SonoSite Inc. of Bothell saw its revenue grow by 29 percent, to $33.5 million, during the second quarter, compared with $26 million in the same period of 2004. But the maker of portable ultrasound devices recorded a net loss of $2.1 million, or 13 cents a share, for the quarter because of high marketing costs associated with the launch of its new MicroMaxx model and higher than expected legal costs. The new model, which didn’t begin shipping until mid-June, still accounted for 17 percent of the company’s second-quarter revenue.
Starbucks report perks up its stock
Shares of Starbucks Corp. rose nearly 5 percent Thursday after the specialty coffee retailer said its fiscal third-quarter profit rose nearly 30 percent and it announced plans to open 1,800 new stores in the coming year. Starbucks shares rose $2.33, or 4.6 percent, to close at $52.68 Thursday on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Fuel efficiency stays almost flat
Honda Motor Co. posted the highest average fuel economy for 2005 vehicles, but automakers overall made little progress in fuel efficiency, the government reported on Thursday. The Environmental Protection Agency said the estimated average fuel economy for 2005 model year vehicles was 21 miles per gallon, an increase of 0.2 mpg from the previous year. But it was 5 percent below the peak of 22.1 mpg in 1987, the EPA said.
What Greenspan does at home
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, who boldly goes where few others go in the universe of economic policy, plays it safe when it comes to his own investments. He keeps all of his holdings in money market accounts and Treasury securities, which are considered the world’s safest investments, a financial disclosure form shows. The value of his assets last year totaled between $3.3 million and $6.4 million. The figures need only be given in broad ranges.
Microsoft wins restraining order
A former Microsoft Corp. executive who defected to Google Inc. cannot immediately perform the job Google hired him to do, a judge ruled Thursday, saying Microsoft has a well-grounded fear that leaked trade secrets could hurt its business. King County Superior Court Judge Steven Gonzalez granted a temporary restraining order barring Kai-Fu Lee from working at Google on any product, service or project similar to those he worked on at Microsoft, including Internet and desktop searching technology.
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