SetFit/ag_news · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Job Cuts Rise Further in Nov. - Report Planned job cuts at US firms climbed during November, a report said on Tuesday, in a further sign of sluggishness in the labor market.	2	Business
More Web Shopping Is What #39;s in Store The retail sector overall may be reporting a sluggish start to the season, but holiday shoppers are scooping up iPods, DVDs, digital cameras and other tech goods at a brisk pace -- and they	2	Business
Nortel Reports Preliminary Results (Reuters) Reuters - Nortel Networks Corp. (NT.TO) delivered\long-awaited preliminary results for the first half of 2004 on\Thursday that showed estimated first and second quarter\earnings between nil and 1 cent per share, and North America's\biggest telecom equipment supplier said it would cut about\3,500 jobs.	2	Business
Limited Quarterly Earnings Climb NEW YORK (Reuters) - Clothing retailer Limited Brands Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=LTD.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">LTD.N</A> on Thursday posted sharply higher quarterly earnings on gains from the sale of its stake in Galyans Trading Co. and strong customer response to sales events early in the quarter.	2	Business
Ciena Posts Loss, Forecasts Flat Sales NEW YORK (Reuters) - Telecommunications equipment maker Ciena Corp. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=CIEN.O target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">CIEN.O</A> on Thursday reported a wider loss for the fiscal third quarter due to slack demand and forecast sales in the current quarter would be little changed from the third quarter.	2	Business
Dollar Struggles to Stay Off Lows LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar traded near this week's four-week lows against the euro and yen on Thursday ahead of U.S. jobless claims and a key business survey that dealers expect to provide further clues about the interest rate outlook.	2	Business
Groups Chide U.S. on Mercury Regulations (AP) AP - Environmentalists and two Maryland Democratic congressmen chastised the Bush administration Wednesday for proposed regulations they said will not do enough to reduce mercury contamination of Maryland rivers, lakes and the Chesapeake Bay.	3	Sci/Tech
Group: New England Not Reducing Mercury (AP) AP - If environmental policy were scored like grade-school spelling tests, New England's mercury reduction efforts wouldn't get any gold stars.	3	Sci/Tech
WTC destruction was two occurrences: jury World Trade Center leaseholder Silverstein Properties Inc. could collect \$4.68 billion in insurance payments after the jury in the second phase of the WTC property insurance litigation decided that the Sept.	2	Business
Update 25: Google #39;s IPO Price Set at \$85 Before Debut On the cusp of its voyage into public trading, Google #39;s initial stock price was set at \$85 and its market value calculated at \$23 billion - less than originally expected, but still impressive for a 6-year-old dot-com dreamed up in a garage.	2	Business
Claire #39;s 2Q Earnings Are Up 48 Percent Jewelry and accessories retailer Claire #39;s Stores Inc. reported Thursday that second-quarter earnings rose 48 percent to beat Wall Street expectations, and guided above estimates for the fourth-quarter and fiscal year periods.	2	Business
Google cuts price range, ends auction SAN JOSE, California - Initial shares of Google Inc. were priced late last night at \$85 US each -- the low end of estimates that the company had revised downward hours earlier.	2	Business
Swisscom confirms Telekom Austria talks have ended ZURICH, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Top Swiss telecoms group Swisscom (SCMN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) confirmed takeover talks with neighbouring Telekom Austria (TELA.VI: Quote, Profile, Research) had ended without result, the group said on Thursday, crushing ...	2	Business
US broadband reaches critical mass Over half of online US households are using broadband to access the internet, according to new research.	3	Sci/Tech
Six of Top Eight Music Players In Japan Are iPods The AP is reporting that the iPod has become so popular in Japan, despite the introduction of the Sony Walkman NW-HD1, that six of the top 8 selling music players in the country are iPod models. The AP ...	3	Sci/Tech
Microsoft unveils Works 8 The dictionary module has been integrated into the word processor and is also a stand-alone application in the Works Task Launcher. A thesaurus has been included, as well as the option to set parental controls.	3	Sci/Tech
Forget the medal count, Phelps has far exceeded expectations Two-time US Olympian Tom Dolan, who took back-to-back gold medals in the 400 IM at Atlanta and Sydney, will analyze races for SI.com throughout the Games.	1	Sports
Greek stars fan scandal #39;s flames by withdrawing ATHENS - On a day on which both Greece and the Olympics celebrated themselves by returning the Games to their ancient home in Olympia, two popular Greek athletes withdrew from the track and field competition amid a scandal befitting that ...	1	Sports
Americans fall on tennis court A US tennis team expected to collect a gold rush or at least challenge for one, instead got derailed just after coming out of the gate.	1	Sports
Figo has a break from international soccer match LISBON, Aug. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Portugal captain Luis Figo said here on Wednesday he was taking a break from international soccer, although he would not confirm if the decision was final.	1	Sports
Retailer's Share Up on Wal-Mart Interest (AP) AP - Shares of Japan's troubled supermarket chain Daiei Inc. soared 27 percent Thursday following reports that U.S. giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. planned to submit a proposal for turning the company around.	2	Business
Amazon to Buy China's Biggest Internet Retailer (Reuters) Reuters - Internet giant Amazon.com Inc. is to\buy China's biggest online retailer, Joyo.com, sources familiar\with the deal said on Thursday.	3	Sci/Tech
Soap Chemical Said Found in Md. Streams (AP) AP - An anti-bacterial agent commonly found in soaps and detergents has been found in water from streams and wastewater treatment plants in the Baltimore area, a Johns Hopkins researcher said Wednesday.	3	Sci/Tech
N.M. Museum to Launch Names Into Space (AP) AP - The New Mexico Museum of Space History will be shipping names to the stars with the first X-Prize launch into space.	3	Sci/Tech
Update: Google gets IPO green light from SEC The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday gave its approval for Google Inc. to proceed with its initial public offering (IPO).	3	Sci/Tech
Gateway unveils Grantsdale PCI Express PCs in retail Gateway Inc. will introduce its first desktops based on Intel Corp.'s new 915G chip set through several retail outlets, the company plans to announce Thursday.	3	Sci/Tech
Intel Chips In for New Gateway PCs Desktops will be available at several retailers, including CompUSA.	3	Sci/Tech
Lawsuit Filed Over Search Gambling Ads Yahoo, Google and other major web sites have been hit with a lawsuit saying they carry online gambling ads in violation of California law. This comes after two of the major search companies earlier this year made moves that were supposed to remove online gambling ads entirely.	3	Sci/Tech
Nortel to Cut 3,500 Jobs to Boost Profit OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=NT.TO target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">NT.TO</A> <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=NT.TO target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">NT.TO</A> posted long-awaited preliminary results for the first half of 2004 on Thursday, estimating first and second quarter earnings between nil and 1 cent per share.	2	Business
Oil Sets Record as New Violence Flares in Iraq LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices struck a fresh record on Thursday, spurred higher by renewed violence in Iraq and fresh evidence that strong demand growth in China and India has not been slowed yet by higher energy costs.	2	Business
Global Markets: Stocks Up Despite Oil LONDON (Reuters) - European stocks shrugged off new peaks in crude oil prices and moved slightly higher on Thursday with technology firms leading the advance, while bonds and the dollar were steady.	2	Business
Ky. Park, Univ. Open Cave Learning Center (AP) AP - Mammoth Cave National Park and Western Kentucky University have opened a facility that is designed to give students a hands-on learning environment in the longest known cave system in the world.	3	Sci/Tech
Retail sales fall in July Retail sales fell 0.4 in July - the first monthly decline in over a year - but the underlying trend remains strong, official figures showed today.	2	Business
Google #39;s IPO Price Set at \$85 Before Debut SAN JOSE, California (AP)--On the cusp of its voyage into public trading, Google #39;s initial stock price was set at \$85 and its market value calculated at \$23 billion--less than originally expected, but still impressive for a 6-year-old dot-com ...	2	Business
Microsoft downplays XP SP2 flaw claims Microsoft has won the first round against security researchers digging for flaws in its Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), dismissing claims by German consultants to have identified vulnerabilities.	3	Sci/Tech
Technical breakthrough boosts Broadband Britain Broadband should be available through 99.4 per cent of phone lines by next summer thanks to a technical breakthrough by BT.	3	Sci/Tech
Israeli High Court upholds decision over Sharon graft case JERUSALEM, Aug. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli High Court of Justice upheld Thursday Attorney General Menachem Mazuz #39;s decision not to indict Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the Greek island corruption case, Haaretz website reported.	0	World
Two Polish Soldiers Killed In Iraq Avoiding Ambush WARSAW, Aug 19 (AFP) - Two Polish soldiers serving in Iraq were killed and five injured on Thursday in a car crash as they sought to escape an ambush, a military spokesman in Warsaw said.	0	World
Navistar Results Rise on Truck Demand CHICAGO (Reuters) - Commercial truck maker Navistar International Corp. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=NAV.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">NAV.N</A> said on Thursday quarterly earnings rose as it boosted sales and controlled costs.	2	Business
Basketball: Americans Behind Again at Halftime ATHENS (Reuters) - The U.S. men's basketball team were once again in danger of defeat at the Olympic tournament on Thursday, trailing Australia 51-47 at the end of the first half.	1	Sports
Doping Casts Shadow Over Olympics -- Again ATHENS (Reuters) - Five weightlifters were banned from the Olympics after failing drugs tests, officials said on Thursday, as doping scandals continued to dominate the first week of the Games.	1	Sports
UK Police Arrest One Man Under Anti-Terror Laws (Reuters) Reuters - Police arrested a man in central England\on Thursday under anti-terrorism laws.	0	World
Ex-Chess Champ Fischer's Marriage Plans Hit Snag TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese chess great who plans to marry former world champion Bobby Fischer and help him avoid deportation home to the United States declared herself on Thursday to be a pawn seeking to become a queen.	0	World
Gay Couples Plan to Appeal Mass. Ruling BOSTON - A state judge upheld a 1913 law that prohibits out-of-state gay couples from marrying in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage between residents has been legal since May. The eight couples who filed the lawsuit - from Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and New York - sought a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the statute, claiming it is inherently discriminatory...	0	World
Jobless Claims Dip, No Storm Effect (Reuters) Reuters - The number of Americans filing first\claims for jobless pay fell 3,000 last week, the Labor\Department said on Thursday in a report showing no impact from\Hurricane Charley which struck Florida last Friday.	2	Business
Jobless Claims Dip, No Storm Effect WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing first claims for jobless pay fell 3,000 last week, the Labor Department said on Thursday in a report showing no impact from Hurricane Charley which struck Florida last Friday.	2	Business
Oil Sets Record Amid New Violence in Iraq LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices struck a fresh record on Thursday, spurred higher by renewed violence in Iraq and fresh evidence that strong demand growth in China and India has not been slowed yet by higher energy costs.	2	Business
Before-the-Bell: Synopsys, DeVry Fall NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of DeVry Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=DV.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">DV.N</A>, a provider of business and technical education, fell before the bell on Thursday, a day after it reported fourth-quarter earnings that came in just shy of analysts' expectations.	2	Business
Swisscom, Austrian telecom talks cut off: OeIAG (AFP) AFP - Negotiations between the Austrian privatisation agency OeIAG and the Swiss telecommunications group Swisscom for a stake in Telekom Austria ended without a deal, OeIAG said in a statement.	0	World
Oil Sets Record as New Violence Flares in Iraq LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices struck a fresh record on Thursday, spurred higher by renewed violence in Iraq and fresh evidence that strong demand growth in China and India has not been slowed yet by higher energy costs.	2	Business
Nortel to Cut 3,500 Jobs to Boost Profit OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp. (NT.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) posted long-awaited preliminary results for the first half of 2004 on Thursday, estimating first and second quarter earnings between nil and 1 cent per share.	2	Business
Stocks to Watch on Thursday, August 19 Clothing retailer Limited Brands, whose chains include the Limited, Express, Victoria #39;s Secret and Bath amp; Body Works, posted a sharply higher quarterly profit on Thursday. The company saw a rise in sales at stores open at least a year. Its shares closed ...	2	Business
Net nearly doubles, helped by stronger results at Hutchison HONG KONG Cheung Kong (Holdings), the holding company of the billionaire Li Ka-shing, said Thursday that first-half profit almost doubled, spurred by higher earnings from its Hutchison Whampoa unit and a surge in property sales.	2	Business
Parmalat to sue auditors PARMALAT, the bankrupt Italian food company, is suing outside auditors Grant Thornton and Deloitte amp; Touche, seeking 5.5 billion in damages.	2	Business
Broadband Breaks 50 Of Mass, Marks A Critical Pass More than half (51) of the American online population accessed the Internet via broadband connections in July--up from only 38 percent in July 2003, according to estimates released Tuesday by Nielsen//NetRatings.	3	Sci/Tech
Micro Focus lifts and shifts Cobol to Linux Micro Focus has extended its #39;Lift and Shift #39; legacy Cobol migration service, adding the option of migrating CICS-based mainframe Cobol applications to HP and IBM Unix and Linux servers.	3	Sci/Tech
Doping Casts Shadow Over Olympics -- Again ATHENS (Reuters) - Five weightlifters were banned from the Olympics after failing drugs tests, officials said on Thursday, as doping scandals continued to dominate the first week of the Games.	1	Sports
England soon lose opener Strauss LONDON, England (Reuters) -- England lost opener Andrew Strauss as they reached 53 for one at lunch on the first day of the fourth and final test against West Indies at The Oval.	1	Sports
Another slow start, another fast finish for US women South Korea took an early lead, so did the Czech Republic. Hey, even New Zealand had the US women #39;s basketball team down for a while.	1	Sports
Pakistan serves the US heads, not tales KARACHI - Tiring of the carrot and stick approach, and with US presidential elections only a few months away, the US has taken an aggressive role in Pakistan in the hunt for quot;big-name quot; al-Qaeda figures.	0	World
Jobless Claims Drop for 3rd Straight Week The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits edged down last week for a third consecutive time, signaling that the labor market may be improving after hitting a speed bump in June and July.	2	Business
Survey Notes Rise in U.S. Broadband Users (AP) AP - The number of Americans who get on the Internet via high-speed lines has now equaled the number using dial-up connections.	3	Sci/Tech
Lindows postpones public offering CEO Michael Robertson says the Linux company "won't be forced into a cut-rate IPO."	3	Sci/Tech
Violent Standoff in Najaf Continues Negotiations over the embattled city of Najaf took a new and complicated turn Thursday when an official of Iraq's interim government issued fresh demands to be met by rebellious Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, accompanied by warnings of an imminent military offensive at the shrine where Sadr's militia is holed up.	0	World
Retailer's Shares Up on Wal-Mart Interest (AP) AP - Shares of Japan's troubled supermarket chain Daiei Inc. soared 27 percent Thursday following reports that U.S. giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. planned to submit a proposal for turning the company around.	2	Business
No Frills, but Everything Else Is on Craigslist (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - Ernie Miller, a 38-year-old software developer in Silver Spring, offers a telling clue as to how www.craigslist.org became the Internet's go-to place to solve life's vexing problems.	3	Sci/Tech
N.Y. to Sell Wireless Cos. Lamppost Space (AP) AP - Further proof New York's real estate market is inflated: The city plans to sell space on top of lampposts to wireless phone companies for #36;21.6 million a year.	3	Sci/Tech
Google Rises in Market Debut (Reuters) Reuters - Shares of Google Inc. (GOOG.O) rose 15\percent to #36;98 in the first minutes of their Nasdaq stock\market debut on Thursday after the year's most anticipated\initial public offering priced far below initial estimates.	2	Business
August Mid-Atlantic Factory Output Slows (Reuters) Reuters - Output at U.S. Mid-Atlantic factories\slowed in August as new orders dropped sharply, suggesting\recent weakness in the economy is likely to persist into coming\months.	2	Business
30-Year Mortgage Rates Lowest Since April (Reuters) Reuters - Interest rates on U.S. 30-year\mortgages stayed under 6 percent for a third straight week,\mortgage finance company Freddie Mac said on Thursday,\remaining at their lowest averages since early April.	2	Business
Leading Indicators, Jobless Claims Dip (AP) AP - A closely watched measure of future economic activity fell in July for the second consecutive month, reinforcing evidence that the nation's financial recovery is slackening.	2	Business
SEC: Staffer Heading to Private-Sector Job (AP) AP - The Securities and Exchange Commission announced Thursday that a top staffer overseeing the #36;7.6 trillion mutual-fund industry will step down for a private-sector position.	2	Business
Google Rises in Market Debut NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Google Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=GOOG.O target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">GOOG.O</A> rose 15 percent to \$98 in the first minutes of their Nasdaq stock market debut on Thursday after the year's most anticipated initial public offering priced far below initial estimates.	2	Business
August Mid-Atlantic Factory Output Slows NEW YORK (Reuters) - Output at U.S. Mid-Atlantic factories slowed in August as new orders dropped sharply, suggesting recent weakness in the economy is likely to persist into coming months.	2	Business
Stocks Sink, Dragged by High Oil Prices NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday as investor worries about high energy costs hurting corporate profits kept indexes lower after oil prices broke through \$48 a barrel.	2	Business
Court Deals Blow to Movie Studios LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Thursday delivered a stinging blow to the anti-piracy efforts of major movie studios and music companies by ruling several Internet file-sharing software companies are not liable for copyright infringement.	2	Business
Nortel to Cut 3,500 Jobs to Boost Profits OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=NT.TO target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">NT.TO</A> <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=NT.TO target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">NT.TO</A> earned stock market applause on Thursday as it slashed more jobs, released on-target profit estimates, and took steps to clean up its accounting mess.	2	Business
Navistar Profit Rises, But Shares Fall CHICAGO (Reuters) - Commercial truck maker Navistar International Corp. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=NAV.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">NAV.N</A> reported higher quarterly earnings on Thursday, but its shares fell more than 5 percent as the market focused on lower-than-expected profit from its core manufacturing operations.	2	Business
UAL: Pension Plan Terminations Likely CHICAGO (Reuters) - United Airlines, which has said it plans to miss nearly \$500 million in pension contributions this fall, said in bankruptcy court papers it likely will be necessary to cancel and replace all of its pension plans.	2	Business
Medtronic Drops, Results Fail to Inspire CHICAGO (Reuters) - Shares of Medtronic Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=MDT.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">MDT.N</A> fell on Thursday as the company's fiscal first-quarter results, released after the market closed on Wednesday, failed to inspire investors.	2	Business
Petsmart Earnings Rise, But Shares Slump NEW YORK (Reuters) - Petsmart Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=PETM.O target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">PETM.O</A>, the top U.S. pet supplies chain, on Thursday said quarterly earnings rose on improved pet services sales, but its stock sank as much as 12 percent as results lagged analysts' expectations.	2	Business
Google Shares Begin Trading on Nasdaq Shortly before noon today, Google Inc. stock began trading under the ticker symbol GOOG on the Nasdaq stock market. <FONT face="verdana,MS Sans Serif,arial,helvetica" size="-2" color="#666666"><B>-The Washington Post</B></FONT>	2	Business
Oil Prices Set New High, Again Crude futures climbed above \$48 a barrel Thursday as market fears of sabotage against the Iraqi oil infrastructure outweighed assurances from Baghdad that exports would increase in coming days.	2	Business
Europe joins Citigroup bond probe France and Germany's market watchdogs say they are looking into Citigroup bond trades already under scrutiny in the UK.	2	Business
Ireland raises growth forecasts Ireland is poised to grow faster with a smaller deficit thanks to the global economic recovery, the government says.	2	Business
Amazon moves into China US internet giant Amazon.com is buying China's largest web retailer Joyo.com, in a deal worth \$75m (41m).	2	Business
French output steps up the pace Europe's bigger economies register yet more productivity growth, while the UK starts to fall behind.	2	Business
Apple warns about bad batteries Apple is recalling 28,000 faulty batteries for its 15-inch Powerbook G4 laptops.	2	Business
Aer Lingus unveils cost cut plans Irish airline Aer Lingus offers workers at least 40,000 euros each to take voluntary redundancy under cost cutting plans.	2	Business
Bangladesh wins \$2bn India deal Indian conglomerate Tata is to invest \$2bn in a power plant in Bangladesh, the country's single largest foreign investment ever.	2	Business
Oil Prices Hit \$48 a Barrel as Iraq Violence Flares Oil prices struck a fresh record today on violence in Iraq and evidence that strong demand growth in China and India has not slowed due to higher energy costs.	2	Business
Leading Indicators and Jobless Claims Dip A closely watched measure of future economic activity fell in July for the second consecutive month, reinforcing evidence that the nation's financial recovery is slackening.	2	Business
Being Frugal With Google Google begins trading. Finally. Bill Mann's pretty tired of the navel-gazing.	2	Business
A Plastic, Fantastic Gem Claire's Stores continue to crank up sales and get more profitable along the way.	2	Business
The Value of Star Power Coca-Cola lets basketball star LeBron James create a new version of Powerade.	2	Business
Kroger's Profit Up, But Price Cuts Weigh NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kroger Co., the top U.S. grocer, on Tuesday posted a 29 percent rise in quarterly profit due to cost controls, but price cuts to lure shoppers caused earnings to miss Wall Street estimates and shares fell.	2	Business
New Device: Flying Robot Seiko Epson hopes the tiny robot will help in security, disaster and rescue and space exploration. Also: Apple recalls batteries from its 15-inch PowerBook G4 laptops hellip;. Sony unveils eight new flat-screen TVs hellip;. and more.	2	Business
Apple to Recall 28,000 Laptop Batteries (Reuters) Reuters - Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL.O) has\agreed to recall about 28,000 batteries used in its 15-inch\PowerBook G4 laptop computers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety\Commission said on Thursday.	3	Sci/Tech
Drugstore Offers New Wave of Disposable Cameras (Reuters) Reuters - Pharmacy chain CVS Corp. on Thursday\said it would offer the world's first disposable digital camera\with a bright color viewing screen that allows consumers to\instantly preview pictures.	3	Sci/Tech
AT amp;T dials up VoIP service with cable deals (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - AT amp;T (T) is teaming with America's big cable TV operators to offer phone service over their broadband Internet lines, marking the telecom giant's first big move since it announced plans to abandon its traditional consumer long-distance business.	3	Sci/Tech

Job Cuts Rise Further in Nov. - Report Planned job cuts at US firms climbed during November, a report said on Tuesday, in a further sign of sluggishness in the labor market.

2

Business

More Web Shopping Is What #39;s in Store The retail sector overall may be reporting a sluggish start to the season, but holiday shoppers are scooping up iPods, DVDs, digital cameras and other tech goods at a brisk pace -- and they

2

Business

Nortel Reports Preliminary Results (Reuters) Reuters - Nortel Networks Corp. (NT.TO) delivered\long-awaited preliminary results for the first half of 2004 on\Thursday that showed estimated first and second quarter\earnings between nil and 1 cent per share, and North America's\biggest telecom equipment supplier said it would cut about\3,500 jobs.

2

Business

Limited Quarterly Earnings Climb NEW YORK (Reuters) - Clothing retailer Limited Brands Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=LTD.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">LTD.N</A> on Thursday posted sharply higher quarterly earnings on gains from the sale of its stake in Galyans Trading Co. and strong customer response to sales events early in the quarter.

2

Business

Ciena Posts Loss, Forecasts Flat Sales NEW YORK (Reuters) - Telecommunications equipment maker Ciena Corp. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=CIEN.O target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">CIEN.O</A> on Thursday reported a wider loss for the fiscal third quarter due to slack demand and forecast sales in the current quarter would be little changed from the third quarter.

2

Business

Dollar Struggles to Stay Off Lows LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar traded near this week's four-week lows against the euro and yen on Thursday ahead of U.S. jobless claims and a key business survey that dealers expect to provide further clues about the interest rate outlook.

2

Business

Groups Chide U.S. on Mercury Regulations (AP) AP - Environmentalists and two Maryland Democratic congressmen chastised the Bush administration Wednesday for proposed regulations they said will not do enough to reduce mercury contamination of Maryland rivers, lakes and the Chesapeake Bay.

3

Sci/Tech

Group: New England Not Reducing Mercury (AP) AP - If environmental policy were scored like grade-school spelling tests, New England's mercury reduction efforts wouldn't get any gold stars.

3

Sci/Tech

WTC destruction was two occurrences: jury World Trade Center leaseholder Silverstein Properties Inc. could collect \$4.68 billion in insurance payments after the jury in the second phase of the WTC property insurance litigation decided that the Sept.

2

Business

Update 25: Google #39;s IPO Price Set at \$85 Before Debut On the cusp of its voyage into public trading, Google #39;s initial stock price was set at \$85 and its market value calculated at \$23 billion - less than originally expected, but still impressive for a 6-year-old dot-com dreamed up in a garage.

2

Business

Claire #39;s 2Q Earnings Are Up 48 Percent Jewelry and accessories retailer Claire #39;s Stores Inc. reported Thursday that second-quarter earnings rose 48 percent to beat Wall Street expectations, and guided above estimates for the fourth-quarter and fiscal year periods.

2

Business

Google cuts price range, ends auction SAN JOSE, California - Initial shares of Google Inc. were priced late last night at \$85 US each -- the low end of estimates that the company had revised downward hours earlier.

2

Business

Swisscom confirms Telekom Austria talks have ended ZURICH, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Top Swiss telecoms group Swisscom (SCMN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) confirmed takeover talks with neighbouring Telekom Austria (TELA.VI: Quote, Profile, Research) had ended without result, the group said on Thursday, crushing ...

2

Business

US broadband reaches critical mass Over half of online US households are using broadband to access the internet, according to new research.

3

Sci/Tech

Six of Top Eight Music Players In Japan Are iPods The AP is reporting that the iPod has become so popular in Japan, despite the introduction of the Sony Walkman NW-HD1, that six of the top 8 selling music players in the country are iPod models. The AP ...

3

Sci/Tech

Microsoft unveils Works 8 The dictionary module has been integrated into the word processor and is also a stand-alone application in the Works Task Launcher. A thesaurus has been included, as well as the option to set parental controls.

3

Sci/Tech

Forget the medal count, Phelps has far exceeded expectations Two-time US Olympian Tom Dolan, who took back-to-back gold medals in the 400 IM at Atlanta and Sydney, will analyze races for SI.com throughout the Games.

1

Sports

Greek stars fan scandal #39;s flames by withdrawing ATHENS - On a day on which both Greece and the Olympics celebrated themselves by returning the Games to their ancient home in Olympia, two popular Greek athletes withdrew from the track and field competition amid a scandal befitting that ...

1

Sports

Americans fall on tennis court A US tennis team expected to collect a gold rush or at least challenge for one, instead got derailed just after coming out of the gate.

1

Sports

Figo has a break from international soccer match LISBON, Aug. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Portugal captain Luis Figo said here on Wednesday he was taking a break from international soccer, although he would not confirm if the decision was final.

1

Sports

Retailer's Share Up on Wal-Mart Interest (AP) AP - Shares of Japan's troubled supermarket chain Daiei Inc. soared 27 percent Thursday following reports that U.S. giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. planned to submit a proposal for turning the company around.

2

Business

Amazon to Buy China's Biggest Internet Retailer (Reuters) Reuters - Internet giant Amazon.com Inc. is to\buy China's biggest online retailer, Joyo.com, sources familiar\with the deal said on Thursday.

3

Sci/Tech

Soap Chemical Said Found in Md. Streams (AP) AP - An anti-bacterial agent commonly found in soaps and detergents has been found in water from streams and wastewater treatment plants in the Baltimore area, a Johns Hopkins researcher said Wednesday.

3

Sci/Tech

N.M. Museum to Launch Names Into Space (AP) AP - The New Mexico Museum of Space History will be shipping names to the stars with the first X-Prize launch into space.

3

Sci/Tech

Update: Google gets IPO green light from SEC The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday gave its approval for Google Inc. to proceed with its initial public offering (IPO).

3

Sci/Tech

Gateway unveils Grantsdale PCI Express PCs in retail Gateway Inc. will introduce its first desktops based on Intel Corp.'s new 915G chip set through several retail outlets, the company plans to announce Thursday.

3

Sci/Tech

Intel Chips In for New Gateway PCs Desktops will be available at several retailers, including CompUSA.

3

Sci/Tech

Lawsuit Filed Over Search Gambling Ads Yahoo, Google and other major web sites have been hit with a lawsuit saying they carry online gambling ads in violation of California law. This comes after two of the major search companies earlier this year made moves that were supposed to remove online gambling ads entirely.

3

Sci/Tech

Nortel to Cut 3,500 Jobs to Boost Profit OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=NT.TO target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">NT.TO</A> <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=NT.TO target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">NT.TO</A> posted long-awaited preliminary results for the first half of 2004 on Thursday, estimating first and second quarter earnings between nil and 1 cent per share.

2

Business

Oil Sets Record as New Violence Flares in Iraq LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices struck a fresh record on Thursday, spurred higher by renewed violence in Iraq and fresh evidence that strong demand growth in China and India has not been slowed yet by higher energy costs.

2

Business

Global Markets: Stocks Up Despite Oil LONDON (Reuters) - European stocks shrugged off new peaks in crude oil prices and moved slightly higher on Thursday with technology firms leading the advance, while bonds and the dollar were steady.

2

Business

Ky. Park, Univ. Open Cave Learning Center (AP) AP - Mammoth Cave National Park and Western Kentucky University have opened a facility that is designed to give students a hands-on learning environment in the longest known cave system in the world.

3

Sci/Tech

Retail sales fall in July Retail sales fell 0.4 in July - the first monthly decline in over a year - but the underlying trend remains strong, official figures showed today.

2

Business

Google #39;s IPO Price Set at \$85 Before Debut SAN JOSE, California (AP)--On the cusp of its voyage into public trading, Google #39;s initial stock price was set at \$85 and its market value calculated at \$23 billion--less than originally expected, but still impressive for a 6-year-old dot-com ...

2

Business

Microsoft downplays XP SP2 flaw claims Microsoft has won the first round against security researchers digging for flaws in its Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), dismissing claims by German consultants to have identified vulnerabilities.

3

Sci/Tech

Technical breakthrough boosts Broadband Britain Broadband should be available through 99.4 per cent of phone lines by next summer thanks to a technical breakthrough by BT.

3

Sci/Tech

Israeli High Court upholds decision over Sharon graft case JERUSALEM, Aug. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli High Court of Justice upheld Thursday Attorney General Menachem Mazuz #39;s decision not to indict Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the Greek island corruption case, Haaretz website reported.

0

World

Two Polish Soldiers Killed In Iraq Avoiding Ambush WARSAW, Aug 19 (AFP) - Two Polish soldiers serving in Iraq were killed and five injured on Thursday in a car crash as they sought to escape an ambush, a military spokesman in Warsaw said.

0

World

Navistar Results Rise on Truck Demand CHICAGO (Reuters) - Commercial truck maker Navistar International Corp. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=NAV.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">NAV.N</A> said on Thursday quarterly earnings rose as it boosted sales and controlled costs.

2

Business

Basketball: Americans Behind Again at Halftime ATHENS (Reuters) - The U.S. men's basketball team were once again in danger of defeat at the Olympic tournament on Thursday, trailing Australia 51-47 at the end of the first half.

1

Sports

Doping Casts Shadow Over Olympics -- Again ATHENS (Reuters) - Five weightlifters were banned from the Olympics after failing drugs tests, officials said on Thursday, as doping scandals continued to dominate the first week of the Games.

1

Sports

UK Police Arrest One Man Under Anti-Terror Laws (Reuters) Reuters - Police arrested a man in central England\on Thursday under anti-terrorism laws.

0

World

Ex-Chess Champ Fischer's Marriage Plans Hit Snag TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese chess great who plans to marry former world champion Bobby Fischer and help him avoid deportation home to the United States declared herself on Thursday to be a pawn seeking to become a queen.

0

World

Gay Couples Plan to Appeal Mass. Ruling BOSTON - A state judge upheld a 1913 law that prohibits out-of-state gay couples from marrying in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage between residents has been legal since May. The eight couples who filed the lawsuit - from Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and New York - sought a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the statute, claiming it is inherently discriminatory...

0

World

Jobless Claims Dip, No Storm Effect (Reuters) Reuters - The number of Americans filing first\claims for jobless pay fell 3,000 last week, the Labor\Department said on Thursday in a report showing no impact from\Hurricane Charley which struck Florida last Friday.

2

Business

Jobless Claims Dip, No Storm Effect WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing first claims for jobless pay fell 3,000 last week, the Labor Department said on Thursday in a report showing no impact from Hurricane Charley which struck Florida last Friday.

2

Business

Oil Sets Record Amid New Violence in Iraq LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices struck a fresh record on Thursday, spurred higher by renewed violence in Iraq and fresh evidence that strong demand growth in China and India has not been slowed yet by higher energy costs.

2

Business

Before-the-Bell: Synopsys, DeVry Fall NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of DeVry Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=DV.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">DV.N</A>, a provider of business and technical education, fell before the bell on Thursday, a day after it reported fourth-quarter earnings that came in just shy of analysts' expectations.

2

Business

Swisscom, Austrian telecom talks cut off: OeIAG (AFP) AFP - Negotiations between the Austrian privatisation agency OeIAG and the Swiss telecommunications group Swisscom for a stake in Telekom Austria ended without a deal, OeIAG said in a statement.

0

World

Oil Sets Record as New Violence Flares in Iraq LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices struck a fresh record on Thursday, spurred higher by renewed violence in Iraq and fresh evidence that strong demand growth in China and India has not been slowed yet by higher energy costs.

2

Business

Nortel to Cut 3,500 Jobs to Boost Profit OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp. (NT.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) posted long-awaited preliminary results for the first half of 2004 on Thursday, estimating first and second quarter earnings between nil and 1 cent per share.

2

Business

Stocks to Watch on Thursday, August 19 Clothing retailer Limited Brands, whose chains include the Limited, Express, Victoria #39;s Secret and Bath amp; Body Works, posted a sharply higher quarterly profit on Thursday. The company saw a rise in sales at stores open at least a year. Its shares closed ...

2

Business

Net nearly doubles, helped by stronger results at Hutchison HONG KONG Cheung Kong (Holdings), the holding company of the billionaire Li Ka-shing, said Thursday that first-half profit almost doubled, spurred by higher earnings from its Hutchison Whampoa unit and a surge in property sales.

2

Business

Parmalat to sue auditors PARMALAT, the bankrupt Italian food company, is suing outside auditors Grant Thornton and Deloitte amp; Touche, seeking 5.5 billion in damages.

2

Business

Broadband Breaks 50 Of Mass, Marks A Critical Pass More than half (51) of the American online population accessed the Internet via broadband connections in July--up from only 38 percent in July 2003, according to estimates released Tuesday by Nielsen//NetRatings.

3

Sci/Tech

Micro Focus lifts and shifts Cobol to Linux Micro Focus has extended its #39;Lift and Shift #39; legacy Cobol migration service, adding the option of migrating CICS-based mainframe Cobol applications to HP and IBM Unix and Linux servers.

3

Sci/Tech

Doping Casts Shadow Over Olympics -- Again ATHENS (Reuters) - Five weightlifters were banned from the Olympics after failing drugs tests, officials said on Thursday, as doping scandals continued to dominate the first week of the Games.

1

Sports

England soon lose opener Strauss LONDON, England (Reuters) -- England lost opener Andrew Strauss as they reached 53 for one at lunch on the first day of the fourth and final test against West Indies at The Oval.

1

Sports

Another slow start, another fast finish for US women South Korea took an early lead, so did the Czech Republic. Hey, even New Zealand had the US women #39;s basketball team down for a while.

1

Sports

Pakistan serves the US heads, not tales KARACHI - Tiring of the carrot and stick approach, and with US presidential elections only a few months away, the US has taken an aggressive role in Pakistan in the hunt for quot;big-name quot; al-Qaeda figures.

0

World

Jobless Claims Drop for 3rd Straight Week The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits edged down last week for a third consecutive time, signaling that the labor market may be improving after hitting a speed bump in June and July.

2

Business

Survey Notes Rise in U.S. Broadband Users (AP) AP - The number of Americans who get on the Internet via high-speed lines has now equaled the number using dial-up connections.

3

Sci/Tech

Lindows postpones public offering CEO Michael Robertson says the Linux company "won't be forced into a cut-rate IPO."

3

Sci/Tech

Violent Standoff in Najaf Continues Negotiations over the embattled city of Najaf took a new and complicated turn Thursday when an official of Iraq's interim government issued fresh demands to be met by rebellious Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, accompanied by warnings of an imminent military offensive at the shrine where Sadr's militia is holed up.

0

World

Retailer's Shares Up on Wal-Mart Interest (AP) AP - Shares of Japan's troubled supermarket chain Daiei Inc. soared 27 percent Thursday following reports that U.S. giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. planned to submit a proposal for turning the company around.

2

Business

No Frills, but Everything Else Is on Craigslist (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - Ernie Miller, a 38-year-old software developer in Silver Spring, offers a telling clue as to how www.craigslist.org became the Internet's go-to place to solve life's vexing problems.

3

Sci/Tech

N.Y. to Sell Wireless Cos. Lamppost Space (AP) AP - Further proof New York's real estate market is inflated: The city plans to sell space on top of lampposts to wireless phone companies for #36;21.6 million a year.

3

Sci/Tech

Google Rises in Market Debut (Reuters) Reuters - Shares of Google Inc. (GOOG.O) rose 15\percent to #36;98 in the first minutes of their Nasdaq stock\market debut on Thursday after the year's most anticipated\initial public offering priced far below initial estimates.

2

Business

August Mid-Atlantic Factory Output Slows (Reuters) Reuters - Output at U.S. Mid-Atlantic factories\slowed in August as new orders dropped sharply, suggesting\recent weakness in the economy is likely to persist into coming\months.

2

Business

30-Year Mortgage Rates Lowest Since April (Reuters) Reuters - Interest rates on U.S. 30-year\mortgages stayed under 6 percent for a third straight week,\mortgage finance company Freddie Mac said on Thursday,\remaining at their lowest averages since early April.

2

Business

Leading Indicators, Jobless Claims Dip (AP) AP - A closely watched measure of future economic activity fell in July for the second consecutive month, reinforcing evidence that the nation's financial recovery is slackening.

2

Business

SEC: Staffer Heading to Private-Sector Job (AP) AP - The Securities and Exchange Commission announced Thursday that a top staffer overseeing the #36;7.6 trillion mutual-fund industry will step down for a private-sector position.

2

Business

Google Rises in Market Debut NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Google Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=GOOG.O target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">GOOG.O</A> rose 15 percent to \$98 in the first minutes of their Nasdaq stock market debut on Thursday after the year's most anticipated initial public offering priced far below initial estimates.

2

Business

August Mid-Atlantic Factory Output Slows NEW YORK (Reuters) - Output at U.S. Mid-Atlantic factories slowed in August as new orders dropped sharply, suggesting recent weakness in the economy is likely to persist into coming months.

2

Business

Stocks Sink, Dragged by High Oil Prices NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday as investor worries about high energy costs hurting corporate profits kept indexes lower after oil prices broke through \$48 a barrel.

2

Business

Court Deals Blow to Movie Studios LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Thursday delivered a stinging blow to the anti-piracy efforts of major movie studios and music companies by ruling several Internet file-sharing software companies are not liable for copyright infringement.

2

Business

Nortel to Cut 3,500 Jobs to Boost Profits OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=NT.TO target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">NT.TO</A> <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=NT.TO target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">NT.TO</A> earned stock market applause on Thursday as it slashed more jobs, released on-target profit estimates, and took steps to clean up its accounting mess.

2

Business

Navistar Profit Rises, But Shares Fall CHICAGO (Reuters) - Commercial truck maker Navistar International Corp. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=NAV.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">NAV.N</A> reported higher quarterly earnings on Thursday, but its shares fell more than 5 percent as the market focused on lower-than-expected profit from its core manufacturing operations.

2

Business

UAL: Pension Plan Terminations Likely CHICAGO (Reuters) - United Airlines, which has said it plans to miss nearly \$500 million in pension contributions this fall, said in bankruptcy court papers it likely will be necessary to cancel and replace all of its pension plans.

2

Business

Medtronic Drops, Results Fail to Inspire CHICAGO (Reuters) - Shares of Medtronic Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=MDT.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">MDT.N</A> fell on Thursday as the company's fiscal first-quarter results, released after the market closed on Wednesday, failed to inspire investors.

2

Business

Petsmart Earnings Rise, But Shares Slump NEW YORK (Reuters) - Petsmart Inc. <A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=PETM.O target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote">PETM.O</A>, the top U.S. pet supplies chain, on Thursday said quarterly earnings rose on improved pet services sales, but its stock sank as much as 12 percent as results lagged analysts' expectations.

2

Business

Google Shares Begin Trading on Nasdaq Shortly before noon today, Google Inc. stock began trading under the ticker symbol GOOG on the Nasdaq stock market. <FONT face="verdana,MS Sans Serif,arial,helvetica" size="-2" color="#666666"><B>-The Washington Post</B></FONT>

2

Business

Oil Prices Set New High, Again Crude futures climbed above \$48 a barrel Thursday as market fears of sabotage against the Iraqi oil infrastructure outweighed assurances from Baghdad that exports would increase in coming days.

2

Business

Europe joins Citigroup bond probe France and Germany's market watchdogs say they are looking into Citigroup bond trades already under scrutiny in the UK.

2

Business

Ireland raises growth forecasts Ireland is poised to grow faster with a smaller deficit thanks to the global economic recovery, the government says.

2

Business

Amazon moves into China US internet giant Amazon.com is buying China's largest web retailer Joyo.com, in a deal worth \$75m (41m).

2

Business

French output steps up the pace Europe's bigger economies register yet more productivity growth, while the UK starts to fall behind.

2

Business

Apple warns about bad batteries Apple is recalling 28,000 faulty batteries for its 15-inch Powerbook G4 laptops.

2

Business

Aer Lingus unveils cost cut plans Irish airline Aer Lingus offers workers at least 40,000 euros each to take voluntary redundancy under cost cutting plans.

2

Business

Bangladesh wins \$2bn India deal Indian conglomerate Tata is to invest \$2bn in a power plant in Bangladesh, the country's single largest foreign investment ever.

2

Business

Oil Prices Hit \$48 a Barrel as Iraq Violence Flares Oil prices struck a fresh record today on violence in Iraq and evidence that strong demand growth in China and India has not slowed due to higher energy costs.

2

Business

Leading Indicators and Jobless Claims Dip A closely watched measure of future economic activity fell in July for the second consecutive month, reinforcing evidence that the nation's financial recovery is slackening.

2

Business

Being Frugal With Google Google begins trading. Finally. Bill Mann's pretty tired of the navel-gazing.

2

Business

A Plastic, Fantastic Gem Claire's Stores continue to crank up sales and get more profitable along the way.

2

Business

The Value of Star Power Coca-Cola lets basketball star LeBron James create a new version of Powerade.

2

Business

Kroger's Profit Up, But Price Cuts Weigh NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kroger Co., the top U.S. grocer, on Tuesday posted a 29 percent rise in quarterly profit due to cost controls, but price cuts to lure shoppers caused earnings to miss Wall Street estimates and shares fell.

2

Business

New Device: Flying Robot Seiko Epson hopes the tiny robot will help in security, disaster and rescue and space exploration. Also: Apple recalls batteries from its 15-inch PowerBook G4 laptops hellip;. Sony unveils eight new flat-screen TVs hellip;. and more.

2

Business

Apple to Recall 28,000 Laptop Batteries (Reuters) Reuters - Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL.O) has\agreed to recall about 28,000 batteries used in its 15-inch\PowerBook G4 laptop computers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety\Commission said on Thursday.

3

Sci/Tech

Drugstore Offers New Wave of Disposable Cameras (Reuters) Reuters - Pharmacy chain CVS Corp. on Thursday\said it would offer the world's first disposable digital camera\with a bright color viewing screen that allows consumers to\instantly preview pictures.

3

Sci/Tech

AT amp;T dials up VoIP service with cable deals (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - AT amp;T (T) is teaming with America's big cable TV operators to offer phone service over their broadband Internet lines, marking the telecom giant's first big move since it announced plans to abandon its traditional consumer long-distance business.

3

Sci/Tech