Dow regains its losses for the month

It took a while, but the Dow Jones industrial average finally gained back all its losses for the month.
On a day of conflicting signals, as investors weighed disappointing economic news against reports of higher profits at big companies, stocks inched higher. All three major indexes were up Friday, though barely.
The Dow climbed 23.69 points to […]

Iran vows “new initiatives” in talks with West

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator says his country will offer “new initiatives” in talks this weekend with world powers.
The remarks by Saeed Jalili come ahead of the Saturday talks over Tehran’s controversial nuclear program with six countries, including the United States and five other world powers in Istanbul. It is the first time the two sides […]

Local food company files for bankruptcy

A St. Louis-based food manufacturer that specializes in organic lentil mixes and dips has filed for bankruptcy.
Berhanu Enterprises, which launched in 2006, submitted its bankruptcy petition to US Bankruptcy Court in St. Louis on Monday.
The company, known as Berhanu Organics, was founded by Ethiopian native, Sine Berhanu, using recipes and ideas from her home country. 
Berhanu Organics […]

BOE Says European Debt Concerns Persist as Yields Stay Elevated - Bloomberg

The Bank of England said investors remain concerned about the euro-area outlook even after measures by policy makers helped reduced some tensions in markets.

Stanford found guilty in Ponzi scheme

A federal court jury in Houston found former financier R. Allen Stanford guilty Tuesday on 13 of 14 counts of running a Ponzi scheme.
Stanford, who was first charged with the fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission and federal prosecutors in 2009, was found guilty on 13 of 14 counts at the conclusion of […]

Reliance Bancshares chairman resigns

Patrick Gideon, the chairman of Reliance Bancshares, has resigned from his positions as chairman and board member as a result of a dispute with the bank holding company’s board of directors.
Gideon joined Reliance’s board in 1999 and was named chairman less than a year ago, replacing longtime chairman and founder Jerry Von Rohr in April 2011. Gideon is […]

Wage Gains Signal Boost to Consumer Spending - Bloomberg

The biggest six-month increase in U.S. worker pay in almost five years helps lay the ground for a pickup in consumer spending, the largest part of the economy.
Wages (GDPWWAGE) and salaries in the third and fourth quarters grew a combined $197.3 billion, the most since the six months ended March 2007, according to revised […]

Singapore Exports Drop on Europe Fallout - Bloomberg

Singapore

Business Bulletin Board

ALLIANCE
The Sound Room entered a partnership with Lombardo Homes to pre-wire eight subdivisions in St. Louis County and St. Charles County.
EXPANDING
Networking Plus LLC added new business networking sites at Bridgeton and WingHaven.
Karpel Solutions, a south St. Louis County-based computer software company, started selling and delivering ShoreTel Unified Communication products.
GETTING BETTER
Peter A. Racen of Northwestern Mutual […]

Jobless claims fall 15,000 last week

Private-sector hiring surged in December as employers added 325,000 new workers while claims for jobless benefits fell, raising hope that recent labor market improvement would continue in 2012.
The ADP National Employment Report’s December job tally surprised economists who had expected a 178,000 gain. It was also well above the 204,000 private jobs added in […]