Business news for Tue, 13 Nov 2007 & with word report. 32 news.

Boardroom practices at science, engineering and technology companies make them less likely to have women in senior positions than other sectors, the Cranfield report says

Annual report, sponsored by Salt River Project and the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, looks at growth and economic trends in the Hispanic community.

LAS VEGAS (MarketWatch) -- Existing-home sales should see a modest recovery next year, as the credit crunch subsides and buyers regain confidence in their local markets, Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, said on Tuesday.

Movie Gallery Inc. said it will be late turning in its most recent quarterly report because of demands related to filings for bankruptcy protection announced in October and the procedures involved in closing more than 500 stores.

An expected surge in home foreclosures will cause U.S. property values to sink by $223 billion, with the most severe impact in minority communities, a new report says.

Arnaud Lagard?re, head of the Lagard?re media conglomerate, is suing France's AMF stock market watchdog after the leak last month of a preliminary report into alleged insider dealing at Franco-German aerospace group EADS.

Small business owners think that the economy is headed in the wrong direction and things need to change, according to a poll released Tuesday by Suffolk University and American Management Services.

Reuters - Mild weather last month made buying winter clothing a low priority for U.S. shoppers, which restrained retail sales growth, a report showed on Tuesday.

Eagle Rock Energy Partners saw its third-quarter net income drop 27 percent to $9.3 million, from $12.8 million last year, because of higher natural gas costs, and larger tax and interest expenses. The Houston-based company did not report earnings per share because it was not publicly traded for the third quarter of 2006

Most equity analysts liked Nice Systems' third-quarter financial report. Nice, which is dual-listed on Wall Street and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, also presented strong forecasts for the last quarter and for 2008, but a less upbeat attitude at the Banc of America and negative sentiment toward tech stocks sent Nice shares sliding 15 percent in four trading days. ...

Black and Asian women are not being adequately catered for by the beauty industry, according to a new report.It claims the ethnic cosmetics and toiletries market could grow by as much as 35% in the next five years if manufacturers invest in new products and advertising.

P&F Industries Inc., a manufacturer and importer of air-powered tools and residential hardware, Tuesday became the latest Long Island company to report lower sales and profits in the third quarter as a result of the slowing housing market.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Energy stocks rose along with the overall market on Tuesday after an upbeat earnings report from Wal-Mart lifted the overall market, as oil prices fell. The Amex Natural Gas Index rose 1.2% to 539. The Amex Oil Index rose fractionally at 1,410. Oil futures fell $1.17 to $94.10 on the Nymex. Oil services shares stabilized after a big drop in the previous session. National Oilwell Varco rose 33 cents to $64.40. Baker Hughes fell 30 cents to $81.37.

The two parties reportedly have not come to any agreement on revenue-sharing issues.

A top U.S. forecaster expects gas prices to jump another 20 cents a gallon by December, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- Citigroup Inc. as part of a revamp of its investment-banking business is combining its equity capital markets and debt capital markets activities, according to media reports Tuesday citing a Citigroup internal memo. The combined unit will be headed by Tyler Dickson, who will report to James Forese, co-chief executive of markets and banking, Reuters reported. Citigroup is also forming an investor-client group merging sales and relationship management in equities, bonds, currencies and commodities, according to the report.

Unless you measure success by the number of people arrested, the failure of the war on marijuana is becoming more obvious than ever before. A new Department of Justice report, Drug Threat Assessment 2008, reveals that increased indoor cultivation is flooding the U.S.

A top U.S. forecaster expects gas prices to jump another 20 cents a gallon by December, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

DOMESTIC stocks surrendered morning session gains and declined in the afternoon after a report showing inflation accelerated to a decade-high last month, increasing concerns the central bank may raise interest rates to slow the country's sizzling economy. The Shanghai Composite Index, which tracks both yuan-denominated A shares and hard-currency B shares, dipped 0.57 percent, or 29.62 points, to hit 5,158.12 at 3pm today. The Shenzhen Composite Index, which covers the smaller mainland stock market, increased 0.70 percent, or 8.99 points, to 1,271.74. Among the stocks on the Shanghai Composite Index, 467 rose, 294 fell and 85 were unchanged. Bank stocks sank today after the National Bureau of Statistics said this morning that the consumer price index rose 6.5 percent in October from a year earlier, quicker than September's 6.2-percent gain. China Minsheng Banking Corp, the nation's only privately controlled lender, retreated 7.10 percent, or 1.25 yuan (17 US cents), to 16.36

According to Comdata Stored Value Solutions fifth annual gift card survey of US consumers, Hispanics received gift cards with the highest average value, $71, compared to $41 for Caucasians and $60 for African-Americans. In addition, 26% of Hispanics surveyed report giving gift cards to children as a budgeting tool or in lieu of an allowance.