World stocks higher on China recovery optimism

BANGKOK (AP) — World stock markets rose Monday on optimism that China's economic recovery is firmly taking root.
Many analysts expect China's fourth quarter and 2012 growth figures due Friday to show the world's No. 2 economy continuing to bounce back from its worst slump since the 2008 financial crisis.
Sentiment improved last week after Japan announced a $224 billion stimulus package to boost its recession- and deflation-mired economy. A strong economic recovery has eluded Japan for more than 20 years since the bursting of its financial bubble in the early 1990s.
Britain's FTSE 100 rose marginally to 6,123.87. Germany's DAX gained 0.2 percent to 7,727.68. France's CAC-40 added 0.2 percent to 3,713.79.
Wall Street was set for slight gains, with Dow Jones industrial futures rising slightly to 13,437 while S&P 500 futures gained 0.1 percent to 1,468.20.
Stock markets in Asia posted gains as investors grew more confident about China's economic recovery. China reported improving exports and imports last week, a sign of higher demand both inside and outside the country. More signs of improvement are expected when China releases a slew of data on Friday, including factory output, investment and retail sales.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.6 percent to 23,413.26. South Korea's Kospi added 0.3 percent to 2,002.77 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.2 percent to 4,719.70. Japan's financial markets were closed for a public holiday.
Mainland Chinese stock markets were boosted when Guo Shuqing, chairman of the China's securities regulator, said at a conference in Hong Kong that there was room to raise by "at least" tenfold the quota of foreign institutions allowed to invest in China's domestic stock markets, which are largely off-limits to outsiders because of capital controls.
Mainland China's Shanghai Composite Index soared 3.1 percent to 2,311.74 while the Shenzhen Composite Index for China's second, smaller stock market jumped 3.6 percent to 918.23.
Dariusz Kowalczyk of Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong said China's growth likely picked up in the fourth quarter of 2012 to 7.9 percent from 7.4 percent in the three months ended in September. He expects first quarter growth in 2013 to hit 8.5 percent. He said such figures should put to rest worries that China's economy might be in for a hard landing.
"Risks have diminished both externally and domestically, and if they rebound, China has sufficient resources to manage them, so we are upbeat that a relapse will not occur," he said in an email.
Still, a bobble in trade could cause a reversal, while inflation pressure is rising because of poor winter harvests, which would make it harder for Beijing to embark on new stimulus measures without pushing prices up more.
Analysts at Societe Generale have not ruled out a hard landing, which they define as real GDP growth falling below 6 percent, partly because of China's vulnerability to trade shocks.
Among individual stocks, South Korea's SK Telecom advanced 4.2 percent while Hyundai Heavy Industries fell 1.1 percent. In Shanghai, gold retailer Lao Feng Xiang Co. Ltd. jumped 7 percent. China AVIC Avionics Equipment soared 10 percent.
Benchmark oil for February delivery was up 49 cents to $94.05 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract dropped 26 cents to finish at $93.56 a barrel in New York on Friday.
In currencies, the euro rose to $1.3354 from $1.3338 late Friday in New York. The dollar rose to 89.37 yen from 89.20 yen.

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UPS to withdraw TNT Express bid after EC veto

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - United Parcel Service Inc (UPS) said it will withdraw its 5.2 billion euro ($7 billion) bid for TNT Express because it expects the European Commission (EC) to block the deal.
UPS, the world's No. 1 package delivery company, was seeking to buy Dutch peer and European market leader TNT Express to gain access to its network in the fast-growing Asian and Latin American markets.
The EC has informed UPS and TNT Express that it is working on a decision to prohibit the proposed acquisition, the two companies said in separate statements.
"UPS will pay TNT a termination fee in the amount of 200 million euros and will withdraw the offer," once the formal decision is taken, UPS said on Monday.
The collapse of the deal is a blow for TNT Express, which has struggled to turn around in a weak European market.
The U.S. delivery company had offered various concessions in a bid to win EU regulatory approval for its bid, including a proposal to sell warehouses and customer bases in about 15 countries, mainly in eastern Europe.
"We proposed significant and tangible remedies designed to address the EC's concerns with the transaction," Scott Davis, UPS chairman and chief executive said in a statement, expressing disappointment at the decision after months of talks.
"The combined company would have been transformative for the logistics industry, bringing meaningful benefits to consumers and customers around the world, while supporting growth in Europe in particular," Davis added. ($1 = 0.7493 euros)

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Samsung sells 100 million Galaxy S smartphones

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Samsung Electronics Co. said Monday that global sales of its Galaxy S smartphones surpassed 100 million units since the first model in the series was released less than three years ago.
Samsung said it has sold more than 25 million Galaxy S smartphones, 40 million Galaxy S II smartphones and 41 million Galaxy S III smartphones.
Samsung launched the first Galaxy S model at the end of May 2010, scrambling to catch up with Apple, which was reshaping the market with the iPhone.
But Samsung was quick to narrow the gap with bigger smartphone makers. Research firm IHS iSuppli said last month that Samsung beat Nokia in cellphone sales and Apple in smartphone sales last year.
Apple's iPhone sales hit the 100-million mark in March 2011, nearly four years after the introduction of the phone in 2007.
Analysts expect Samsung to announce the fourth version of the Galaxy S smartphone before this summer.

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Existing home sales rise to fastest pace in three years

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Home resales rose sharply in November to their fastest pace in three years, a sign the recovery in the housing market is gaining steam.
The National Association of Realtors said on Thursday that existing home sales climbed 5.9 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.04 million units.
That was the fastest since November 2009, when a federal tax credit for home buyers was due to expire. Sales were well above the median forecast of a 4.87 million-unit rate in a Reuters poll.
The U.S. housing market tanked on the eve of the 2007-09 recession and has yet to fully recover, but steady job creation has helped the housing sector this year, when it is expected to add to economic growth for the first time since 2005.
NAR economist Lawrence Yun said superstorm Sandy, which slammed in the U.S. East Coast in late October and disrupted the regional economy for weeks, had only a slight negative impact on home resales.
The NAR expects some purchases delayed by the storm to add a slight boost to resales over the next few months, Yun said.
Nationwide, the median price for a home resale was $180,600 in November, up 10.1 percent from a year earlier as fewer people sold their homes under distressed conditions compared to the same period in 2011. Distressed sales include foreclosures.
The nation's inventory of existing homes for sale fell 3.8 percent during the month to 2.03 million, the lowest level since December 2001.
At the current pace of sales, inventories would be exhausted in 4.8 months, the lowest rate since September 2005.
Distressed sales fell to 22 percent of total sales from 29 percent a year ago.
The share of distressed sales, which also include those where the sales price was below the amount owed on the home, was also down from 24 percent in October.

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New York City should hike taxes on big business-comptroller

(Reuters) - New York City's top financial officer and possible contender for mayor in 2013, John Liu, proposed on Thursday tax hikes for big businesses and an end to Madison Square Garden's $15 million annual property tax exemption.
The proposals by New York City Comptroller John Liu include tax hikes on private equity firms, which would help offset his plan for $500 million in tax breaks and lowered fines for 90 percent of the city's small businesses.
Liu is expected to vie for the Democratic mayoral nomination for the election in November 2013.
The city could end tax breaks for big companies - more than $250 million of which were handed out last year, Liu said.
The city could also eliminate its $15 million annual property tax exemption for Madison Square Garden, the indoor arena in midtown Manhattan that's home to the New York Knicks basketball team. Madison Square Garden has been exempt from paying taxes on real property since 1982 under New York state law.
The arena is owned by The Madison Square Garden Co, which also owns the Knicks and other professional sports teams. The company also owns Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre and others venues, as well as television networks.
Liu also proposed examining tax breaks for special interests. Insurance companies, for instance, have not paid the general corporation tax since 1974, at a cost of $300 million annually to the city, he said.
Private equity firms could also start paying the unincorporated business tax for carried interest or gains from assets being held for investment. The exemption costs New York City about $200 million a year, Liu said.
Liu's package would use the revenue generated by those measures to offset his plan to ease the tax burden for small businesses.
He proposed ending the city's general corporation tax for all businesses with liabilities under $5,000 -- about 240,000 business in the city, or 85 percent of those that currently pay the tax.
His plan would also reduce some fines, as well as exempt businesses that make less than $250,000 in annual income from the city's unincorporated business tax.
The proposals would have to be approved by the governor and state legislature after a request by the city council.
The city is facing a possible $2.7 billion gap in fiscal 2014 that could grow to $3.8 billion the following year, Liu said.

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IRS finalizes new tax for medical devices in healthcare law

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Internal Revenue Service on Wednesday released final rules for a new tax on medical devices, products ranging from surgical sutures to knee replacement implants, that starts next year as part of President Barack Obama's 2010 healthcare law.
The 2.3-percent tax must be paid, effective after December 31, by device-makers on their gross sales. The tax is expected to raise $29 billion in government revenues through 2022.
Companies including Boston Scientific Corp, 3M Co and Kimberly-Clark Corp have been lobbying the U.S. Congress for a repeal of the tax.
A repeal bill passed the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives in June, but it has not been voted on by the Democratic-controlled Senate.
"The excise tax is on the medical device manufacturers and importers (who) will now have access to 30 million new customers due to the health care law," Treasury Department spokeswoman Sabrina Siddiqui said in a statement.
Many medical devices that are sold over-the-counter - such eyeglasses, contact lenses and hearing aids - are exempt from the tax, as are prosthetics, the IRS said.
The tax applies mostly to devices used and implanted by medical professionals, including items as complex as pacemakers or as simple as tongue depressors.
Products sold for humanitarian reasons, such as experimental cancer treatment devices, are not exempt from the tax.
Some medical device companies are hoping to delay the tax's start date as part of a resolution of the "fiscal cliff" deadline at the end of the year involving many tax and spending measures, said Steve Ferguson, chairman of Cook Group Inc.
"We would like to be part of the punt," Ferguson said, referring to an extension of current tax policy into 2013.
In one potentially problematic aspect of the tax, companies selling dual-use products to medical and non-medical customers must pay the tax on those products, potentially putting them at a competitive disadvantage, said Lew Fernandez, a director at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and a former IRS official.

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Start the New Year With a Clear Mind and Body by Eliminating Clutter From the Home

And Make Some Extra Money Selling Those Unwanted Things on eBid.net

Miami, FL (PRWEB) December 31, 2012
The positive physical and psychological effects of clearing clutter from your life have been well-documented. Benefits include creating a focused mind, finding extra time in the day to exercise, reducing accidents - and earning some extra cash selling unnecessary clutter online. One of the best options for selling goods is the online worldwide marketplace eBid (http://www.ebid.net) because with its zero listing fees and only 0% - 3% final value fees, sellers earn the best profits out of any other online auction site. And with over 5.3 million live auction listings, New Years' cleaners will be able to tap into a huge audience of potential buyers for their stuff.
Mark Wilkinson, co-founder of eBid said, "Multiple studies and articles have shown that eliminating clutter is one of the healthiest things a person can do for their lives. And likewise, independent measurements have shown that eBid is one of the best values on the Net for generating a little profit from some of those extra nicknacks just laying around. Of course, after the holidays it's an even better time to keep your house cleared, keep those unneeded gifts in the box and sell them on eBid."
eBid represents a $5.7 billion marketplace spanning 23 territories, covering more than 100 countries and five continents. Competitive features like zero insertion fees, low final cost fees, a "Make An Offer" button and "Multiple Item Checkout" as well as a generous affiliate program and wide territorial coverage have all combined to propel eBid into this top bracket. Transactions on eBid may be completed using multiple, secure payment systems, either PPPay.com, Google Wallet, PayPal, or Skrill (Moneybookers).
With eBid's affiliate program, participants who add banners/links to their website, emails or Facebook pages can earn up to $104.99 for a single referral. Affiliates are rewarded for not only sign-ups to the basic eBid "BUYER" account status but also when the referral makes a free upgrade to "SELLER" status and, most impressive of all, affiliates are rewarded with 50% of any upgrade fees when their referrals upgraded to "SELLER+" status. eBid's "SELLER+" status is a great advantage for higher volume merchants. A one-time fee of $49.49 gives the seller a lifetime of zero listing fees and zero final value fees. Merchants may also opt for a short-term subscription upgrade to zero fees ($1.99 for 7 Days / $6.99 for 30 Days / $16.99 for 90 Days). http://us.ebid.net/help_affiliate.php
About eBid.net

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ListedBy’s Stephan Piscano Perspective Featured In REI Voice Magazine’s 2013 Market Predictions

Feature projects outlook from ten prominent U.S. city, state and national real estate industry leaders and city executives.

Napa, CA (PRWEB) December 31, 2012
ListedBy (http://www.ListedBy.com), the first free online real estate marketplace and social network with live bidding public real estate auctions and ‘Best Offer’ functionality today announced that its CEO and Founder Stephan Piscano’s outlook for the real estate industry has been featured by REI Voice Magazine (http://www.reivoice.com) as part of its 2013 Market Predictions feature.
“2013 could be your last opportunity to realize huge returns on investment properties,” wrote Piscano, for REI Voice 2013 Market Predictions. “We started telling all of our partners, clients and investors at the end of 2011, that 2012 would be the last opportunity to see deals like we had been seeing for the last 3 years, and I personally told all those close to me that we would look back at 2012 and ask, how much did we capitalize on it?”
Opinions and forward outlook from ten high profile experts in real estate make up this year’s predictions. The article covers perspectives at the city, state and national levels, and features thoughts from prominent insurance, asset management and real estate investment senior managers as well as REALTOR® council, county assessment and city economic development executives.
Continued Piscano: “I believe that interest rates remaining low, combined with lack of inventory, combined with the potential for rapid inflation will cause the market to continue to rise in 2013 and beyond. There will still be exceptional investment opportunities. It will be several years before the market is fully recovered but this year could be your last opportunity for a while to capitalize on the unreal 23% ROI (Return On Investment) type of investment properties for a while. Investors will start seeing more types of real estate investments take place such as owner-carry-financing, due to the millions of Americans who have damaged credit but still may have solid income or in some cases even be multimillionaires who are tired of buying everything cash and want leverage.”
ListedBy also published The 2013 Real Estate Market, a forward looking opinion on the market based on two possible economic scenarios for the coming year. The article can be viewed at http://blog.listedby.com.
# # #
About ListedBy
ListedBy is the first free online real estate marketplace and social network with live bidding auction and ‘Best Offer’ functionality. Buyers, sellers, real estate professionals and service providers join ListedBy to network and to list, research, buy and sell real estate assets in a collaborative, transparent environment. ListedBy is headquartered in Napa, and is privately funded. For ongoing news, please visit http://www.listedby.com/about.
ListedBy, LB Social and the ListedBy logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of ListedBy, LLC and / or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Third party trademarks and brands mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

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Congressional Dairy Fix Would Still Raise Milk Prices

Dairy Manufacturers and Consumer Groups Oppose New Program
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) stated today that the legislation proposed by Congressional Agriculture Committee leaders would still cause a problem in the marketplace because it includes a controversial new program designed to limit the milk supply. That proposal, championed by Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN) yet resisted by consumer groups, food manufacturers and many dairy farmers, is known as the Dairy Security Act (DSA) and would require the government to intervene in milk markets to manipulate the supply of milk in order to keep milk prices artificially high.
"It is ironic that the threat of higher dairy prices for consumers, caused by the possible implementation of the 1949 Act, is being used to force Congress to pass a new program that will result in higher prices," said Jerry Slominski, IDFA senior vice-president for legislative and economic affairs.
The new program is included in a bill that would extend most existing farm programs for one year; it was placed on the House calendar by House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK). That bill completely rewrites U.S. dairy policies, including the new program to control milk production, yet leaves all other agriculture programs unchanged. By insisting on its inclusion in the "fiscal cliff" legislation, its supporters are making it more difficult to pass that important legislation, should leaders come to an agreement on its details.
"The Dairy Security Act is a problem, not a solution," Slominski said. "IDFA supports an extension of existing dairy policies in the current farm bill to give Congress time to complete action on a new five-year farm bill and to allow for consideration of the alternative to the Dairy Security Act offered by Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and David Scott (D-GA). We believe that alternative will pass if it is brought to the full House of Representatives for an up or down vote.
"A clean extension of the 2008 Farm Bill will avoid having the 1949 Act become relevant law and allow payments to dairy farmers when milk prices fall. The 1949 Act represents agriculture policies from the past and unless Congress passes a clean extension of the Farm Bill, Secretary Vilsack would be placed in the unenviable position of proposing rules to implement such policies. Although he will be able to delay any increase on consumer dairy prices for weeks if not months, Congress should still take action to avoid that situation," Slominski concluded.
Read IDFA's letter to Secretary Vilsack here.
Read the letter from consumer groups to Secretary Vilsack here.
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), headquartered in Washington, D.C., represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of 550 companies representing a $110-billion a year industry. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), the National Cheese Institute (NCI) and the International Ice Cream Association (IICA). IDFA's 220 dairy processing members run more than 600 plant operations, and range from large multi-national organizations to single-plant companies. Together they represent more than 85% of the milk, cultured products, cheese and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States. IDFA can be found online at www.idfa.org.

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Astrology Secrets Revealed: New Online Website PsychicTarot.us Reveals Astrology Advice for $5

Astrology has been a cornerstone of every known civilization, and PsychicTarot.us has announced the release of their new online marketplace for readers and clients. The new system allows readers to list their readings and sell to a global market.

Santa Barbara, CA (PRWEB) December 31, 2012
To further enhance the options for site users, the metaphysical market place PsychicTarot.us has added Astrology readings marketplace and astrological advice to their online offerings. Site users will be able to have a detailed and professional astrological reading that can tell them about their future, their love interests, or the best time to transact a business deal.
The new astrology readings section is available now, and professional readers are encouraged to create offers to share their services. People who would like to get their own reading can browse providers and choose the most interesting for their needs.
"Astrology history is long and rich with a devoted following, so we wanted to make this service available to our users as quickly as possible. There are so many talented astrologers out there, we are sure that this is going to be one of our most popular categories. Plus, with our marketplace, the astrologers will have a broader reach and the users will be able to get affordable astrology advice," PsychicTarot.us representative Katia Shayk said in a statement.
While many people immediately associate astrology with horoscopes, this is just one branch of the astrological science. From the Great Pyramids in Egypt to the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, there has been a deep respect for the movements of the stars and planets, along with a belief that they influenced every aspect of each person's life and the planet's fate.
Astrology has been used to describe many different things, among them:

Human personality traits
Prediction of future events
The identification of auspicious events or times
The existence of extraterrestrial beings
Ms. Shayk continued; "We know that, along with tarot card reading, star readings are one of the most popular of the metaphysical sciences. The rich, famous and powerful have been known to use astrology to help guide their daily lives and actions. There is no reason to believe that everyone can't benefit from accurate astrological advice, it can be insightful, and quite a bit of fun."
One of the most powerful astrological signs is the eclipse, either lunar or solar. A reading of the eclipse legends brought to light in this Examiner article sound eerily similar to events occurring around the world today. Should events come to pass as suggested by the article, it would certainly lead additional credence to the power of astrological predictions to explain the events occurring in the world as well as predicting what may come.
About PsychicTarot.us:

An online marketplace for all things metaphysical, providers can list their services for sale and share their talents with the globe. Buyers can browse the new age skills being offered, meet providers and get readings and other services of their choice.

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The Top Four Trending Marketing Tactics for 2013

San Diego based Ad Agency Explains What companies Need to Know to be Noticed in Our Fast Paced and Cut-Throat Marketing Battlefield Released by Santora Media Group Inc.

San Diego, California (PRWEB) December 31, 2012
If a company is serious about business, they are likely to want to crush their competition. In the past, companies could simply put an ad in a newspaper and hire a mediocre inbound sales representative and be reasonably successful. In the 2013 and beyond marketplace it is a bit more complicated. With trade shows to attend and Facebook accounts to update, it is imperative to have a solid plan for what is coming into popularity rather than what has worked in the past. The following are a few of the most important areas of marketing to focus on as we move deeper in to the twenty first century.
The Brand: So many companies have the notion that their logo design and overall marketing aesthetic is not going to make or break their ability to capture current and new audiences. The reality is that in our current marketplace people truly care about the image of the brands they buy from. Notions of quality or durability are often taking a backseat to “what’s new and cool.” Often if a brand doesn’t convey a sense of overwhelming popularity and mass appeal it is perceived as simply just another brand.
Cross marketing: A company can make a huge impact with half the budget if they partner up with a compatible company. Postcards, business cards, and brochures are great printing avenues to take advantage of the opportunity to introduce two brands in a way that makes sense. If a company is heading off to a trade show, they should tap into their business’s network and see if there is another company that will co-brand the collateral printed for the show. Many brands can collaborate that compliment each other and ultimately increase sales for each company, we at Santora Media Group call this the “Peanut Butter and Jelly Theory.”
Redeveloping the company image: What was hip and trendy last year will slowly but surely turn into what is hip and trendy next year. A brand must reflect certain visual trends to be clumped into the category of visually relevant and appealing to the customers that are apt to spend big bucks to utilize the “in” company or buy the “in” products. If a company has a product or service that is timeless and really doesn't change, they shouldn't feel that this phenomenon doesn't apply to them, it does! Usually all they need to do is put their product in a new light. redesign their business cards. market in a new way that is uncommon for their industry, like a building wrap or hand out custom promotional products that will keep your brand close to the consumer.
Show them you care: As everyone has undoubtedly noticed, companies have embraced sustainability, and all things eco. It behooves every company to embrace this in 2013. Whether you are on board or not with the movement, many consumers are. Santora Media Group offers eco printing, banners made from low impact materials and of course graphic design that is the most eco friendly.

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Moody’s Analytics & IHS Global Insight Say Construction and Software Adding Jobs in Western U.S., EmploymentCrossing Finds 416,000 Jobs in Region.

Two major studies show that the western United States is currently leading the country in creating jobs.

Pasadena, CA (PRWEB) January 01, 2013
Moody’s Analytics Inc. and IHS Global Insight Inc. in a report in Bloomberg are stating that hiring by homebuilders and software companies is helping the western states lead the country in jobs growth. Job search site EmploymentCrossing.com has also found 416,000 jobs in the 13 western states.
This is causing the western U.S. to become the prime creator of jobs in the country, and the high unemployment rates created in the wake of the housing collapse during the Recession are set to decrease. The jobless rates are already falling in Arizona and California.
The Bloomberg report also quotes Eduardo J. Martinez, senior economist at Moody’s Analytics as saying that “In 2013, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Washington, Colorado and California will be the strongest in the region in job growth and in the top 10 nationally”. He also believes that “over the next five years, Texas and California will add more than 1 million jobs each, more than any other state”.
EmploymentCrossing.com has also seen an increase in the number of job openings in these states. Currently, the site is reporting 37,344 jobs in Arizona; 16,548 jobs in Utah; 156,289 jobs in Texas, 42,485 jobs in Washington, 40,645 jobs in Colorado, and 212,432 jobs in California.
It’s not just the construction industry that is creating jobs in these booming states. California has 34,400 jobs in IT, while Washington has 7,500 IT jobs and Colorado has 5,500 IT jobs. CEO Harrison Barnes says that the reason states like California and Nevada are booming is because of the multiplier effect of IT. “When tech companies hire engineers, the income that they earn and spend in the community creates not just a real estate demand but also a demand for other services such as hospitality and educational services”.
About EmploymentCrossing:
EmploymentCrossing is part of the Employment Research Institute, which is one of the most powerful and comprehensive organizations dedicated to helping professionals find jobs that will enhance their careers. Employment Research Institute consists of 120+ of industry-specific and 120+ location-specific job boards which consolidates every job opening it can find in one convenient location. The website also offers a seventy two-hour free trial to new members.

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Athanatos Christian Ministries Offers New Online Learning Opportunities for the New Year

ACM's Online Apologetics Academy offers in-depth certificate programs, a la carte classes and options for Christian educators.

Holmen, WI (PRWEB) January 01, 2013
Athanatos Christian Ministries (ACM) now offers learners options at their Online Apologetics Academy. The options now available include two certificate programs, training for Christian educators or opportunities for learners to take individual classes.
"We specifically designed each 3-5 week modules with the busy person in mind," says ACM Executive Director Anthony Horvath. "These courses are available at an affordable cost and only require a few hours per week for the participant. What's great about the classes is that students can become acquainted with some of the most important apologetics resources available and learn about the facts of the Christian faith, all while laying a foundation for further independent study," says Horvath.
The courses are available throughout the year on a ‘self-guided’ basis, allowing students to start and finish on their own timeline. The Online Apologetics Academy does offer periods of teacher facilitation that is available three times a year: October, February and May. Students wishing to have interactions with teachers and facilitators can time their enrollment for those periods.
Prospective students can learn more about the online program by visiting their website.

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Selena Gomez is the Most Beautiful Girl in the World According to 2013 Most Beautiful List

Most Beautiful List, owned by Mahvrick, named Selena Gomez as the Most Beautiful Girl in the world for the second year. The Most Beautiful List launched 5 years ago by covering the most beautiful women in the world.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 01, 2013
At midnight, Most Beautiful List named Selena Gomez the most beautiful woman in the world for the second year running. Selena Gomez has proven that she is confident with her role as one of the most popular women in Hollywood. She has also transcended her role as a teen icon to being a young star in the eyes of decision makers from television networks to brands across the globe.
"When Most Beautiful List was narrowing down the top ten, we could not avoid the most powerful brands in the teen market segmentation. Selena and Taylor. For us it was a tough decision between number 1 and 2. Selena just exudes a confidence and a natural sense of poise that has won over our decision makers. However Taylor Swift is clearly the Most Beautiful Woman in music," says Richard Victor Mahee (Mahvrick), Most Beautiful List.
Shawn King, Larry Kig's wife, was ranked number 25. Notables in the top Twenty over 40 years old was Dionne Warwick. Pageant nominee, Connor Boss was named number 6 among the Most Beautiful Women in the World and Under 25 years old, were Kylie Jenner and 19 year old model Brooke Crist.

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Chatwing Team Introduces an Efficient Web Chat Tool for Effective Global Connectivity

Chatwing’s latest chat widget version offers full conversation control to its users. The flexible chat software can easily connect users to a thousand chatters or to selected web visitors.

Cambridge, MA (PRWEB) January 01, 2013
Cambridge, MA - Today, the importance of achieving and improving global connectivity is essential for personal and business growth. Effective global connectivity brings about a lot of benefits- from attaining valuable information to reaching out to more clients. Online chat has been one of the most reliable ways to interact with millions of web users across the globe. Its high level of interactivity makes it a worthwhile endeavor to engage in especially for people who have clear goals in mind. Installing a chat widget to one’s website or blog improves global interactivity easily.
Numerous shoutboxes are available on the Internet but only few can be relied on in terms of efficiency and practicability. Chatwing chat software has undergone a lot of improvements since its creation. Chatwing dev team commits to produce a chat box that meets the users’ online needs.
Chatwing chatbox has social media integration features that is essential if one’s aim is improved online presence and online network growth. This feature allows online visitors to easily log in using their Facebook and Twitter account info. More over, this option facilitates easy sharing of sensible chat discussions from the chat box to one’s Twitter or Facebook wall, keeping the account active.
Reach hundreds of web users in the shortest span of time- Chatwing’s improved chat box makes this possible with its regular widget and pop-up window styles. On the other hand, users who want a more private and selective interaction can use Chatwing’s vanity URL form.
Chatwing chat software offers full conversation control to web administrators and moderators. Maintaining harmony and professional web image can be easily attained. Web admins and moderators can ban users who use abusive words or directly attack other users. Web owners can also activate word filters or delete profane message real-time.
About Chatwing.com

Chatwing.com specializes in the new field of website chat. Over years, the Chatwing team has introduced live chat widget for hundreds and thousands of blogs. The Chatwing application bridges people from many parts of the world, creating global synergy through the Internet. The shout box can be installed in just seconds, and it can be used for varying purposes such as leisure and Internet marketing. It also allows a user to customize the size, color, and name of the widget.

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Phone Doctors Announces Top 5 New Year’s Resolutions for Smartphone Repair Businesses

Phone Doctors encourages the mobile device repair industry to resolve to reach for higher standards in customer service and support for iPhones, Androids, and other mobile devices in 2013.

(PRWEB) January 01, 2013
The Journal of Clinical Psychology at the University of Scranton recently published a study on New Year's resolution statistics. This study found that 45 percent of Americans make resolutions.
Most resolutions have to do with making changes personally in regards to health, finances, and personal achievement. Alex Iser, CEO of Phone Doctors is challenging his staff, his stores, and his industry to not only reach for personal resolutions this year, but to resolve to provide a whole new level of customer service and support to customers who need their mobile devices repaired or replaced.
“Phone Doctors has always known that real service starts with a genuine care and respect for customers and we’re returning to our roots by striving to take it to an even higher level of finding creative and cost effective solutions for our customers this year.” said Alex Iser, CEO of Phone Doctors. “There is no excuse for lazy, mediocre service. Stop, take a moment and understand that customers need our help, so whether the task is big or small, do the best and handle it all.,” said Iser.
Alex Iser has published the Phone Doctors top 5 resolutions for 2013 to increase customer service in the mobile device repair industry.
1: Focus on the customer and not the dollar. Put the customer first, the money will follow.
2: A mobile device is often a customer’s most vital connection to their world. When something happens to that device, getting it repaired quickly and reliably is the number one priority.
3: “No” is never the answer. There are always alternatives to any issue that a customer may be having. Offer solutions, even if there is no profit involved.
4: Always express empathy for a customers wants and needs. It is not known how the customer’s mobile device impacts their life and the lives of their loved ones.
5: Always be the expert. If we can’t help the customer, then discover who can help the customer with any issue related to their mobile device.
Phone Doctors specializes in the repair of all major devices including iPhones, iPads, iPods, Androids and Tablets as well as provide device protection and gear while also offering replacement devices to no contract customers.
For more information, please visit Phone Doctors at http://PhoneDoctors.com
About Phone Doctors
Phone Doctors has five corporate locations in Northeastern Oklahoma and Northwestern Arkansas, as well as licensed dealers across the U.S.

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White House defends offer as 'good faith effort'

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is defending President Barack Obama's proposal to set a higher threshold for tax increases than what he vowed to do during his presidential campaign. The White House says Obama has moved halfway to meet House Speaker John Boehner on a "fiscal cliff" deal that raises $1.2 trillion in tax revenue, down from the $1.6 trillion Obama had initially requested.
White House spokesman Jay Carney says that offering to raise taxes on taxpayers earning more than $400,000 rather than the $200,000 he ran on demonstrates, in Carney's words, Obama's good faith effort to reach a compromise.
The new tax proposal is contained in a broader plan that Obama gave Boehner Monday that would cut spending further and lower cost-of-living increases for most Social Security beneficiaries.

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Factbox: U.S. House "Plan B" tax bill likely to have short shelf life

The U.S. House of Representatives is likely to vote this week on what is being called "Plan B" on avoiding the "fiscal cliff."
The Republican-sponsored legislation aims to extend current low tax rates for most families. Without such action by Congress, across-the-board income tax rates will rise on January 1.
The combination of $500 billion in tax hikes and $100 billion in spending cuts, which are scheduled to start in the new year, could push the U.S. economy into recession, according to experts.
House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, and Democratic President Barack Obama have been trying for weeks to avoid the fiscal cliff with an alternative tax and spending-cut deal. Boehner says he is offering this very limited alternative in case negotiations with Obama fail.
Here are key elements of Boehner's Plan B:
* A House vote is expected on Thursday.
* Boehner expressed confidence on Wednesday that the measure would pass but some House Republican aides were not yet predicting that.
* The White House has said Obama would veto the Boehner Plan B in the unlikely event it made it to his desk.
* Democrats are viewing Plan B as nothing more than a diversion from attempts to reach a broad deficit-reduction deal to avoid the fiscal cliff. They see it as a way for Boehner to give his conservatives a vote on a measure that they can tout as a tax-cut bill for all but the wealthiest and inoculate them against Democratic accusations of obstruction.
* Republicans argue that they are acting responsibly by providing a backstop against massive tax increases in case the Obama-Boehner negotiations fail.
* Once Plan B is dealt with, all attention will shift to whether Obama and Boehner can work out a broad agreement by December 31 or whether the country will go off the cliff. If that happens, there is speculation that some sort of deal might be worked out in the early weeks of January to avoid the full brunt of the tax hikes and spending cuts.
* Under Boehner's Plan B, current low tax rates would be made permanent for families with net annual incomes of up to $1 million. The measure would let tax rates rise on income above $1 million. Without action by Congress, all income tax rates are set to rise on January 1 with the expiration of tax cuts enacted a decade ago by then-President George W. Bush.
* Plan B includes a grab bag of other expiring tax provisions. It would permanently fix the alternative minimum tax so that middle-class taxpayers do not creep into a tax bracket intended for the wealthiest. Annual AMT fixes have prevented tens of millions of households from paying a higher tax rate.
Also included are moves to maintain estate taxes at their current 35 percent rate per individual after a $5 million exemption. The White House backs reverting to the 2009 estate tax levels of 45 percent tax after a $3.5 million exemption per individual, though some moderate Democrats back keeping the current law.
Plan B legislation would raise dividend and capital gains tax rates for those earning $1 million and over to 20 percent, from its current 15 percent for most who pay such taxes. Most Democrats back raising the current 15 percent tax rate on investment income to 20 percent for households earning more than $250,000.
* The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates the plan would reduce U.S. revenues by around $4 trillion over 10 years.
* The plan does not address spending issues, including automatic across-the-board spending cuts also looming at year's end.
* The bill does not address how to resolve a looming stand-off over the government's borrowing authority. The government will need to raise the "debt ceiling" in the next few months to avoid default, and Obama wants higher borrowing authority approved promptly. House Republicans continue to want to hold back and use it as leverage in ongoing fiscal cliff talks, according to aides.
* Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid already has warned there are not the votes in his chamber to pass Boehner's plan. But if the House sent the Senate such a bill, Reid could respond in one of a few ways. He could declare that the Senate in July passed its version of this legislation, but with a $250,000 threshold, and take no further action. Or, he could offer a variation of the Senate-passed bill. Obama has proposed a $400,000 cut-off for maintaining low income tax rates. Reid could embrace that level or another one.
* The legislation is being inserted into an existing bill that originally had to do with Burma trade policy. A House Rules Committee spokesman said this was being done to avoid some potential procedural delays.

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U.S. charges three Swiss bankers in offshore account case

Three Swiss bankers accused of conspiring with American clients to hide more than $420 million from the tax-collecting U.S. Internal Revenue Service were indicted, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan said on Wednesday.
The indictment named Stephan Fellmann, Otto Huppi and Christof Reist, all former client advisers with an unnamed Swiss bank. None of the bankers have been arrested, authorities said.
Their attorneys were not immediately known.
The indictment said the unnamed bank did not have offices in the United States.
Banking secrecy is enshrined in Swiss law and tradition, but it has recently come under pressure as the United States and other nations have moved aggressively to tighten tax law enforcement and demanded more openness and cooperation.
In April, two Swiss financial advisers were indicted on U.S. charges of conspiring to help Americans hide $267 million in secret bank accounts.
In January, prosecutors charged three Swiss bankers with conspiring with wealthy taxpayers to hide more than $1.2 billion in assets from tax authorities.
UBS AG, the largest Swiss bank, in 2009 paid a $780 million fine as part of a settlement with U.S. authorities who charged the bank helped thousands of wealthy Americans hide billions of dollars in assets in secret Swiss accounts.

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"Fiscal cliff" turmoil could hit 100 million taxpayers: U.S. IRS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. tax authorities warned on Wednesday that as many as 100 million taxpayers - far more than previously estimated - could face refund delays if lawmakers' "fiscal cliff" negotiations fail to fix the alternative minimum tax (AMT) before year-end.
The Internal Revenue Service said in a letter to lawmakers that it was raising its estimate on AMT impact from 60 million.
"It is becoming apparent that an even larger number of taxpayers - 80 to 100 million of the 150 million total returns expected to be filed - may be unable to file," IRS Acting Commissioner Steven Miller wrote.
The AMT is a levy designed to ensure that high-income taxpayers pay a minimum tax. Democrats and Republican typically agree to adjust the tax for inflation to prevent unintended taxpayers from being hit by it.
This year, however, its fate is tied to heated negotiations - primarily between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner - over future taxes and federal spending as they try to avoid the automatic tax increases and spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff.
The AMT fix for calculating 2012 income tax has broad bipartisan support, but so far been drowned out by the larger federal budget questions.
Without action soon to fix the AMT, there could be "lengthy delays of tax refunds and unexpectedly higher taxes for many taxpayers," Miller said.
The IRS needs congressional authority to update tax-filing software and forms so that Americans can start their tax returns next year. Inaction by Congress on the AMT has left IRS unsure which taxpayers will need to pay the AMT tax.
An IRS spokesman declined to comment on the agency's AMT preparations to date.
"Failure to act on the fiscal cliff will throw the 2013 tax filing season into chaos," Representative Sander Levin, a Michigan Democrat, said in a statement.
About 4 million taxpayers pay the AMT now because Congress routinely "patches" it for inflation to keep it from reaching down into middle-income tax brackets.
Without a patch for 2012, up to 33 million taxpayers will have to pay the AMT, according to IRS.
Obama's most recent offer to Republicans included a permanent AMT patch.
House Republicans plan to vote Thursday on a bill to address the fiscal cliff that also includes an AMT patch.

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