Jamelle Agbuis

Standard and Poor’s Blamed For Defrauding Investors

On the 6th of February, ArcelorMittal SA informed that it reported a big loss for the final quarter due to weak Europe's demand for steel and write-downs in the value of its assets. However, the world's largest steelmaker informed that demand for steel would improve in 2013. Also the company's earnings are expected to improve during the year.

British Petroleum Plc posted a 72 percent slump in the fourth fiscal quarter profits as the company had to pay a heavy fine and restructuring charges regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Also a fall in the production of oil and gas led to weak fourth quarter profits.

Never was working-class Baltimore happier with its lot in life. Neighbors greeted each other with a smile. Co-workers exchanged stories...laughed...and slapped each other on the backs.

In today's Daily Reckoning we revisit an old friend: China. That is, we revisit the importance of China to Australia's economic, political, and demographic future. And we'll take a look at China's large influence on Australia's present. And since we're talking Pacific Powers in the Asian Century, Japan will make a cameo appearance.

On the 4th of February, Japan Airlines informed that it raised the operating profit forecast to 163 billion yen from analysts' expectations of around 140 billion yen. Despite sluggish fourth quarter earnings, the airline the airline decided to raise the forecast slightly more than 15 percent as demand for the European and American routes climbed.

The infamous Obamacare excise tax on medical devices that we covered back in December has officially come into effect as of January 1, and the fleecing has already affected some customers at a popular sporting goods chain.

Unfriending someone on Facebook may be as easy as clicking a button, but a new study from the University of Colorado Denver shows the repercussions often reach far beyond cyberspace.

As the US marks Health Weight Week, it’s worth remembering that healthy weight begins in infancy and is facilitated by breastfeeding.

As the US marks Health Weight Week, it’s worth remembering that healthy weight begins in infancy and is facilitated by breastfeeding.

Melamine plates and cups have been the tableware of choice for many Western families during the last couple of decades, and they are fondly associated with children's parties and outdoor picnics. According to a new study by researchers at the Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan; however, melamine tableware releases toxic quantities of kidney stone-forming melamine when exposed to high temperatures - such as when they're holding hot food.

The troubled UK construction sector contracted again in January, according to the newest figures. However, construction companies showed a little bit more confidence as they employed new workers for the first time in four months.

Anglo American Platinum Ltd., the world biggest producer of the metal controlled by Anglo American PLC, informed that it saw an operating loss of approximately $715 million in 2012 as its production was affected by violent labor strikes in South Africa.

According to official data, China's services PMI in January jumped to 56.2. Certainly, the improvement was driven by retailing and construction segments which bolstered and boosted government's efforts to get the China's economy back on track. The services PMI for January is another sign that the China's economy is indeed recovering from a slowdown.

Shelling out tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for higher education may no longer be the surefire path to a great career that it used to be.

Twitter Turning Over Huge Amounts of User Data to U.S. Government

A federal advisory panel whose purpose it is to guide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in establishing drug labeling and marketing policy has urged the agency to step up its labeling requirements for the popular painkiller Vicodin (hydrocodone) following a trail of dead patients.

After optimistic results noted in 2012, the beginning of 2013 is also comforting for automakers as new car sales in the US increased sharply in January.

Panasonic Corp. reported stronger-than-expected profits in its third fiscal quarter due to weakening of the yen and cost reductions that helped the company to recover from huge losses made last year. Sharp Corp. witnessed also similar improvements in the period.

After all, there are happy endings... Chinese car manufacturer Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. informed that it acquired legendary cab maker Manganese Bronze for approximately £11 million. The producer of London's black taxis run into financial difficulties and entered administration in 2012. It seems that Manganese Bronze's legend will be restored at last.

Many conventional doctors advise their patients to pop one every day like a multivitamin in order to supposedly ward off heart attacks, strokes, and even cancer. But taking an aspirin as few times as once a week, especially when you are not actually sick or in pain, can be incredibly dangerous, especially for your eyesight.

Opportunity knocks for a host of relatively fresh faces to cement a permanent berth amid Australia's rotation policy, while the West Indies are presented with the perfect platform to do more than hold their own among the big guns.

On the 30th of January, Imperial Tobacco Group Plc. informed that the first-half profit would decline because of black market sales and the deepening crisis in Europe. Along with the announcement on the half-year profit outlook, the Europe's second-biggest tobacco company revealed that Robert Dyrbus had resigned from his position.

World Champion swimmer Michael Phelps, one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of sport with more than 70 medals in international competition, has reached agreement with PING to play a full set of the company's custom-fit clubs as he focuses his athletic efforts on the game of golf.

On the 31st of January, Royal Dutch Shell PLC informed that it saw a 13 percent jump in profit for the fourth quarter. As it was underlined by the Europe's biggest energy company, increased costs in both exploration and output were balanced by high refining margins. However the profit for the final fiscal quarter did not meet with analysts' estimates due to weaker prices in North America.

Amazon.com Inc. saw an increase in the fourth quarter earnings as revenues climbed by more than 20 percent during the holiday shopping season while the profits dropped as much as 45 percent.

It is just one day away and we will see it! Canada-based Research in Motion (RIM) is to launch its new platform and release its new BlackBerry 10 on the 30th of January as it tries to survive.

On the 29th of January, Anglo American PLC informed that it would write down $4 billion on its Minas-Rio iron project in Brazil after conducting a review of the scheme.

An old bit of advice says, 'Never eat at a place called Mom's or play poker with a man named Doc.' That's a joke, but this isn't: Never fall for an argument that says we'll run out of some natural resource or bet on the 'end' of cheap anything. Such views will cost you money in the long run.