Ahead of the Bell: Wholesale inventories

Businesses likely increased inventories held at the wholesale level, while sales were expected to rebound following two months of declines.

Dubai World reaches $24.9 billion debt deal (Reuters)

Reuters - State-owned conglomerate Dubai World on Friday reached a formal deal to restructure around $24.9 billion of liabilities, partly easing recently heightened concerns over the Gulf emirate's debt woes.

Trichet: phasing out crisis measures to take time (AP)

AP - It may take a while yet to phase out the special credit support that was given to banks in the wake of the financial crisis, the European Central Bank's president has said.

China's imports leap, cutting trade surplus (Reuters)

Reuters - China's imports leapt in August, boding well for a strengthening of domestic demand in an economy that has become a major driver of global growth.

Deutsche Bank set to lead likely Basel cash call charge (Reuters)

Reuters - Deutsche Bank is set to lead rivals raising billions of euros as radical new global capital rules to be unveiled this weekend bite, and showed it may be good to get the jump on the pack.

Oil jumps to near $76 on U.S. supply outage (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. crude approached a three-week high near $76 on Friday, after record U.S. inventories were offset by the shutdown of a major pipeline, but a leading forecaster said oil demand would remain tepid.

Nokia brings in Microsoft exec to replace CEO (Reuters)

Reuters - Nokia (NOK1V.HE), the world's top cellphone maker, brought in Microsoft's Stephen Elop to replace its embattled chief executive and lead a renewed effort to compete in the smartphone market.

Nokia brings in Microsoft exec to replace CEO (Reuters)

Reuters - Nokia (NOK1V.HE), the world's top cellphone maker, brought in Microsoft's Stephen Elop to replace its embattled chief executive and lead a renewed effort to compete in the smartphone market.

Stock index futures up (Reuters)

Reuters - Stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.3 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.4 percent at 0850 GMT.

Renault, Peugeot to repay state loan early (AFP)

AFP - French carmakers Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroen said Friday they each plan to pay back a third of their three-billion-euro (3.8-billion-dollar) state loans ahead of time.

Dubai World wins over most creditors to debt plan (AP)

AP - Dubai World says it has won over nearly all its creditors to its plan to restructure $24.9 billion in debt.

Japan's wholesale prices unchanged on year in August

Japan's wholesale prices were unchanged in August from a year earlier, the Bank of Japan said in a preliminary report on Friday. The result compares with a median forecast for a 0.2 percent annual fall.

Nokia Names Microsoft's Elop as New CEO (PC World)

PC World - Nokia has named Stephen Elop, president of Microsoft's business software group, to become its new CEO effective from later this month.

'Here you Have' Virus Tries to Delete Your Security Software (PC World)

PC World - On Thursday, a new worm hit the Internet, and itâs been spreading by emailing the address books of infected users, according to McAfee Labs. By masquerading as a benign PDF, the worm looks something like this when it shows up in your inbox:

Facebook inches past Google for Web users' minutes (AP)

AP - U.S. Web surfers are spending more time socializing on Facebook than searching with Google, according to new data from researchers at comScore Inc.

Adobe Responds to Apple's New Rules (Mashable)

Mashable - Yesterday, seemingly out of the blue, Apple issued a statement saying it will ease up restrictions for development tools used to create iOS party apps. Now, Adobe has reacted with a statement of its own, calling Apple's decision "great news for developers".

Apple Offers App-Making Guidance, But No DIY Tool (PC World)

PC World - Apple said it will begin relaxing restrictions and providing specific guidelines for iPhone application developers, but that doesn't mean that the vetting or selection process will get any easier. Any app is eligible, provided it follows Apple's lengthy and sometimes subjective guidelines.

"Virginity Hit" a bawdy crowdpleaser (Reuters)

Reuters - Essentially the first feature-length YouTube video, "The Virginity Hit" updates the horny-teenager movie to the Internet era.

EBay wins a round in court against Craigslist (AP)

AP - In a skirmish between two Internet heavy hitters with a tangled relationship, eBay Inc. has convinced a court that it was wronged by antitakeover moves adopted by Craigslist after eBay started encroaching on its online classifieds turf in the U.S.

Hackers make 57,000 booby-trapped websites weekly: experts (AFP)

AFP - About 57,000 seemingly legitimate websites booby-trapped by hackers spring up on the Internet each week, computer security researchers at PandaLabs said.

'Frustration-free packaging' slow to catch on (Ben Patterson)

Ben Patterson - Just the other day, I got bitten by one of those hard plastic clamshell cases that retailers still seem to love. Even with a pair of heavy-duty scissors, it took me several minutes to pry the stubborn thing open, and as I sawed away, a jagged piece of plastic tore at my finger and gave me a good scratch. At least I didn’t bleed on my newly purchased USB hard drive (this time).

Hurd's Oracle gig: Is Ellison perk or problem? (AP)

AP - As co-president at Oracle Corp., ousted Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Mark Hurd will have to adapt to a new role playing second fiddle to one of Silicon Valley's most domineering bosses — Larry Ellison.

Remains of the Day: Schooled by the iPad (Macworld.com)

Macworld.com - Think the iPadâs too cool for school? Think again. At least it isnât being viciously beat up and dissected by those iFixit bullies like its iPod cousins. And while it may take $1 billion every year to keep the iTunes Storeâs doors open, YouTube still hasnât managed to post a profit. Fortunately, the remainders for Thursday, September 9, 2010 are free of charge.

The Sky's The Limit As Business Warms Up To Cloud Computing (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - If you want Wall Street's verdict on cloud-based computing services, look no further than the stock surge Salesforce.com enjoyed last month after it reported earnings.

Facebook Places Propels SCVNGR to 100,000 Downloads in 48 Hours (Mashable)

Mashable - When Facebook entered the location arena with Facebook Places this summer, many were quick to assert that this would spell the end for smaller players in the space. But Google-backed SCVNGR is fighting the odds and proving that mobile game layer can still thrive in post Facebook Places.

Business Highlights (AP)

AP - Fears of a second recession ease, at least for now

BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. Reports Operating Results (10-Q)

By 10qk. BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. ( BJ ) filed Quarterly Report for the period ended 2010-07-31. Read more » »

Mortgage rates edge up; Housing market still slow (AP)

AP - Record-low mortgage rates failed to pull the housing market out of its funk. Now rates are inching higher, but don't blame them if home sales stay sluggish.

Homeowners, Beware Association Costs (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - House and condo owners may face extra costs as their homeowner associations struggle with unpaid assessments, the legacy of neighbors hit by job losses and foreclosures.

Shoe seller DSW's operator says 2Q profit jumps (AP)

AP - Retail Ventures Inc., which operates the DSW shoe store chain, posted a 67 percent jump in second-quarter net income as a key revenue figure improved.

Analysis: Obama has tenuous grip on Democrats over taxes (Reuters)

Reuters - Democrats in Congress are distancing themselves from President Barack Obama's push to let taxes rise for the wealthiest Americans, fearing it will further harm them in November's mid-term elections.

Wal-Mart US merchandising now headed by four execs (Reuters)

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc will remain without a chief merchandising officer for its U.S. stores for now, instead naming four new product heads to take over that responsibility, the retailer said on Thursday.

Apple opens up on iOS app review guidelines, relaxes development restrictions (Ben Patterson)

Ben Patterson - Apple’s criteria for approving or rejecting a given iPhone or iPad app have long been a perplexing, maddening mystery to developers — but now Apple is abruptly making public its once-secret iOS app review guidelines. Among the highlights: No content that’s "over the line," nothing "cobbled together in a few days," and above all, "We don't need any more Fart apps."

Fact or Fiction? Top 8 Linux Myths Debunked (PC World)

PC World - If the idea of using Linux in your business is one that makes you nervous, chances are you've fallen prey to one or more of the many myths out there that are frequently disseminated by competing vendors such as Microsoft. After all, each Linux user means one less sale for such companies, so they have a powerful motivation to spread such FUD.

Apple publishes guidelines for app approval (AP)

AP - Apple Inc. on Thursday gave software developers the guidelines it uses to determine which programs can be sold in its App Store, yet it reserved for itself broad leeway in deciding what makes the cut.

Best apps to download for your new iPod (Appolicious)

Appolicious - Whether you're listening to music and downloading apps on the iPod you got for your birthday three years ago, or a new and shiny iPod Touch, Nano or Shuffle, finding the right apps is half the battle. And if you're a serious music fan, chances are you don't take what you're listening to, or what you're downloading to enhance your music listening experience, too lightly. To guide you through the best musical experience you can possibly have on your iPod — new or old — I have created this list below. Enjoy.

Two Wholesale Traders Pistol-Whipped During Robbery

IPOH, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- Two wholesale traders were pistol-whipped during a robbery at the Menglembu wholesale market here Thursday night. The victims, in their 40s, sought out-patient treatment at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital.

Web Impostors May Face Prison in California (BusinessWeek)

BusinessWeek - California Web impostors beware: You may soon be breaking the law, even if you aren't one of the perpetrators targeted by the state's "e-personation" bill.

Wholesale prices of Oils, Sugar, Commodities

Bangalore, Sep 9 : Following were the wholesale prices (per 10kg) in the Bangalore Oil market today.

Wholesale Costume Club Launches Their Halloween Costume Fundraising Program

Wholesale Costume Club, the only wholesale club offering costumes at the lowest prices with no minimum order requirements, is pleased to announce their innovative Halloween Costume Fundraising Program.

SEC says proposed Citi settlement is fair (Reuters)

Reuters - The top securities regulator defended its proposed $75 million settlement with Citigroup , saying the penalty reasonably accounts for the seriousness of the bank's alleged misconduct, according to a document filed in court on Wednesday.

Colorblends® Wholesale Flowerbulbs Celebrates Its 200th Original Tulip Blend

Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs, the innovator in blending tulips, daffodils, crocuses and other bulbs for foolproof spring displays, recently introduced its 200th new Colorblend selection in its 2010 wholesale print catalog and website colorblends.com.

Wholesale firm opens €1.5m facility extension

LEADING Irish wholesale and distribution firm, the Barry Group officially opened a €1.5 million extension to its state-of-the-art central distribution base in north Cork yesterday.

Wholesale trade sales continue up

Total wholesale trade sales rose a seasonally adjusted 2.2 percent or $472 million in the June quarter, Statistics New Zealand says.

Wholesale Trade Survey: June 2010 quarter

Total wholesale trade sales, after adjusting for seasonal effects, increased 2.2 percent ($458 million) in the June 2010 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today, the third consecutive quarter to record a rise.