Smartphone, tablet pile-up may lead to grim Q1 for suppliers

Smartphone sales were explosive in 2012 and the tablet market finally came into its own after being a one-horse town since 2010. Market leaders like Apple (AAPL) and Samsung (005930) are expected to post massive results in the fourth quarter and shipments from smaller vendors have continued to grow as well, but questions surrounding how long these runs can last continue to be raised. To compound the...

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Apple CEO Tim Cook sees pay drop 99% in 2012

In 2012, Apple’s (AAPL) chief executive will earn about 1% of the compensation he pulled in last year, according to a regulatory filing. The CEO’s compensation will total $4.17 million in 2012, which includes a $1.36 million salary and $2.8 million in compensation related to incentive plans. Last year, the Apple boss was paid $378 million according to Bloomberg, thanks largely to $376.2 million in...

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Marvell seeks to overturn $1.17 billion patent verdict

(Reuters) - Marvell Technology Group Ltd said on Thursday it will try to void a $1.17 billion damages award imposed by a federal jury that found the chipmaker had infringed two patents held by Carnegie Mellon University.In a statement, the company said it will seek to overturn Wednesday's verdict in post-trial proceedings in the U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh. It also said that if necessary, it...

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Lack of low-end BlackBerry 10 phone could be a serious stumbling block in RIM comeback bid

South Africa is one of Research In Motion’s (RIMM) top five markets in the world, and it is a decent proxy for the entire African market. Leading regional carrier Vodacom’s November smartphone statistics illustrate exactly why BlackBerry 10 cannot arrive soon enough… and why RIM badly needs a cheap new BlackBerry 10 model by spring.[More from BGR: Apple CEO Tim Cook sees pay drop 99% in 2012]Vodacom...

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Samsung looks to address its biggest weakness in 2013

Samsung (005930) is a force to be reckoned with. Two short years ago it looked like Apple (AAPL) was set to run away with the smartphone industry, but Samsung came out in a big way and the companies now share the smartphone crown — Samsung handily out-ships Apple but the Cupertino, California-based company still pulls in more profit. There is one area where Apple reigns supreme, however, but Samsung...

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Stocks open lower as lawmakers doubt budget deal

Stocks are opening lower on Wall Street amid concern that lawmakers will fail to reach a deal to stop the U.S. going over the so-called fiscal cliff.The Dow Jones industrial average is down 39 points at 13,151. The Standard & Poor's 500 index is off four points at 1,426. The Nasdaq composite is down six points at 3,013.Sen. Joe Lieberman said Sunday that it is now "more likely we'll go over the...

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Stocks fall as lawmakers doubt budget deal

Stocks are down Wall Street amid concern that lawmakers will fail to reach a deal to stop the U.S. going over the so-called fiscal cliff.The Dow Jones industrial average is down 32 points at 13,158. The Standard & Poor's 500 index is off four points at 1,426. The Nasdaq composite is down nine points at 3,012.Sen. Joe Lieberman said Sunday that it "It's the first time that I feel it's more likely...

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New Jersey pension fund sues NYSE Euronext on ICE deal

 A pension fund that holds shares of NYSE Euronext has sued the exchange operator over its proposed $8.2 billion sale to IntercontinentalExchange Inc , saying the deal undervalues the company's stock.The New Jersey Carpenters Pension Fund late on Friday filed a complaint in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan contending that NYSE Euronext breached its duty to maximize returns for shareholders....

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U.S. may expand mortgage refinance program: WSJ

The U.S. government is considering expanding its mortgage refinancing program to include borrowers whose mortgages are not backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the discussions. (http://link.reuters.com/mej84t)The refinancing program now being considered also seeks to include "underwater" borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth,...

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TEXT-S&P summary: Chartis Singapore Insurance Pte. Ltd.

Dec 26 -===============================================================================Summary analysis -- Chartis Singapore Insurance Pte. Ltd. --------- 26-Dec-2012===============================================================================CREDIT RATING: Country: SingaporeLocal currency A/Stable/--===============================================================================Credit Rating History:Local...

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AP source: Swisher, Tribe reach $56M, 4-year deal

 The Indians' pitch to bring Nick Swisher "home" worked.Two people familiar with the negotiations said Swisher has agreed to a $56 million, four-year contract with the Indians, who used the free agent outfielder's deep Ohio connections to convince him to join the club. The people spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because Swisher must take a physical before the deal can be finalized. The...

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Baseball: Indians sign Swisher to four-year, $56 million deal

 Free agent outfielder Nick Swisher has agreed to a four-year, $56 million contract with the Cleveland Indians, Major League Baseball's website said on Sunday.The deal, which is pending a physical, makes the 32-year-old Swisher the highest paid free agent ever signed by the Indians, who are trying to recover from a 94-loss season in 2012.Swisher, who spent the past four seasons with the New York...

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NFL: Bengals book playoff spot with win over Steelers

 Josh Brown booted a 43-yard field goal with four seconds left to play to earn the Cincinnati Bengals a 13-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and a ticket to the National Football League playoffs on Sunday.The victory was the Bengals' (9-6) first over their bitter AFC North rivals in six meetings and left a capacity crowd at Heinz Field stunned with the loss that eliminated the Steelers (7-8)...

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Lions WR Johnson living up to $132 million deal

 The Detroit Lions have gotten quite a return on the $132 million, eight-year investment they made in Calvin Johnson nine months ago."He's not trying to live up to a contract," Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said Sunday. "Personal records are great, and we certainly celebrate the season Calvin that has had, but it hasn't translated to enough wins."We need more help around him."That's a fact.The Lions...

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NFL: Bengals and Colts claim playoff berths

The Cincinnati Bengals edged the Pittsburgh Steelers to reach the NFL playoffs, and the Indianapolis Colts joined the postseason party by capping their remarkable turnaround in pressure-packed action on Sunday.The advancement of Cincinnati (9-6), 13-10 winners over their bitter AFC North rivals, and Indianapolis (10-5), who beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13, completed the playoff list in the American...

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Annual bird counts give scientists climate clues

Armed with flashlights, recordings of bird calls, a small notebook and a stash of candy bars, scientist Rich Kostecke embarked on an annual 24-hour Christmastime count of birds along the Texas Gulf Coast. Yellow rail. Barn owl. Bittern. Crested Cara-Cara. Kostecke rattled off the names and scribbled them in his notebook. His data, along with that from more than 50 other volunteers spread out into...

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Most Extreme Space Discoveries of 2012

Astronomical discoveries in 2012 have reshaped what we know about the universe and pushed some instruments to the very limits of their observing power. Scientists discovered a galaxy that harbors an enormous central black hole 17 billion times more massive than the sun. Another research group spotted a scorching-hot rocky planet in the closest star system to our own. Meanwhile, the records for most...

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Jupiter, Moon Align in Christmas Skywatching Treat

As darkness falls on Christmas night, check out the east-southeast sky. Shining brilliantly to the upper left of the bright, nearly full moon will be a silvery "star" with a steady glow. But that's not a star, or Santa returning to the North Pole. Rather, it's the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, serving as a sort of holiday ornament with Earth's nearest neighbor to cap off a year of interesting...

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Revealed: Rudolph Really Did Have a Red Nose

Most people know Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer had a very shiny nose — but why? Medical researchers say they've now found the answer. The secret to Rudolph's rosy schnozzle is the dense network of blood vessels in his nose. Reindeer, it seems, have 25 percent more capillaries carrying red, oxygen-rich blood in their nasal architecture than humans, say the scientists from the Erasmus Medical Center...

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The Hottest Climate Change Stories of 2012

Perhaps the most unavoidable climate story of 2012 was the warmth that gripped much of the United States, and to a lesser degree, the planet, throughout the entire year. Heat waves brought "spring in March" to parts of the country, and broke all-time high-temperature records in a number of places. This, inevitably, led to a discussion of global warming and the degree to which it contributes to some...

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Broadway musical 'Chicago' to enter history books

The musical "Chicago" is about to swagger into the history books again. Thursday night's performance of the edgy musical will be its 6,681, meaning it becomes the third longest-running show in Broadway history. It snatches that title from "Les Miserables." The only shows that have run longer are "Cats," with almost 7,500 shows, and "The Phantom of the Opera," which is still going after more than 10,300...

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Lady Gaga takes youth foundation on the road

Lady Gaga is taking her Born This Way Foundation on the road. The singer announced Thursday that the Born Brave Bus Tour will tailgate outside her upcoming U.S. concerts and provide a space for 13- to 25-year-olds to learn more about local resources on anti-bullying, suicide prevention and mental health services. Her foundation focuses on youth empowerment and self-confidence. Organizations like The...

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Halle Berry, Chaka Khan among 2013 BET Honorees

Actress Halle Berry and musician Chaka Khan will be honored at the 2013 BET Honors. The network announced Thursday that basketball star Lisa Leslie, music executive Clarence Avant and religious leader T.D. Jakes will also be celebrated at the Jan. 12 event in Washington at the Warner Theatre. The special airs Feb. 11. BET Honors highlights African Americans performing at top levels in the areas of...

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Heart joins select class with Rock Hall induction

The journey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can be a long and winding road for some acts. For Heart, it took more than a decade, and sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson admitted they were losing hope. "(The) running joke in the band was (we) would never get in," Ann said. But all that changed when the group made the class of 2013, announced this month. "Well, it just goes to show you that just when you...

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Study: Solo stars at higher death risk than bands

Rock 'n' roll will never die — but it's a hazardous occupation. An academic study published Thursday confirms that rock and pop musicians are more likely to die prematurely than the general population, and finds that solo artists are twice as likely to die young as members of bands. Researchers from Liverpool John Moores University and Britain's Health Department studied 1,489 rock, pop, punk, R&B,...

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Ugandan shilling steady, seen weaker after Christmas holiday

KAMPALA (Reuters) - The Ugandan shilling was unchanged against the dollar on Friday but traders said they expected it to weaken once more active trading resumed next year. At 1238 GMT commercial banks in Kampala quoted the currency of east Africa's third-largest economy at 2,645/2,655, unchanged from Thursday's close. "The market is pretty flat because (dollar) demand is not there but going into 2013...

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Instant View: November personal income, durable goods up

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Consumer spending rose in November by the most in three years as incomes climbed, suggesting fourth-quarter economic growth might be stronger than currently expected. The Commerce Department said on Friday inflation-adjusted consumer spending rose 0.6 percent, and after-tax income climbed 0.8 percent when adjusting for inflation. A gauge of planned U.S. business spending rose...

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US durable goods orders up 0.7 percent

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. companies boosted their orders in November for long-lasting manufactured goods that reflect investment plans. It was the second straight such increase, an encouraging sign for the economy. The Commerce Department said Friday that overall orders for durable goods rose a seasonally adjusted 0.7 percent in November over October. But a more closely watched category of orders that...

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Boehner says Congress, Obama must keep working on fiscal deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said on Friday that congressional leaders and President Barack Obama must try to move on from House Republicans' failed tax plan and work together to resolve the looming U.S. "fiscal cliff." Boehner said he was not concerned that Thursday's withdrawn vote threatened his position as speaker, but did not outline a clear path forward. Boehner...

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Canada economy ekes out 0.1 percent growth in October

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian economy grew by just 0.1 percent in October from September, indicating a very slow start to the fourth quarter amid foreign and domestic economic woes, Statistics Canada data indicated on Friday. The figure matched analysts' expectations. The Bank of Canada says fourth quarter growth will be 2.5 percent annualized but the October data confirm market suspicions the real...

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Clippers beat Hornets 93-77 for 11th straight win

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers' franchise record-tying 11th consecutive victory had owner Donald Sterling leading a "hip, hip hooray" chant in the locker room.Sterling grabbed the hand of coach Vinny Del Negro and held it up, exhorting his team, "Let's hear it for the coach." Then he told Del Negro, "Vinny, give me a hug" and the two men embraced."Eleven in a row. Not bad, is it?" Sterling...

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Durant scores 41 as streaking Thunder top Hawks

ATLANTA (AP) — Oklahoma City's biggest stars displayed a unique version of balanced scoring against Atlanta: Russell Westbrook led the Thunder in the first half and Kevin Durant dominated the Hawks over the final two quarters.Durant set a season high with 41 points and Oklahoma City held off Atlanta 100-92 on Wednesday night for its 12th straight win.Westbrook had 27 points — 21 in the first half...

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AP source: Polanco reaches agreement with Marlins

MIAMI (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says third baseman Placido Polanco has agreed to terms with the Miami Marlins.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the Marlins hadn't announced a deal.Polanco, 37, battled injuries this year and hit .257 with two home runs and 19 RBIs in 90 games with Philadelphia. The 15-year veteran is a career .299...

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AP Source: Jets will consider options with Sanchez

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Mark Sanchez is the former face of the franchise. He could soon be a former member of the New York Jets.The team will consider all their options regarding the beleaguered and benched quarterback in the offseason, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday.The person, who requested anonymity because the team's personnel plans are private,...

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Michael Phelps voted AP male athlete of year

Now that he's away from the pool, Michael Phelps can reflect — really reflect — on what he accomplished.Pretty amazing stuff."It's kind of nuts to think about everything I've gone through," Phelps said. "I've finally had time to myself, to sit back and say, '... that really happened?' It's kind of shocking at times."Not that his career needed a capper, but Phelps added one more honor to his staggering...

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S&P lifts Greek rating from selective default

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rating agency Standard & Poor's on Tuesday raised Greece's sovereign credit rating to B-minus with a stable outlook from selective default, citing Europe's efforts to keep the country part of the euro."The upgrade reflects our view of the strong determination of European Economic and Monetary Union (eurozone) member states to preserve Greek membership in the eurozone," S&P...

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Stocks edge higher as budget talks move ahead

    *      Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, following a closed-door meeting House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)  less NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are opening slightly higher on Wall Street as both sides make concessions in budget talks in Washington.The Dow Jones industrial average rose 17 points to 13,252 shortly after the opening bell...

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TEXT-S&P summary: SP PowerAssets Ltd.

 Summary analysis -- SP PowerAssets Ltd. --------------------------- 18-Dec-2012===============================================================================CREDIT RATING: AA-/Stable/NR Country: SingaporePrimary SIC: Electric ServicesMult. CUSIP6: 78462Q===============================================================================Credit Rating History:Local currency Foreign currency31-Mar-2008...

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