Business news for Mon, 31 Dec 2007 & with word million. 39 news.

It's no secret that Americans change jobs and move often, but let's crunch some numbers: About 39 million Americans moved in 2006, 14 percent of the population...

Software provider SPSS Inc. disclosed in a Monday regulatory filing that its chairman and co-founder is claiming ownership of the Chicago company's name, and has offered to sell the trademark to SPSS for $20 million.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- South Korea-based Jeju Air ordered five Next-Generation 737-800s for $370 million, Boeing Co. said Monday. The 737s will be the first Boeing airplanes to enter the Jeju Air fleet. Jeju Air provides domestic flights between the resort island of Jeju and Korea's mainland.

Tracinda said it will take a 35% stake in Delta Petroleum, making a $684 million investment in the energy company. The deal shows how many smaller energy companies could face difficulties financing their capital plans in coming years.

The World Trade Center owner will pay at least $9 million in fines for being at least a month behind on a deadline to turn over part of the site to a private developer.

Transmeridian Exploration agreed to be acquired by its chief executive's Trans Meridian International in a deal that values the energy company at $350 million.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Horizon Bancorp said Monday that it increased its provision for loan and lease losses expense by $1.4 million in December, citing credit quality deterioration in its wholesale mortgage and indirect auto loan portfolios. The commercial bank-holding company expects its fourth-quarter provision expense to total $1.77 million, compared to the third-quarter provision of $550,000. However, Horizon still sees 2007 full-year earnings exceeding those of 2006.

Merrill Lynch's sale of two life-insurance units to Dutch insurance and investment-products provider Aegon has closed, with the $1.25 billion pricetag being $50 million less than the two parties agreed to in August.

A behind-the-scenes look at the cost of throwing New York City's annual New Year's Eve bash.

The widow of a naturalized American citizen won a $466 million federal court judgment Friday...

Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. will pay $684 million for a 35 percent stake in Delta Petroleum Corp. in a deal that will help Delta speed drilling activities in the Rocky Mountains.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Consolidated Mercantile Inc. has completed the sale of Polyair Inter Pack Inc. to Glencoe Skydome Holdings, an affiliate of Glencoe Capital, in a private deal for $6.2 million. The sale has been under consideration as a part of the company's continuing evaluation of potential strategies to maximize shareholder value, according to Consolidated Mercantile.

Hi-Tech Pharmacal, a manufacturer of generic drugs, said Monday it has acquired an Alabama-based maker of pre-natal vitamins and cough and cold formulations, for $5 million in cash.

Geula Even is demanding a NIS 70,000 monthly salary for the role of "Mabat" evening news anchorwoman. Yinon Magal, a candidate to co-anchor by her side, is demanding an identical amount. If the demands of the two are met, the Israel Broadcasting Authority will be paying out an annual NIS 1.7 million to "Mabat" presenters alone. ...

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - In a hint of stability, sales of existing homes rose 0.4% in November to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 5.00 million, the National Association of Realtors reported Monday. Sales of existing homes are down 20% in the past year and are down 31% from the peak of 7.21 million two years ago. Inventories of unsold homes on the market declined by 3.6%, representing a 10.3-month supply at the current sales pace. The median sales price fell 3.3% compared with a year ago to $210,200. November sales were in line with the 4.99 million annual pace expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch.

BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- M/I Homes Inc. Monday said it has sold land located primarily in Florida to various buyers for $82 million and that it is exiting the West Palm Beach housing market. The home builder said as a result of the lot sales, it will book pretax land impairment charges of about $80 million in the fourth quarter, and expects to see a $50 million cash tax refund in the second quarter of 2008. M/I Homes said it is "likely" that further impairment charges will be recorded in the fourth quarter. The company said the land sold represented 3,700 lots; at the end of the third quarter, it owned 16,767 lots. "Today's announcement supports and advances our strategic objectives of strengthening our balance sheet, reducing our debt, reducing operating costs, and focusing on markets where we believe we have the best opportunity for acceptable and consistent returns," said Chief Executive Robert Schottenstein in a statement.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp will pay $684 million to acquire a 35 percent stake in Delta Petroleum Corp , the independent oil and gas company said on Monday.

AFTER missing out on Qantas, David Coe's controversial Allco Finance Group has made the first move to reinvent itself by unveiling a $200 million foundation investor to launch one of four planned specialist funds valued at up to $2 billion.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Mylan Inc. received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its abbreviated drug application for Balsalazide Disodium Capsules to treat ulcerative colitis. The Pittsburgh drug company said the 75 mg Balsalazide capsules is the generic version of Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.'s Colazal Capsules, which had U.S. sales of $130.9 million for the year ended Sept. 30.

Tracinda will take a 35% stake in Delta Petroleum, under an agreement for the firm to make a $684 million investment in the energy company and acquire shares at a price representing a 23% premium from Friday's closing price.