AP Breaking News
The latest breaking business, global, and technology news from the Associated Press
James River Coal closes $172.5M note offering
November 20, 2009, 3:14PM ET
James River Coal Co. on Friday said it closed its $172.5 million convertible senior note offering.
Sector Snap: Homebuilders drop on D.R. Horton loss
November 20, 2009, 3:13PM ET
Shares of homebuilders slid Friday after D.R. Horton Inc. said revenue plunged, while analysts said the company wrote down more inventory than anticipated and expectations for the industry were unrealistically high.
Boeing breaks ground for historic SC plant
November 20, 2009, 3:13PM ET
Work has officially started on building Boeing's $750 million aircraft assembly plant in South Carolina -- the largest industrial investment in state history.
Flowers Foods names David V. Singer to board
November 20, 2009, 3:12PM ET
Bakery goods company Flowers Foods Inc. on Friday said its board elected David V. Singer, president and chief executive officer of Lance Inc., to the board.
Natural gas plunges 12 percent this month
November 20, 2009, 3:09PM ET
Natural gas prices have dropped by more than 12 percent in the past month as the country continues to sip at its energy reserves and a balmy November allowed homeowners to leave the heat off.
Nebraska ethanol plant fire produces lawsuit
November 20, 2009, 3:09PM ET
The owners of a Lexington ethanol plant and their insurer are suing a subsidiary of a Houston-based natural gas provider they say is responsible for an explosion and fire that shut down the plant for weeks.
Ohio AG sues credit agencies for public pensions
November 20, 2009, 3:07PM ET
The three major credit ratings agencies gave mortgage-backed securities unjustifiably high ratings in return for lucrative fees, losing at least $457 million for five Ohio public employee pension and retirement funds, the state's attorney general alleged in a lawsuit filed Friday.
Dress Barn shares rise after co. raises forecast
November 20, 2009, 3:06PM ET
Shares of Dress Barn Inc. climbed Friday, a day after the company raised its yearly profit estimate above analysts' forecasts.
Hedge fund to boost stake in Agilysys
November 20, 2009, 3:06PM ET
A New York hedge fund wants to increase its ownership stake in Agilysys Inc. but is not seeking to control the company.
W.Va. considers tax flexibility for localities
November 20, 2009, 2:56PM ET
West Virginia's tax modernization project is back on, but that doesn't mean businesses and individuals should necessarily expect lower taxes in the near future.
DomRep Shell subsidiary sells 137 gas stations
November 20, 2009, 2:54PM ET
A Dominican subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell PLC has sold its 137 gas stations across the Caribbean country to a Barbados-based fuel supplier.
Judge orders settlement meeting in Cintas case
November 20, 2009, 2:52PM ET
Cintas Corp. and the widow of a former employee who is suing the company will have another chance to settle her 2007 wrongful death lawsuit against the nation's largest uniform supplier.
Harley's Pa. plant thought likelier to stay now
November 20, 2009, 2:52PM ET
A tentative labor agreement distributed Friday to workers at Harley-Davidson's plant in south-central Pennsylvania makes it appear likely that the motorcycle maker will keep its operations there, instead of leaving the state to cut costs.
Ask AP: Shuttle complexity, credit union agency
November 20, 2009, 2:46PM ET
A space shuttle is no tinker toy. But is it the most complex machine ever built?
Synovus Financial affirms its capital strength
November 20, 2009, 2:46PM ET
Synovus Financial Corp. affirmed the strength of its capital position Friday, saying it has enough financial breathing room to withstand an adverse scenario that federal regulators want banks to demonstrate they could survive.
Survey suggests improving but weak Plains economy
November 20, 2009, 2:46PM ET
Business appears to be slowly improving in rural areas of 11 Midwest and Plains states, but the economy there remains weak, according to a new survey of bankers.
Ex-Vivendi CEO: I made mistakes but never misled
November 20, 2009, 2:43PM ET
Vivendi's former CEO says he made mistakes in his troubled bid to turn a French water company into a global media giant but never misled shareholders about the risks involved.
Nebraska governor signs budget-cutting package
November 20, 2009, 2:42PM ET
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman signed into law $334 million in budget reductions on Friday, after lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the cuts during an emergency session in which there was little disagreement over how to close the largest budget gap in recent memory.
Koppers prices $300M senior note offering
November 20, 2009, 2:38PM ET
Koppers Inc., a subsidiary of treated-wood products maker Koppers Holdings Inc., on Friday said it priced a private offering of 7.875 percent senior notes due 2019 with a total value of $300 million.
D.R. Horton fiscal 4th-quarter loss narrows
November 20, 2009, 2:36PM ET
D.R. Horton Inc. said Friday its loss in its fiscal fourth quarter narrowed despite a plunge in revenue as the homebuilder wrote down fewer costs.
