Global shares, euro steady after S&P but outlook weak
– European shares and the euro recovered from early losses on Monday in the wake of a mass downgrade of euro zone sovereign ratings, but trading was choppy with U.S. markets closed and the outlook for Greek debt talks uncertain.
Standard & Poor’s stripped France and Austria of their triple-A ratings and cut Italy to the same level as Ireland on Friday, shortly after news emerged that Athens’ talks on a bond swap with private creditors, seen as vital to avoid a default in March, had broken down.
Ratings agency Moody’s also weighed in on Monday saying its Aaa rating for France might come under pressure if the public debt keeps rising or if Europe’s debt crisis worsens.
All of that piles pressure on the euro zone’s leaders to shore up defenses, with some glimmers of optimism in the crisis now firmly doused.
Career Advice: Getting Your Old Job Back
When you constantly find yourself reminiscing about the good old days spent at your previous workplace, you know it’s time to make a comeback. Here is a course of action you need to follow, if you want to get your old job back. 
Each one of us, at some point in our lives, have dealt with a moronic stab to a perfectly satisfying career; the one where we chuck our blissful existence in an organization for certain reasons, only to regret it in the months that follow. This isn’t as uncommon as you think it is, considering the temptations that beckon us. You need to get down from your high horse and admit to having made a mistake by quitting in the first place. Read all post…
Alcoa falls in 4Q, sees better 2012
Alcoa kicked off earnings season Monday by reporting a fourth quarter loss on lower prices. The aluminum producer forecast improving business conditions in 2012.
The company lost $191 million, or 18 cents per diluted share, on sales of $6 billion, vs. earnings of $258 million, or 24 cents per diluted share, and sales of $5.65 billion in the year-ago quarter. Aluminum shipments rose 8 percent during the quarter but were offset by a 5 percent drop in prices.
The loss reflected expenses related to a plan to idle 12 percent of its smelting capacity that Alcoa announced last week. Excluding those charges and other one-time items, the company lost 3 cents per share, in line with forecasts Wall Street analysts had slashed in recent weeks.
For the full year, profits more than doubled to $611 million, or 55 cents per diluted share, on sales of $24.95 billion, vs.
Business news: Alcoa earnings, HP contract competition, Novartis factory idle
Alcoa reports loss, stock stays strong
Alcoa, the largest U.S. aluminum producer, reported its first quarterly loss in more than two years after prices tumbled for the lightweight metal.
Alcoa posted a fourth-quarter loss of $191 million, or 18 cents a share, compared with $258 million, or 24 cents, a year earlier, the New York-based company said today in a statement. Sales rose 6 percent to $5.99 billion from $5.65 billion.
The loss is Alcoas first since the second quarter of 2009, which followed a slump in aluminum prices amid the global financial crisis.
Aluminum fell in 2011, with the benchmark three-month price in London averaging 11 percent lower in the fourth quarter than a year earlier.
SET index rises 10.89 points
The Stock Exchange of Thailand main index went up 10.89 points or 1.06% to close at 1,036.21 points at the end of trading session on Wednesday Afternoon.
Growth in manufacturing bolsters hopes for economy in 2012
WASHINGTON — U.S. manufacturers ended 2011 with their best month of growth since the late spring. And the struggling construction industry spent more on projects for the third time in four months.
The data bolstered hopes that the economy is gaining momentum and helped Wall Street start 2012 with a bang.
Factories hired more workers in December, saw the most growth in new orders since April and ramped up production. U.S. builders spent more in November on single-family homes, apartments and remodeling projects.
The strong reports correspond with other positive signs for the economy. Read all post…
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