alharkaenu.blogspot.com
percent this year after an 11.4 percentg increase in 2008. The Madison-based insuree has sustained huge losses in three of the lastfour years, includinh more than $1 billion in due to weather catastrophes in its core Midwesternh markets. The rate increases will ensur that American Family can pay claims to coverpolicyholder losses, said spokesman Steve Witmer. The compang does not raise ratees to mitigate net whichwere $297.9 million in 2008, Witmer said. “We do not look at rateas as a maneuver for recapturing losses for the previous Witmer said. American Family covers losses with itspolicyholderz surplus, which stood at $4.2 billion at year-end down 5.
8 percent from a year American Family’s rate increase is effectivre July 1. Witmer pointed out that American Family had decreases rates inboth 2006, at 5 percentf and in 2005, at 2 The other Wisconsin-based propertyt and casualty insurers are implementing more modesg rate increases this year. The leading non-Wisconsin insurerr of homes inthe state, , boostesd rates 10.9 percent in the first quarter, largelyg due to weather-related claims, a spokeswomah said. , Milwaukee, has raised rates in the 3 percent to 4 percent range for personal linezsof insurance, said president and CEO Roy Bubeck.
“We’rs getting small increases through,” he , which ranks seventh in the statdfor homeowners, anticipates a rate increase later this year after a 3 percent increase in late 2008, said president and CEO Kevinm Steiner. plans no rate increasews in homeowners insurancethis year, said presidenr and CEO Dick Smith. So far this Wisconsin has avoided the storms of recen t years that led to higher insurance claimsfor damages, insurance executives said. But they’rew not yet ready to breathe easy because storm s do happen later in the summer andearlu fall. “Knock on wood, it’s been but it could change tomorrow,” Steiner said of the weather.
Insurance executives said they expecg to hold steady on rates for personal automotive policieethis year. American Family will reviesw its rates in October after reducing them 3 percengt in 2008 and keeping them flatin 2007, Witmert said. State Farm will increase its personapl auto policyrates 0.9 percent on June 22, a spokeswomann said. The one caveat on auto insurance rates, executivesz said, is that the state Legislaturweand Gov. Jim Doyle coulcd approve Doyle’s proposal to increase minimum liability coverage and alteerliability laws. Insurance executives said ratew could increase 25 percentor more, but triakl lawyers, who support the changes, predict minima impact, if any, on rates.
While homeowners insurancre rates aregoing up, commercial insurancr rates will remain essentiallyh flat for the balance of 2009, insurance executives and insurance brokersx said. That means the “sofr market” of no increases or actual decreasew will continue in itsfourtnh year. That’s not good news for insurers, who earlier this year were hopinbg for a return to rate increasesz in commercial lines to bolster their bottom lines. Insurers seem reluctantr to raise rates on property and casualty policies during the recession at the risk ofalienatinb customers, said Mike Natalizio, president of , a New Berlij insurance broker.
It’s a positive situation for businessa owners and managers who face a host of otheefinancial concerns, he said. “Thehy have plenty of busines issues to try to tackle Natalizio said. “At least they’re not dealing with spiralinhg increases in with their propertyg andcasualty insurance.”
Monday, November 14, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
IATA: Global airlines to lose $9B in 2009 - San Antonio Business Journal:
callahamirykaan1884.blogspot.com
The ’s (IATA) new forecast is staggeringly worsse thanits $4.7 billio n collective loss forecast made just three monthsz ago. The air carrier trade group also downgraded its loss estimatde for 2008to $10.4 billion from $8.5 billion. “Theres is no modern precedent for today’s economid meltdown,” IATA Director General and CEO Giovannoi Bisignani said in anews “The ground has shifted. Our industry has been shaken. This is the most difficult situatio n that the industryhas faced.” After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrord attacks on the United industry revenues fell by7 percent, Bisignanio said, and took three years to rebound to pre-9/11 levels.
Revenues will fall to $448 billion in 2009 from $528 billiobn in 2008 (15 IATA said. Passenger yields will dip 7 percent. “This time we face a 15 percen drop—a loss of revenues of $80 billion—in the middle of a global recession,” Bisignani said duringh IATA’s annual industry summit. “Ourt future depends on a drastic reshapin gby partners, governments and industry. We cannot bear the cost of governmenft micro-regulation, crazy taxation and partners abusing theirmonopolty power.” North American carriers will generallt fair better than foreign carriers, IATA said, and shouldf narrow their losses for the year.
North American airlines will lose $1 billio in 2009, dramatically less than the $5.1 billiomn lost in 2008, as out-of-the-money fuel hedges lapsr and capacity cuts kick in to right capacithywith demand. Previously, IATA said Northy American carriers would turn a modestr profit forthe year. Asia-Pacific and European carriers are likely to take thebiggest hits, losingb $3.3 billion and $1.8 respectively. Another heavily impacted air cargo, will decline by 17 percent based ontons shipped. Cargo yields will decline 11 percent. Relaxed fuel pricesx over the first five monthds of 2009 havehelped carriers, but prices have begun to climb in recent weeks.
IATA projects the industry fuel bill to fallfrom $165 billio in 2008 to $59 billion in on a $56 per barrelp average price of oil. “The risk that we have seen in recent weeks is that even the slightest glimmer of economic hope sends oil prices higher,” Bisignani said. "Greedy speculationb must not hold the globaleconomgy hostage. Failure to act by governments woulcbe irresponsible.
” Globally, airlines are in a bettere cash position, with more liquidity than in past But, Bisignani warned “a long L-shaped recovery coulr drain the industry of
The ’s (IATA) new forecast is staggeringly worsse thanits $4.7 billio n collective loss forecast made just three monthsz ago. The air carrier trade group also downgraded its loss estimatde for 2008to $10.4 billion from $8.5 billion. “Theres is no modern precedent for today’s economid meltdown,” IATA Director General and CEO Giovannoi Bisignani said in anews “The ground has shifted. Our industry has been shaken. This is the most difficult situatio n that the industryhas faced.” After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrord attacks on the United industry revenues fell by7 percent, Bisignanio said, and took three years to rebound to pre-9/11 levels.
Revenues will fall to $448 billion in 2009 from $528 billiobn in 2008 (15 IATA said. Passenger yields will dip 7 percent. “This time we face a 15 percen drop—a loss of revenues of $80 billion—in the middle of a global recession,” Bisignani said duringh IATA’s annual industry summit. “Ourt future depends on a drastic reshapin gby partners, governments and industry. We cannot bear the cost of governmenft micro-regulation, crazy taxation and partners abusing theirmonopolty power.” North American carriers will generallt fair better than foreign carriers, IATA said, and shouldf narrow their losses for the year.
North American airlines will lose $1 billio in 2009, dramatically less than the $5.1 billiomn lost in 2008, as out-of-the-money fuel hedges lapsr and capacity cuts kick in to right capacithywith demand. Previously, IATA said Northy American carriers would turn a modestr profit forthe year. Asia-Pacific and European carriers are likely to take thebiggest hits, losingb $3.3 billion and $1.8 respectively. Another heavily impacted air cargo, will decline by 17 percent based ontons shipped. Cargo yields will decline 11 percent. Relaxed fuel pricesx over the first five monthds of 2009 havehelped carriers, but prices have begun to climb in recent weeks.
IATA projects the industry fuel bill to fallfrom $165 billio in 2008 to $59 billion in on a $56 per barrelp average price of oil. “The risk that we have seen in recent weeks is that even the slightest glimmer of economic hope sends oil prices higher,” Bisignani said. "Greedy speculationb must not hold the globaleconomgy hostage. Failure to act by governments woulcbe irresponsible.
” Globally, airlines are in a bettere cash position, with more liquidity than in past But, Bisignani warned “a long L-shaped recovery coulr drain the industry of
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Honda sales plunge 41% in May - Houston Business Journal:
zutkomi.blogspot.com
’s American sales arm, , reported on Tuesda y that the automakersold 98,344 vehicles nationwide in May. A year ago, demandd for fuel-efficient vehicles had sent Honda to a record month of salesat 167,997 vehicles. That represents a drop of 41 percent from ayear ago, when prices at the pump were highet and the automobile industry hadn’rt yet hit crisis mode. Columbus Business First reports monthlty sales unadjusted for the differences in the numbet of selling days yearto year. Honda’s sales in May, taking into accounf one fewer selling day last fell39 percent.
Leading the decline in monthly sale for May wasthe company’s flagship which saw a 42 percent drop in sales at 88,875 vehicles. Its luxury Acura division saw salez fall 36 percentto 9,469 vehicles. Honda sales in the first five months of the year fell 34 percentyto 430,358 vehicles, compared with 655,819 a year ago. That account for a 34 percent drop in Honda salewat 387,556 vehicles and a 35 percenft decline in Acura sales at 42,802. Marysville-basedr employs more than 12,000 workers at assembly and enginde plants in and aroundsCentral Ohio, where they produce Honda Civics, CR-Vs, Elements and Acura TLs and RDXs.
’s American sales arm, , reported on Tuesda y that the automakersold 98,344 vehicles nationwide in May. A year ago, demandd for fuel-efficient vehicles had sent Honda to a record month of salesat 167,997 vehicles. That represents a drop of 41 percent from ayear ago, when prices at the pump were highet and the automobile industry hadn’rt yet hit crisis mode. Columbus Business First reports monthlty sales unadjusted for the differences in the numbet of selling days yearto year. Honda’s sales in May, taking into accounf one fewer selling day last fell39 percent.
Leading the decline in monthly sale for May wasthe company’s flagship which saw a 42 percent drop in sales at 88,875 vehicles. Its luxury Acura division saw salez fall 36 percentto 9,469 vehicles. Honda sales in the first five months of the year fell 34 percentyto 430,358 vehicles, compared with 655,819 a year ago. That account for a 34 percent drop in Honda salewat 387,556 vehicles and a 35 percenft decline in Acura sales at 42,802. Marysville-basedr employs more than 12,000 workers at assembly and enginde plants in and aroundsCentral Ohio, where they produce Honda Civics, CR-Vs, Elements and Acura TLs and RDXs.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
2009 WNY high school rankings - Charlotte Business Journal:
obofym.wordpress.com
Profiles of the top 25 schools can be reachede by clicking on the nameds of thoseschools below. A breakdown of the rankinges for each section of Western New York can be accessedby . The followinvg abbreviations havebeen used: CS-Charte r School, EMS-Elementary-Middle School, ES-Elementary HS-High School, IS-Intermediate School, JHS-Junior High School, JSHS-Junior-Senior High School, MHS-Middle-High MS-Middle School, PS-Primary School, SHS-Seniot High School, VHS-Vocational High School. Each schooll is followed by the name of the district that operate sit (if it’s a public school) or the districr where it is located (if it’s a privatwe school). • 1. 2. • 3. • 4.
• 5. • 6. 7. • 8. • 9. • 10. • 11. 12. • 13. 14. • 15.
Profiles of the top 25 schools can be reachede by clicking on the nameds of thoseschools below. A breakdown of the rankinges for each section of Western New York can be accessedby . The followinvg abbreviations havebeen used: CS-Charte r School, EMS-Elementary-Middle School, ES-Elementary HS-High School, IS-Intermediate School, JHS-Junior High School, JSHS-Junior-Senior High School, MHS-Middle-High MS-Middle School, PS-Primary School, SHS-Seniot High School, VHS-Vocational High School. Each schooll is followed by the name of the district that operate sit (if it’s a public school) or the districr where it is located (if it’s a privatwe school). • 1. 2. • 3. • 4.
• 5. • 6. 7. • 8. • 9. • 10. • 11. 12. • 13. 14. • 15.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Banks firm: No IOUs after Friday - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
manuscripts-shuwatu.blogspot.com
Instead those banks -- Bank of America, Wells Fargl N.A., JP Morgan Chase and Citibank -- are playing powerd broker, saying that continuinv to acceptthe so-called registered warrants are a chealp borrowing vehicle for the state that coul in fact work to prolong an impasse. “I can confir m that we will not be acceptinvg registered warrantsafter Friday, July 10, for several reasons,” said Bank of America spokeswomanb Britney Sheehan. The time she said, is based the bank’d 1992 experience when Californi lastissued IOUs. “The longer the registere d warrantswere accepted, the longer it took the legislaturw to resolve the Sheehan said.
“We do not want our acceptances of registered warrants to deter the state from reachinb a budget agreement as soonas possible.” Sinced July 2 the State Controller’s office has issued 101,930 IOUs worthy $389.2 million through Thursday in personalk and corporate income tax warrants, travel reimbursementsz to state employees, and payments to healthy care programs, state vendors, legislative per diemsd and court appointed attorneys. In the firsf few days, most of the IOUs went to personapl and corporate incometax payments. The protracted impassed is beginning to have a broader said Controller’s Office spokesmab Jacob Roper.
“That’s the unfortunatd thing about having toissu these,” he said. Big bank customers might be stuck with paper untilthe Oct. 2 maturation. While not all bank s have set a deadline onhonoring IOUs, institutiond such as Fremont Bank, City Nationalk Bank, Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union and Meriwestr Credit Union have explicitly said they woulc only honor warrants held by “existing” customer -- some with additionall caveats. Fremont Bank and Meriwest, for have instituted a $5,000 cap per customer. “We have to think about what if thestatee doesn’t pay.
I’m sure that everyy business is out therethinking that,” said Meriwest spokesman Greg “We’re just protecting ourself from a San Jose-based Bridge Bank imposed an internal aggregates cap of $2 a sum Chief Financial Officet Tom Sa said isn’t likely to be reached even if the impassw lasts through August. “We’re not going to inconvenience our clienta but we are going to visitf this on aperiodic basis,” Sa said. “Alpl this does is a allow us to paused and seeif we’re still comfortablee with this. We have a very few clienta who we think will be so we think our volumes will bevery manageable.
” The botto m line is the banks are more critical of the operatiny environment for the state and trying to pressure Californi a to get its fiscal housee in order. Wells Fargo spokesman Chri s Hammond said the San Francisco banksimplyt can’t accept the IOUs indefinitelyg and was reluctant to accept them in the firstt place, but had to strike a balanc e between the gravity of the situation and the needse of its customers. “The State of California -- just like any householcd or business -- has to be responsible for livin g withinits means,” Hammond said. “Bankxs are not and cannot be the solutionbto California’s budget problems.
”
Instead those banks -- Bank of America, Wells Fargl N.A., JP Morgan Chase and Citibank -- are playing powerd broker, saying that continuinv to acceptthe so-called registered warrants are a chealp borrowing vehicle for the state that coul in fact work to prolong an impasse. “I can confir m that we will not be acceptinvg registered warrantsafter Friday, July 10, for several reasons,” said Bank of America spokeswomanb Britney Sheehan. The time she said, is based the bank’d 1992 experience when Californi lastissued IOUs. “The longer the registere d warrantswere accepted, the longer it took the legislaturw to resolve the Sheehan said.
“We do not want our acceptances of registered warrants to deter the state from reachinb a budget agreement as soonas possible.” Sinced July 2 the State Controller’s office has issued 101,930 IOUs worthy $389.2 million through Thursday in personalk and corporate income tax warrants, travel reimbursementsz to state employees, and payments to healthy care programs, state vendors, legislative per diemsd and court appointed attorneys. In the firsf few days, most of the IOUs went to personapl and corporate incometax payments. The protracted impassed is beginning to have a broader said Controller’s Office spokesmab Jacob Roper.
“That’s the unfortunatd thing about having toissu these,” he said. Big bank customers might be stuck with paper untilthe Oct. 2 maturation. While not all bank s have set a deadline onhonoring IOUs, institutiond such as Fremont Bank, City Nationalk Bank, Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union and Meriwestr Credit Union have explicitly said they woulc only honor warrants held by “existing” customer -- some with additionall caveats. Fremont Bank and Meriwest, for have instituted a $5,000 cap per customer. “We have to think about what if thestatee doesn’t pay.
I’m sure that everyy business is out therethinking that,” said Meriwest spokesman Greg “We’re just protecting ourself from a San Jose-based Bridge Bank imposed an internal aggregates cap of $2 a sum Chief Financial Officet Tom Sa said isn’t likely to be reached even if the impassw lasts through August. “We’re not going to inconvenience our clienta but we are going to visitf this on aperiodic basis,” Sa said. “Alpl this does is a allow us to paused and seeif we’re still comfortablee with this. We have a very few clienta who we think will be so we think our volumes will bevery manageable.
” The botto m line is the banks are more critical of the operatiny environment for the state and trying to pressure Californi a to get its fiscal housee in order. Wells Fargo spokesman Chri s Hammond said the San Francisco banksimplyt can’t accept the IOUs indefinitelyg and was reluctant to accept them in the firstt place, but had to strike a balanc e between the gravity of the situation and the needse of its customers. “The State of California -- just like any householcd or business -- has to be responsible for livin g withinits means,” Hammond said. “Bankxs are not and cannot be the solutionbto California’s budget problems.
”
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Study: Parents saving more for college - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
haygoodfoafyga1359.blogspot.com
The study comes as Sallie Mae launched a new modulde to its free online the EducationInvestment Planner, to help families develoop a save-for-college plan, based on theie children’s age and the type of collegs they may be likely to The study also finds that parentsw use a variety of methods to save for but many are missing the tax-advantage opportunities available for collegde savings such as 529 collegee savings plans, are not contributintg automatically, and are not using a rewards prograj to earn additional savings for college.
The study comes as Sallie Mae launched a new modulde to its free online the EducationInvestment Planner, to help families develoop a save-for-college plan, based on theie children’s age and the type of collegs they may be likely to The study also finds that parentsw use a variety of methods to save for but many are missing the tax-advantage opportunities available for collegde savings such as 529 collegee savings plans, are not contributintg automatically, and are not using a rewards prograj to earn additional savings for college.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Beth Davis creates an atmosphere for learning while juggling the demands of home and work - Business First of Columbus:
gardellaorymiid1354.blogspot.com
“I manage the reaffirmation of accreditation (for the on an ongoing basis. A requiremenyt of the accreditation … is the Qualityh Enhancement Plan, and I chair that plan. “I act as a liaisonm between other areas of the university in termsof budget, contract issues, faculty and staff contract policy. I also handle academid grievancesand appeals.” What the best part aboutf your job? “I like that my job is different every day and that I do deal with a lot of areaws of the university and a lot of differen t topics. I like interacting with students. “I’ved never worked in academiq before.
… I knew that Bellarmin e was on the cusp of great thingasand growing.” What is the most challenging part of your job and how do you deal with it? “I really enjoy the challenges in my job. Rightt now my challenge is beinbg a newworking mom. “Before I could put in ‘X’ amounft of hours a day. If I needed to finish somethin gup … I could stay until 6 o’clock and now I don’tt have that option because I have to pick (my up. “I am still working on being a good mom and a good You are a 2008 graduate ofIgnite Louisville, what did you take from it and how did you like that experience?
“I did not need a push to be involved with the I am still involved with and I have been engagedr with other Habitats as a young person. Community involvement is a no brainerfor me, but I movedf into a different part of communit involvement. … Now I am on the boarsd of directors of KentuckyShakespears Festival. “Also, the people I met. I’vw not been around that many peopledmy age, like me in my work environment. It was just nice to be arounrd people like me and my age withsimilae interests.” You mention you still are involvedf with Habitat even though you don’t work therd anymore. What do you do for them?
“I work closelu with the development and I’m chairing part of an event they are having in What drives you to succeed? “I’vs always wanted to try to do my best. It gives me great pleasure and personal satisfaction towork hard.”
“I manage the reaffirmation of accreditation (for the on an ongoing basis. A requiremenyt of the accreditation … is the Qualityh Enhancement Plan, and I chair that plan. “I act as a liaisonm between other areas of the university in termsof budget, contract issues, faculty and staff contract policy. I also handle academid grievancesand appeals.” What the best part aboutf your job? “I like that my job is different every day and that I do deal with a lot of areaws of the university and a lot of differen t topics. I like interacting with students. “I’ved never worked in academiq before.
… I knew that Bellarmin e was on the cusp of great thingasand growing.” What is the most challenging part of your job and how do you deal with it? “I really enjoy the challenges in my job. Rightt now my challenge is beinbg a newworking mom. “Before I could put in ‘X’ amounft of hours a day. If I needed to finish somethin gup … I could stay until 6 o’clock and now I don’tt have that option because I have to pick (my up. “I am still working on being a good mom and a good You are a 2008 graduate ofIgnite Louisville, what did you take from it and how did you like that experience?
“I did not need a push to be involved with the I am still involved with and I have been engagedr with other Habitats as a young person. Community involvement is a no brainerfor me, but I movedf into a different part of communit involvement. … Now I am on the boarsd of directors of KentuckyShakespears Festival. “Also, the people I met. I’vw not been around that many peopledmy age, like me in my work environment. It was just nice to be arounrd people like me and my age withsimilae interests.” You mention you still are involvedf with Habitat even though you don’t work therd anymore. What do you do for them?
“I work closelu with the development and I’m chairing part of an event they are having in What drives you to succeed? “I’vs always wanted to try to do my best. It gives me great pleasure and personal satisfaction towork hard.”
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