http://www.hartfordbusiness.com Various news topics from the many sections of the Hartford Business Journal and HBJ Today. Fospher RSS by ForeSite Technologies, Inc. Fri, 16 May 2008 11:57:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5527.html New Britain-based The Stanley Works has agreed to purchase Xmark Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ottowa, Canada-based VeriChip Corp., for $45 million cash. Xmark develops, markets and sells RFID-based systems used to identify, locate and protect people and assets. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5527.html HBJ Today Fri, 16 May 2008 11:57:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5526.html The Urban Strategy America Fund, a New Boston real estate investment fund, has purchased a 389,876-square-foot, seven-building industrial portfolio from BKM Enterprises in East Hartford. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5526.html HBJ Today Fri, 16 May 2008 11:55:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5525.html Berlin-based Northeast Utilities has appointed Leon J. Olivier executive vice president and chief operating officer. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5525.html HBJ Today Thu, 15 May 2008 11:45:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5491.html A proposed $10 million to fund a share of a parking garage that will serve the Storrs town center at the edge of the University of Connecticut campus is expected to gain approval when the state Bond Commission meets May 30. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5491.html HBJ Today Thu, 15 May 2008 11:44:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5490.html Danbury-based Electro Energy Inc., a provider of battery technologies, was awarded a contract from the U.S. Army to continue development of thermal batteries used in military applications. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5490.html HBJ Today Thu, 15 May 2008 11:43:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5489.html If your work clothes are feeling a little tight lately, it might not be just the remnants of winter weight you're fighting. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5489.html HBJ Today Wed, 14 May 2008 11:38:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5484.html Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co. has agreed to pay $1.7 million and adopt new business reforms to resolve allegations that it illegally paid more than $1 million in concealed compensation to brokers in exchange for access to lucrative pension plan business, according to the Connecticut attorney general's office. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5484.html HBJ Today Wed, 14 May 2008 11:37:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5483.html With the average price for a gallon of gas in Connecticut climbing to $3.95, Gov. M. Jodi Rell urged the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a measure that would suspend oil deliveries to the country's Strategic Petroleum Reserve until crude prices fall below $75 a barrel.  http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5483.html HBJ Today Wed, 14 May 2008 11:33:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5482.html The U.S. Import Price Index increased 1.8 percent in April, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5482.html HBJ Today Wed, 14 May 2008 11:31:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5481.html CFOs are looking to ease their way into retirement, with 75 percent looking to consulting as an attractive transition. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5481.html HBJ Today Fri, 16 May 2008 11:29:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5524.html Construction of new homes posted the biggest increase in more than two years in April. While it was a rare spot of good news for the housing market, analysts said it's far too soon to declare an end to the prolonged slump. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5524.html Martin Crutsinger Web Only Fri, 16 May 2008 10:06:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5523.html General Electric Co. said today that it plans to sell or spin off its iconic appliance business, which has provided refrigerators, air conditioners and ovens for millions of U.S. homes. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5523.html Web Only Fri, 16 May 2008 10:01:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5522.html A federal judge has rejected requests to overturn the convictions of five former insurance company executives in a scheme to manipulate the financial statements of the world's largest insurance company. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5522.html Web Only Thu, 15 May 2008 9:31:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5488.html The nation's industrial output plunged in April, reflecting big cutbacks in autos and other manufacturing industries. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5488.html Martin Crutsinger Web Only Thu, 15 May 2008 9:30:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5487.html Technical factors held down the government's consumer price index in April, but economists say inflation isn't whipped. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5487.html John Waggoner Web Only Thu, 15 May 2008 9:28:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5486.html In a sign that the mortgage collapse is getting worse, not better, foreclosure filings surged 65 percent in April from April 2007, leading some analysts to warn that the crisis might not end before 2010. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5486.html Stephanie Armour Web Only Thu, 15 May 2008 9:16:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5485.html Economists may argue whether there's a recession raging or not, but tech investors aren't wasting any time betting on a recovery. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5485.html Matt Krantz Web Only Wed, 14 May 2008 10:08:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5480.html Inflation pressures eased a bit in April despite the biggest jump in food prices in 18 years. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5480.html Martin Crutsinger Web Only Wed, 14 May 2008 10:06:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5479.html More U.S. homeowners fell behind on mortgage payments last month, driving the number of homes facing foreclosure up 65 percent versus the same month last year and contributing to a deepening slide in home values, a research company said. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5479.html Alex Veiga Web Only Wed, 14 May 2008 10:04:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5478.html Mortgage finance company Freddie Mac said its first quarter loss widened to $151 million as the U.S. housing market worsened, though the results were not as poor as expected. Its shares rose more than 8 percent. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5478.html Alan Zibel Web Only Mon, 12 May 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5452.html Citizens Bank Connecticut named the Urban League of Greater Hartford its Champion in Action. The organization was recognized for working to champion change in the community and received a $25,000 grant from the Citizens Bank Foundation. Pictured, from left, are: Jon Hitchcock, general manager, WTNH/MyTV9; Jim Willingham, president and CEO, Urban League of Greater Hartford; and Rich Barry, president, Citizens Bank Connecticut. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5452.html Subscriber Only Mon, 12 May 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5448.html Your house? It’s worth nothing. Not that anyone could afford to buy it, anyway. Gas is about $600 a gallon. And health insurers have just put a $50,000 per prescription co-pay on every pill, because pills are a medically unnecessary frill. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5448.html Subscriber Only Mon, 12 May 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5433.html Every year for 11 years in a row, the Hamilton Sundstrand Federal Credit Union lost members. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5433.html Mary Johnson Subscriber Only Mon, 12 May 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5449.html Comcast and The Science Channel brought 200 Hartford area school children to the Bow Tie Cinema in Hartford for a viewing of the documentary “In the Shadow of the Moon.” Students also heard from Robert Cenker, a former NASA astronaut. Pictured, from left, are: Kristen Roberts, regional senior director of community and public relations, Comcast; Robert Cenker, former NASA astronaut; Doug Guthrie, regional vice president for Conn.-West, Comast; and Brooke Driscoll, account director, Discovery Networks. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5449.html Subscriber Only Mon, 12 May 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5424.html At the end of June, Sovereign Bank will abandon one downtown location and move one block up Trumbull Street to another. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5424.html Mary Johnson Subscriber Only Mon, 12 May 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5422.html Facing a nearly $70-million budget deficit, state lawmakers axed several key pro- business bills while approving the expansion of state health care insurance to small businesses, nonprofits and municipalities. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5422.html Sean O’Leary Subscriber Only Mon, 12 May 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5442.html Xerox Corp. will continue relying on fast-growing color products as a staple in its revenue and earnings growth despite the weakening U.S. economy, Chief Executive Anne Mulcahy told investor analysts recently. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5442.html Stephen Singer Subscriber Only Mon, 12 May 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5432.html Companies counting on consumers spending like there’s no tomorrow are finding tomorrow may not be as bright as they’d hoped. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5432.html Matt Krantz Subscriber Only Mon, 12 May 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5440.html Based upon an independent survey of advertising and marketing executives, which was reported in USA Today, there are three common misperceptions about creativity: http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5440.html Subscriber Only Mon, 12 May 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5421.html Home building permits in Connecticut dipped 15 percent in the first quarter, but a recent national study predicted Connecticut would be one of the first states to recover from the nationwide downturn. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5421.html Sean O’Leary Subscriber Only