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Facebook Said to Plan Its IPO Filing for as Early as Next Week BusinessWeek By Brian Womack and Douglas MacMillan Jan. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Facebook Inc., the world's largest social-networking service, is aiming to file for its initial public offering as early as next week, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Facebook Readies IPO FilingWall Street Journal Expected Facebook IPO could value it at up to $100 million, on par with top...Washington Post (blog) Facebook May File IPO to Raise Up to $100 Billion as Early as Next WeekBloomberg STLtoday.com -Chicago Tribune -USA TODAY all 718 news articles »

Dow Snaps 3-Week Win Streak - Wall Street Journal

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Wall Street Journal

Dow Snaps 3-Week Win Streak Wall Street Journal By CHRIS DIETERICH And CHRISTIAN BERTHELSEN Blue-chip stocks finished in the red, pushing the Dow to its first losing week this year, after a reading on domestic economic growth fell short of expectations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 74.17 ... Todays Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA Index, S&P 500 Index, Nasdaq Index...Learning and Finance Dow Ends Lower; S&P, Nasdaq Gain for 4th WeekCNBC.com Stocks slip after US economic growth comes in below expectations; first down...Washington Post Reuters -USA TODAY -Los Angeles Times all 1,329 news articles »

Athens, Creditors Close In on Debt Deal - Wall Street Journal

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CBC.ca

Athens, Creditors Close In on Debt Deal Wall Street Journal Dow Jones Reprints: This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers, use the Order Reprints tool at the bottom of any article or visit ... What We Worry About When We Worry About Greek DebtABC News Greece, creditors laboriously piece together debt dealReuters Call for EU to control Greek budgetFinancial Times Bloomberg -BusinessWeek all 1,165 news articles »

Fitch cuts Italy, Spain, other euro zone ratings - Reuters

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Los Angeles Times

Fitch cuts Italy, Spain, other euro zone ratings Reuters | NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fitch downgraded the sovereign credit ratings of Belgium, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia and Spain on Friday, indicating there was a 1-in-2 chance of further cuts in the next two years. In a statement, the ratings agency said the ... Italian, Spanish Ratings Cut Two Notches by Fitch on CrisisBusinessWeek Italy, Spain Are Among Five Euro-Zone Nations Downgraded by Fitch RatingsBloomberg Fitch downgrades 5 eurozone nationsThe Associated Press New York Times all 475 news articles »

World stocks dip as US GDP falls short - Reuters

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Globe and Mail

World stocks dip as US GDP falls short Reuters By Richard Leong | NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stocks fell on Friday on news the US economy grew more slowly than expected in the last quarter of 2011, while the euro rose on hopes of an imminent deal on Greece's debt that could help avert a disorderly ... Dollar Falls to 1-Month Low as Fed Extends Target to Late 2014BusinessWeek Euro Declines From One-Month High Versus Yen as Greek Debt-Talks ResumeBloomberg Traders Predict Shift in Dollar's Decline Against YenWall Street Journal TheStreet.com -MarketWatch -Washington Post all 484 news articles »

Netflix video game rental idea is axed - SlashGear

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msnbc.com

Netflix video game rental idea is axed SlashGear If you were waiting for the day when you could watch Family Guy on your iPad, pop Indiana Jones into your DVD player, and wait for the latest Call of Duty game to appear in your mailbox, all while only logging into one online account, your dreams have ... Amazon looking into taking on NetflixNew York Post Netflix Will Rebound Faster than You ThinkBusinessWeek Netflix wins over Wall Street with subscriber growthReuters Washington Post -Wall Street Journal -ABC News all 853 news articles »

3 Tips To Boost Your Chances Of Finding Work In 2012

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As the levels of unemployment fell across 43 American states in December 2011, the national rate of 8.6% stood at its lowest since February 2009. Given this sustained improvement in the levels of economic growth and job creation, it would appear to be an ideal time for job seekers to step up their search for work and achieve their dreams of finding full-time employment. With this in mind, what skills should job seekers be learning in order to improve their credentials as candidates and ensure that they can find and retain work in 2012?

The Language BarrierWith free trade a significant feature of the U.S. economy, exports and international business have emerged to spur significant job creation and support more than 10 million positions of employment, according to Trade and the Economy: A Small Business Reportcreated by the House Committee on Small Business. Given that the total U.S. exports for goods and services also reached $1,800 billion and accounted for about 12% of the GDP in 2010, the importance of international interaction cannot be underestimated now that the job market is growing steadily. Social media is helping to create an increasingly global and tightly woven community of trades and businesses, resulting in multilingual skills being highly sought after by U.S. employers.

With this increasing demand for employees who can converse with international clients and consumers, there has never been a better time for job seekers to develop multilingual skills. With the adult brain also being increasingly responsive to retraining and mastering foreign sounds, there are any number of part-time or vocational courses that can teach you additional languages. Learning a second language can create many employment opportunities in a diverse range of industries.

Outsourcing In the U.S.When it comes to acquiring skills that suit modern business practices, it is important to consider outsourcing and how it influences organizations. The process of outsourcing work to independent firms and contractors has grown increasingly popular over the last two decades, as numerous organizations have looked to save money while also engaging the services of knowledgeable industry professionals to complete tasks. It is especially popular within the information technology sector. Halogen Corporation found that approximately 28% of all outsourced jobs belong to this market, while the professional and business services sector also boasts a high demand for independent contractors.

With these facts in mind, it is clear that learning information technology, software development and remote administration skills could be a valuable step forward for job seekers in 2012. In addition to creating new opportunities for long-term employment in prosperous industries, these skills also allow those seeking work to earn money and remain financially independent while juggling responsibilities. This would not only be a huge boost to the well-being of the economy in 2012, but also create an improved workforce that can adapt to the changeable and often vulnerable employment market.

Financial Management SkillsThe key to remaining in viable work is to retain skills that are relevant to prosperous industries, especially when it comes to retraining or undertaking long-term vocational courses. The financial planning and management sector came into its own during 2011. According to Business Insider, the average U.S. household struggled with debts of approximately $6,500 at the end of 2011 and turned to industry professionals to help remain solvent. As we enter 2012, these services will be in even higher demand as consumers look to improve their spending habits and make long-term savings.

The improved economic portents of 2011 led to an increase in the total level of disposable income boasted by U.S. citizens, and this trend is forecasted to continue into 2012. This will mean that with more capital to spend, consumers and small businesses will require additional guidance with regards to their budgeting, spending habits and long-term financial planning. Acquiring qualifications as financial advisors and accountants should hold job seekers in good stead, and afford them the opportunity to grow into a plethora of secure and rewarding careers.

The Bottom LineWhile there are many lessons and qualifications that can be gained to secure short-term success in the job market, it is important that your resume boasts skills that are transferable and provide additional flexibility in the industries that you work in. This will not only guarantee you a long and secure career, but also help to establish a talented and multi-faceted workforce that can steer any national economy towards prosperity