WSJ.com: What's News US Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:38:29 EST

Obama Outlines 'No Child' Rewrite  - The Obama administration plans to upend how the government measures and encourages success in the country's public schools as part of a sweeping proposal to rewrite the No Child Left Behind law. The Professor Who Chases Financial Bubbles  - Didier Sornette's bubble experiment tries to identify four developing bubbles and forecast when they'll peak. Lagarde: No Greek Bailout  - Greece's efforts to clean up its finances have negated the need for bailout from the European Union, the French finance minister said. Repos Key in Lehman Demise  - The bank's scramble to stay alive exposed the murky but crucial role that short-term lending, done in a corner of Wall Street known as the repo market, plays in the financial world. Li Probes Beijing Land Block  - Richard Li's group sent envoys to Beijing to probe why municipal authorities there are planning to bar the companies from making future land purchases in the city. Apple Gives Cook Bonus  - Timothy Cook, Apple's chief operating officer, was awarded a cash and stock bonus of about $22 million for his performance while filling in during Steve Jobs's medical leave. Consumer Spending Perks Up  - Retail sales increased a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in February from a month earlier. Sales excluding the volatile autos sales increased 0.8%. Compared with a year ago, sales rose 4%. China Warns Google  - A Chinese minister warned Google it "will have to bear the consequences" if it stops censoring its Chinese search site. Likely Fed Picks Back Low Rates  - Janet Yellen and two other likely nominees are expected to be a key counterweight to the Fed's most 'hawkish' policy makers. British Airways Crew to Strike  - The union representing British Airways cabin crew announced that strikes will take place later this month after the U.K. airline and union leaders failed to reach a last-minute deal on changes to working practices. MGM Mirage to Sell Borgata Stake  - Casino operator MGM Mirage agreed to sell its 50% stake in the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City in a settlement with New Jersey gambling regulators. Disney to End Zemeckis Venture  - Walt Disney will close director Robert Zemeckis's film-production company next year amid efforts to cut costs. Park Avenue Bank, Others Fail  - The failures on Friday bring to 30 the total number of financial institutions that have been seized in the U.S. this year. WaMu Dispute Gets Settled  - A lingering chapter of the 2008 financial crisis closed Friday when Washington Mutual, J.P. Morgan and federal regulators settled a dispute over billions of dollars in assets. BofA to List Political Donations  - New York City Comptroller John C. Liu has scored a coup in an ongoing national effort to increase corporate transparency after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a century-old ban on corporate political spending. Lions Gate Criticizes Icahn Offer  - Lions Gate urged shareholders to reject a recent tender offer from investor Carl Icahn, calling the bid for the film studio's shares inadequate and coercive. MCM's Eastern Makeover  - MCM epitomizedglamour...in the 1980s. Now an ambitious South Korean businesswoman is attempting to resurrect the faded luxury brand. American Air Fines Proposed  - The FAA proposed $787,500 in civil penalties against American Airlines for alleged maintenance violations. Mortgage-Rescue Program Benefits More Homeowners  - The number of U.S. households benefiting from lower mortgage payments under a government program was up 6% in February.

WSJ.com: What's News Technology Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:17:12 EST

Microsoft Workers Hide Their iPhones  - Microsoft employees are passionate users of the latest tech toys. But there's one gadget love that many at the company dare not name: the iPhone. Apple Gives Cook Bonus  - Timothy Cook, Apple's chief operating officer, was awarded a cash and stock bonus of about $22 million for his performance while filling in during Steve Jobs's medical leave. China Warns Google  - A Chinese minister warned Google it "will have to bear the consequences" if it stops censoring its Chinese search site. Hearst Tries Hand at Apps  - Publishing company Hearst is jumping into the business of developing software applications, or "apps," for the iPhone, targeting information for music, sports and food fans. Pink Floyd Wins Downloads Suit  - Britain's High Court has ordered record company EMI to stop selling downloads of Pink Floyd tracks individually rather than as part of the band's original albums. Motorola to Add Bing on Phones  - Motorola agreed to add Microsoft's Bing search and map capabilities on Motorola's Google-based smart phones, with the new offering to be launched in China in the current quarter. Vodafone Files Explanation to India Tax Body  - Vodafone said that it has sent the final part of a submission to the Indian income tax department laying out why the company believes it shouldn't pay tax on a 2007 deal. Intel, AMD Set to Escalate Server-Chip Fight  - Intel and AMD are overhauling their lines of chips for server systems at a rare time—just as corporate customers' appetite for new technology finally seems to be improving. Nigeria to Review Nitel Bidding  - Nigeria said it will review the potential $2.5 billion sale of the country's telecom giant, following last month's troubled auction involving China Unicom. Barnes & Noble Plans iPad App  - Barnes & Noble will offer an e-book reader application for Apple's new iPad tablet computer, providing access to the electronic books it sells. National Semiconductor's Profit Jumps  - National Semiconductor posted sharply higher profit as its revenue got a lift from industrial demand for analog products. H-P to Brandish Tech Credentials  - H-P, known to consumers mostly as a printer specialist, is seeking to recast itself as a broader tech company with a new ad campaign featuring rapper Dr. Dre, comedian Rhys Darby and the slogan "Lets Do Amazing." The Ultimate Start-Up Challenge?  - Companies on this week's Next Big Thing list detail strategies for dealing with rapid expanision. Skype CEO: U.A.E. Ban 'Short-Sighted'  - Skype's CEO called the U.A.E.'s block on its service "short-sighted" for a country built as a trade and immigration hub, but said his company is open to discussions with the government. Lenovo Eyes Buys in Developing Markets  - Chinese computer-maker Lenovo Group said Friday it is eyeing acquisition opportunities in new growth areas in developing markets including Russia, India, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Google Sees Outcome to China Talks  - Eric Schmidt said his company expects to soon conclude talks with the Chinese government over the fate of its search engine and business in China. Hitachi President Vows Profitability  - Hitachi's incoming president reiterated his predecessor's vow to make the Japanese electronics conglomerate profitable in the next fiscal year and said he isn't considering additional capital raising. Satyam Signs New Deal  - India's Satyam Computer Services said it won an about $48 million outsourcing contract from Danish technology company KMD to offer application development, testing and support services. Sensata Rises 3% on Stock Debut  - The IPO of Netherlands-based Sensata Technologies marked the first time a new stock priced within range and rose on the first day of trading in the U.S. since January. Verizon to Have 4G Handset in 2011  - Verizon Wireless expects to offer its first next-generation 4G handset in mid-2011, about six months earlier than the company had said before. China Mobile to Buy Bank Stake  - China Mobile said it agreed to buy a 20% stake in Shanghai Pudong Development Bank for $5.83 billion as the mobile operator seeks to expand into mobile payment services. CA to Buy Nimsoft for $350 Million  - CA said it would pay $350 million in cash to acquire privately-held Nimsoft, a move underscoring the business software maker's efforts to expand its sales with smaller and mid-sized companies. Sony Details New Motion Controller  - Sony provided new details of a forthcoming motion controller for its PlayStation 3 videogame console, another entry in a field pioneered by Nintendo. Carlos Slim Tops Buffett, Gates  - Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim is the world's richest person, jumping past Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the first person from a developing nation to top the list, according to Forbes magazine. BSNL Shortlists Companies for WiMax Franchise  - India's Bharat Sanchar Nigam has shortlisted four companies for a franchise deal to sell its broadband wireless services based on WiMax--or worldwide interoperability for microwave access--technology, the federal junior minister for communications said. Social-Media Updates Could Spell Trouble  - Some employees are over-sharing on social-media sites, causing embarrassment and possible financial harm to small enterprises. Local Currencies Damp MTN Profit  - Africa's largest cellphone-network operator reported a 4.3% fall in full-year net profit despite a rise in revenue as weak local currencies weighed on the company's bottom line. A Less Boisterous IPO Mood  - Ten years after Nasdaq hits its peak on the eve of the technology crash, a cautious mood still prevails among Silicon Valley investors. Sony Plans TV, 3-D Push  - The electronics giant will shift to "attack" mode by ramping up unit production and attempting to shore up market share, despite trailing rivals planning earlier 3-D models. Europe Experiments With Book Scans  - While Google remains in legal limbo with its effort to put books online in the U.S., such digitizing is moving ahead in different places in Europe under several experimental programs. Home Buyers Check Out Apps  - Just in time for the spring house-hunting season, smart-phone applications that provide information to home buyers are proliferating. Tech Start-ups Cope With Data Flood  - A number of technology companies on the Next Big Thing list aim to help businesses deal with data overload. Google Reaches Books Deal With Italy  - Google struck a deal with the Italian government to digitize up to one million books held in the National Libraries in Rome and Florence. Cisco Touts Faster Web Router  - Cisco unveiled a piece of equipment for the core of the Internet it says can transmit three times as much data as its current hardware, though its introduction won't directly translate into faster connections for consumers. Intel Fosters Apps for Netbooks  - Apple's app store dominates the smart-phone space, but Intel and PC makers like Dell and Acer see a chance to use a similar software store to defend an important new market—netbooks. Cable Companies Petition FCC  - Cable operators are petitioning the FCC to prohibit broadcasters from yanking channels during fee negotiations, as happened in the recent Cablevision-Disney dispute over ABC. Google Tests TV Search Service  - Google is testing a new programming search service with Dish Network, which allows users to search content from Dish and the Web, the latest effort to marry the Internet and conventional TV. From Fame to Flamed-Out  - Tech-fund mavens like Ryan Jacob and Garrett Van Wagoner were media darlings during the late 1990s. Then the boom went bust. Where are they now? Venture-Capital Firms Struggle  - The technology bubble popped a decade ago, but the venture-capital industry that helped finance the boom stayed largely intact. Now venture-capital firms are going through their own brutal culling. Where Clouds Displace Forests  - With a combination of cheap hydroelectric power and favorable climate conditions, Prineville, Ore. is joining what has become the Pacific Northwest's latest gold rush: housing electronic data. Tokyo Exchange Warns Fujitsu  - Fujitsu said it received a verbal warning from the Tokyo Stock Exchange regarding a change in the explanation of its former president's resignation. Hynix Creditors Pick Stake-Sale Managers  - Creditors of Hynix Semiconductor have selected six lead managers for the sale of a roughly 7% stake in the chipmaker, raising hopes that the sale would happen sooner than expected. Tough Road for Google's Network  - Google's plan to provide ultrahigh-speed Internet connections faces a big challenge: building the network and making sure there are services available to take advantage of it.

WSJ.com: US Business Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:23:29 EST

Lehman Criminal Case Could Be Difficult  - The allegations lodged by a bankruptcy-court examiner have raised questions about whether prosecutors could build a case against former Lehman executives. China Warns Google  - A Chinese minister warned Google it "will have to bear the consequences" if it stops censoring its Chinese search site. WaMu Dispute Gets Settled  - A lingering chapter of the 2008 financial crisis closed Friday when Washington Mutual, J.P. Morgan and federal regulators settled a dispute over billions of dollars in assets. MCM's Eastern Makeover  - MCM epitomizedglamour...in the 1980s. Now an ambitious South Korean businesswoman is attempting to resurrect the faded luxury brand. Park Avenue Bank, Others Fail  - The failures on Friday bring to 30 the total number of financial institutions that have been seized in the U.S. this year. BofA to List Political Donations  - New York City Comptroller John C. Liu has scored a coup in an ongoing national effort to increase corporate transparency after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a century-old ban on corporate political spending. American Air Fines Proposed  - The FAA proposed $787,500 in civil penalties against American Airlines for alleged maintenance violations. Yara Cedes Terra to CF Industries  - Norway's Yara declined to raise its offer for U.S. fertilizer producer Terra Industries, which promptly finalized its $4.7 billion deal with rival bidder CF Industries. Nigeria to Review Nitel Bidding  - Nigeria said it will review the potential $2.5 billion sale of the country's telecom giant, following last month's troubled auction involving China Unicom. Orange County Sues Toyota  - Orange County prosecutors filed a civil lawsuit against Toyota over safety concerns with their vehicles. Ann Taylor Swings to Profit  - Ann Taylor Stores eked out a surprise profit in its latest quarter as a sales decline stabilized and it cut back on discounting. The women's clothing retailer forecast a return to sales gains this year. Mortgage-Rescue Program Benefits More Homeowners  - The number of U.S. households benefiting from lower mortgage payments under a government program was up 6% in February. British Airways Crew to Strike  - The union representing British Airways cabin crew announced that strikes will take place later this month after the U.K. airline and union leaders failed to reach a last-minute deal on changes to working practices. Chiesi Seeks Separate Trial  - Danielle Chiesi, a former hedge-fund firm consultant, asked to be tried separately from Galleon founder Rajaratnam on criminal insider-trading charges. China Bankers Detail Obstacles  - The heads of three branches of China's central bank warned of obstacles in Beijing's fight against inflation as they offered rare examples of how China's massive stimulus plan is playing out in different parts of the country. Court Upholds Cable-Contract Ban  - A divided federal appeals court upheld the FCC's extension of a ban on cable operators' withholding television programs from competitors through exclusive contracts. Pay Rises for New York Times Leaders  - New York Times' chairman and CEO received big increases in their 2009 compensation despite weakness in advertising markets. KKR Begins U.S.-Listing Process  - KKR made its initial filing with the SEC as the private-equity giant moves ahead with plans to have its units listed on the New York Stock Exchange. U.K. Gives Guarantee to GM Europe  - The U.K. will guarantee $410.4 million in bank loans to General Motors Europe as part of a support package for the auto maker from the U.S. and other European governments. Schwab Issues Profit Warning  - Charles Schwab warned first-quarter earnings will fall short of fourth-quarter levels as the brokerage said February trading fell 14%. Discover Plans New Accounting Rule  - Discover Financial will implement a new accounting rule requiring companies to bring their off-the-books securitized loans onto their balance sheet in fiscal 2010. MGM Mirage to Sell Borgata Stake  - Casino operator MGM Mirage agreed to sell its 50% stake in the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City in a settlement with New Jersey gambling regulators. Crude Carriers, Aveo IPOs Fall  - Two U.S. initial public offerings fell on their debuts, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the new-issues market. Ex-Lloyds CEO Pitman Dies at 78  - Sir Brian Pitman, the veteran banker who helped transform Lloyds TSB into one of Europe's largest banks, has died at age 78. UBS Lobbies for Swiss-U.S. Deal  - UBS has stepped up its lobbying efforts for a U.S.-Swiss tax deal over confidential bank data, urging parliamentary representatives to vote for the passage of the deal. Brown, Sarkozy Meet on Hedge-Funds  - After meeting with French President Sarkozy, U.K. Prime Minister Brown said he is "confident" the U.K. will reach agreement in the coming days with its European partners on the new EU hedge fund rules. Pfizer Disappointed by Study Results  - Pfizer ended a Phase III trial for its experimental lung-cancer drug and said two studies of its advanced breast-cancer drug failed to meet their primary endpoints. Euro-Zone Industrial Output Soars  - Industrial output in the 16-nation euro zone posted its strongest monthly gain on record in January, fueled by energy production as harsh winter weather hit the region. Avastin Fails Prostate-Cancer Trial  - Roche said its Avastin product didn't live up to expectations in a late-stage prostate cancer study, dealing a blow to the drug's prospects of becoming a universal cancer treatment. PetroChina Inks Fuel Deals  - To expand its international trading presence, company booked storage in Singapore and the Mediterranean Sea.

WSJ.com: Markets Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:15:50 EST

Where to Find the Money  - Despite the drought in lending, some banks are rolling out the dough. Here's where to turn. The Professor Who Chases Financial Bubbles  - Didier Sornette's bubble experiment tries to identify four developing bubbles and forecast when they'll peak. Lehman Criminal Case Could Be Difficult  - The allegations lodged by a bankruptcy-court examiner have raised questions about whether prosecutors could build a case against former Lehman executives. S&P 600 Extends Winning Streak  - The two major indexes of small-capitalization stocks diverged Friday, with one extending its winning streak to 10 days, while the other retreated. GE and Caterpillar Pace Dow  - An increase in retail sales drove investors to economically sensitive companies like GE and Caterpillar. Banks like BofA and Citi pulled back after a strong week. A Calmer Corporate-Bond Market  - With the easy gains mostly gone, investors must weigh a host of issues—both macroeconomic and company-specific—before buying bonds. Park Avenue Bank, Others Fail  - The failures on Friday bring to 30 the total number of financial institutions that have been seized in the U.S. this year. Dollar Falls on Jitters Over Monetary Policy  - The dollar weakened sharply as reports that the Obama administration plans to nominate Janet Yellen for vice chairman of the Fed prompted concerns that monetary policy may stay loose for a while. Oil Backs Off Its Two-Month High  - Crude-oil futures fell as conflicting signals about the U.S. economic recovery undermined the oil market's latest try for a 2010 high, ending down 87 cents at $81.24 a barrel. Fed's Low Rate Pledge Tames Volatility  - Treasurys' narrow trading range is a boon to investors, U.S. companies and consumers, but a wide swath of market participants and dealers suffer. Bulls Seize on eBay, Paychex  - The bulls managed to dominate a lot of the action in the options market Friday, capping a week in which stocks made a series of ho-hum moves. WaMu Dispute Gets Settled  - A lingering chapter of the 2008 financial crisis closed Friday when Washington Mutual, J.P. Morgan and federal regulators settled a dispute over billions of dollars in assets. Europe Gains; China Slips  - Europe ended a choppy week with gains on positive economic news at home and abroad.Chinese shares fell to nearly a three-week low. Lagarde: No Greek Bailout  - Greece's efforts to clean up its finances have negated the need for bailout from the European Union, the French finance minister said. Likely Fed Picks Back Low Rates  - Janet Yellen and two other likely nominees are expected to be a key counterweight to the Fed's most 'hawkish' policy makers. Brown, Sarkozy Meet on Hedge-Funds  - After meeting with French President Sarkozy, U.K. Prime Minister Brown said he is "confident" the U.K. will reach agreement in the coming days with its European partners on the new EU hedge fund rules. KKR Begins U.S.-Listing Process  - KKR made its initial filing with the SEC as the private-equity giant moves ahead with plans to have its units listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Crude Carriers, Aveo IPOs Fall  - Two U.S. initial public offerings fell on their debuts, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the new-issues market. Mortgage-Rescue Program Benefits More Homeowners  - The number of U.S. households benefiting from lower mortgage payments under a government program was up 6% in February. BofA Boosts Mortgage Modifications  - Bank of America added nearly 8,000 customers to the ranks of borrowers modifying mortgages under a government program in the latest month. Examiner: Lehman Torpedoed Lehman  - A federal judge released a scathing report on Lehman's collapse that raps executives, auditor Ernst & Young and banks for lapses that sparked bankruptcy. Japan Pushes for Weaker Yen  - Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Friday the yen's strength is out of step with the country's fragile economic recovery, urging the government to take "firm steps" to counter the growth-limiting effects of a strong currency. UBS Lobbies for Swiss-U.S. Deal  - UBS has stepped up its lobbying efforts for a U.S.-Swiss tax deal over confidential bank data, urging parliamentary representatives to vote for the passage of the deal. Yara Cedes Terra to CF Industries  - Norway's Yara declined to raise its offer for U.S. fertilizer producer Terra Industries, which promptly finalized its $4.7 billion deal with rival bidder CF Industries. Signs of Life in U.K. IPO Market  - Young fashion brand SuperGroup and interactive whiteboard maker Promethean priced IPOs in London, deals that valued both companies at around £400 million each.

WSJ.com: Opinion Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:34:25 EST

Interview with Marco Rubio: The Conscience of a Florida Conservative  - The would-be senator on his own political rise and how the Republican Party can show it deserves to govern again. The Cost-Control Illusion  - Breaking down the ObamaCare claims. Peter Berkowitz: Climategate Was an Academic Disaster Waiting to Happen  - The notion of objective truth has been abandoned and the peer review process gives scholars ample opportunity to reward friends and punish enemies. The Easy Way  - Janet Yellen and the reflation bet. Student Loan Chutzpah  - Mr. Petri's bill of college subsidies. E.J. McMahon: The Ravitch Plan Won't Save New York  - Until the state confronts the unions expect higher taxes and lower growth. Michael Rubin: Foggy Bottom's Man in Baghdad  - U.S. diplomats are pressing for the victory of the candidate who presided over Iraq at its nadir. Why? Somebody Up There Doesn't Like ObamaCare  - JOHN FUND ON THE TRAIL Speaker Pelosi's Treasure Hunt for votes isn't going well. The WSJ Guide to ObamaCare  - A comprehensive collection of our editorials and op-eds. The WSJ Guide to Climate Change  - A collection of our editorials and op-eds. Noonan: Road to the Nut House  - You have to be crazy to run for president. Seriously, you do. Week in Review  - View the top stories this week on OpinionJournal.com. Best of the Web Today: Pelosi's Pig in a Poke  - "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."