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15 Jan 2009 09:31

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Biz: Who says you can’t go home? The bank. Foreclosures are up.

  • 81% increase in forclosures from 2007 to 2008; the number tripled from 2006 to 2008. source

14 Jan 2009 09:31

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Biz: Citi wants to play “good bank, bad bank”

  • The good bank. After years of attempting to be a “financial supermarket,” Citi’s looking to move back to its old ways. On Jan. 22, the corporation plans to shed its current approach and slim up. They will focus primarily on corporate, investment and retail banking. The company recently agreed to merge its Smith Barney brokerage with Morgan Stanley.
  • The good bank. After years of attempting to be a “financial supermarket,” Citi’s looking to move back to its old ways. On Jan. 22, the corporation plans to shed its current approach and slim up. They will focus primarily on corporate, investment and retail banking. The company recently agreed to merge its Smith Barney brokerage with Morgan Stanley.
  • The bad bank. Nearly one-third of Citi’s assets, or $600 billion, would be separated from the rest of the company, to eventually be sold off. By segregating the bad assets, the company could find itself on stronger ground in the long run, some analysts say. Citi was one of the recipients of some federal bailout money. They got $25 billion in October and another $20 billion in November.

14 Jan 2009 09:09

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U.S.: A fugitive investor story’s cinematic end

  • He muttered “Die” before he was caught. Marcus Schrenker, the daredevil amateur pilot on the run from the law for sketchy business practices, was caught last night. He was bleeding from his wrist and barely conscious. Schrenker attempted to fake his own death in a plane crash on Sunday, then sped off on a motorbike. source

13 Jan 2009 15:13

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U.S.: Bailing out of a plane to bail out of a heap of trouble

  • What happened? Authorities say that Marcus Schrenker, a 38-year-old money manager wanted on financial fraud charges, attempted to fake his own death on Sunday by crashing the plane he was flying in Florida, while parachuting out safely in Alabama. source
  • What happened? Authorities say that Marcus Schrenker, a 38-year-old money manager wanted on financial fraud charges, attempted to fake his own death on Sunday by crashing the plane he was flying in Florida, while parachuting out safely in Alabama.
  • Cinematic getaway? Schrenker, when plotting his escape, hid a red motorbike in a shed near the point where he jumped out of the plane. The bike is gone, and his clothes were left behind. “He could be anywhere at all,” said Huntsville, Ala. Police Chief David Latimer. “Within 10 hours he could be in New Orleans, halfway to Houston, in Atlanta, anywhere.” source
  • What happened? Authorities say that Marcus Schrenker, a 38-year-old money manager wanted on financial fraud charges, attempted to fake his own death on Sunday by crashing the plane he was flying in Florida, while parachuting out safely in Alabama.
  • Cinematic getaway? Schrenker, when plotting his escape, hid a red motorbike in a shed near the point where he jumped out of the plane. The bike is gone, and his clothes were left behind. “He could be anywhere at all,” said Huntsville, Ala. Police Chief David Latimer. “Within 10 hours he could be in New Orleans, halfway to Houston, in Atlanta, anywhere.”
  • A high-flying lifestyle Schrenker, an investment manager who lived on the edge as an experienced pilot who was unafraid to pull off impressive stunts, saw his shady business dealings catching up with him. He faces charges in Indiana and his company recently lost a judgment in Maryland. He also faces charges for the plane crash. source

12 Jan 2009 17:21

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Biz: Bernard Madoff gets to live the lavish life some more

  • $10 million The amount of Madoff’s bail. He remains free on bond. A judge declined a request to revoke bail source

12 Jan 2009 12:12

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Biz, U.S.: Oh wait! Obama wants me to release those bailout funds!

  • $350 billion was just signed off on by Bush source

12 Jan 2009 11:45

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U.S.: I’m outta here! This is on that Obama guy’s watch now.

  • I don’t intend to make the request unless he specifically asks me to make it.
  • George W. Bush • on the release of $350 billion in Troubled Asset Relief Program funds. If the money were to be released today, it wouldn’t be available until after Obama takes office. Obama has yet to request the money. • source
 

06 Jan 2009 11:15

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Sports: The objects of the Yankees’ desire

  • $180 million amount offered to slugger Mark Teixeira; they will publicly announce the eight-year deal today source

06 Jan 2009 10:56

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Sports: For most people, winning the lottery. For a Yankee, an insult.

  • $10 million offered to Andy Pettitte; he’s turning it down source

01 Jan 2009 23:52

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Music: The music industry’s downtempo 2008 album sales

  • 8.5% decline in album sales in 2008, from 500 million to 428 million source