Belleville News Democrat: Business http://www.bnd.com/business/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Belleville News Democrat en-us Copyright 2008 Belleville News Democrat Business 60 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:33:38 CST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's PubSys support@Belleville.com Meltdown 101: What is mark to market accounting? http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551091.html http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551091.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:32 CST In all the finger-pointing about the credit crisis, there's one unusual suspect: an accounting standard. Geithner would bring Treasury experience to job http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551090.html http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551090.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:32 CST President-elect Barack Obama and his likely choice for Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, should have a lot to talk about. Like Obama, Geithner spent time abroad as a child and he hates to miss a pickup basketball game. Leaders of Asia, Americas face pressure on economy http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551083.html http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551083.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:31 CST Leaders of Asia and the Americas faced mounting pressure Friday to stop the spread of the financial crisis and resuscitate moribund free-trade talks as they flew into Lima for a weekend summit. GM, Chrysler making deep cuts to hold on for loans http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551081.html http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551081.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:31 CST When Chrysler was near death and awaiting a government bailout in 1979, then-CEO Lee Iacocca ordered drastic spending cuts and required all checks above $1,000 to be approved by a senior vice president. Former Ecuador leaders deny profit from bond deals http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551080.html http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551080.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:31 CST Former Ecuadorean leaders said Friday that President Rafael Correa was playing politics when he accused them of taking bribes during $3.9 billion in debt renegotiations. Jamaican developer sues 2 Spanish hotels over sand http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551057.html http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551057.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:56 CST A developer is suing two Spanish-owned hotel groups for allegedly stealing nearly 100 truckloads of sand from a beachfront property in Jamaica. Web sites offer real estate agent rankings http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551031.html http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551031.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:51 CST Word of mouth is one of the most common ways homebuyers and sellers find a real estate agent. Now, there are several Web sites that tout a more scientific approach: ranking agents based on criteria such as years of experience, how many sales they've closed, and the number of positive testimonials from past clients. A look at how Heinz, Smucker did in the quarter http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551030.html http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551030.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:36 CST Here's a look at how foodmakers H.J. Heinz Co. and J.M. Smucker Co. fared in the most recent quarter: Vloggers and stars alike gather for YouTube Live http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551022.html http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551022.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:31 CST Maybe there's something to face-to-face interaction after all. Mexican oil production down nearly 10 percent http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551021.html http://www.bnd.com/business/story/551021.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:26 CST America's third-largest oil supplier has exported 17 percent less crude this year.