In Thursday's Americas papers

08 May 2008 12:23  [Source: ICIS news]

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Democrats look to life after Clinton
All the feisty talk from Senator Hillary Clinton and her campaign advisers Wednesday couldn't dispel the growing perception among Democrats that the party's presidential race is nearly over, and that Senator Barack Obama is going to be the winner.

Italy's Finmeccanica in talks with US defense firm
Italian aerospace and defence company Finmeccanica is in advanced talks to purchase New Jersey defense company DRS Technologies, according to people familiar with the matter.

Lazear sees no recession for US economy
The White House's top economist said he's confident the US economy hasn't dipped into recession, and expressed optimism that stimulus checks could bolster growth in the current quarter, earlier than expected.

Moody's investors president steps down
Brian Clarkson, the driving force behind Moody's Investors Service's push into lucrative but riskier businesses, is stepping down as president and chief operating officer of the oldest bond-rating firm, the company announced Wednesday.

Boom in 'dark pool' trading networks is causing headaches on Wall Street
When Cheryl Cargie, head trader at Ariel Investments in Chicago, decided last month to buy 1,300bn shares of a midcap stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange, she spread orders among several "dark pools", the secretive electronic trading networks that match buyers and sellers anonymously.

Student-loan market isn't a total loss
Spring is in the air, and the credit crisis seems to be abating. And what looked like a disaster in the making a few months ago - the market for college loans - now seems more of a minor wreck.

Support for Clinton wanes as Obama sees finish line
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton struck a publicly defiant posture on Wednesday about continuing her presidential bid despite waning support from Democratic officials and donors. Some of her advisers acknowledged privately that they remained unsure about the future of her candidacy.

Myanmar faces pressure to allow major aid effort
As hungry, shivering survivors waited among the dead for help after a huge cyclone in Myanmar, aid agencies and diplomats said Wednesday that the delivery of relief supplies was being slowed by the reluctance of the country’s secretive military leaders to allow an influx of outsiders.

Wave of lawsuits over losses could hit a wall
Finding someone to sue over losses in the mortgage market and the credit crisis is easy. Winning in court, lawyers say, will be hard.

Oil giants to settle water suit
Some of the nation’s largest oil companies have agreed to pay about $423m in cash to settle a lawsuit brought by more than a hundred public water providers, claiming water contamination from a popular gasoline additive.

Clinton spurns calls to quit race
Now facing almost insurmountable odds, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton came under fresh pressure yesterday to end her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination against Senator Barack Obama, but she vowed to remain in the race "until there is a nominee".

Born at the dawn of a new state
Sixty years ago, Dror Gurel and Nabil Zaharan were born into a land at war. Sons of middle-class families, they entered the world during the same week and along the same stretch of sun-splashed Mediterranean coast. Gurel was born in Jewish Tel Aviv; Zaharan's mother gave birth just down the road, in Arab Jaffa

General Dynamics in power switch
General Dynamics' board chose a retired admiral and chief executive of Dominion Virginia Power to take over the $27bn-a-year defence business.

Marriott weighs risk, opportunity of a hotel in Baghdad Green Zone
A Marriott International official said yesterday that the company was evaluating whether to open a hotel in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, responding to a request from US government officials who are eager to help revive Iraq with foreign investment and economic activity.

Dion touts carbon tax on fuels, billions in tax cuts
Stephane Dion is poised to unveil a carbon-tax scheme and attempt to neutralize any political damage by offering corresponding personal income tax cuts of between $10bn and $13bn to working Canadians, senior Liberal sources say.

First UN relief flight lands in Myanmar
The UN's World Food Programme says one of its planes has landed in Myanmar as part of the first major international airlift of aid to cyclone victims.

Air Canada loss grows to $288m
Air Canada has reported a first quarter net loss of $288m or $0.62/share compared to a loss of $34m or $0.57 in the same period last year.

Toyota issues a bleak forecast
Toyota Motor posted a bigger-than-expected 28% drop in quarterly net profit due to a stronger yen and sliding US sales, and forecast its first annual profit decline in seven years.

BUENOS AIRES HERALD

Front Page

Farmers say yes, government no
Farm leaders yesterday said the government admitted the grain sliding-scale duties scheme must be modified. But the leaders urged farmers to remain "cautious" and wait for further details regarding the changes.

Obama, Clinton split primaries
Barack Obama scored a crucial win over Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday in the North Carolina Democratic primary, regaining his footing after weeks of setbacks, and Clinton was on track to win the Indiana primary, a must-win state for the former first lady.

Ahern takes final bow
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern marked his last day in office yesterday by uniting with the Protestant leader of Northern Ireland, Ian Paisley, in a ceremony that highlighted Ahern’s legacy as a peacemaker.