http://www.hartfordbusiness.com Various news topics from the many sections of the Hartford Business Journal and HBJ Today. Fospher RSS by ForeSite Technologies, Inc. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:41:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5995.html Executives aren't hiring or firing right now, according to a study by staffing giant Robert Half. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5995.html HBJ Today Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:36:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5994.html Mortgage rates were lower across the board, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate falling to 6.53 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large lenders. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5994.html HBJ Today Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:41:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5965.html Farmington-based Carrier Corp., the heating, air conditioning and refrigeration arm of United Technologies, is forming a manufacturing venture in China. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5965.html HBJ Today Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:40:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5964.html Relief is in sight for homeowners with subprime mortgages. A new state law has taken effect creating borrower assistance programs for homeowners in need. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5964.html HBJ Today Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:39:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5963.html This month, Social Security recipients in Connecticut will receive information about a prepaid debit card option for federal benefits. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5963.html HBJ Today Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:34:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5958.html Connecticut home prices and sales dropped precipitously in May, according to The Warren Group. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5958.html HBJ Today Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:33:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5957.html Insurance giant Cigna is launching a new virtual health care community. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5957.html HBJ Today Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:32:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5956.html If error messages and bundles of wire get you enthusiastic, you're in luck, as the IT field continues to boast the greatest hiring demand, according to a nationwide CareerBuilder.com survey. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5956.html HBJ Today Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:44:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5952.html Farmington-based Darwin Professional Underwriters Inc., a specialty insurance group, and Allied World Assurance Co. Holdings of Bermuda, a provider or insurance and reinsurance, have reached a definitive merger agreement whereby Allied World will acquire Darwin. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5952.html HBJ Today Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:43:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5950.html Bristol-based ESPN reached an agreement to acquire Student Sports Inc., a high school-focused digital media and event production company based in Torrance, Calif.  http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5950.html HBJ Today Thu, 03 Jul 2008 9:44:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5993.html A Bridgeport federal grand jury has indicted five people, including the operators of Danbury and Bridgeport businesses on money laundering charges involving millions of dollars. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5993.html Web Only Thu, 03 Jul 2008 9:39:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5992.html Unable to strike a deal on its own, Microsoft Corp. reportedly is hoping to snap up Yahoo's online search operations with the help of News Corp. and Time Warner Inc. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5992.html Michael Liedtke Web Only Thu, 03 Jul 2008 9:37:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5991.html Employers cut payrolls by 62,000 in June, the sixth straight month of nationwide job losses, underscoring the economy's fragile state. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 percent. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5991.html Jeannine Aversa Web Only Thu, 03 Jul 2008 9:32:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5990.html Higher electric rates for customers of Connecticut's two utilities went into effect, raising issues familiar to consumers pressed by rising energy costs. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5990.html Stephen Singer Web Only Wed, 02 Jul 2008 8:34:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5962.html A last-minute no-interest financing offer and strong sales of some cars helped General Motors Corp. keep its U.S. sales over Toyota Motor Corp. last month, but it was still the worst June for the industry in 17 years and a harbinger of more misery ahead. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5962.html Tom Krisher and Dee-Ann Durbin Web Only Wed, 02 Jul 2008 8:25:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5961.html Blockbuster Inc. said it is withdrawing its proposal to buy Circuit City Stores Inc., the big-box electronics retailer whose sales have tumbled this year. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5961.html David Koenig Web Only Wed, 02 Jul 2008 8:24:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5960.html For a decade it appeared there was no such thing as too many Starbucks for U.S. coffee drinkers, whose willingness to buy its $4 lattes and dark drip brews rationalized a second green-and-white mermaid awning just down the street -- and sometimes even a third. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5960.html Jessica Mintz Web Only Wed, 02 Jul 2008 8:22:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5959.html Health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc. lowered its 2008 profit outlook today, citing reduced commercial business and higher-than-expected Medicare-related costs. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5959.html Web Only Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:11:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5955.html The executive editor of Utah's largest newspaper will be the new editor of the Connecticut Post. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5955.html Web Only Tue, 01 Jul 2008 9:03:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5954.html Hurt by a record-setting run for crude oil and renewed concerns about the health of the banking sector, Wall Street ended a dismal second quarter Monday with blue-chip stocks on the cusp of their first bear market in almost six years. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5954.html Adam Shell Web Only Mon, 30 Jun 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5929.html As the cost of gasoline, medical care, meat, vegetables, heating fuel and education are all soaring, real wages for the working poor across the country aren’t keeping up. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5929.html Subscriber Only Mon, 30 Jun 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5927.html The making of Sharon Sudusky’s career boils down to her innate skill of networking. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5927.html Subscriber Only Mon, 30 Jun 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5937.html Rockville Bank celebrated its newly constructed Colchester branch with a ribbon cutting of $1 bills and the cutting of a loaf of Colchester Bakery’s bread. Checks for $1,000 were presented to the Colchester fire department, police department, historical society, senior center and Cragin Memorial Library. Pictured, from left, are: William J. McGurk, president and CEO, RB; Brad Davis, radio host, WDRC Radio; Raymond Lefurge Jr., chairman of the board, RB; and Catherine F. Pompei, branch manager and assistant vice president, RB. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5937.html Subscriber Only Mon, 30 Jun 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5936.html Robinson & Cole donated $1,000 to Riverfront Recapture to cover archival expenses for preserving historical information about Bulkeley Bridge on its 100th anniversary. Pictured, from left, are: Frank D’Ercole, partner, R&C; Eric Daniels, managing partner, R&C; and Joseph Marfuggi, president and CEO, Riverfront Recapture. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5936.html Subscriber Only Mon, 30 Jun 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5920.html A Canadian uranium producer has joined a GE joint venture that aims to enrich the radioactive metal for nuclear power plants. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5920.html The Associated Press Subscriber Only Mon, 30 Jun 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5921.html The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had declined in May, declined even further in June to 50.4, down from 58.1 last month. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5921.html Subscriber Only Mon, 30 Jun 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5924.html Hartford-based Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers has put a 428-unit Illinois apartment complex on the market as it seeks to continue an active period of deal-making. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5924.html Subscriber Only Mon, 30 Jun 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5918.html Woof! Allow me to introduce myself — I’m Cosmo, Rhonda Abrams’ dog. At our office, dogs come to work every day, and I think I can help you learn a thing or two about business success. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5918.html Subscriber Only Mon, 30 Jun 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5925.html Although Gov. M. Jodi Rell last week ordered budget cuts of 3 to 5 percent at state agencies and commissions to offset an anticipated shortfall of about $150 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1, other states, by comparison, are in a far more dire financial situation. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5925.html Dennis Cauchon Subscriber Only Mon, 30 Jun 2008 0:00:00 EDT http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5934.html The Aetna Foundation awarded a $350,000 grant to the YMCA of Greater Hartford’s Capital Campaign. The funds will be used for the construction of the YMCA Youth and Family Center and Aetna Center in Hartford. Pictured, from left, are: Kevin Washington, president and CEO, YMCA of Greater Hartford; Marilda Gándara, president, Aetna Foundation; and Jerald Gooden, vice president and head of small and middle market operations, Aetna and board member, Greater Hartford YMCA. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5934.html Subscriber Only