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DJIA
10464.4
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11/25/2009
NASDAQ
2176.05
+6.87
11/25/2009
S&P500
1110.63
+4.98
11/25/2009
Retailers are doing whatever it takes to lure shoppers to the malls today. |
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Dan Neil
National Geographic Channel has a curious brand of grammar - November 24, 2009
Michael Hiltzik
Sellers taking advantage of gold's price surge - November 26, 2009
Kathy M. Kristof
Lean years require a shift in how you give to charity - November 22, 2009
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
David Lazarus
Parents beware: Hazardous toys may still wind up on store shelves - November 25, 2009
Tom Petruno
In a low-rate world, here's how savers can help themselves - November 21, 2009
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Spotlights from the Los Angeles Times
Chia Obama
Sincere tribute or racism? Here's Richard Metzger's take.
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Share your bliss
Go big with your wedding announcement.
2010 Acura ZDX: Ferocious styling meets conventional crossover
In biology it's called "convergent evolution" -- unrelated organisms separately evolve the same trait.
Green jobs in state getting little stimulus help
What was once the bustling Evergreen Pulp mill is today a forlorn factory of smokestacks and tan buildings clustered quietly beside the still, gray...
The flip side of Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International has been known for its mission to provide new homes for the poor ever since former President Carter, its most...
Fatal Black Friday stampede leads to changes
Victoria Rogers had originally planned to make an early stop the day after Thanksgiving last year at the Wal-Mart store in Valley Stream, N.Y., on...
Saab suitors regroup after buyer pulls plug on deal
Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., Merbanco Inc. and Renco Group Inc. have made approaches about General Motors Co.'s Saab unit after the...
Debtors Anonymous offers group support for spending addicts
"Hi. I'm Tom, and I'm a compulsive spender." So begins a recent gathering of Debtors Anonymous, a support group for those addicted to overspending.
Artificial trees are getting the ax
Home Depot Inc. and Lowe's Cos., the largest U.S. home-improvement chains, are stocking fewer fake Christmas trees as shoppers plan to save money by...
A few technophile gifts for less than $100
Picking a holiday gift for the nerd in your life is never easy. In the shopping stampede, it's all too easy to end up with an outdated gadget or...
California flower growers wage buy-local campaign
"Buy American." Marketers have used it to sell cars, clothing and toys. Now an association of flower growers is using the slogan to remind consumers...
Jay Penske betting he can beat the odds in Internet media
It's tough to talk to Bonnie Fuller without getting an earful of Hollywood gossip.
Few mortgages have been permanently modified
In October 2008, JPMorgan Chase & Co. shaved 25% off Rick Mullen's mortgage payment by lowering his interest rate, helping him to stay in his Valencia...
A different journey than bride bargained for
I knew her only as Amanda, and the more I learned about her life, the more surreal it seemed.
Toyota to fix 'very dangerous' gas pedal defects
Moving to correct what federal regulators have termed a "very dangerous problem," Toyota Motor Corp. said it would modify and replace gas pedals on 4....
Recall another blow to Toyota's reputation
The largest recall in Toyota Motor Corp. history will probably put a serious dent in the Japanese automaker's pocketbook. But the hit to Toyota's...
Data point to steady but unspectacular economic expansion
A new round of data released Wednesday offers evidence that the economy is continuing to grow but raises questions about the strength of the...
Kaiser Permanente must pay $5 million to patient
Kaiser Permanente, the state's largest nonprofit HMO, has been ordered to pay a former Valencia middle school administrator $5 million after its...
Stocks rise on drop in jobless claims
A drop in unemployment claims and a rise in sales of new homes pulled the stock market modestly higher Wednesday in light trading a day before...
Fannie Mae tightens lending rules
Fannie Mae, the giant mortgage finance company that helps shape lending guidelines, plans next month to raise minimum credit score requirements and...
Downey City Council opens the door to a Tesla auto plant
The Downey City Council on Wednesday approved a preliminary deal that could help bring auto manufacturing back to Southern California for the first...
Mortgage rates drop to record low
You could say Christmas has arrived early for people shopping for a home loan, with mortgage rates at or near record lows.
Drop in California House Prices Tapers to 3.2% as Sales Climb
California single-family home prices fell 3.2% in October from a year earlier, helping lift sales, the state Association of Realtors said.
New home sales jump 6.2% in October
The government had some good news Wednesday for the housing market: Sales of new homes were up 6.2% in October over the previous month.
Hyundai must pay $8 million in accident case, judges rule
The Washington state Supreme Court on Wednesday reinstated an $8-million default judgment against Hyundai Motor Co. in a lawsuit over the backward...
Federal Reserve tries theater ads to burnish its image
The Federal Reserve isn't too popular these days, what with its failure to predict or prevent the financial crisis and recession, not to mention its...
Jobless claims hit lowest level in more than a year
The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week to the lowest level in over a year.
On Google, 'turkey' gobbles a lot of bytes each November
Sorry, Istanbul, we're looking for the bird.
Diedrich Coffee says Green Mountain's takeover offer is better than Peet's
Diedrich Coffee Inc. of Irvine said Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc.'s $265-million all-cash takeover offer was superior to a stock-and-cash bid...
''California pushes cap-and-trade plan''
''California today issued the nation's first blueprint for a broad-based cap-and-trade program to control global warming emissions. The...
Parents beware: Hazardous toys may still wind up on store shelves
As the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear this week, it's a good time to ask: Are the toys we're buying any safer than they were a couple of...
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