http://finreporter.com Hot finance and business news. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:52:01 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Workers stashed money away in their 401(k) retirement plans at a faster clip last year but didn't get an immediate reward for their savings strategy. Fidelity Investments, the nation's biggest 401(k) administrator, says the average account balance was essentially unchanged in 2011, compared with 2010. The year-end average for participants ... http://finreporter.com/fidelity-401k-balances-little-changed-over-2011/ ALLIANCE The Sound Room entered a partnership with Lombardo Homes to pre-wire eight subdivisions in St. Louis County and St. Charles County. EXPANDING Networking Plus LLC added new business networking sites at Bridgeton and WingHaven. Karpel Solutions, a south St. Louis County-based computer software company, started selling and delivering ShoreTel ... http://finreporter.com/business-bulletin-board/ Underwater operations have resumed aimed at readying the shipwrecked Costa Concordia for the removal of tons of oil from its tanks. After days of stormy weather, seas off the Tuscan island of Giglio were calm enough Sunday to resume work. But the Italian government office overseeing salvage and rescue operations ... http://finreporter.com/undersea-prep-resumes-for-ships-oil-removal/ Eastman Kodak is trying to end its sponsorship of the Hollywood theater that bears its name and hosts the Academy Awards as part of the photography company's bankruptcy process.Kodak, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Jan. 19, filed court documents on Wednesday requesting that it sever ... http://finreporter.com/kodak-breaking-up-with-the-oscars/ Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Charles Evans said the central bank needs a clear low- rate commitment or a third round of purchases of Treasuries and mortgage bonds to further stimulate a still struggling economy. People outside the Fed have http://finreporter.com/fed-needs-clear-low-rate-pledge-or-ambitious-asset-purchases-evans-says-bloomberg/ A Chicago zoo is mounting a campaign to stop a company from airing a Super Bowl Sunday commercial featuring mischievous suit-and-tie wearing chimpanzees playing tricks on their human co-worker, saying all that monkey business proves deadly for the endangered species. Lincoln Park Zoo officials fear images of the frolicking chimps ... http://finreporter.com/zoo-wants-company-to-stop-using-chimps-in-tv-ads/ European leaders will try to come up with ways to boost growth despite steep budget cuts across the continent when they meet in Brussels on Monday. The 27 heads of state and government will get a taste of the popular frustration with austerity and high unemployment as they try to ... http://finreporter.com/eu-leaders-to-discuss-growth-as-greece-case-looms/ The economy grew at its fastest pace in 1-1/2 years in the fourth quarter, but a rebuilding of stocks by businesses and slower business spending warned of weaker growth in early 2012. Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.8 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said on Friday, ... http://finreporter.com/growth-quickens-but-speed-bumps-ahead/ Ben S. Bernanke achieved one of his primary goals as Federal Reserve chairman yesterday by setting a numeric goal for inflation, advancing his legacy of greater transparency at the world http://finreporter.com/bernanke-moves-fed-toward-more-openness-bloomberg/ Stocks are opening mostly lower ahead of a statement from the Federal Reserve and a news conference by its chairman. The Fed will offer details Wednesday about how long it plans to keep interest rates very low. It also will release an economic forecast. Later, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will ... http://finreporter.com/stocks-open-mixed-ahead-of-fed-policy-statement/