New home construction in the U.S. jumped in September to its highest level in four years, reported Bloomberg Businessweek, based on Commerce Department data released Wednesday.
Consumer Electronics
EBay’s Foresight into the Mobile Commerce Market Pays Off
Rapid penetration of the mobile market is playing an increasingly critical role in an e-commerce company’s success, as more consumers shift to online shopping and to shopping using their mobile devices.
Walmart Workers Threaten Strike on Black Friday
In an effort to make the retail giant feel their pain, Walmart workers have threatened to strike on Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year, if their demands for better working conditions, wages and benefits are not met.
Walmart Stake in Indian Supermarket Chain Probed for Violating Direct Foreign Investment Regs
An Indian lawmaker has filed a complaint with the government claiming that Walmart illegally invested in a local supermarket chain in violation of rules restricting direct foreign investment in the retail industry. Regulators have begun an informal inquiry into the matter, according to an article in Friday's New York Times.
Traffic Low for Online Video Chat Service 'Airtime' Despite Top Firms' Backing, According to AppData
Despite a splashy, star-studded coming out party in June and funding from celebrities and big name venture capital firms, the video chat start-up Airtime appears to be struggling, based on information published in The New York Times today. "So far its traffic appears to be little more than a trickle," reporter Jenna Wortham wrote.
Latest News
The Japanese telecommunications company Softbank Corp. has struck a deal to buy a 70 percent stake in Sprint Nextel for $20.1 billion.
After months of negotiations, the German retailer Douglas Holding, which is known throughout Europe for its perfumeries, jewelry and book stores, is well on the road to going private. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that the company's founding family has joined private equity firm Advent International in a takeover offer.
U.S. retail sales rose 1.1 percent in Sept. according to data released on Monday from the Commerce Department, totaling $412.9 billion. The growth is better than expected and good news for the economy, since consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of the country's total economic growth.
Although a new study by one of the world's largest actuarial firms, Milliman, found the 100 largest pension funds are underreporting their unfunded liabilities by about $300 billion, a spokeswoman for the firm said the amount was "insignificant." Large public funds remain skeptical of private equity.
The online, privately held lending company borro just received $26 million in new funding to expand its U.K. and U.S. operations. borro offers loans ranging from $1,000 to $1 million dollars secured against personal assets such as jewelry, fine art, classic cars or even wine collections. It just received $26
Millennial Media, a six-year old independent company ranked No. 2 last year in mobile advertising sales in the United States, Reuters reported today. Its customers included 75 of the top 100 Ad Age advertisers.
A temporary injunction banning the sale of Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphones has been overturned, dealing a blow to Apple in its ongoing battle with the South Korean electronics giant.
The London-based HouseTrip, which allows users to rent out their homes while they're away, raised $40 million in its third-round of funding, from Europe's three largest venture capital firms.
Reuters reported today that big private equity firms will bid for Ingham Enterprises, Australasia's largest poultry producer, according to confidential sources.
