Rubber commodity surplus seen as expanding as production outpaces demand
A global glut of natural rubber will probably expand next year as production increases at a faster pace than consumption, according to the Rubber Economist Ltd.The surplus may climb to 366,000 metric...
View ArticleGM, Toyota ready to battle for compact pickup buyers
DETROIT: General Motors has chosen to go bumper-to-bumper with Toyota for what’s left of a compact pickup market that Ford and Chrysler abandoned for the fatter profits of massive trucks.Ford no longer...
View Article$500 million at risk in Duck Dynasty controversy
The Duck Dynasty family and cable television’s A&E channel have lots of reasons to resolve the controversy sparked by patriarch Phil Robertson’s comments about gays: almost $500 million in...
View ArticleA look at 2013’s small-business challenges
Small-business owners are probably glad to put 2013 into the books.For many, it was a frustrating year of waiting. Waiting to learn about the new health-care law. Waiting for lawmakers to solve budget...
View ArticleTarget could lose customer loyalty in wake of data breach
Target Corp. finds itself grappling to maintain customers’ loyalty a week after it announced a breach that exposed data from 40 million debit and credit cards.Since disclosing the breakdown last week...
View ArticleNissan Cube odd-looking, but fun to drive
As funny as it looks — some of my co-workers call it a “clown car” — the Nissan Cube just might be the perfect car for today’s motorist.The asymmetrical design at the rear, with the back glass wrapping...
View ArticleBusiness news briefs — Dec. 26
real estateMortgage rates rise slightlyMortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year loan increased to 4.48 percent from 4.47 percent last week. The average on the 15-year fixed...
View ArticleNegative publicity prompts shutdown of McDonald’s worker resource website
McDonald’s is shutting down a website intended to provide employees with work and life guidance after it generated negative publicity for the company.Media and labor groups, such as the “Low Pay is Not...
View ArticleNew Junior Achievement President Michael Gaffney seeks to expand program
Michael Gaffney has moved from a senior marketing executive at United Way of Summit County to the top spot of Akron-based Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio.“It was a great fit for me,” Gaffney...
View ArticleAlways low wages? Walmart might have choices
Employees of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and McDonald’s are often the largest recipients of aid in their states.McDonald’s recently found itself in the spotlight courtesy of its “McResource” line — the...
View ArticleUPS gift-shipping delays show perils of stores overpromising
The failure of United Parcel Service Inc. and FedEx Corp. to deliver packages in time for Christmas has exposed the perils of retailers promising to get last-minute gifts to customers.Chains from...
View ArticleNo holding on long to gift cards; day after Christmas is time to shop
Brian Seidel acted quickly to put some of his Christmas gifts to good use.The 12-year-old Cuyahoga Falls resident late Thursday morning accompanied his parents to the GameStop store off Howe Avenue in...
View ArticleSummit County jobless rate stays at 6.8 percent, below Ohio average
Summit County’s unemployment rate for November was 6.8 percent, unchanged from October but up significantly from 5.9 percent a year ago, according to figures released Friday morning.Summit County’s...
View ArticleTarget: Customers’ encrypted PINs were obtained
ATLANTA: Target says that customers’ encrypted PIN data was removed during the data breach that occurred earlier this month.The company issued a statement Friday that additional forensic work has shown...
View ArticleWhy are Chinese worried about American corn?
Who’s afraid of a little genetically engineered American corn?Chinese quarantine officers apparently. They’ve recently blocked at least six batches (more than 180,000 tons) of American corn from...
View Article1.3 million losing unemployment benefits
WASHINGTON: More than 1 million Americans are bracing for a harrowing, post-Christmas jolt as extended federal unemployment benefits come to a sudden halt today, entailing potentially significant...
View Article10 money moves to make before New Year’s
Amid the hectic holiday season, who but Scrooge wants to dwell on taxes, stock losses, IRAs and 401(k)s? But it might pay off to take a few moments, given that some financial deadlines are fast...
View Article5 ways Fed’s influence has expanded over 100 years
WASHINGTON: The press called it an early Christmas present for President Woodrow Wilson: On Dec. 23, 1913, Congress passed legislation creating the Federal Reserve. Hours later, Wilson signed the...
View ArticleBusiness news briefs — Dec. 27
HEALTH careHospital deals win approvalUniversity Hospitals is acquiring Parma Community Hospitals and EMH Healthcare on New Year’s Day.The previously announced deals for the hospitals to join the...
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