Month: September 2015

Viacom Inc.’s TV network Comedy Central is expanding its reach with new original content, developed exclusively for its Snapchat “Discover” channel. Comedy Central premiered “Swag-A-Saurus” on the popular social networking mobile app on Tuesday. The series, starring comedian James Davis will break down the meaning of today’s slang such as, “Bye Felicia” on a weekly basis. The episodes will post every Monday. Comedy Central plans to roll out additional original series throughout the fall from comedians Nikki Glaser, Liza Treyger, Yassir Lester and Michelle Wolf that will cover pop culture, news, sex, relationships and a range of topics. “Creating original series specifically for Snapchat is the perfect next step in the evolution of our content,” said Comedy Central President Michele Ganeless in a statement. The comedy network was an inaugural launch partner for Snapchat’s Discovery feature and posts segments from its other popular shows such as “Inside Amy Schumer” and “Drunk History.” Shares of Viacom have suffered a 41.5% decline in the year to date, while the S&P has slumped nearly 5%.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

Shares of Wells Fargo & Co. , U.S. Bancorp and PNC Financial Services rallied in afternoon trade Tuesday, after all were upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank, which said the recent pullback in their stocks and the banking sector have made the higher-quality large regional banks more attractive. Banks stocks have underperformed the broader market since the sector’s highs seen on July 22, on concerns that global economic growth is slowing and “mixed emotions” about an increasing likelihood that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates, said Analyst Matt O’Connor. He said while higher rates are good for bank net interest margins, they can also be a potential negative for market liquidity and for how stocks are valued over time. However, O’Connor wrote in a note to clients that he believes, higher-quality banks “may be better positioned for rising rates than [are] perceived given large sticky core deposit bases, in our view.” Shares of Wells Fargo climbed 2.4% in afternoon trade, U.S. Bancorp rose 1.3% and PNC Financial surged 2.9%. Since July 22 through Friday, those three stocks had tumbled 12%, while the S&P 500 has lost 9.1%.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) – The Obama administration is examining a “wide range” of approaches to help Syrian refugees, including the possibility of allowing more into the country, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday. The State Department is leading the review, Earnest said at the daily White House briefing. No deadline has been set for the results of the review to be announced, but Earnest described the situation as “urgent.” The U.S. is on track to take in 1,800 Syrian refugees by October. Earnest defended the amount of resources the U.S. has already deployed to help the refugees.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

By Shannon Petrie

With Labor Day weekend behind us, now’s the perfect time to give your home a mini makeover for fall. Simple updates, like swapping lightweight summer linens for heavier fabrics, can transform a space from bright and airy to warm and cozy. Taking cues from this rustic, welcoming living room designed by Chip Wade on HGTV’s Elbow Room, we’ve rounded up some tips and products that will help your space transition from summer to fall. (And find even more ideas for sprucing up your home for the season from HGTV’s Fall House.)

1. Bed Bath & Beyond / 2. World Market / 3. Overstock / 4. Crate & Barrel
5. Wayfair / 6. World Market / 7. The Home Depot

1. Chunky Knit Pillow 2. Button Lumbar Pillow and 3. Plaid Pillow. Cozy up your sofa with pillows in rich, warm textures – think chunky knits and wools. Don’t limit yourself to typical fall colors like red and orange; a deep teal pillow adds an unexpected touch and looks dramatic with more traditional hues. Check out 10 fresh fall color palettes we love >>

4. Fringed Throw. When you want to curl up on the couch on a chilly fall day, nothing’s better than having a plush blanket nearby; drape one over your sofa to give your living room an always-inviting look. This super-soft throw in gold lends a hint of traditional fall color in a mostly neutral space.

5. White Candlestick Set. Fall is the perfect time to incorporate candles into your decor – the warm glow will make your home feel bright on darker, cooler days. In a space with lots of rustic texture and earthy tones, a set of crisp white candlesticks offers eye-catching contrast.

6. Wood and Metal Entryway Organizer. Adding a few weathered wood accents will instantly warm up your living room for fall and winter. Handcrafted of fir, this storage rack offers three aged metal hooks for coats, scarves and backpacks, plus a basket for newspapers, hats and tote bags.

7. Natural Stone Mosaic Tile. If your fireplace could use a refresh, consider refacing it with natural stone mosaic tile. …read more

From:: HGTV

Macy’s Inc. and Best Buy Inc. Co. Inc. have partnered to test licensed consumer electronics departments in 10 Macy’s stores starting Nov. 2015. The shops will be about 300 square feet and staffed by Best Buy employees. Items for sale will include Samsung smartphones and tablets, audio devices, and accessories. “We will test and learn, along with Best Buy, through the holidays and into 2016 before deciding on next steps,” said Macy’s president Jeff Gennette in a statement. Macy’s is down 10.6% and Best Buy is down 4.2% for the year-to-date versus the S&P, which is down 5.2%.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, a unit of the U.S. Treasury, said Caesars Palace has agreed to pay an $8 million penalty for willful and repeated violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. The casino company also agreed to conduct periodic external audits and independent testing of its anti-money-laundering compliance program. Caesars admitted its guilt in the settlement. Since Feb. 1, 2012, Caesars has deliberately neglected to develop and implement a reasonably designed anti-money-laundering program and to report suspicious activity, in particular in its private gaming salons, FinCEN said. Caesars marketed these private gaming salons in the United States and abroad, particularly in Asia, but failed to adequately monitor transactions for suspicious activity and missed it when it did occur, according to the enforcement order. Caesars’ petition for bankruptcy, made in January 2015, remains pending.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

Twitter Inc. shares fell 3% Tuesday as Mike Gupta, a senior vice president at the company, was hired as chief financial officer at a startup called Docker. Gupta was the senior vice president of strategic investments at Twitter and ran Twitter Ventures, the company’s venture capital arm. Before that role, Gupta was Twitter’s CFO, leading it through its initial public offering, and worked at Zynga Inc. and Yahoo Inc. Docker is an open source Twitter’s executive team has been through many changes since the company’s November 2013 initial public offering, and the social network’s chief executive search is nearly three months old after CEO Dick Costolo stepped down in June.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

By Mary Girsch-Bock

Like anything in life, it’s often the little things that can make the difference between a signed lease and another week (or more) on the market.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of a good first impression. While residents typically consider a variety of issues when deciding whether to rent a particular apartment or home, such as proximity to work, neighborhood conveniences, or affordability, that first look at an apartment or home plays a huge role in whether a lease is signed. No matter how great the area, or how reasonable the rent, if a rental showing brings up red flags, it’s difficult to close the deal.

The good news is that many of the things that may turn off an applicant are easily remedied—little things that may be overlooked in our haste to complete the big things such as painting and carpet cleaning. Here are some things that should be on every property manager’s list to check:

The entryway. Scuffed doors, dead leaves, and trash of any kind near the entrance will immediately turn off just about anyone. Get to the appointment a few moments early and clean up any trash that may have accumulated.

Light fixtures. Checking for burned out light fixtures is easy to forget, and just as easy to remedy. Spend a few moments turning on all of the light fixtures including oven lights and ceiling fans to check for burned out bulbs, and replace any missing or burned out bulbs prior to showing the unit.

Torn or missing window screens. People like windows. While looking at properties, they will notice where the windows are and they will subsequently notice things like torn or missing window screens. While it may not appear to be a deal breaker, it can give the appearance of sloppiness, or a safety issue, on the part of the management company.

Dripping faucets or running toilets. Both are equally annoying, and sure to be noticed by prospective tenants, who tend to pay close attention to kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Either of these can be considered a deal breaker. Get maintenance out and fix any plumbing issues prior to showing the unit.

Bent or missing blind slats. Surprisingly easy to miss, particularly if blinds are up, it’s important to check for mechanical or cosmetic issues and replace them as needed.

Don’t give applicants a reason to not sign a lease. Take care of these small, but annoying issues before an applicant walks through the door.

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From:: Property Management

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The Securities and Exchange Commission said Bankrate has agreed to pay $15 million to settle accounting fraud charges, stemming from allegations the company fabricated revenue and avoided booking certain expenses to meet analyst estimates in the second quarter of 2012. Then-vice president of finance Hyunjin Lerner agreed to pay a fine of more than $180,000 to settle charges, while then-CFO Edward DiMaria and then-director of accounting Matthew Gamsey are fighting the charges, the SEC said. Bankrate did not admit or deny the findings.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

By Megan Ribbens

Orlando’s housing market continues to bounce back as the region’s foreclosure inventory declined again in July, according to a new report from CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX).

The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area had 12,284 completed foreclosures for the 12 months ending in July, compared to 14,343 in the same time last year. The region’s foreclosure inventory rate fell 2.2 percentage points to 2.4 percent, and Central Florida’s serious delinquency rate fell 3.2 percentage points to 5.7 percent in July.

Completed… …read more

From:: biz journal foreclosures