German Business Confidence…came out softer than expected in April, falling from 104.8 in March to 102.4. That was quite a tumble in business confidence, and apparently wipes out the previous three months of stronger confidence.

At best, the ECB doesn’t sound like they are ready to CUT rates any time soon… So, the euro gets to hold on to its positive interest rate differential to the dollar…

Nokia Shares Plummet on Missed Earnings; “The World” Developer Posts Quadrupled Annual Profits; Google Beats Estimates; Capital One Profit Drops 19%; TD Ameritrade Gets a Boost; Societe General Chief Steps Down; Avant Soars on Pfizer Deal; Southwest Ekes Out Profit.

The U.S. rates are going lower, and you can take that to the bank! OK, well…Maybe the legal beagles won’t like me saying that, so, let’s just say, I think that you should think that U.S. rates are going lower.

The market for mobile TV services in India will reach $360 million this year, as an estimated 12 million consumers sign up for this new entertainment offering in its first year of existence, market researcher Springboard Research announced in a new study released this week.

I don’t think the ECB is going to go forward with a rate cut in May, or anytime soon for that matter! Recall, that a couple of weeks ago, I pulled the May rate cut forecast because of this nagging inflation, and now it’s gone higher!

NWS), announced plans for a new online music download service that will pit it directly against Apple Inc.’s (

Citi Settles Suit Over Enron; Vale Fails to Acquire Xstrata; Morgan Stanley Struggles to Move CICC Stake; Motorola to Split Amid Falling Sales; Huaneng Power Pumps $8.9 Bln into Expansion; Senate Probes Bear Stearns Deal; Starbucks Sued Again; Important Rambus Ruling