International Business News - Consumer Services http://www.ibtimes.com/subsection/industries/consumerservices.htm All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Workers at General Motors Corp. ratified a new local contract with the company on Friday afternoon ending a strike in one important factory producer of popular crossover vehicles. 117998 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080517/general-motors-workers-agree-local-contract-strike-ends.htm Sat, 17 May 2008 02:46:44 EDT If US Airways and United Airlines decide to combine, they'll bring along a number of reluctant employee groups that would rather remain separate. US Airways pilots on Friday joined a chorus of criticism about a possible tie-up. The US Airline Pilots Association said United parent UAL Corp. is financially weak, and that mixing the carriers is a bad idea. Chicago-based UAL lost $537 million in the first quarter. 117701 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/us-airways-pilots-say-too-soon-for-united-tie-up.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 18:49:29 EDT Time Warner Chairman Richard Parsons suggested at the company's annual meeting Friday that he would probably leave as expected next year, clearing the way for Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes to also become chairman. 117922 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/time-warner-chairman-parsons-likely-to-depart-next-year.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 17:58:49 EDT Wal-Mart is planning to prepare and serve fresh food at delicatessen counters in its new Marketside convenience stores, in a bit to compete with Tesco's Fresh & Easy offering. 117778 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/47611-wal-mart.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/wal-mart-tesco-stores-asda-stores.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/wal-mart-tesco-stores-asda-stores.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 17:57:12 EDT Starbucks Corp shares jumped on Friday a day after billionaire investor Nelsol Peltz's Trian Fund disclosed its stake in the coffee retailer. 117777 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/starbucks-trian-partners-stake.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 17:51:05 EDT Supervalu Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Noddle's pay fell to about $5.3 million without the stock awards that had boosted his total compensation the previous year, according to a company filing Friday. 117914 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/supervalu-paid-ceo-noddle-5-3-million.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 17:33:39 EDT The Nasdaq 100 ended lower Friday, pulled down by losses from Apollo Group Inc. and a jump in oil prices. Apollo, a for-profit education company, declined $2.02, or 4.2 percent, to $46.71. 117911 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/nasdaq-100-leaders-and-laggards-apol-lvlt.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 17:24:31 EDT Starbucks Corp. shares rose Friday after billionaire investor Nelson Peltz disclosed that his investment fund bought a stake in the specialty coffee retailer. 117682 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/starbucks-shares-rise-on-peltz-stake.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 17:22:04 EDT Shares of Melco PBL Entertainment Inc. fell Friday as investors largely discounted the benefits of the company's agreement with A-Max Holdings, according to an analyst. 117803 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/melco-dips-on-discounting-of-a-max-partnership.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 17:14:50 EDT Wall Street will get a close look at consumer spending next week, with more than a dozen major retailers reporting quarterly results. Discount chain Target Corp., which reports Tuesday, has not performed as well as rival Wal-Mart Stores Inc. during this spending downturn. 117556 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/on-the-watch-advance-auto-parts-could-get-boost.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 17:03:33 EDT Clear Channel Communications Inc. kicked off the week's biggest stories, following news that the radio and media company's stalled buyout was back on track. 117903 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/hot-stocks-of-the-week-clear-channel-hp-macys.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 17:03:06 EDT Teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said Friday that its first-quarter earnings rose 3 percent from a year ago on stronger sales. Abercrombie said it earned $62.1 million, or 69 cents per share, in the three months ended May 3 compared with profits of $60.1 million, or 65 cents a share, a year ago. 117540 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/abercrombie-profit-edges-up-on-sales-increase.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 16:52:46 EDT Shares of broadline retailers closed down on Friday, following the market down as oil prices spiked to a new trading record, causing investor concern. 117895 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/closing-glance-broadline-retailers-decline.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 16:34:02 EDT Macy's Inc, the second largest U.S. department store company, is partnering with toy store chain FAO Schwartz to let it open smaller stores within nearly 700 of its locations over the next two years. 117733 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/macys-fao-schwarz-retail-partnership.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 16:33:29 EDT Slot auctions designed to reduce delays nationwide and increase competition are coming to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, the government said Friday. 117815 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/slot-auctions-coming-to-all-3-nyc-area-airports.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 16:27:17 EDT Time Warner Inc. Chairman Richard Parsons said Friday he will likely step down at the end of the year, a opening the door for Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Bewkes to take over the position at the world's biggest media company, according to a media report. 117718 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/47249-richard-parsons.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/time-warner-chairman-richard-parsons-jeffery-bewkes-media.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/time-warner-chairman-richard-parsons-jeffery-bewkes-media.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 16:00:33 EDT AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, said Friday that certain covenants required under a credit agreement have been waived through March 2009, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 117860 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/amr-amends-credit-agreement-covenants-waived.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 15:55:05 EDT The executive vice president, products and technologies, of audio technology company Dolby Laboratories Inc. exercised options for 20,000 shares of common stock under a prearranged trading plan, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Thursday. 117858 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/dolby-labs-executive-exercises-options.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 15:52:38 EDT British Airways said on Friday that its profit more than doubled in the fiscal year ending March 31. 117714 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/british-airways-earnings-bonus.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 15:37:17 EDT The executive vice president, business affairs, of audio technology company Dolby Laboratories Inc. sold 5,000 shares of common stock under a prearranged trading plan, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Thursday. 117848 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/dolby-labs-executive-vice-president-sells-shares.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 15:21:51 EDT