Mark Investments

The FINANCIAL — Effective on  March 18, Wachovia Corporation (NYSE:WB) lowered its prime interest rate to 5.25 percent from 6 percent at Wachovia Bank, National Association, and all of its other banking subsidiaries. 
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The prime rate is a benchmark used to set interest rates on various forms of corporate [...]

The FINANCIAL — Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER) announced on March 18 that it has hired nine best-in-class originators in Brazil to add to its already strong team in that country and as part of its global commitment to increase its footprint in high-growth economies.
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Merrill Lynch has a strong franchise in Brazil, [...]

The FINANCIAL — Deutsche Bank (XETRA: DBKGn.DE / NYSE: DB) on March 19 announced that it had signed a binding agreement to subscribe to approximately 265.6 million newly issued shares in Hua Xia Bank for a total subscription price of RMB 3,909 million (approx. EUR 349 million).
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Deutsche Banks subscription is part [...]

The FINANCIAL — NYSE Euronext (NYX) and Abu Dhabi Securities Market (ADSM) have entered a cooperation agreement to jointly develop and explore new opportunities in trading systems and other related technology, investor and issuer services, and investment products.
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As part of this alliance, NYSE Euronext will provide ADSM, by [...]

The FINANCIAL — NYSE Euronext (NYX) announced on March 18 that its board of directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $1 billion of NYSE Euronext’s common stock. 
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The Board of NYSE Euronext also approved a 20% increase in its annual dividend to $1.20 from $1.00 per common share as [...]

The FINANCIAL — Yahoo ! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) on March 18 filed an investor presentation that details the Companys three-year financial plan and strategic initiatives which are expected to roughly double operating cash flow over the next three years from $1.9 billion to $3.7 billion and generate $8.8 billion in revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs (revenue ex-TAC) in [...]

The FINANCIAL — Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (“Sony Ericsson”) on March 19 announces that moderating sales growth of mobile phone units is expected to negatively impact net sales and net income before tax (“NIBT”) for the first quarter of 2008.
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Slowing market growth of mid-to-high end phones in markets where [...]

The FINANCIAL — BNP Paribas Investment Partners (“BNPP IP”) and The Saudi Investment Bank (“SAIB”) have signed on March 19 a strategic partnership in asset management in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Under the terms of the agreement, BNPP IP, through the holding company BNP PAM Group, will buy a 25% [...]

The FINANCIAL — HP on March 18 announced it has entered into an agreement with Marriott International Inc. (NYSE: MAR) to make HP Halo telepresence solutions available for public use at select Marriott locations in major business centers around the world.
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The specific locations will be announced at a later date. [...]

The FINANCIAL – On March 18 at the VoiceCon Orlando 2008 conference, Microsoft Corp. and Aspect Software Inc., a leading contact center company, announced a multiyear strategic alliance to help deliver unified communications (UC) to contact centers around the world.
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Aspect will design its Aspect Unified IP contact center solution to [...]