PREVIEW / Some of the business and economic events happening today:
Vote on AT&T-TCI; Deal: The state Public Utilities Commission today will vote on AT&T; Corp.’s $56.9-billion acquisition of No. 2 cable operator Tele-Communications Inc., in one of the final approvals needed for the purchase. The commission will consider the transfer to AT&T; of telephone service TCI provides on a test basis to a San Jose apartment complex. AT&T; is optimistic about receiving approval, which would put the telecom giant on track to close the TCI purchase this month. Completion of the deal may come as early as next week if PUC approval is granted. It already has passed reviews by the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission.
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Unemployment Data: The Labor Department’s weekly report on first-time jobless claims, to be released today, is likely to provide further evidence that companies are creating jobs faster than they are cutting them. Claims are expected to have risen by 2,000, to 295,000, last week, analysts say. Meanwhile, Commerce Department figures on January factory orders will probably signal further improvements in manufacturing. Orders are expected to rise 1.7% after rising 2.3% in December.
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Open to E-Commerce: Microsoft Corp. plans to shed its image as a “no-show” competitor in the explosively growing electronic-commerce market today, unveiling a strategy to help companies do business over the Net.
At a media briefing in San Francisco, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and President Steve Ballmer will roll out a new set of software and services based on its MSN.com Internet portal site and the forthcoming Windows 2000 system, industry analysts say. The company is expected to announce the details of an upgraded and renamed version of its server software for electronic commerce to be released with Windows 2000, the long-delayed upgrade to the high-end Windows NT operating system, due out this year.
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Northern Exposure: Monday marks International Women’s Day, nifty timing for the first-ever Canadian businesswomen’s trade mission to Los Angeles. Local business owners will have a chance to meet with 75 Canadian women entrepreneurs looking for trade partners south of the border at a conference at the Sheraton Universal hotel in Universal City.
Organized by the British Columbia chapter of Women Entrepreneurs of Canada and the local Canadian Consulate General in Los Angeles, the mission is an attempt to boost trade opportunities for Canadian women entrepreneurs, who account for 40% of small businesses in Canada but are underrepresented in international trade.
The firms average $3 million to $5 million in annual sales and represent a host of industries from high technology, biotech and manufacturing to fashion, film, television and native arts and crafts.
Admission for the all-day event is $115. For more information, call Carol Hastings at (213) 346-2762.
