WSJ.com: What's News US Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:55:12 EST

Bankruptcy Is Option to GM Board  - Members of GM's board are willing to consider "all options," including an eventual bankruptcy-protection filing, a stance CEO Rick Wagoner opposes. Job Losses Surge as Slump Accelerates  - Unemployment across the U.S. is accelerating. Twelve states had a rise of at least two percentage points in jobless rates over the past year. Wal-Mart Names Duke Its New CEO  - Wal-Mart said CEO Scott is retiring and named Mike Duke, who heads the international operations, to succeed him starting in February. Citigroup Tries to Steady Stock  - Citigroup's Pandit told employees he has "no desire" to sell any part of the firm. Citi is working to stabilize its shares, which hit a 16-year low. Turmoil Continues in Banking Sector  - Three more banks failed Friday, marking the highest volume of bank failures in one day since the Savings and Loan crisis. McKesson Agrees to Settle Pricing Suits  - McKesson agreed to pay $350 million to settle cases in which it was accused of helping to increase drug prices in 2001 and 2002. Share Declines Pressure Redstone  - Viacom and CBS shares sank to lows this week, turning up pressure on Redstone as he tries to resolve his family's debt problems. More Hedge Funds Expected to Succumb  - More hedge funds will likely have to close this year, amid a steady redemptions drumbeat from pension funds, endowments and others. Goldman to Offer FDIC Debt  - Goldman Sachs will issue debt backed by the FDIC under the new Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. Maxim in Restructuring Talks  - The publisher of men's magazine Maxim is in restructuring talks that are expected to turn over the company to creditors, in another blow to star media deal maker Steve Rattner. AnnTaylor Withdraws Outlook  - AnnTaylor's swung to a quarterly loss on slumping margins and sales as the company withdrew its outlook for the year amid the uncertainty in the retail segment. Heinz Focuses on Conserving Cash  - Heinz reported a 22% jump in net, helped by price increases, and said it will focus on conserving cash. Target Ends Real-Estate Plans  - Target has decided against pursuing various real-estate structure ideas, calling the potential value of the deal "highly speculative." Summers to Head Economic Council  - Former Clinton Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers will be Obama's top White House economic aide, joining Timothy Geithner in heading the new administration's economic team. Bush Touts Free Trade in Asia  - Bush used what is likely to be his final international address of his term to call on nations to knock down trade barriers. Clinton to Face Familiar Problems  - Hillary Clinton, as secretary of state, would seek solutions to problems her husband and George W. Bush failed to resolve.

WSJ.com: What's News Technology Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:01:35 EST

Dell's Growth Stalls Amid Pull Back  - Dell posted a 5% profit drop, but results weren't as bad as feared. Revenue fell 3% as PC sales to businesses slowed. Shift Seen in Telecom Regulation  - The telecom industry is bracing for a new era of increased regulation under the Obama administration. Companies Eye Location Services  - Technology companies are working with telecommunications carriers and handset makers to help give location-based cellphone applications mass reach. Top Sprint Nextel Executive to Leave  - John Garcia, a top Sprint Nextel executive in charge of one of the wireless carrier's main business units, is leaving the company. The circumstances of his departure were not clear. Obama's Cellphone Records Breached  - Verizon Wireless disclosed that several of its employees accessed and viewed President-elect Barack Obama's personal cellphone account. Google Lets Users Edit Search  - Google has begun allowing users to re-rank and edit their search results through a new set of personalization features. BlackBerry Storm Reaches Land  - Verizon Wireless is intensifying its ad campaign for the Blackberry Storm, claiming that typing on the touch-screen phone is more accurate than the competition. Disney Affiliate Is Besieged By Pirates  - Disney faces a big challenge preventing pirated movies and TV shows from showing up on a video Web site in China, 56.com, in which it holds a stake. Salesforce.com's Profit Rises 55%  - Salesforce.com's profit rose 55% in the third quarter, signaling that online business software may more insulated from the economic downturn. GameStop Net Falls as Growth Slows  - Videogame retailer GameStop reported a decline in third-quarter profit because of acquisition charges, and scaled back its forecast for the holiday quarter. Judge Sides with Telenor in Alfa Dispute  - A New York judge had found units of Russia's Alfa Group in contempt of court, ordering daily fines in a dispute between Alfa and Telenor over a Ukrainian cellphone firm. Prison Plans to Shackle Cellphones  - A South Carolina prison's plan to test a jamming system that could curb inmates' illegal cellphone use has sparked interest among lawmakers and law-enforcement groups. Microsoft Modifies Zune Service  - Microsoft is modifying its approach to offering music to consumers over the Internet, after slow consumer uptake of its Zune Pass subscription service.

WSJ.com: US Business Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:54:24 EST

Bankruptcy Is Option to GM Board  - Members of GM's board are willing to consider "all options," including an eventual bankruptcy-protection filing, a stance CEO Rick Wagoner opposes. Wal-Mart Names Duke Its New CEO  - Wal-Mart said CEO Scott is retiring and named Mike Duke, who heads the international operations, to succeed him starting in February. Citigroup Tries to Steady Stock  - Citigroup's Pandit told employees he has "no desire" to sell any part of the firm. Citi is working to stabilize its shares, which hit a 16-year low. Turmoil Continues in Banking Sector  -  McKesson Agrees to Settle Pricing Suits  -  Share Declines Pressure Redstone  -  Target Ends Real-Estate Plans  -  'Credible' Plan Sought From Detroit  -  Directors Quit As Firms Flounder  -  Maxim in Restructuring Talks  -  Ford Explores Sale of Corporate Jets  -  Top Sprint Nextel Executive to Leave  -  Heinz Focuses on Conserving Cash  -  AnnTaylor Withdraws Outlook  -  Blackstone Pares Size Of Asia-Focused Fund  -  Coachmen Sells RV Unit to Buffett  -  Honda to Cut Production Further  -  Random House to Freeze Pensions  -

WSJ.com: Markets Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:05:40 EST

Businesses Paralyzed Amid Crisis  - The financial crisis is throwing a pall over the ability of companies, pension funds and philanthropies to expand and invest. Citigroup Tries to Steady Stock  - Citigroup's Pandit told employees he has "no desire" to sell any part of the firm. Citi is working to stabilize its shares, which hit a 16-year low. Geithner Pick Lifts Stocks  - Stocks rallied on reports that Obama will tap Geithner to be Treasury Secretary. The Dow industrials gained 494 points, but ended down 5.3% on the week. Bankruptcy Is Option to GM Board  - Members of GM's board are willing to consider "all options," including an eventual bankruptcy-protection filing, a stance CEO Rick Wagoner opposes. Will Market History Repeat Itself?  - None of us can control what the markets do to us. But we need to learn from our parents and grandparents who survived the Great Depression. Geithner Tapped for Treasury Secretary  - Obama is likely to nominate Geithner to lead the Treasury. Geithner, president of the New York Fed, has been deeply involved in attempts to arrest the financial crisis and would bring a range of experience. Turmoil Continues in Banking Sector  - Three more banks failed Friday, marking the highest volume of bank failures in one day since the Savings and Loan crisis. Share Declines Pressure Redstone  - Viacom and CBS shares sank to lows this week, turning up pressure on Redstone as he tries to resolve his family's debt problems. More Hedge Funds Expected to Succumb  - More hedge funds will likely have to close this year, amid a steady redemptions drumbeat from pension funds, endowments and others. Goldman to Offer FDIC Debt  - Goldman Sachs will issue debt backed by the FDIC under the new Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. Blackstone Pares Size Of Asia-Focused Fund  - Blackstone Group has cut the size of its planned Asia-focused hedge fund to around $200 million from $500 million to $1 billion. Maxim in Restructuring Talks  - The publisher of men's magazine Maxim is in restructuring talks that are expected to turn over the company to creditors, in another blow to star media deal maker Steve Rattner. U.S. Stocks Surge; Citigroup Sinks  - Despite Wall Street's late rally Friday, Citigroup fell 94 cents, or 20%, to $3.77 on the day, taking its losses to 60% for the week and 72% for November. Small Caps Rally in Late Trading  - Small-cap stocks surged in the last hour of trading, though doubts circulated that the gains would be sustainable after weeks of heavy selling. 'Enron Clause' Applies if IRA Funds are Depleted  - You wouldn't be penalized for withdrawing less than your required minimum distribution if you don't have enough left in your IRA to do so. But you would be required to withdraw all of your remaining assets.

WSJ.com: Opinion Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:07:34 EST

Geithner Nets 500 Points  -  Gen. Kevin Chilton: Sounding the Nuclear Alarm  - The U.S. will not have a credible arsenal unless Washington acts soon to replace aging warheads. Clooney, Pressman and Prendergast: Obama's Opportunity to Help Africa  - The two deadliest conflicts in the world merit urgent attention. Rhee-Forming D.C. Schools  - A Democrat shakes up Washington's failed public schools. Obama's Indonesia Test  - Democrats on Capitol Hill are obstructing military ties. Brussels and the Cucumber  - Accepting that vegetables can be imperfect, too. Secret-Ballot Hypocrisies  - By John Fund The Democrats believe in one man, one vote, one time. The Climate Purge  - By Joseph Rago Coup d'etat at the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. The Apotheosis of Soros  - By Collin Levy The billionaire gets his moment in the sun. China Will Be a Winner in the New Economy  - Its cash will help fuel our recovery. Not Everything Can Be Too Big to Fail  - There's a lot of loose talk about 'systemic' risk. What Tennessee Is Doing About Health Insurance  - Coverage with limits is better than no coverage at all. Notable & Quotable  - Eric Holder (Barack Obama's choice for Attorney General) on the Geneva Convention. Putin and the Press  - Media outlets are 'warned' about covering the financial crisis. $100 for All  - Taiwan's misdirected stimulus effort. Deleveraging Must Continue  - The process will hurt, but there is no good alternative. A Better Stimulus for China  - Let private investors spur the economy.