Business Briefly
Published 9:00 pm Monday, December 5, 2005
The Future of Flight Aviation Center at Paine Field isn’t open yet, but it’s already received an architectural award from a construction industry trade journal. Northwest Construction magazine today will formally present the new flight museum its award for “Best Public-Private Project” for 2005. The $23.5 million facility, a partnership involving Snohomish County, the Boeing Co. and the Future of Flight Foundation, is set to open Dec. 17.
RealNetworks adds Web service
Seattle’s RealNetworks Inc. is launching a Web-based version of its Rhapsody subscription music service, becoming the latest company hoping to capitalize on growing consumer interest in software and services that can be reached anywhere via the Internet. The Web-based Rhapsody service will let users listen to the songs from its catalog over the Internet without downloading the desktop application now required.
Keep pensions, president says
President Bush said Monday that American companies must honor promises to their retired workers, and he urged Congress to pass tough legislation so retirees don’t see their pension checks slashed. “My message to corporate America is: You need to fulfill your promises,” Bush said.
China gives Airbus order for 150 jets
China ordered 150 Airbus single-aisle A320 airliners Monday, more than twice as many plane orders as the company’s U.S.-based rival Boeing Co. snagged from China last month. The European aircraft manufacturer said the deal was worth nearly $10 billion and was “the largest single order that Airbus has ever received since it entered the Chinese market two decades ago.” The A319s, A320s and A321s, all part of the A320 family, will go to Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and Hainan Airlines.
T-bill rates rise in Monday auction
The Treasury Department auctioned three-month bills at a discount rate of 3.93 percent, up from 3.9 percent last week. Six-month bills were auctioned at a discount rate of 4.185 percent, up from 4.155 percent last week. The discount rates reflect that the bills sell for less than face value. For a $10,000 bill, the three-month purchase price was $9,900.66 while a six-month bill sold for $9,788.43. Separately, the Federal Reserve said Monday that the average yield for one-year Treasury bills, a popular index for changing adjustable rate mortgages, rose to 4.34 percent last week from 4.30 percent the previous week.
From Herald staff and news services
