Business briefs
Published 8:21 pm Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Microsoft Corp. has announced legal action aimed at counterfeiting and software piracy in 22 countries. The company is filing 52 lawsuits and referring 22 cases to local law enforcement agencies, according to a Microsoft press release. Fifteen of the lawsuits involve what Microsoft says is a counterfeiting syndicate that was broken up in China. The actions are aimed at resellers accused of selling counterfeit Microsoft products online.
Supermarket giant hurt by fuel sales
Kroger Co., parent company to Fred Meyer and QFC, reported its third-quarter profit jumped 18 percent on strong sales. But margins at the nation’s largest traditional grocery chain were hurt by what it sells outside stores — gasoline. The company earned $253.8 million, or 37 cents per share, for the quarter ended Nov. 10.
Taiwanese airline orders Airbus jets
Taiwan’s China Airlines ordered 14 Airbus A350 wide-bodied planes and signed an option for an additional six, the European plane maker said Tuesday. At list prices, the 20 jets for China Airlines would cost $4.6 billion, though airlines usually negotiate substantial discounts. Airbus was forced into a costly redesign of its A350 wide-bodied plane, competitor to Boeing’s 787.
Do-not-call list bill passes U.S. House
The House voted to make permanent the program protecting people from telemarketer calls, relieving consumers from having to renew their participation in the do-not-call registry. After Congress in 2003 created the do-not-call registry shielding millions of people from those dinner-time interruptions, the Federal Trade Commission wrote rules requiring consumers to re-register every five years. The new legislation eliminates that requirement. It still needs Senate approval.
Struggling bank names new CEO
Citigroup Inc. has named 50-year-old Vikram Pandit, the head of its investment banking business, as chief executive, after searching five weeks for someone to restore the bank’s profitability and reputation. The banking company named Sir Win Bischoff, who has been Citi’s acting chief executive, as its chairman. He replaces Robert Rubin, who had stepped into the role when former chairman Charles Prince was ousted.
Nissan to build trucks for Suzuki
Nissan North America Inc. will build a midsize pickup truck for Suzuki Motor Corp. at Nissan’s plant in Smyrna, Tenn., starting in 2008. The companies said the pickup will be based on Nissan’s Frontier midsize pickup and will be solely marketed by Suzuki in North America.
Exxon Mobil plans floating gas hub
Exxon Mobil Corp., the country’s biggest oil company, wants to anchor a floating liquefied natural gas terminal 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey. The $1 billion receiving terminal would be able to supply about 1.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to New York and New Jersey, Exxon said. If regulators approve, it would begin operating in about eight years.
From Herald news services
