Business | MyFOX Spokane

Dutch queen underlines commitment to euro

Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 18th

By TOBY STERLINGAssociated Press AMSTERDAM (AP) - The Netherlands' Queen Beatrix underlined her country's commitment to the euro during her annual address to Parliament about the national budget on Tuesday, and made it clear the Dutch will continue to pursue "austerity" policies in

Spain under pressure to seek aid as bad debt soars

Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 18th

By CIARAN GILESAssociated Press MADRID (AP) - The amount of bad debt in Spain's banks rose to a record in July, according to data released Tuesday, as the country came under further pressure to take up the European Central Bank's offer to help governments struggling with too much debt

German investor optimism rises after 4-month drop

Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 18th

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Investor confidence in Germany's economy rose in September after falling the previous four months, according to the ZEW institute's index. The index rose to minus 18.2 points from minus 25.5 the month before. It remains in negative territory, indicating financial

Oil falls below $96 on economic worries

Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 18th

By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) - The price of oil fell for a second day, as a major shipping company gave investors reason to question the strength of oil demand. Benchmark crude closed down $1.33 to $95.29 Tuesday in New York, a drop of 1.4 percent. That followed Monday's decline of

UK consumer price inflation eases in August

Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 18th

LONDON (AP) - The U.K's annual rate of inflation dropped back to 2.5 percent in August, down from 2.6 percent in July, encouraging expectations that the Bank of England will introduce more monetary stimulus this year. Lower month-to-month price increases for furniture, household equipment and

WHY IT MATTERS: China's auto parts industry

Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 18th

By JOE McDONALDAP Business Writer The issue: The U.S. government has challenged Chinese policies it says improperly subsidize exports of auto parts in violation of World Trade Organization free trade rules. The issue is politically sensitive at a time when Western governments are trying to

Itochu to buy Dole businesses for $1.7 billion

Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 18th

TOKYO (AP) - Japanese trading company Itochu Corp. said Tuesday it has agreed to buy Dole Food Co.'s worldwide packaged foods and Asia fresh produce businesses for $1.7 billion. Dole's packaged foods business includes products ranging from canned and frozen fruit to bagged salads - product

Ex-Democratic senator working for regulation foes

Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 18th

By LARRY MARGASAKAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - The National Federation of Independent Business is endorsing Republicans over Democrats by a better than 10-1 margin in congressional races this year, but when it needed someone to head its campaign for "sensible" federal regulations it turned

Business making an anti-regulation pitch to voters

Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 18th

By LARRY MARGASAKAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - The National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Federation of Independent Business are working to make the anti-regulatory fervor their members share an issue in the last weeks of the campaign. The chamber and

Asia stocks up ahead of Bank of Japan decision

Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 18th

By PAMELA SAMPSONAP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) - Asian stock markets rose early Wednesday, as investors held onto hopes that the Bank of Japan would conclude a two-day policy meeting by announcing steps to help jumpstart the world's No. 3 economy. "The policy decision could have a