http://www.newburyportnews.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:58:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_338165820.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_338165820.html WASHINGTON (AP) and mdash; Pharmaceutical executives laid out plans Friday to prevent the misuse of prescription painkillers, under pressure from regulators trying to stop hundreds of fatal overdoses each year. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:57:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_338165748.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_338165748.html WASHINGTON (AP) and mdash; A surprising drop in the unemployment rate and far fewer job losses last month raised hopes Friday for a sustained economic recovery. The rate unexpectedly fell to 10 percent, from 10.2 percent in October, as employers cut the fewest number of jobs since the recession began. The government also said 159,000 fewer jobs were lost in September and October than first reported. Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:21:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_337112137.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_337112137.html NEW YORK(AP) and mdash; A private measure of U.S. service sector activity unexpectedly shrank in November after two months of tepid growth, as constrained consumer spending and rising unemployment hinder a broad recovery. Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:20:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_337112018.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_337112018.html WASHINGTON (AP) and mdash; The average interest rate for a 30-year mortgage dropped to a record low of 4.71 percent this week, pushed down by an aggressive government campaign to reduce borrowing costs. The rate is the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking the data in 1971. The previous record of 4.78 percent was set during the week ending April 30 and matched last week. Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:20:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_337112057.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_337112057.html WASHINGTON (AP) and mdash; Making a case for a second term as head of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke said Thursday that he has the tools and the political backbone necessary to reel in massive economic support once the recovery is firmly rooted. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:09:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_334180925.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_334180925.html WASHINGTON (AP) and mdash; Riven by partisanship, the Senate plunged into a widely anticipated debate Monday over sweeping health care legislation that President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats have vowed to approve and Republicans sworn to block. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:08:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_334180828.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_334180828.html WASHINGTON (AP) and mdash; Faced with sluggish progress in its foreclosure-prevention effort, the Obama administration will spend the coming weeks cracking down on mortgage companies that aren't doing enough to help borrowers at risk of losing their homes. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:08:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_334180857.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_334180857.html NEW YORK (AP) and mdash; The stock market closed out its best month since the summer, posting big gains for November even as investors worried about the strength of the holiday shopping season. Stocks fluctuated through the day Monday, but finished modestly higher as traders ultimately were not deterred by reports that retail sales were overall uninspiring during the Thanksgiving weekend. Retailers including Macy's Inc. and Saks Inc. fell sharply but online merchants like Amazon.com Inc. shot higher on reports of strong Internet sales. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:07:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_334180753.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_334180753.html INDIANAPOLIS (AP) and mdash; Stressed-out workers are calling in sick more often and turning to employee assistance programs for help in greater numbers in the wake of layoffs at many firms, according to a new survey. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:21:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_327112113.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_327112113.html LONDON (AP) and mdash; World markets rose sharply Monday amid further hopeful signs about the economic recovery. Commodity stocks led the charge, particularly in London, after gold hit another record high. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:20:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_327112007.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_327112007.html KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) and mdash; Are you going to be ready for retirement? Retirement-plan ratings firm Fiduciary Benchmarks on Monday unveiled a new index that measures how well 401(k) plans for thousands of companies are preparing their employees. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:20:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_327112037.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_327112037.html BEIJING (AP) and mdash; Regulators ordered Chinese banks on Monday to control lending and manage risks better amid concern that a rapid, stimulus-fueled credit boom this year might affect the industry's health. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:17:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_327111736.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_327111736.html WASHINGTON (AP) and mdash; Home sales far exceeded expectations last month, surging to the highest level in 2 1/2 years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of an expiring tax credit. The National Association of Realtors said Monday that home resales rose 10.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.1 million in October, from a downwardly revised pace of 5.54 million in September. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:22:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_322092225.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_322092225.html LONDON (AP) and mdash; Chocolate makers The Hershey Co. and Ferrero International SA confirmed Wednesday they are considering a possible offer for Cadbury PLC, which is already the target of a hostile bid by Kraft Foods Inc. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:21:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_322092120.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/business/etgtntsnbusiness_story_322092120.html WASHINGTON (AP) and mdash; Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen lead the insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, according to a closely watched assessment used by car companies to lure safety-conscious consumers to showrooms.