Archive for February 29th, 2008

Northrop-EADS beats Boeing to construct United States tanker

Friday, February 29th, 2008

WASHINGTON - The United States Air Force has said on Friday it had picked a transatlantic team led by Northrop Grumman, instead of Boeing, to start constructing a new aerial refueling fleet in a surprise choice worth about $35 billion.

Berkshire net down 18 percent, Buffett eyes successors

Friday, February 29th, 2008

NEW YORK - Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc has said on Friday quarterly profit fell 18 percent, hurt by lower earnings from insurance underwriting and a decrease in investment gains.

Wall St tumbles on recession fears, AIG

Friday, February 29th, 2008

NEW YORK - Stocks tumbled on Friday as another round of weak economic data added to United States recession fears and a record loss at insurer AIG underscored worries about more write-downs in the financial sector.

Fed officials vow to keep watch on inflation

Friday, February 29th, 2008

NEW YORK - The Federal Reserve’s rapid-fire interest rate reductions were warranted, but the central bank must reverse course quickly once calm is restored to financial markets, Fed officials has said on Friday.

Ross to put up to $1 billion into rival to Ambac, MBIA

Friday, February 29th, 2008

NEW YORK - Billionaire Wilbur Ross has agreed to invest up to $1 billion in Assured Guaranty Ltd , bypassing large bond insurers like Ambac Financial Group Inc in favor of a rival that has largely avoided the credit problems plaguing the industry.

PDVSA says Exxon’s asset freeze based on fantasy

Friday, February 29th, 2008

LONDON - Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA told a UK court on Friday that a $12 billion freeze on its assets should not have been granted to Exxon Mobil as the oil major’s arguments were “sheer fantasy land”.

Dow, S&P fall 2 percent as economic worries weigh

Friday, February 29th, 2008

NEW YORK - The Dow industrials and S&P 500 index fell more than 2 percent on Friday on fears of recession and a huge loss at insurer American International Group .

Ambac rating still on review for downgrade: Moody’s

Friday, February 29th, 2008

NEW YORK -Moody’s Investors Service on Friday has said ratings on the insurance arm of Ambac Financial Group remain on review for downgrade, adding the insurer is around $2 billion short of its “target” capital level for an “Aaa” company.