Financial thoughts

Private nonresidential construction may pick up this year, as demand grows for new U.S. projects.

The Architecture Billings Index held at 52 last month, a sign of expansion, according to the American Institute of Architects. The commercial and industrial component — a proxy for private building activity — climbed to 54.1 in December, the highest in 10 months, the Washington-based association said Jan. 18.

The monthly survey of U.S.-based architecture firms is a leading indicator of nonresidential construction, said Kermit Baker, chief economist for the association.

No faxing fast cash advance gets you cash fast and easily.

Lee Enterprises Tuesday reported a profit of $14.624 million, or 32 cents per share, for the quarter that ended Dec. 25.  That compares to $18.980 million, or 42 cents per share, in the same quarter of 2010.

The newspaper company, owner of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, said the year-over-year comparison would be positive if not for refinancing costs and other unusual items.  Excluding such matters, profits would equal 38 cents per share for the recent quarter, compared to 32 cents a year earlier.  

The company filed for bankruptcy last month, submitting a reorganization plan pre-approved by the vast majority of its creditors.  Chief Financial Officer Carl Schmidt said the court will be asked to set Jan. 30 as the date to make the plan effective and conclude the bankruptcy. 

Operating revenue was down 3.9 percent in the December quarter compared to a year earlier payday loans online. Operating expenses were down 5 percent, excluding unusual items, and the work force was down by 7 percent.

As in earlier periods, the company showed sharp gains in digital advertising while print ads, which make up the bulk of its advertising, continued to decline. Combined print and digital advertising was down 6.1 percent. 

CEO Mary Junck said she expects slowly improving revenue trends in 2012.  “Our refinancing agreements, along with our continued strong cash flow, will provide a solid financial footing as we continue reshaping Lee for future growth,” said Junck.

Lee, based in Davenport, Iowa, owns 48 daily newspapers, holds an interest in four others, and owns 300 specialty publications in 23 states.

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Now you are not supposed to compromising with your needs just lack of few funds as payday loans are available to you.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said executive-branch politicians will take a 25 percent pay cut amid labor union plans for a nationwide strike to protest scrapping of fuel subsidies that more than doubled gasoline prices.

The government will reduce overseas traveling and all ministries and departments must cut costs in 2012, Jonathan said, adding that he won

+%3Cp%3EEuropean+Central+Bank+President+Mario+Draghi+said+there+is+no+%93external+savior%94+for+countries+that+don%92t+implement+structural+reforms+to+restore+confidence+to+debt+markets.+%3C%2Fp%3E+%3Cp%3E%93There+is+no+external+savior+for+a+country+that+doesn%92t+want+to+save+itself%2C%94+Draghi+said+in+a+speech+in+Berlin+today.+%93I+will+never+tire+of+saying+the+first+response+should+come+from+the+countries.%94+%3C%2Fp%3E+%3Cp%3EThe+ECB+is+buying+the+bonds+of+debt-strapped+nations+such+as+Italy+and+Spain+after+they+agreed+to+implement+austerity+measures+to+improve+their+finances.+Draghi+nevertheless+reiterated+today+that+the+ECB%92s+bond+program+is+%93neither+eternal+nor+infinite.%94+%3C%2Fp%3E+%3Cp%3EHe+said+an+%93unavoidable%94+short-term+economic+contraction+in+the+euro+area+may+be+mitigated+by+a+return+of+confidence+if+governments+implement+budget+consolidation+plans.+%3C%2Fp%3E+%3Cp%3E%93In+the+medium+term%2C+sustainable+growth+can+be+achieved+only+by+undertaking+deep+structural+reforms+that+have+been+procrastinated+for+too+long%2C%94+he+said.+%3C%2Fp%3E+Bank+Measures++%3Cp%3EWhile+the+ECB+has+pushed+back+against+calls+for+it+to+step+up+its+bond+purchases%2C+Draghi+said+measures+taken+last+week+to+give+banks+greater+access+to+liquidity+will+soon+be+felt.+%3C%2Fp%3E+%3Cp%3EOn+Dec.+8%2C+the+ECB+established+refinancing+operations+with+a+maturity+of+three+years%2C+allowed+banks+to+use+their+own+loans+as+collateral%2C+and+cut+the+required+reserves+ratio+to+1+percent+from+2+percent.+%3C%2Fp%3E+%3Cp%3E%93The+current+package+should+be+felt+tangibly+in+the+financial+sector+and+the+real+economy+over+the+coming+months%2C%94+Draghi+said.+%3C%2Fp%3E+%3Cp%3EHe+said+banks+face+%93headwinds%94+as+they+try+to+meet+new+Europe-wide+capital+ratios.+%3C%2Fp%3E+%3Cp%3E%93The+plan+to+strengthen+their+capital+bases+is+an+attempt+to+reinforce+their+standing+in+financial+markets%2C+but+this+is+not+an+easy+process%2C%94+he+said.+%93Raising+capital+levels+is+expensive+in+a+depressed+market+and+faces+resistance+from+shareholders.+Selling+assets+is+less+preferable+and+curtailing+credit+to+the+real+economy+is+even+worse.%94+%3C%2Fp%3E+%3Cp%3EBanks+should+consider+restraining+dividends+and+ad+hoc+compensation+to+strengthen+buffers%2C+Draghi+said.+%3C%2Fp%3E++%3Cp%3E%3Ca+href%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2F2011-12-15%2Fdraghi-says-there-s-no-external-savior-for-euro-countries-that-fail-to-act.html%27+rel%3D%27nofollow%27%3ESource%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E+

The economy of the 17-nation euro bloc avoided contracting in the third quarter, thanks mainly to Germany and France, but is widely expected to fall into recession imminently as a result of its raging debt crisis.

In its first estimate for the third quarter, the EU statistics office’s Eurostat, said Tuesday that the eurozone economy grew by a paltry 0.2 percent for the second quarter in a row.

And that is likely to be as good as it gets for some time, with economists predicting a recession in coming quarters. Consumers and governments are expected to spend less due to the uncertainty spawned by the debt crisis that is threatening to spiral out of control as it moves from relatively small economies like Greece to much-bigger Italy.

Forward-looking indicators, such as surveys of business managers, households and investors, have all disappointed recently.

“The economic slump will accelerate in the coming months,” said Christope Weil, an economist at Commerzbank. “The uncertainty caused by the sovereign debt crisis is lying like mildew upon the eurozone economy.”

The worry is that the slowdown will hurt governments’ ability to reduce their debt loads as state revenues shrink and interest payments pile up.

For now, the eurozone has managed to avoid a recession _ technically defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth.

The data showed Europe’s two powerhouses Germany and France were still growing _ 0.5 percent and 0.4 percent _ during the July to September period as consumers continued to spend.

Tuesday’s figures did not include a number of countries, such as Greece, Ireland and Italy. Their preliminary figures are due later this month but are unlikely to cause much of a change in the headline rate payday advance.

How much longer Germany and France can keep the eurozone afloat, however, is debatable.

“Future growth prospects have deteriorated markedly since the summer, making a ‘mild recession’ more likely,” said Frederik Ducrozet, an economist at Credit Agricole.

Signs of a looming eurozone-wide recession were evident in the figures _ Cyprus, Portugal and, perhaps most surprisingly, the Netherlands, all contracted during the quarter.

“There is no reason for growth optimism,” said Ferdinand Fichtner of the German Economic Institute, DIW, warning that fourth-quarter growth is expected to be much slower as the bite of the eurozone crisis is felt.

“People are uncertain,” Fichtner told the news agency dapd. “That is poison for growth.”

When the debt crisis erupted in 2009, Europe’s economy was just recovering from its deepest recession since World War II largely on the back of Germany, the region’s biggest economy. Germany enjoyed a boom in exports and improved domestic demand, even as many in the eurozone struggle in the face of mammoth debts.

The eurozone’s third quarter performance compared poorly with those of its peers. Eurostat said the United States grew by a quarterly rate of 0.6 percent, while Japan boomed by 1.5 percent, though largely because it was making up for lost output in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The economy of the wider EU, which also includes Britain and Sweden, also grew by 0.2 percent.

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NATO said Friday it plans to end its seven-month bombing campaign in Libya at the end of the month, leaving the battled-scarred country’s new authorities on their own to ensure security after the death of Moammar Gadhafi and the ouster of his regime.

The alliance made a preliminary decision to end the campaign on Oct. 31 and will make the formal decision next week, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said after a meeting of the alliance’s governing body, the North Atlantic Council.

Diplomats said NATO air patrols are set to continue over Libya in the next 10 days as a precautionary measure to ensure the stability of the new regime. They will gradually be reduced in coming days if there are no further outbreaks of violence.

The council took into account the wishes of Libya’s new government and of the United Nations, under whose mandate NATO carried out its operations.

Victory in the war represents a major boost for the Cold War alliance, which is bogged down in the 10-year war in Afghanistan, the 12-year mission in Kosovo, and the seemingly never-ending anti-piracy operation off the Somali coastline.

It polished the reputation of France and Britain, the two countries that drove it forward, coming at a time when the alliance’s relevance is increasingly in doubt as countries make deep defense cuts and other austerity measures caused by the international economic crisis.

Rasmussen hailed the success of the operation which started on March 19 with a series of U.S.-led attacks designed to suppress Gadhafi’s formidable air defenses, including missile and radar networks. Libya’s former rebels killed Gadhafi on Thursday, and officials had said they expected the aerial operation to end very soon.

“It shows that freedom is the biggest force in the world,” Fogh Rasmussen said.

Fogh Rasmussen said NATO had no intention of leaving any residual force in or near Libya.

“We expect to close down the operation.”

He said it was up to the new government to decide whether to launch an investigation into the hazy circumstances of Gadhafi’s death.

“With regards to Gadhafi, I would expect the new authorities in Libya to live up fully to the basic principles of rule of law and human rights, including full transparency.”

NATO earlier said its commanders were not aware that Gadhafi was in a convoy that NATO bombed as it fled Sirte short term personal loans. In a statement Friday, the alliance said an initial Thursday morning strike was aimed at a convoy of approximately 75 armed vehicles leaving Sirte, the Libyan city defended by Gadhafi loyalists. One vehicle was destroyed, which resulted in the convoy’s dispersal.

Another jet then engaged approximately 20 vehicles that were driving at great speed toward the south, destroying or damaging about 10 of them.

“We later learned from open sources and allied intelligence that Gadhafi was in the convoy and that the strike likely contributed to his capture,” the statement said.

Intelligence gleaned during surveillance flights around Sirte on Thursday indicated that a “command and control group, including senior military leaders” were attempting to flee from the town, British Prime Minister David Cameron’s spokesman Steve Field said.

“There was a strike, there was damage to the convoy, the Free Libya Fighters then moved in _ as to what happened next that is not entirely clear,” he said.

NATO warplanes have flown about 26,000 sorties, including over 9,600 strike missions. They destroyed about 5,900 military targets, including Libya’s air defenses and over 1,000 tanks, vehicles and guns, as well as Gadhafi’s command and control networks.

The daily airstrikes finally broke the stalemate that developed after Gadhafi’s initial attempts failed to crush the rebellion that broke out in February. In August, the rebels began advancing on Tripoli, with the NATO warplanes providing close air support and destroying any attempts by the defenders to block them.

NATO was sharply criticized by Russia, China, South Africa and other nations for overstepping the limited U.N. Security Council resolution that allowed it to protect civilians, and using it as a pretext to pursue regime change in Libya.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said earlier Friday that “the operation has reached its end.”

But in London, Britain had suggested that NATO may not immediately complete its mission in Libya, wary over the potential reprisal attacks by remaining Gadhafi loyalists.

___

Associated Press writers Elaine Ganley in Paris and David Stringer in London contributed to this report.

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A new wrinkle of disagreement has emerged in Missouri’s special legislative session on business incentives: State lawmakers and Gov. Jay Nixon now apparently are at odds over the production of military fighter jets.

The dispute comes after the Missouri House took a roughly half hour break from its debate last week over a wide-ranging business-incentive bill to instead discuss and pass a resolution urging Congress to provide full funding for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Although the plane is made by Lockheed Martin Corp. in Texas, the House resolution notes that its supplying companies employ more than 500 people in Missouri.

Nixon responded with a written statement last week asserting that the House resolution “simply is not the position of the state of Missouri.” Instead, the governor emphasized Missouri’s support for Boeing Co., makes the F/A-18 jet in St. Louis. Boeing said it employs about 15,000 people in Missouri, including about 5,000 connected with the F/A-18.

Was the House resolution a slap to one of Missouri’s biggest employers? Or was Nixon overreacting to a symbolic gesture that has no real effect?

The resolution’s sponsor, state Rep. Caleb Jones, R-California, said Monday that he had not intended to stir up controversy.

“I’m a big fan of Boeing _ they’re one of our largest employers in the state and I strongly support them,” said Jones, the vice chairman of the House Economic Development Committee. “I also support different companies from throughout Missouri.”

Jones said he sponsored the resolution at the request of a representative of a supplier, though he said Monday that he could not recall the person or the company’s name.

“If this resolution was going to cost Missouri jobs, I wouldn’t have done it,” he said.

The resolution passed the House 127-7, with most of the discussion focused on whether lawmakers were wasting their time on a measure that carried little more importance than a greeting card to Congress, instead of debating their own economic development legislation. Among those voting for the resolution was Rep. Clem Smith, D-St. Louis, a machinist for Boeing.

Representatives ultimately also passed a business incentive bill that would cut corporate income taxes and create new tax credits for computer data centers and international exporters, among others.

Underlying Nixon’s opposition to the House fighter-jet resolution is a concern that Boeing and Lockheed Martin could be in competition to make fighter jets in the future and a desire to avoid more immediate budget cuts to either the F/A-18 or F-35 programs as President Barack Obama and Congress search for ways to reduce the national debt.

Nixon spokesman Sam Murphey on Monday reiterated the governor’s concern about the House’s action.

“This resolution passed by the House last week simply was not the position of the state of Missouri, and it was important for us to clarify the state’s position,” Murphey said.

A Boeing spokesman declined to say whether the company viewed the House resolution as detrimental to its business. Instead the company issued a written statement saying: “We commend Gov. Nixon for his strong commitment to business in the state of Missouri and appreciate his efforts on behalf of the men and women of Boeing.”

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Stocks edged higher Thursday as investors weighed stronger September retail sales in the U.S. against a decision by the European Central Bank not to lower interest rates.

Target, Nordstrom, Macy’s and other retailers reported September sales results that beat Wall Street’s expectations. While some of the sales were driven by deep discounts, analysts said higher sales figures suggested the U.S. economy was not falling into another recession.

“The market has been pricing in an out-and-out recession, but the fact that consumer spending is holding up shows that we’re more likely to continue muddling through at a 1 to 2 percent growth rate,” said Brain Gendreau, market strategist at Cetera Financial Group.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 28 points, or 0.3 percent, to 10,967 as of 11:00 a.m. Eastern.

The S&P 500 rose 4, or 0.4 percent, to 1,148. The Nasdaq composite added 19, or 0.8 percent, to 2,480.

Consumer discretionary stocks led the market higher after the stronger retail sales reports. Target Corp. jumped 4 percent after its September sales beat Wall Street’s expectations.

Investors also remained focused on Europe’s debt problems. The European Central Bank offered new emergency loans to European banks. It also announced that it would buy bonds issued by banks, making it easier for them to lend.

Investors have been worried that major European banks could face big losses if Greece defaults on its debt, as many expect will happen Same day payday loans. That would likely cause the value of Greek debt held by those banks to fall sharply in value. If that causes a big enough shock to those banks they could stop lending to each other, causing another freeze in global credit markets, as happened following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008.

The European Central Bank disappointed some investors, however, by announcing that it would keep interest rates unchanged. Analysts were hoping the bank would cut rates to encourage lending and give a boost to Europe’s sagging economy.

In the U.S., the Labor Department said the number of new applications for unemployment benefits rose slightly last month to 401,000. While that is a signal that the job market continues to be weak, the increase was slightly less than what Wall Street economists had predicted, a signs that layoffs are easing. Unemployment benefits typically need to fall below 375,000 to signal job growth.

Corning Inc. rose 3.1 percent after it said it would increase its dividend and buyback shares. Apple Inc. rose 1 percent. The company said company co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs died Wednesday. Several analysts and large investors said Thursday they believe the company would continue to grow under new CEO Tim Cook.

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About 200 Longshore workers involved in a hostile labor dispute in Washington state gathered at a courthouse on Friday, challenging the sheriff to peacefully arrest anyone in the crowd accused of committing a crime.

“We’re here. If you want us, come and get us,” shouted ILWU Local 21 President Dan Coffman, looking up at the building. Union members cheered his declaration but largely stood quietly in two long lines.

No law enforcement officers approached the crowd, and nobody was arrested during the demonstration. After about 30 minutes, Coffman led the group away and said he hoped they could live their lives without fear of confrontation from authorities.

But later in the day, authorities arrested ILWU Local 21 Vice President Jake Whiteside, said Grover Laseke, a spokesman for the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with criminal trespass in 2nd degree and obstructing a train in connection with a massive protest that blocked a train in Longview last week.

Union leaders balked at the arrest, which came just after they had offered themselves to authorities. Laseke said the union had not communicated to law enforcement about their plans to visit the courthouse.

“That isn’t the way we’re going to be doing business,” Laseke said. He said officers were going out and making arrests as they would do with any other crime.

The union had complained that authorities have not responded to requests to peacefully coordinate with those charged with crimes related to the protest.

Officials estimate they have made roughly 200 arrests throughout the months-long labor dispute. Many of the charges have been minor _ such as for trespassing _ but authorities are also investigating a raid last week in which witnesses said Longshore workers stormed a grain terminal, damaged property and overwhelmed security guards.

One of them _ 45-year-old Ronald Patrick Stavas of Kelso _ has been charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree assault, intimidating a witness and sabotage.

The union had characterized the arrests that have occurred as “abusive.”

Laseke said he would be glad to facilitate a discussion between union leadership and the sheriff about how to bring in those suspected of crimes, but he disputed the suggestion that workers were being unfairly targeted. He also said investigators still have a “pretty good handful of arrests that they want to make.”

ILWU workers believe they have the right to work at a new grain terminal operated by EGT. The company has instead hired another firm that is staffing the site with a different set of union workers.

The aggressive tactics used by union protesters has not only drawn the ire of local law enforcement but also the National Labor Relations Board and a federal judge. The judge found the union in contempt on Thursday and is considering a fine in connection to last week’s protests.

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Unemployment rates fell in a majority of U.S. cities in July, despite the weak economy that is producing few jobs.

The Labor Department says unemployment rates dropped in 193 large metro areas, increased in 118 and were flat in 61.

The biggest monthly decrease was in Morgantown, W.Va. A burst of hiring at the West Virginia University lowered the rate there from 6.6 percent in June to 5 percent in July. Yuma, Ariz., a farming hub, experienced the largest increase, from 27 percent in June to 30 percent in July cash advance. Metro unemployment data is not adjusted for seasonal changes, such as the start of the school year.

In July, the U.S. economy added 117,000 net jobs and the national unemployment rate fell to 9.1 percent.

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