WSJ.com: What's News US Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:54:32 EST

Wal-Mart Names Duke Its New CEO  - Wal-Mart Stores named its international chief, Mike Duke, to succeed Lee Scott as president and CEO effective Feb. 1. Stocks Steady After Brutal Selloff  - Wall Street took a break from the steep declines of the past two days after upbeat earnings from Dell and reports that Citigroup might put itself up for sale. Directors Quit As Firms Flounder  - A growing number of directors with demanding day jobs are quitting the boards of troubled companies. Big Three Head Home Empty-Handed  - Congressional efforts to rescue Detroit's auto makers collapsed, with lawmakers saying the industry lacked credible plans to return to profitability. Dell's Growth Stalls Amid Pull Back  - Dell posted a 5% profit drop, but results weren't as bad as feared. Revenue fell 3% as PC sales to businesses slowed. Gas Prices Spiral Down to Near $2  - The sudden reversal in oil and gasoline prices is bringing relief to some and complicating business for others. Fannie, Freddie Halt Foreclosures  - Fannie and Freddie suspend foreclosure sales and evictions on certain properties until January as it prepares for its loan-modification program. (Statements) Goldman's Gold Standard Is Less Golden  - Goldman's shares fell below the $53 price where they were first sold to the public. The stock is down 75% this year. Treasury Will Help Liquidate Fund  - Treasury said it will help liquidate an offering from Reserve Management, in a move to calm money markets. Google Lets Users Edit Search  - Google has begun allowing users to re-rank and edit their search results through a new set of personalization features. Electric-Car Network Planned  - A start-up plans a $1 billion network to charge electric cars around San Francisco as part of a broad push into the U.S. J.P. Morgan Pares Staff Yet Again  - J.P. Morgan Chase began handing out pink slips to employees in its investment bank. Europe, Asia Weigh on Heinz Results  - Heinz reported a 22% increase in quarterly net amid higher prices and currency-hedge gains, but volume fell as Europe, Asia and restaurants pared back on purchases of the company's products. Gas Prices Spiral Down to Near $2  - The sudden reversal in oil and gasoline prices is bringing relief to some and complicating business for others. Clinton Nomination Is 'On Track'  - President-elect Obama is "on track" to nominate Hillary Clinton as secretary of state after Thanksgiving. A Risky Drive to Boost Transplant Business  - The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's quest to ramp up its liver-transplant business shows how nonprofits' drive for revenues risks compromising patient care.

WSJ.com: What's News Technology Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:58:28 EST

Dell's Growth Stalls Amid Pull Back  - Dell posted a 5% profit drop, but results weren't as bad as feared. Revenue fell 3% as PC sales to businesses slowed. Shift Seen in Telecom Regulation  - The telecom industry is bracing for a new era of increased regulation under the Obama administration. Companies Eye Location Services  - Technology companies are working with telecommunications carriers and handset makers to help give location-based cellphone applications mass reach. Obama's Cellphone Records Breached  - Verizon Wireless disclosed that several of its employees accessed and viewed President-elect Barack Obama's personal cellphone account. Google Lets Users Edit Search  - Google has begun allowing users to re-rank and edit their search results through a new set of personalization features. BlackBerry Storm Reaches Land  - Verizon Wireless is intensifying its ad campaign for the Blackberry Storm, claiming that typing on the touch-screen phone is more accurate than the competition. Disney Fights Pirates at Affiliate  - Disney faces a big challenge preventing pirated movies and TV shows from showing up on a video Web site in China, 56.com, in which it holds a stake. Salesforce.com's Profit Rises 55%  - Salesforce.com's profit rose 55% in the third quarter, signaling that online business software may more insulated from the economic downturn. GameStop Net Falls as Growth Slows  - Videogame retailer GameStop reported a decline in third-quarter profit because of acquisition charges, and scaled back its forecast for the holiday quarter. Judge Sides with Telenor in Alfa Dispute  - A New York judge had found units of Russia's Alfa Group in contempt of court, ordering daily fines in a dispute between Alfa and Telenor over a Ukrainian cellphone firm. Prison Plans to Shackle Cellphones  - A South Carolina prison's plan to test a jamming system that could curb inmates' illegal cellphone use has sparked interest among lawmakers and law-enforcement groups. Microsoft Modifies Zune Service  - Microsoft is modifying its approach to offering music to consumers over the Internet, after slow consumer uptake of its Zune Pass subscription service.

WSJ.com: US Business Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:53:52 EST

Citi Weighs Options, Including Firm's Sale  - Citigroup began weighing the possibility of auctioning off pieces of the company or even selling itself outright. Wal-Mart Names Duke Its New CEO  - Wal-Mart Stores named its international chief, Mike Duke, to succeed Lee Scott as president and CEO effective Feb. 1. Honda to Cut Production Further  - Honda announced further car production cutbacks for the current fiscal year and said it plans to shed its domestic temporary work force by 270 staff. Directors Quit As Firms Flounder  - A growing number of directors with demanding day jobs are quitting the boards of troubled companies. Europe, Asia Weigh on Heinz Results  -  AnnTaylor Withdraws Outlook  -  Big Three Head Home Empty-Handed  -  Former Union Chief Could Lead FAA  -  Dell's Growth Stalls Amid Pull Back  -  Fannie, Freddie Halt Foreclosures  -  Goldman's Gold Standard Is Less Golden  -  Dip in Power Worries Utilities  -  Auto Industry Pain Goes Global  -  Treasury Will Help Liquidate Fund  -  Electric-Car Network Planned  -  Google Lets Users Edit Search  -  Boeing Strike Benefits Airbus  -  Deadline Looms For Barclays  -  Celebrity Mags Cut Sales Projections  -  J.P. Morgan Pares Staff Yet Again  -  Pepsi Plans Big Mexican Investment  -  Disney Fights Pirates at Affiliate  -  Steinbrenner Passes Torch to Son  -  Boeing to Lay Off Some Workers  -  Regulators Take Steps to Monitor Some Thrifts  -  Abbott Will Settle Most TriCor Suits  -  Northrop Sparks Ire at Pentagon  -  Citi's India Group Loses CEO, Plans Layoffs  -  Court Favors AstraZeneca  -  Auto Aid May Come With Strings  -  Alitalia Rescue Gets Green Light  -

WSJ.com: Markets Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:48:02 EST

Citi Weighs Options, Including Firm's Sale  - Citigroup began weighing the possibility of auctioning off pieces of the company or even selling itself outright. Stocks Steady After Brutal Selloff  - Wall Street took a break from the steep declines of the past two days after upbeat earnings from Dell and reports that Citigroup might put itself up for sale. Goldman's Gold Standard Is Less Golden  - Goldman's shares fell below the $53 price where they were first sold to the public. The stock is down 75% this year. Treasury Will Help Liquidate Fund  - Treasury said it will help liquidate an offering from Reserve Management, in a move to calm money markets. Pharmaceuticals Weigh on European Shares  - European markets were slightly lower after early gains, with losses among pharmaceutical firms offsetting gains from banking and mining companies. London's FTSE was down 0.1% and the Dow Jones Stoxx 600 fell 0.2%. Asian Stocks Defy Wall Street Slump  - Asian markets defied the big U.S. slump overnight and ended higher -- a move some traders said reflected high volatility and low volumes in some markets more than new developments. Japan's Nikkei rose 2.7%, while South Korea's Kospi advanced 5.8%. Fannie, Freddie Halt Foreclosures  - Fannie and Freddie suspend foreclosure sales and evictions on certain properties until January as it prepares for its loan-modification program. (Statements) Regulators Take Steps to Monitor Some Thrifts  - The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is paying closer attention to roughly 100 community banks with large exposure to weak commercial real-estate loans. New York Will Suspend Its CDS Plan  - New York will delay "indefinitely" its plans to regulate credit-default swaps because of progress made by federal regulators. Paulson Defends Moves on Crisis  - Paulson, under fire for his approach to resolving the financial-sector crisis, defended his actions as "necessary steps to prevent a financial collapse." Some ETFs Fall Short on Pricing  - Exchange-traded funds promise to let investors trade baskets of stocks at predictable prices throughout the day. But some thinly traded ETFs have been falling short of that goal. Grand Canyon Ends IPO Drought  - Online college Grand Canyon Education didn't do much to bolster investor confidence in initial public offerings, with an IPO that declined 1.3% on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Harkin Sets Plan on Derivatives  - Tom Harkin plans to introduce a bill that would force all over-the-counter derivatives, including credit-default swaps, onto regulated futures exchanges. Impala Puts on Hold Share-Buyback Plans  - Impala Platinum Holdings said it has suspended its share-buyback plans and will review capital expenditures in light of the drop in platinum prices. Borrowing Gauge Falls  - Total direct borrowing from the Federal Reserve's discount window tumbled in the latest week, falling below $300 million on Wednesday for the first time in nearly two months. Last Month, $40 Billion Pulled From Hedge Funds  - Investors withdrew $40 billion from hedge funds last month amid the stock market's crushing declines. J.P. Morgan Pares Staff Yet Again  - J.P. Morgan Chase began handing out pink slips to employees in its investment bank. Moody's Sees Pressure on CMBS Ratings  - Moody's expects U.S. commercial mortgage-backed securities' ratings to face downward pressure in coming months as falling demand cuts rents and boosts vacancies in the U.S. commercial real estate market. Citi's India Group Loses CEO, Plans Layoffs  - Citigroup's sizeable Indian operation lost its chief executive and expects to lay off more than 1,000 employees over the next few months. Babcock Barred From Cash in Bank  - Babcock & Brown has been denied access to a bank deposit that involves a "material amount" of money. Traders Make Quick-Hit Options Bets in Financials  - Traders did something they rarely do -- they bought options that expire in a matter of hours.

WSJ.com: Opinion Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:00:43 EST

Michael B. Mukasey: Al Qaeda Detainees and Congress's Duty  - Habeas corpus hearings could set terrorists free inside the U.S. The Waxman Democrats  - What the coup against Dingell means for business. Kimberley A. Strassel: Obama's Senate Play  - If the president wants 60 Senate votes, he'll have to fight for them one by one. Al Franken's Minnesota  - More postelection funny business. America the Popular  - A lesson from students about foreign exchange. The Auto Makers Are Already Bankrupt  - Admitting the obvious is their best chance to restructure. Lessons in Gross National Happiness  - A chat with Bhutan's first elected prime minister. What Do We Really Know About the Uninsured?  - We should find out before Obama turns our health care upside-down. Putin and the Press  - Media outlets are 'warned' about covering the financial crisis. Obama's Indonesia Test  - Democrats on Capitol Hill are obstructing military ties. $100 for All  - Taiwan's misdirected stimulus effort. Deleveraging Must Continue  - The process will hurt, but there is no good alternative. A Better Stimulus for China  - Let private investors spur the economy. Studying Abroad  - Students know the value of learning beyond borders.