http://variousnotes.com Best business blog Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:04 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Consumer borrowing in the U.S. rose more than forecast in December, driven by demand for auto and student loans. Credit increased by $19.3 billion to $2.5 trillion, Federal Reserve figures showed today in Washington. The gain topped the $7 billion median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News ... http://variousnotes.com/us-consumer-credit-climbed-by-19b-in-dec-bloomberg/ Indonesia http://variousnotes.com/indonesian-economy-grows-at-fastest-pace-since-1996-as-investment-climbs-bloomberg/ WARRENTON • A billboard along Interstate 70 encourages drivers to stop in Warrenton and stay awhile. But with just a handful of shops left at the Warrenton Outlet Center, there are fewer reasons for St. Louisans to make the trek to this city, about 60 miles west of downtown. The ... http://variousnotes.com/warrenton-outlet-center-is-on-the-outs-heads-for-auction-block/ The idea popped into Laura Stude's head when she happened on a stack of legacy books while shopping last year for a Mother's Day gift. Eyeing the blank-paged journals, with prompts for parents and grandparents to reminisce about their lives, Laura Stude pondered a 21st Century alternative. "Instead of writing ... http://variousnotes.com/so-41-entrepreneurs-walk-into-a-st-louis-office-building/ Hong Kong will spend nearly HK$80 billion ($10.3 billion) to bolster growth as the government forecasts the weakest expansion since 2009 on a http://variousnotes.com/hong-kong-plans-10-billion-boost-to-economy-on-bleak-global-prospects-bloomberg/ Germany's controversial suggestion of a European debt regulator with direct control over Greece's spending turned out to be such a touchy subject that Chancellor Angela didn't even mention the idea to the leaders at Monday's European Union summit in Brussels. In what was seen as a blow for Germany's push ... http://variousnotes.com/german-plan-for-savings-czar-finds-no-taker/ Total U.S. money market mutual fund assets fell $14.68 billion to $2.679 trillion for the week ended Wednesday, Investment Company Institute said. Assets of the nation's retail money market mutual funds fell $5.73 billion to $929.14 billion, the Washington-based mutual fund trade group said. Assets of taxable money market funds ... http://variousnotes.com/assets-of-money-market-funds-fall/ How much is it worth to suffer through a terrifying cruise ship grounding? Italian ship operator Costa Crociere SpA on Friday put the figure at euro11,000 ($14,460) plus reimbursement for the cost of cruise tickets and extra travel expenses, seeking to cut a deal with as many passengers as possible ... http://variousnotes.com/cruise-ship-victims-mull-14460-compensation-deal/ Millionaires can be just like everyone else. At least when it comes to paying taxes. Mitt Romney released records this week that show he pays a tax rate of about 15 percent of his income. The relatively low figure is raising eyebrows because it's on par with the rate paid ... http://variousnotes.com/could-you-be-a-15-percenter-decoding-tax-rates/ Greece is still hopeful that it will be able to reach a deal with private bondholders to cut its massive debt _ despite tougher terms set by its European partners. On the front line of Europe's sovereign debt crisis, Athens is trying to get its private creditors _ banks and ... http://variousnotes.com/greece-hopeful-of-debt-deal-despite-interest-cap/