Biz New Orleans - November 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration left out some of the business community's top priorities, disappointing business leaders who might have stepped up to defend his policies in the face of Republican attacks.          Months of…

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks aren't moving much in midday trading as indexes remain near record levels.          Investors were looking over some mixed news on the economy Wednesday.          Orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rose in October, but…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Greater optimism about income growth and future spending pushed U.S. consumer sentiment to a fresh 7-year high in November.          The University of Michigan said Wednesday that its index of consumer sentiment rose to 88.8 in November…

NEW YORK (AP) — Falling gas prices. Soaring stock market. Unemployment at a six-year-low.          All signs point to a successful holiday shopping season. Despite the economic tail winds, though, retailers are finding themselves having to work to get shoppers…

NEW YORK (AP) — Brace yourself for the Black Friday shopping bonanza.          Sure, stores have been pushing discounts on holiday merchandise since Halloween, but experts say Thanksgiving weekend still lives up to the hype of serving up the largest…

NEW YORK (AP) — Time for a tablet?          People tend to hold onto tablets longer than smartphones, so take time to weigh your options. A major consideration is what phone you or your gift recipient already has. Although it's…

NEW YORK (AP) — The cheapest smartphones don't have all the gizmos of Apple or Samsung models, but I'm impressed by how many features you do get for roughly a third of the price.          Processors are slower, yet that's…

NEW YORK (AP) — Sony's PlayStation 4 video-game console has built an impressive lead over its competitors. That's good news for holiday shoppers because it has driven Microsoft and Nintendo to offer more budget-friendly holiday deals on their consoles.         …

NEW YORK (AP) — Twitter is expanding its reach into commerce with a new tool called "Offers."          Advertisers can post promotions and discounts in users' Twitter feeds, whether or not Twitter users follow those merchants.          To redeem an…

LAFAYETTE, LA (AP) — The University of Louisiana at Lafayette plans to funnel about $1.3 million into new faculty positions and personnel who will focus on producing more graduates in engineering, computing and nursing to meet workforce needs.          The…

ALEXANDRIA, LA (AP) — After waiting years to get out of the hotel business, it took the Alexandria City Council hours of deliberation to make the deal happen.          In a 4-3 vote Tuesday, the council voted to go with…

    NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Associated Press Louisiana Daybook for Wednesday, Nov. 26.   COLUMBUS SHIPS — Replicas of Columbus' ships, the Pinta and Nina, will arrive and will be on display through Dec. 8, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00…

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A third-party audit of the oil spill settlement program finds the settlement program has correctly processed 99.5 percent of claims.          The audit, conducted by Chicago-based McGladrey LLP, concluded the program is "well-designed and appropriate" and…

NEW ORLEANS – The Mayor's Office of Economic Development has launched the third round of the Small Business Assistance Fund (SBAF) loan program, a financing opportunity created by Mayor Landrieu in partnership with NewCorp, Inc. to support the growth of…

BATON ROUGE (AP) — By striking a deal to lessen the blow of health insurance changes on state workers, school employees and retirees, Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration lowered the volume of criticism but gave itself and local school boards a…

BATON ROUGE (AP) — LSU's Louisiana Business & Technology Center will host 20 entrepreneurs from Mexico and South America in February for two weeks of training and mentoring on U.S. business practices and rules.          The Advocate reports Mexico, Chile,…

LOCKPORT, LA (AP) — Bollinger Shipyards, of Lockport, Louisiana, has delivered its 11th fast-response cutter to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, FL.          The 154-foot William Trump is named for Coast Guard Motor Machinist's Mate First Class William…

BATON ROUGE (AP) — A Baton Rouge company has received a $40 million extension to its contract for base support services at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia.          The third option for Kings Bay Support Services LLC was…

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Capt. Richard Phillips, whose ship was hijacked in 2009 by Somali pirates, will give the keynote speech as the 35th International WorkBoat Show opens at the New Orleans convention center next week.          It was the…

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumers spent modestly more in October, a slight improvement after no gain at all in the previous month.          The Commerce Department said Wednesday that consumer spending rose 0.2 percent last month, while September was revised…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Orders to U.S. factories for long-lasting manufactured goods rose in October, but a key category that tracks business investment plans declined sharply for a second straight month.          The Commerce Department says orders for durable goods increased…

NEW ORLEANS – In light of the Ferguson, MO grand jury decision, Mayor Mitch Landrieu released the following statement:          "Today I pray for the Brown family and everyone in Ferguson. In the United States we remain divided. Divided by…

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Republican Senate candidate Bill Cassidy has cast his ballot early, seeking to draw renewed attention to a race that has fallen away from people's minds as they focus on the holidays.          Cassidy is the front-runner…

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A bombed-out bunker with a digital battle mapping table and animated fighter planes soaring overhead gives an immersive look at strategic air raids over Europe during World War II.          The simulated experience takes place inside…

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. bank earnings rose 7.3 percent in the July-September quarter from a year earlier, as banks reduced their expenses and continued to lend out more money, which help drive up revenue.          The data issued Tuesday…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are slowly but steadily borrowing more money, bringing to an end a five-year effort to cut household debt that has slowed consumer spending and the economy.          Total household debt increased $78 billion in the July-September…

NEW YORK (AP) — Thanksgiving could be the best day to shop all year.          An analysis of sales data and store circulars by two research firms contradicts conventional wisdom that Black Friday is when shoppers can get the most…