It is important to get a free annual credit report every year because that is the only way to ensure that all of the information on the report is accurate.

Markets have recognized the value of natural resources for a very long time. New markets for habitat and ecosystem processes have grown in recent decades.

Last week, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) led off the coming parade of earnings from the big banks when it reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter and full-year earnings, though its revenue fell short of estimates.

Plenty more earnings from the financial sector are due out this week. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters anticipate fourth-quarter earnings growth from American Express Co. (AXP), Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (BK), Hudson City Bancorp Inc. (HCBK), SLM Corp. (SLM) and US Bancorp (USB). Read the full post.

Continue reading The Week in Preview: Financial Earnings to Dominate

The Week in Preview: Financial Earnings to Dominate originally appeared on DailyFinance on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:25:00.

Filed Under: Earnings, American Express

Wall Street is on track to pay itself near-record bonuses for its 2009 performance. The Associated Press reports that the six biggest banks will reap a $150 billion 2009 bonus bonanza, a mere 8.5% less than what they received in the record year of 2007. Do you think you have the right to protest? Of course you do. But it won't get you too far because you lack the cash for your protests to make a difference.

Continue reading Want to Protest Wall Street's Bonus Bonanza? Good Luck

Want to Protest Wall Street's Bonus Bonanza? Good Luck originally appeared on DailyFinance on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:30:00.

Filed Under: Economy, Investing, Goldman Sachs

Novartis (NVS) has worked aggressively to purchase Alcon (ACL), a major eye-care company, from Nestlé. The deal-making started a couple of years ago when Novartis shelled out $10.4 billion to Nestlé for a 25% equity stake in Alcon. Now, the company is finally getting its prize through an option to buy the remaining 52% from Nestlé (NSRGY) and buying 23% from minority shareholders. In all, it's a $50 billion transaction.

Continue reading M&A Watch: Alcon's Minorty Shareholders Getting the Short End of the Sale

M&A Watch: Alcon's Minorty Shareholders Getting the Short End of the Sale originally appeared on DailyFinance on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:19:00.

Filed Under: Company News, Investing, Novartis

Imagine if your physician could pull up all your allergies and active diagnoses on a laptop, saving you from having to recite your conditions at each visit. Imagine a prescription getting zapped electronically from your doctor to the nearest drugstore, sparing you from having to hand over a slip of paper to a pharmacist. Imagine getting your lab and test results online, just days after your doctor got them.

Continue reading Health Care System: Feds Push New Paperless Effort

Health Care System: Feds Push New Paperless Effort originally appeared on DailyFinance on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:00:00.

Filed Under: Technology, Healthcare

The environment seems to be getting a little bit better for the newspaper industry. There are signs that the remarkable drop in advertising which has lasted for more than two years is slowing. Several newspaper operations, including The Tribune Company and Journal Register, filed for Chapter 11. But since those filings, stock values for the largest newspaper chains, including The New York Times Company (NYT) and Gannett (GCI) have moved up sharply.

Continue reading Another Big Newspaper Company Going Into Chapter 11

Another Big Newspaper Company Going Into Chapter 11 originally appeared on DailyFinance on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 11:00:00.

Filed Under: Media, New York Times Co.