8 May, 2014 by The TZ Newswire Staff Comments Off on U.S. cash home purchases surging as rates rise
U.S. cash home purchases surging as rates rise
Greg Leffel, an investor in Columbus, Ohio, said he relishes cash deals as much as he dislikes home loans. Investors like Leffel helped spur all-cash home purchases to a record 43 percent of U.S. deals in the first quarter, more than double the share a year ago, according to data firm RealtyTrac Inc. Cash is keeping residential sales trudging along while mortgage lending plummets, hurt by rising interest rates and stiff credit requirements.
8 May, 2014 by The TZ Newswire Staff Comments Off on Government says no need to park recalled GM cars
Government says no need to park recalled GM cars
There’s no need to tell owners of recalled General Motors small cars to stop driving them, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. In a written response to two senators who asked for such …
8 May, 2014 by The TZ Newswire Staff Comments Off on At China’s Alibaba, chairman Ma’s dealings raise red flags
At China’s Alibaba, chairman Ma’s dealings raise red flags
SAN FRANCISCO/BEIJING (Reuters) – Part-way through Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s IPO-ALIB.N long-awaited IPO prospectus was a subtle, but striking, warning: investors should know that lead founder and executive chairman Jack Ma might work against the company’s best interests.
8 May, 2014 by The TZ Newswire Staff Comments Off on Toyota chalks up record profit, vehicle sales
Toyota chalks up record profit, vehicle sales
Toyota chalked up a record annual profit and sales above 10 million vehicles for the first time, but forecast Thursday a slower year ahead as the momentum from a weak yen fades. Expenses such as the $1.2 …
8 May, 2014 by The TZ Newswire Staff Comments Off on Euro, sterling buoyant before central bank meetings
Euro, sterling buoyant before central bank meetings
Expectations the European Central Bank will keep its policy powder dry for another month at least kept the euro near a two-month high on Thursday, as soothing talk from the head of the Federal Reserve lifted shares and bonds. The ECB meets in Brussels later and though euro zone inflation remains well below its comfort zone, signs the economy is picking up and still-falling government borrowing costs mean the bank is likely to hold off cutting interest rates again.
8 May, 2014 by The TZ Newswire Staff Comments Off on At China’s Alibaba, chairman Ma’s dealings raise red flags
At China’s Alibaba, chairman Ma’s dealings raise red flags
SAN FRANCISCO/BEIJING (Reuters) – Part-way through Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s long-awaited IPO prospectus was a subtle, but striking, warning: investors should know that lead founder and executive chairman Jack Ma might work against the company’s best interests.
8 May, 2014 by The TZ Newswire Staff Comments Off on AstraZeneca shares gain on speculation of new Pfizer bid
AstraZeneca shares gain on speculation of new Pfizer bid
AstraZeneca (AZN.L) shares gained 2 percent in early trading on Thursday on speculation that U.S. drugmaker Pfizer (PFE) was about to return with a higher bid worth more than 53 pounds a share, traders said. Pfizer’s previous approach, which was promptly rejected by the AstraZeneca board, initially valued the group at $106 billion – but the value of that cash-and-stock offer has since slipped because of a fall in Pfizer shares following weak quarterly results.