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MY USTI.NET News: High-priority business newsCopyright (c) 2007 USTINET Corporation. All rights reserved.http://news.usti.net/High-priority business newsen-usFri, 04 Jul 2008 08:28:10 GMT2880MY USTI.NET News12336http://news.usti.net/http://rss.usti.net/xml_news.gif Wine export crisis avertedhttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/az/Uitaly-wine.RBF9_Il3.htmlwed/az/Uitaly-wine.RBF9_Il3.html1215159363Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:03 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/az/Uitaly-wine.RBF9_Il3.html"></a>MONTALCINO, Italy, July 3 (UPI) -- Italian authorities resolved a certification issue for Brunello di Montalcino wine, which will continue to be exported to the United States, authorities said. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/az/Uitaly-wine.RBF9_Il3.html">Wine export crisis averted</a> MONTALCINO, Italy, July 3 (UPI) -- Italian authorities resolved a certification issue for Brunello di Montalcino wine, which will continue to be exported to the United States, authorities said. (UPI) Oil closes at record $145.27 Thursdayhttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/av/Uus-energyprices.RPW6_Il3.htmlwed/av/Uus-energyprices.RPW6_Il3.html1215159363Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:03 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/av/Uus-energyprices.RPW6_Il3.html"></a>NEW YORK, July 3 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices gained 10 cents to a record close of $145.27 Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange on continued supply concerns and a weak U.S. dollar. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/av/Uus-energyprices.RPW6_Il3.html">Oil closes at record $145.27 Thursday</a> NEW YORK, July 3 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices gained 10 cents to a record close of $145.27 Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange on continued supply concerns and a weak U.S. dollar. (UPI) Climatologist: Much of Texas in droughthttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/de/Uus-drought.RHew_Il3.htmlwed/de/Uus-drought.RHew_Il3.html1215159363Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:03 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/de/Uus-drought.RHew_Il3.html"></a>COLLEGE STATION, Texas, July 3 (UPI) -- At least half of Texas is locked in a severe drought that shows no signs of breaking in the near future, the state climatologist says. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/de/Uus-drought.RHew_Il3.html">Climatologist: Much of Texas in drought</a> COLLEGE STATION, Texas, July 3 (UPI) -- At least half of Texas is locked in a severe drought that shows no signs of breaking in the near future, the state climatologist says. (UPI) Mistrial in Ky. Fen-Phen Lawyers' Casehttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/an/Ayb118847094.R1_H_Iu3.htmlwed/an/Ayb118847094.R1_H_Iu3.html1215159363Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:03 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/an/Ayb118847094.R1_H_Iu3.html"></a>A federal judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the trial of two lawyers accused of taking too much money out of Kentucky's $200 million fen-phen lawsuit settlement. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/an/Ayb118847094.R1_H_Iu3.html">Mistrial in Ky. Fen-Phen Lawyers' Case</a> A federal judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the trial of two lawyers accused of taking too much money out of Kentucky's $200 million fen-phen lawsuit settlement. (AP) State Dept.: U.S. advised against oil dealhttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/de/Uus-iraqoil-reax.R3kL_Il3.htmlwed/de/Uus-iraqoil-reax.R3kL_Il3.html1215159363Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:03 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/de/Uus-iraqoil-reax.R3kL_Il3.html"></a>WASHINGTON, July 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department has clear policy about pursuing oil contracts in Iraq in the absence of a national oil law, a department spokesman said Thursday. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/de/Uus-iraqoil-reax.R3kL_Il3.html">State Dept.: U.S. advised against oil deal</a> WASHINGTON, July 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department has clear policy about pursuing oil contracts in Iraq in the absence of a national oil law, a department spokesman said Thursday. (UPI) Grain trading muted before holidayhttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bc/Uus-cbot.RD25_Il3.htmlwed/bc/Uus-cbot.RD25_Il3.html1215159363Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:03 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bc/Uus-cbot.RD25_Il3.html"></a>CHICAGO, July 3 (UPI) -- Cool, wet weather in the corn belt and dry weather overseas left grain trading muted on the Chicago Board of Trade Thursday. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bc/Uus-cbot.RD25_Il3.html">Grain trading muted before holiday</a> CHICAGO, July 3 (UPI) -- Cool, wet weather in the corn belt and dry weather overseas left grain trading muted on the Chicago Board of Trade Thursday. (UPI) New factory orders increase for 4th monthhttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bk/Uus-factoryorders.RNdp_Il2.htmlwed/bk/Uus-factoryorders.RNdp_Il2.html1215159362Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:02 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bk/Uus-factoryorders.RNdp_Il2.html"></a>WASHINGTON, July 2 (UPI) -- New orders for manufactured U.S. goods increased for the fourth consecutive month, the Census Bureau reported Wednesday. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bk/Uus-factoryorders.RNdp_Il2.html">New factory orders increase for 4th month</a> WASHINGTON, July 2 (UPI) -- New orders for manufactured U.S. goods increased for the fourth consecutive month, the Census Bureau reported Wednesday. (UPI) Oil prices gain on inventory drophttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/cu/Uus-energyprices.RR7Z_Il2.htmlwed/cu/Uus-energyprices.RR7Z_Il2.html1215159362Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:02 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/cu/Uus-energyprices.RR7Z_Il2.html"></a>NEW YORK, July 2 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices plowed into new territory Wednesday in New York after the U.S. Energy Information Administration said U.S. stockpiles had declined. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/cu/Uus-energyprices.RR7Z_Il2.html">Oil prices gain on inventory drop</a> NEW YORK, July 2 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices plowed into new territory Wednesday in New York after the U.S. Energy Information Administration said U.S. stockpiles had declined. (UPI) Grains strong at the finish Wednesdayhttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bp/Uus-cbot.RI01_Il2.htmlwed/bp/Uus-cbot.RI01_Il2.html1215159362Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:02 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bp/Uus-cbot.RI01_Il2.html"></a>CHICAGO, July 2 (UPI) -- Grain trading began slow in Chicago Wednesday then pushed to strong rallies, especially in corn and wheat. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bp/Uus-cbot.RI01_Il2.html">Grains strong at the finish Wednesday</a> CHICAGO, July 2 (UPI) -- Grain trading began slow in Chicago Wednesday then pushed to strong rallies, especially in corn and wheat. (UPI) American Says It Could Cut 6,800 Jobs This Yearhttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ar/Ayb118814859.Rlpk_Iu2.htmlwed/ar/Ayb118814859.Rlpk_Iu2.html1215159362Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:02 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ar/Ayb118814859.Rlpk_Iu2.html"></a>FORT WORTH, Texas -- AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines and American Eagle, could eliminate up to 6,800 jobs this year as it downsizes its fall schedule, executives said. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ar/Ayb118814859.Rlpk_Iu2.html">American Says It Could Cut 6,800 Jobs This Year</a> FORT WORTH, Texas -- AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines and American Eagle, could eliminate up to 6,800 jobs this year as it downsizes its fall schedule, executives said. (AP) LA Times to cut 250 jobshttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/dp/Uus-latimes.R7jv_Il2.htmlwed/dp/Uus-latimes.R7jv_Il2.html1215159362Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:02 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/dp/Uus-latimes.R7jv_Il2.html"></a>LOS ANGELES, July 2 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Times Wednesday announced it would eliminate 250 jobs, including 150 editorial positions, because of declining revenue. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/dp/Uus-latimes.R7jv_Il2.html">LA Times to cut 250 jobs</a> LOS ANGELES, July 2 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Times Wednesday announced it would eliminate 250 jobs, including 150 editorial positions, because of declining revenue. (UPI) Iraq oil deal condoned, but not publiclyhttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bx/Uus-iraqoil.RIwB_Il3.htmlwed/bx/Uus-iraqoil.RIwB_Il3.html1215159362Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:02 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bx/Uus-iraqoil.RIwB_Il3.html"></a>WASHINGTON, July 3 (UPI) -- Bush administration officials contradicted a U.S. State Department public position during Hunt Oil's pursuit of a contract in northern Iraq, documents show. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bx/Uus-iraqoil.RIwB_Il3.html">Iraq oil deal condoned, but not publicly</a> WASHINGTON, July 3 (UPI) -- Bush administration officials contradicted a U.S. State Department public position during Hunt Oil's pursuit of a contract in northern Iraq, documents show. (UPI) Canada loses 2,000 more automotive jobshttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ad/Ucanada-autojobs.RjuF_Il3.htmlwed/ad/Ucanada-autojobs.RjuF_Il3.html1215159362Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:02 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ad/Ucanada-autojobs.RjuF_Il3.html"></a>TORONTO, July 3 (UPI) -- The troubled Canadian auto industry in southern Ontario has shed another 2,000 jobs with the closing of 11 small plastic molding facilities around Toronto. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ad/Ucanada-autojobs.RjuF_Il3.html">Canada loses 2,000 more automotive jobs</a> TORONTO, July 3 (UPI) -- The troubled Canadian auto industry in southern Ontario has shed another 2,000 jobs with the closing of 11 small plastic molding facilities around Toronto. (UPI) Canada's Jazz Air lays off 270http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bb/Ucanada-jazzair.RIeT_Il3.htmlwed/bb/Ucanada-jazzair.RIeT_Il3.html1215159362Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:02 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bb/Ucanada-jazzair.RIeT_Il3.html"></a>HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, July 3 (UPI) -- Canada's second largest airline, Jazz Air, announced a layoff of 270 employees Thursday directly linked to soaring fuel prices. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bb/Ucanada-jazzair.RIeT_Il3.html">Canada's Jazz Air lays off 270</a> HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, July 3 (UPI) -- Canada's second largest airline, Jazz Air, announced a layoff of 270 employees Thursday directly linked to soaring fuel prices. (UPI) Lacking workers, some farms scale backhttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/by/Uus-farms-workers.R72e_Il3.htmlwed/by/Uus-farms-workers.R72e_Il3.html1215159362Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:02 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/by/Uus-farms-workers.R72e_Il3.html"></a>CENTENNIAL, Colo., July 3 (UPI) -- The lack of farmworkers has caused some U.S. farmers to scale back on acres planted, a farm bureau official said. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/by/Uus-farms-workers.R72e_Il3.html">Lacking workers, some farms scale back</a> CENTENNIAL, Colo., July 3 (UPI) -- The lack of farmworkers has caused some U.S. farmers to scale back on acres planted, a farm bureau official said. (UPI) Flood damage will ripple through economyhttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bb/Uus-farms-flooding.R5wS_Il3.htmlwed/bb/Uus-farms-flooding.R5wS_Il3.html1215159362Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:02 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bb/Uus-farms-flooding.R5wS_Il3.html"></a>IOWA CITY, Iowa, July 3 (UPI) -- Flood damage in the Midwest, estimated at $8 billion, will likely ripple through the U.S. economy and food-supply, economists said. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/bb/Uus-farms-flooding.R5wS_Il3.html">Flood damage will ripple through economy</a> IOWA CITY, Iowa, July 3 (UPI) -- Flood damage in the Midwest, estimated at $8 billion, will likely ripple through the U.S. economy and food-supply, economists said. (UPI) EU trade head, president trade barbshttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/dp/Ueu-sarkozy.RBI4_Il2.htmlwed/dp/Ueu-sarkozy.RBI4_Il2.html1215159361Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:01 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/dp/Ueu-sarkozy.RBI4_Il2.html"></a>LONDON, July 2 (UPI) -- The European Trade Commissioner accused French President Nicolas Sarkozy of undermining him and Europe's standing at world trade discussions. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/dp/Ueu-sarkozy.RBI4_Il2.html">EU trade head, president trade barbs</a> LONDON, July 2 (UPI) -- The European Trade Commissioner accused French President Nicolas Sarkozy of undermining him and Europe's standing at world trade discussions. (UPI) No Deal for Circuit City: Blockbuster Withdraws $1.3 Billion Offer After Seeing Retailer's Financeshttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/av/Ayb118795098.RmjO_Iu2.htmlwed/av/Ayb118795098.RmjO_Iu2.html1215159361Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:01 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/av/Ayb118795098.RmjO_Iu2.html"></a>Jul. 2--Circuit City Stores Inc. will not be sold to Blockbuster Inc. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/av/Ayb118795098.RmjO_Iu2.html">No Deal for Circuit City: Blockbuster Withdraws $1.3 Billion Offer After Seeing Retailer's Finances</a> Jul. 2--Circuit City Stores Inc. will not be sold to Blockbuster Inc. (AP) Ready cement halted in NYC strikehttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/cb/Uus-driverstrike.Rhqt_Il2.htmlwed/cb/Uus-driverstrike.Rhqt_Il2.html1215159361Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:01 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/cb/Uus-driverstrike.Rhqt_Il2.html"></a>NEW YORK, July 2 (UPI) -- Cement truck drivers striking for higher wages in New York City have halted or slowed dozens of construction projects in the Big Apple, observers said. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/cb/Uus-driverstrike.Rhqt_Il2.html">Ready cement halted in NYC strike</a> NEW YORK, July 2 (UPI) -- Cement truck drivers striking for higher wages in New York City have halted or slowed dozens of construction projects in the Big Apple, observers said. (UPI) U.S. oil stocks drop by 2 million barrelshttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/am/Uus-oilsupply.ReJB_Il2.htmlwed/am/Uus-oilsupply.ReJB_Il2.html1215159361Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:01 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/am/Uus-oilsupply.ReJB_Il2.html"></a>WASHINGTON, July 2 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil inventories declined by 2 million barrels during the week ending June 27, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/am/Uus-oilsupply.ReJB_Il2.html">U.S. oil stocks drop by 2 million barrels</a> WASHINGTON, July 2 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil inventories declined by 2 million barrels during the week ending June 27, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday. (UPI) Donation precedes ethanol waiver requesthttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/aq/Uus-ethanol.Rx_Q_Il2.htmlwed/aq/Uus-ethanol.Rx_Q_Il2.html1215159361Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:01 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/aq/Uus-ethanol.Rx_Q_Il2.html"></a>HOUSTON, July 2 (UPI) -- Documents show Texas Gov. Rick Perry sought relief from ethanol production mandates just six days after a poultry producer donated $100,000 to a group he heads. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/aq/Uus-ethanol.Rx_Q_Il2.html">Donation precedes ethanol waiver request</a> HOUSTON, July 2 (UPI) -- Documents show Texas Gov. Rick Perry sought relief from ethanol production mandates just six days after a poultry producer donated $100,000 to a group he heads. (UPI) Weather clouds future of biofuelshttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ck/Uus-biofuels.RiiJ_Il1.htmlwed/ck/Uus-biofuels.RiiJ_Il1.html1214986549Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:15:49 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ck/Uus-biofuels.RiiJ_Il1.html"></a>NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- U.S. energy experts say recent storms and flooding highlight the risk of the nation's increasing reliance on corn for fuel. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ck/Uus-biofuels.RiiJ_Il1.html">Weather clouds future of biofuels</a> NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- U.S. energy experts say recent storms and flooding highlight the risk of the nation's increasing reliance on corn for fuel. (UPI) Mites decimating Canadian honeybeeshttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ar/Ucanada-bees.R7qF_Il1.htmlwed/ar/Ucanada-bees.R7qF_Il1.html1214986548Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:15:48 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ar/Ucanada-bees.R7qF_Il1.html"></a>WINNIPEG, Manitoba, July 1 (UPI) -- Beekeepers in Manitoba, Canada, said they are concerned the spread of the varroa mite is decimating hive populations. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ar/Ucanada-bees.R7qF_Il1.html">Mites decimating Canadian honeybees</a> WINNIPEG, Manitoba, July 1 (UPI) -- Beekeepers in Manitoba, Canada, said they are concerned the spread of the varroa mite is decimating hive populations. (UPI) Sioux Falls tops U.S. best-driver rankingshttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ay/Uus-bestdrivers.R5bM_Il1.htmlwed/ay/Uus-bestdrivers.R5bM_Il1.html1214986548Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:15:48 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ay/Uus-bestdrivers.R5bM_Il1.html"></a>NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 1 (UPI) -- Maybe it's the lack of traffic but Allstate Insurance is ranking the folks in Sioux Falls, S.D., as the safest drivers in the United States. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/ay/Uus-bestdrivers.R5bM_Il1.html">Sioux Falls tops U.S. best-driver rankings</a> NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 1 (UPI) -- Maybe it's the lack of traffic but Allstate Insurance is ranking the folks in Sioux Falls, S.D., as the safest drivers in the United States. (UPI) Toyota Canada reduces prices on 11 modelshttp://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/av/Ucanada-toyota.RKOM_Il1.htmlwed/av/Ucanada-toyota.RKOM_Il1.html1214986548Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:15:48 GMT<a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/av/Ucanada-toyota.RKOM_Il1.html"></a>TORONTO, July 1 (UPI) -- Toyota Canada used the country's national birthday Tuesday to announce price cuts on 11 models of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. <a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/biz.top/2/wed/av/Ucanada-toyota.RKOM_Il1.html">Toyota Canada reduces prices on 11 models</a> TORONTO, July 1 (UPI) -- Toyota Canada used the country's national birthday Tuesday to announce price cuts on 11 models of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. (UPI)