Ruger says sales are becoming more "realistic" - Feb. 26, 2014

Adidas T-shirts too sexy for Brazil - Feb. 26, 2014

Adidas gave new meaning to the term "graphic tees" -- and 2014 World Cup host country Brazil didn't like what it saw.



Adidas T-shirts too sexy for Brazil - Feb. 26, 2014

Pinterest Marketing Tool Discover Can Give Better View of Your Brand

Pinterest Marketing Tool Discover Can Give Better View of Your Brand

Reining In the IRS | National Review Online

The House GOP unveils its plan. 



Reining In the IRS | National Review Online

Harry Reid: Koch brothers have ‘no conscience’

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid accused the billionaire Koch brothers of having “no conscience” and spreading lies about Obamacare through political ads.



Americans for Prosperity, a group backed by Charles and David Koch, is spending millions attacking vulnerable Democrats for their Obamacare support using “horror stories” that are untrue, Reid said on Wednesday.



Harry Reid: Koch brothers have ‘no conscience’

Citi on the Potomac

So many former Goldman Sachs executives were in top government jobs at the end of the Bush administration that critics and punsters dubbed the Wall Street giant “Government Sachs.”



In the Obama administration, however, the name of a different Wall Street bank can be found on the resumes of top economic officials and nominees: Citigroup.



Citi on the Potomac

Republican tax reform plan on tap - Feb. 26, 2014

Lower tax rates for all, but a surtax on the rich, and new tax bites on banks and hedge fund managers.



Republican tax reform plan on tap - Feb. 26, 2014

Legal pot like 'alcohol after Prohibition': O'Leary

Legal pot like 'alcohol after Prohibition': O'Leary

Automate The Hiring Of New Staff For Your Business With iCIMS

Automate The Hiring Of New Staff For Your Business With iCIMS

Paula Deen to open first post-scandal restaurant - Feb. 26, 2014

Paula Deen is back, y'all. She's opening a restaurant this summer at the foot of the Smoky Mountains, marking her first move back into business after a scandal derailed her many enterprises.



Paula Deen to open first post-scandal restaurant - Feb. 26, 2014

New Merrill Edge® Mobile App Uses 3D Technology to Put Retirement Planning in Your Hands | Bank of America Newsroom

New Merrill Edge® Mobile App Uses 3D Technology to Put Retirement Planning in Your Hands | Bank of America Newsroom

Israel is under pressure to clean up its diamond trade - Feb. 26, 2014

Israel is facing mounting pressure to clean up its vast diamond trade after experts warned it may be vulnerable to money launderers and other criminals.



Israel is under pressure to clean up its diamond trade - Feb. 26, 2014

Colorado weed shops rolling in green

Video from CNBC.

Every day we went out to shoot video it was an eye-popping experience, says NBC News Correspondent Harry Smith, talking about his new documentary on the big business of marijuana. Two pot shops in Colorado brought in about $1 million in total sales in January, producing about $56,000 in local sales taxes. Forty percent of the business comes from edibles, says Smith.

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000248897

New scam targets homeless - Feb. 26, 2014

A scam preying on the homeless is popping up in cities across the country.



New scam targets homeless - Feb. 26, 2014

AES Reports 2013 Adjusted EPS of $1.29 and Proportional Free Cash Flow of $1.2 billion

AES Corporation | News & Views | RSS Content

Got a Startup Tech Hardware Product to Sell? Try Grand St.

Got a Startup Tech Hardware Product to Sell? Try Grand St.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

How Mt.Gox went down - Feb. 25, 2014

Bitcoin skeptics say the digital currency is doomed. They're wrong. But the failure of Mt.Gox shows the agony of an evolving industry without any government oversight and led by tech entrepreneurs with zero financial experience.



How Mt.Gox went down - Feb. 25, 2014

Facebook Ads May Encourage Fake Likes, Report Says

Facebook Ads May Encourage Fake Likes, Report Says

Credit Suisse helped clients hide billions from IRS - Senate report - Feb. 25, 2014

Bankers at Credit Suisse used cloak and dagger tactics to help wealthy American clients stash away billions in assets out of sight of the IRS, according to a Senate investigative report released Tuesday.



Credit Suisse helped clients hide billions from IRS - Senate report - Feb. 25, 2014

Alcoa Founding Member of the First Lightweight Metals Manufacturing Institute in the United States

Alcoa News Release:

February 25, 2014
Alcoa Founding Member of the First Lightweight Metals Manufacturing Institute in the United States
WASHINGTON--Alcoa (NYSE: AA), a global leader in lightweight metals engineering and manufacturing, is a founding member of the country’s first manufacturing institute focused solely on light metals: the National Lightweight and Modern Metals Innovation Institute in Detroit, Michigan. The institute was formally unveiled by President Obama during an event in Washington today.

“Lightweight metals are a growing and critical segment of the national manufacturing base. We’ve seen this most recently through the increased use of aluminum in the automotive industry to produce energy efficient vehicles,” said Alcoa Chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld. “As one of the country’s most established leaders in lightweight metals, Alcoa is committed to sharing our expertise to ensure the competitiveness of U.S. industry.”

The goal of the institute is to expand the market for products using new, lightweight, high-performing metals and alloys by removing technological manufacturing barriers. Alcoa’s experts at the Alcoa Technical Center (ATC) – the world’s largest light metals R&D center, located outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – will work closely with this new institute and focus on developing technologies impacting the future of key industries, including automotive, aerospace, defense, consumer products, and maritime sectors.

“Public-private partnerships are essential to advancing the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing,” said Dr. Raymond Kilmer, Alcoa’s Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. “Bringing new innovations to market faster – while creating meaningful jobs in advanced manufacturing – is vitally important and Alcoa is proud to have the opportunity to participate in this new institute.”

Alcoa will serve on the board of the new institute and is one of 60 founding members, including the University of Michigan, Boeing, General Electric, Honda North America and Lockheed Martin.

About Alcoa
A global leader in lightweight metals engineering and manufacturing, Alcoa innovates multi-material solutions that advance our world. Our technologies enhance transportation, from automotive and commercial transport to air and space travel, and improve industrial and consumer electronics products. We enable smart buildings, sustainable food and beverage packaging, high-performance defense vehicles across air, land and sea, deeper oil and gas drilling and more efficient power generation. We pioneered the aluminum industry over 125 years ago, and today, our 60,000 people in 30 countries deliver value-add products made of titanium, nickel and aluminum, and produce best-in-class bauxite, alumina and primary aluminum products. For more information, visitwww.alcoa.com, follow @Alcoa on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Alcoaand follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Alcoa.