MONEY
MONEY-stamp-postal-service
Starting January 27, the price of a first-class stamp will increase one cent to 46 cents, the Postal Service announced Thursday. Postcard postage will rise one cent as well, to 33 cents. Letters to international destinations will rise in cost to $1.10, up from the old prices of 85 cents to Canada and Mexico and $1.05 to other destinations. Overall, prices for mailing and shipping services will increase by 4% on average, with priority mail prices rising 6.3%.
MONEY-tarp-cost-cbo
The Troubled Asset Relief Program, which the federal government used to bail out many of the nation's banks and automakers, will end up costing taxpayers an estimated $24 billion, which is 25% less than the previous estimate.
MONEY-unemployment-benefits
Claims for unemployment benefits fell sharply last week to their lowest level in more than four years, but the drop was due mostly to a technical issue.
MONEY-Foreclosures
The wave of foreclosures hitting the nation's housing market has been much less severe than anticipated, with foreclosure filings at their lowest level in five years last month, according to a report out Thursday.
MONEY-tax-breaks-parents
Many low-income parents could see their tax bills jump by thousands of dollars next year if nothing is done to stop a series of tax breaks from expiring January 1.
MONEY-m&a-mergers-economy
What should have been the year of the mega-mergers is turning out to be a bust, with M&A activity on pace for its slowest year since 2009.
MONEY-stocks-markets
U.S. stocks pared earlier gains and ended little changed Thursday afternoon, as enthusiasm over upbeat economic data faded.
MONEY-softbank-sprint-stock
Shares of Sprint Nextel surged in premarket trading Thursday on reports that Japanese wireless carrier Softbank is in negotiations to buy a controlling stake of the company.
MONEY-twinkies-hostess-bankruptcy
Hostess Brands filed a plan to emerge from bankruptcy which will involve cuts in employees' pay, health and pension plans.
MONEY-facebook-zynga
Facebook's close relationship with Zynga means the social network has raked in tons of money from the success of games like FarmVille. But that partnership has a flip side: Bad news for Zynga also means bad news for Facebook.
MONEY--sick-day-excuses
One employee said she couldn't come to work because her dog was having a nervous breakdown. Another said he forgotten he'd been hired. A third was upset after watching The Hunger Games.
MONEY-coca-cola-greece
Coca-Cola Hellenic, the world's second biggest bottler of Coke, is moving its headquarters out of Greece, dealing a symbolic blow to the crisis-stricken eurozone economy. The company is Greece's biggest by market value ($7.6 billion) but generates only 5% of its business domestically.
