Sunday, June 3, 2012

Wall Street's bonuses fell 25 percent, watchdog says

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street's bonuses fell nearly 25 percent in 2011, a New York City fiscal watchdog estimated on Monday, a less severe drop than the industry had anticipated, though still likely to deal a blow to the economies of New York City and New York state.

Compensation experts had said this important component of total wages earned by securities industry employees would plunge 30 percent to 40 percent.

However, the decline in bonuses as estimated by the New York City Independent Budget Office was nearly twice that forecast last week by the state comptroller, who had forecast a 13 percent shrinkage, to $121,150 per person.

Profits earned by Wall Street firms were estimated by the Independent Budget Office at $10.5 billion for 2011, a steep drop from $27.6 billion in 2010.

Last week, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli forecast that Wall Street's profits in 2011 would not top $13.5 billion.

Wall Street, which powers the economies of New York City and New York state, is expected to shed 4,300 jobs in 2012, while wages, including bonuses, will fall 7.5 percent, the Independent Budget Office said in a statement.

In contrast, the City Council Finance Committee, in a separate report issued on Monday, said that in 2011 the average wage earned by a securities industry worker should rise 1.6 percent to $369,000 a year.

Wall Street's profits and high compensation drive job creation in a host of other industries, from law firms to restaurants.

The forecast for a 2011 pay increase for Wall Street workers

looks slim when compared with the 17.6 percent gain seen in 2010 that the Finance Committee estimated.

The forecasts by the Finance Committee and the Independent Budget Office, which plays the same role for city that the Congressional Budget Office does for Congress, show ongoing struggles for the securities industry, which faces stiffer federal regulations and reduced trading volume.

Europe's debt problems also present a challenge for both Wall Street and the entire U.S. financial sector.

U.S. banks have about $80 billion of exposure to Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Greece, the Finance Committee said in a separate report issued on Monday.

"On a positive side, industry reports suggest Wall Street has been pricing in the possibility of a Greek default since early 2010," the Finance Committee report said.

The Independent Budget Office, the Finance Committee, and City Comptroller John Liu on Monday presented their analyses of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's $68.7 billion budget plan.

Tax revenue should surpass the mayor's forecast by $227 million in the fiscal year that ends on June 30, and by $380 million in the following year, the Finance Committee said.

New York City's economy, despite Wall Street's ongoing upheaval, has added back 64 percent of the 139,800 private sector jobs lost during the recession, according to the Finance Committee. However, the city's unemployment rate, after falling to 8.6 percent in April 2011, has risen since June and hit 9 percent in December.

The Independent Budget Office predicted the city would collect $230 million more tax revenue in the current fiscal year. But tougher regulations for Wall Street, which could clip the sector's profits, led the IBO to cut the forecast for tax revenue it made in December for 2013 by nearly $460 million. For fiscal 2014, it cut its estimate by $630 million.

Still, the comptroller predicted that curbs on proprietary trading could cause new companies to spring up as securities companies clamp down on this activity.

"It is our feeling that presumably, proprietary trading operations that are spun off by large financial firms will still operate and for the most part would stay in New York City," he said in a statement.

(Reporting by Joan Gralla; Editing by James Dalgleish, Dan Grebler and Bob Burgdorfer)


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Encounter with Italian tanker scars survivors

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AppId is over the quota
29 February 2012 Last updated at 09:06 GMT Dora, widow of fisherman Valentine (in picture in background). Kerala state, India Dora wants compensation for the death of her fisherman-husband Valentine (in picture frame) India and Italy are scrambling to defuse a diplomatic row over the deaths of two Indian fisherman mistaken for pirates by Italian marines guarding an oil tanker. Supriya Menon has been speaking to the fishermen's crewmates and family in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

Fisherman J Fredy was asleep on board the trawler St Antony when he first heard gun shots.

"I suddenly saw my colleague Valentine who was steering the boat slumped over the wheel with blood oozing from his ear and nose and thought he was sick.

"It was only later that I noticed gun shots. I didn't stop to think and just steered the boat away from the gunfire trying to get far away from the big ship that I saw."

The big ship that Fredy is referring to is the Enrica Lexie, the Italian oil tanker that was on its way from Singapore to Egypt with a crew of 34.

Walking me around the small fishing boat, 30-year-old Fredy points out bullet marks. He says he is still terrified thinking about the incident and considers himself fortunate to be alive.

"In my 10-year-long fishing career I have never come across something like this. I don't want to go back to the sea now. I am scared and so is my family. Earlier it used to be fun to be out in the ocean, now there is no guarantee that I will come back alive."

The St Antony is now docked, guarded on all sides by police boats.

Compensation claim J Fredy, fisherman aboard the St Antony. Kerala state, India Fisherman J Fredy says he is afraid to go back out to sea after the deaths of two crewmates

Just a few kilometres away is the fishing village of Moothakara. Valentine, 48, used to live here with his wife and two kids.

Since his death, the family has had several high-profile visitors, including India's Defence Minister AK Antony.

Valentine's wife Dora says she wants justice for her family and has asked the government to ensure the safety of fishermen out at sea.

The family has filed a compensation claim of 10m rupees ($200,000; £126,000) from the Italian shipping company.

Their lawyer, C Unnikrishnan says they will ask for a larger sum.

"Our claim is only $200,000 which is [low by] international standards. We are planning to amend it and ask for at least $500,000."

There are now indications that the matter may be settled out of court.

Bullet hole in fishing boat St Antony, Kerala state, India The fishing boat the St Antony bears the scars of the encounter with the Italian oil tanker

However, public sentiment is strong on both sides. Local fishermen want to see the marines punished here in India. Italy on its part has been lobbying hard to get the marines released, saying the incident took place outside of Indian jurisdiction in international waters.

The incident has also triggered a debate on the wider issue of piracy in the Indian ocean.

The Indian government is now looking at changing laws and ensuring better policing of its coastline. That may not be so easy given India's vast coast.

There's also the issue of posting armed guards on ships to fight off pirates; while it may scare off potential pirates, it can also lead to tragedies for some families.


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5 Ultrabooks that you can buy right now, in India

To begin with, what are Ultrabooks?  Simply put, Ultrabooks are portable computers running on an Intel chipset, featuring the portability of a netbook or ultraportable, and the power under the hood of a desktop replacement, which can get some gaming, HD videos and multitasking done without any hassles.

Intel has set up simple criteria for any manufacturer who wants to qualify their laptops for Ultrabook status, back when it had established the category, in May last year. These are:  

The device needs to be thin, under 0.8-inches.Lightweight, under 1.4 kgs.Should have a battery life of minimum 5 hoursShould have quick boot-up times, instant-on and always-on standby modesHigh overall performance Like This 4 | 0 Comments

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In pictures: India toxic alcohol deaths

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AppId is over the quota
15 December 2011 Last updated at 09:50 GMT

News photos from around the world

24 hours of news photos: 2 March

Readers' pictures on the theme coffee break

The aftermath of a storm

Singer of 1960s group the Monkees has died

24 hours of news photos: 1 March 2012

24 hours of news photos: 29 February 2012

Protests and mass funerals continue in Syria

Police and bailiffs remove tents from Occupy camp

Dresses and fashions on the Oscar red carpet


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Apple awarded major 'iWallet' patent for future NFC-enabled iPhone

apple-iwallet-patent

Apple on Tuesday was granted a significant patent by the United States Trademark & Patent Office, Patently Apple reported. The technology, which is supported by 23 Patent Claims, allows credit card companies to send statements directly to a user’s iTunes account for purchases made using an NFC-enabled iPhone. Account holders will also be able to allow a secondary account holder, such as a child, to make purchases on the same card while allowing the primary account holder to control spending and implement various limits. Even though NFC technology has been featured in a number of Android devices, some believe that the technology won’t go mainstream in a number of markets until an iPhone is equipped with a mobile payment solution.

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Europe’s Richest Soccer Clubs

Highest-Earning Soccer ClubsPhoto: Thomas Barwick | Photographer's Choice RFCurrently two-thirds of the way through the 2011-2012 European soccer season, the best teams in the world will not only be competing for the prestige that comes with trophy success, but  for the financial rewards it brings.Europe’s most successful soccer teams are growing at a faster rate than the countries they represent, generating a total revenue of $5.8 billion last year, according to a new report by business advisory firm Deloitte.During the 2010-2011 season, combined revenue for Deloitte’s "money league" clubs grew by 3 percent year-on-year, with nine of the clubs recording double-digit growth.By comparison, the average growth rate for the European countries represented in the money league — Italy, Spain, France, Germany and the UK — was 1.3 percent in 2011, down from 1.7 percent the previous year.Deloitte compares income from broadcasting, ticket sales and commercial deals, and this latest list covers revenue for the 2010-2011 season. For the fourth year running the top six clubs remained the same, with nine clubs in the top ten having maintained a position in the top half of the Money League for the last eight years.Clubs achieving double-digit revenue growth included Barcelona, which grew by 13 percent to generate $644.1 million. It was trumped, however, by English club Tottenham Hotspur, which grew by 36 percent and beat Manchester City to grab 11th place in the league.So which teams made the top ten? Click ahead to find out.By Bianca SchlotterbeckPosted 28 Feb 201212. Manchester City, EnglandAlex Livesey / Photo: Alex Livesey | Getty ImagesTotal Revenue for 2011: £153.2 million ($242 million)League: Premier LeagueUnder new owner the Abu Dhabi Investment Group, Manchester City has established itself as one of the biggest spenders in the Premier League, and massive investment in the team has translated to on-pitch success.Manchester City achieved a 22 percent increase in revenue to £153.2m in 2010-2011 yet slipped one place in the Money League due to Schalke and Tottenham’s performances in the Champions League.On the pitch, City enjoyed its most successful season of the modern era, ending a 35-year wait for a major trophy by winning the FA Cup, reaching the last 16 of the Europa League, and finishing third in the Premier League, thus qualifying for the Champions League. Commercial revenue increased by £11.1 million and now represents 38 percent of total revenue, having tripled over the past two years. A batch of new sponsorship deals commenced in 2010-2011, including with Heineken and Jaguar, to expand the club’s portfolio, which already includes Etihad Airways, Umbro, Aabar, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Etisalat.The club has secured a groundbreaking new 10-year partnership with Etihad covering shirt sponsorship, stadium naming rights and other commercial opportunities, which will further substantially boost commercial revenue in 2011-2012.11. Tottenham Hotspur, EnglandClive Mason / Photo: Clive Mason | Getty ImagesTotal Revenue for 2011: £163 million ($243 million)League: Premier LeagueTottenham Hotspur has enjoyed a revival in recent seasons under celebrated English manager Harry Redknapp. Once one of the most successful English soccer clubs, it fell out of favor in the 2000s and a succession of floundering managers meant the team wallowed in the bottom half of the English Premier League.The club has now leapfrogged Manchester City into 11th place in the Money League, just short of its highest-ever position. Spurs generated record revenue of £163.5 million, which represents a 36 percent increase from the 2009-2010 season. This is primarily due to the club’s inaugural participation in the UEFA Champions League where it reached the quarterfinals, which helped the club increase all three revenue streams.Spurs now have planning consent for a new stadium and a significant regeneration project in Tottenham. A glance across North London to Arsenal leaves little doubt that increased match-day revenue opportunities arise from a modern stadium development. This, coupled with a continuation of its recent on-pitch form, could secure the team a Money League top ten position on a frequent basis. 10. Schalke 04, Germany Vi-images / Photo: VI-Images via Getty ImagesTotal Revenue for 2011: €202.4 million ($290 million)League: BundesligaSchalke is the biggest climber in this year’s Money League, with total revenue increasing by 45 percent to €202.4m. This was due to a Champions League campaign that saw the club reach the semifinals of the competition, beating holders Internazionale along the way. A disappointing 14th place finish in the Bundesliga was in some part offset by the Royal Blues’ success in lifting the German Cup, which will provide UEFA Europa League football in 2011-2012.The club’s most successful European performance in their history saw them receive €39.8m  in UEFA distributions, helping broadcast revenue more than double, from €35.4m to €74.3m. Failure to secure Champions League qualification for 2011-2012 will mean this spike in broadcast revenue, which contributed 37 percent of the club’s total, will not be repeated and Schalke will drop back out of the top ten in next year’s Money League. 9. Liverpool, EnglandRevenue for 2011: £183.6 million ($291 million)League: The Premier LeagueLiverpool continues to slip down the Money League, dropping one place to ninth position, after the club experienced its first season without Champions League football since 2003-2004. It is the only top ten Money League club that did not compete in Europe’s top club competition in 2010-2011.The club’s overall revenue fell slightly in sterling terms, although reductions in both match-day and broadcast revenue were almost completely offset by a 25 percent increase in commercial revenue to £77.4 million.This was driven by a new four-year shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered Bank, one of the largest in European football at a reported £20 million (€22 million) per season, and an estimated £12.5 million annual increase on the previous shirt deal with Carlsberg. This allowed Liverpool to strengthen its position as the second-highest-earning English club, behind Manchester United, from this source. 8. Internazionale, ItalyPedro Armestre / Photo: Pedro Armestre | AFP | Getty ImagesRevenue for 2011: €211.4 million ($303 million)League: Serie A TIMInternazionale leapfrogged Liverpool to claim eighth position in this year’s Money League. Despite winning the FIFA Club World Cup, the Coppa Italia and reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, Internazionale’s revenue declined by six percent to €211.4 million (£190.9 million).This was largely as a result of broadcast revenue that fell by 10 percent to €124.4 million. Like AC Milan and Juventus, Inter suffered financially as a result of the introduction of collective selling arrangements for broadcast rights in Serie A. Inter finished runner-up to city rival AC Milan in Serie A and is also one place below it in the Money League.7. AC Milan, ItalyChinafotopress / Photo:ChinaFotoPress | Getty ImagesRevenue for 2011: €235.1 million ($336 million)League: Serie A TIMOriginally founded as a cricket club by Englishmen Herbert Kilpin and Alfred Edwards in 1899, AC Milan has been owned by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who supported the club as a boy, since 1986.AC Milan is the leading Italian club in the Money League, sitting one place above city rivals Internazionale in seventh place, after achieving revenue of €235.1 million in 2010-2011. Milan won the Serie A title in 2010-2011 for the 18th time, the first since 2003-2004, and reached the Round of 16 in the Champions League for the second successive season, losing to Tottenham.AC Milan has the lowest matchday revenue of any club in the Money League top ten. Compared with the clubs above them in the Money League, the Rossoneri, as they are called by fans, have less than half the matchday revenue of Chelsea and Bayern, and between €67 million and €88 million less than that of the other four clubs. 6. Chelsea, EnglandClive Mason / Photo: Clive Mason | Getty ImagesRevenue for 2011: £225.6 million ($358 million)League: The Premier LeagueOwned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Chelsea is one of the biggest spenders in the soccer world, Spaniard Fernando Torres costing the club £50 million ($81 million) in January 2011. But the World Cup winner has so far failed to make an impact.Chelsea remain in sixth position in the Money League with an 8 percent increase in revenue to £225.6 milion, closing the gap to fifth-placed Arsenal from £14.9 million to £1.2 million.A disappointing season on the pitch, compared with the previous year, saw the Blues finish behind in the Premier League to Manchester United, who also defeated it in the Champions League quarterfinals.FC Porto’s Europa League-winning coach André Villas-Boas has replaced Carlo Ancelotti as team manager for the 2011-2012 season.Broadcast revenue accounted for almost all of Chelsea’s increase, with match-day and commercial revenue similar to the previous year.5. Arsenal, EnglandStuart Macfarlane / Photo: Stuart MacFarlane | Arsenal FC via Getty ImagesRevenue for 2011: £226.8 million ($360 million)League: Premier LeagueHistorically London’s most successful soccer club, Arsenal has not managed to win a trophy of any kind since 2004, but it remains the second-richest team in England in terms of income, ahead of London rival Chelsea. It narrowly remains in fifth place in this year’s Money League after recording revenue of £226.8 million for 2010-2011.Arsenal remains committed to a long-term vision of a self-sustainable football club built on solid foundations. If the Gunners, as they are commonly known, are to retain their position in the top five of the Money League, they will need to close the gap in commercial revenue with Europe’s other top clubs, while continuing to qualify for the Champions League.4. Bayern Munich, Germany Afp / Photo: Christof Stache | AFP | Getty ImagesRevenue for 2011: €321.4 million ($459 million)League: BundesligaAlthough still Germany's most successful club, with a total of 22 league titles, 15 domestic cups and four European (Champions League) cups since it was founded in 1900, a comparatively disappointing season on the pitch for Bayern Munich was mirrored by a slight decrease in total revenue from €323 million to €321.4 million in 2010-2011.The club finished third in the Bundesliga and exited the Champions League at the first knockout round, as compared with a domestic double and Champions League final appearance in the previous season. This resulted in Bayern parting ways with manager Louis van Gaal, replacing him with Jupp Heynckes.Despite a small drop in revenue, Bayern have maintained fourth position in the Money League, although the gap between the Bavarians and third-place Manchester United has increased.

3. Manchester United, EnglandMatthew Peters / Photo: Matthew Peters | Man Utd via Getty ImagesRevenue for 2011: £331.4 million ($524 million)League: Premier League"Man U" is the most valuable sports franchise in the world, according to Forbes, which estimates it to be worth $1.86 billion — ahead of the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Yankees. Like the Yankees, Manchester United has been very successful at exporting its brand, particularly to Asia where the team enjoys unrivalled support.Manchester United’s continued success on the pitch contributed to 16 percent growth in revenue to £331.4 million in a domestic season that saw the club reach the final of the UEFA Champions League, become English champions for a record 19th time and reach the semifinals of the FA Cup. The increased revenue helped the club retain third place in the Money League behind the Spanish duopoly of Real Madrid and Barcelona.A 27 percent increase in commercial revenue to £103.4 million was the largest contributor to the club’s revenue growth, driven by the four-year shirt sponsorship deal with Aon Corporation, reportedly worth £20 million per season, which began in June 2010. Other contributors to this growth in commercial revenue included contractual increases from the club’s alliance with Nike, and new commercial partnerships such as those with Telekom Malaysia and Turkish Airlines.The club is continuing to use its global brand to attract commercial partners, with new agreements such as the four-year training kit sponsorship with DHL, reportedly worth £40 million, set to improve commercial revenue from 2011-2012. The partnership with DHL is a first for the club, which will see the company sponsor United’s training kit for all domestic matches. 2. FC Barcelona, Spain David Ramos / Photo: David Ramos | Getty ImagesRevenue for 2011: €450.7 million ($645 million)League: La LigaFC Barcelona’s recent on-pitch success continued in 2010-2011 as the club won the Champions League and La Liga, allowing it to remain in second place in the Money League for a third successive year. This was the second time in three years Barca has won the Champions League and the third consecutive season as La Liga champions. The club also finished runner-up in the Copa del Rey.A 13 percent revenue increase across all three categories, totalling €52.6 million has resulted in Barca extending its lead over third-place Manchester United and closing the gap on leader Real Madrid.Commercial revenue increased significantly from €122.2 million in 2009-2010 to a club record €156.3 million  in 2010-2011, boosted by a €15 million contribution from the new shirt sponsorship deal with the Qatar Foundation.Barcelona will benefit from a full season of the Qatar Foundation agreement, as well as prize money from winning the FIFA Club World Cup, during 2011-2012. If Barcelona can continue its on-pitch success both in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, this may allow them to further close the revenue gap on Real Madrid and to challenge it for the top position in the Money League. 1. Real Madrid, SpainDenis Doyle / Photo: Denis Doyle | Getty ImagesRevenue for 2011: €479.5 million ($686 million)League: La LigaA nine percent increase in revenue to €479.5 million ($686 million) sees Real Madrid maintain its position at the top of the Money League for the seventh consecutive season.Following the appointment of José Mourinho as manager, the club emerged victorious in the domestic competition, Copa del Rey, but again finished runner-up in the Spanish league, La Liga, to rival Barcelona, which also knocked Real out of the Champions League semifinals.Real has enjoyed phenomenal growth, with annual revenue increasing by almost €200 million over the past five years and is closing in on revenue of €500 million.Broadcast revenue increased by 16 percent to €183.5 million (£165.7 million) in 2010-2011. With the increase driven in large part by a return to form in the UEFA Champions League. Unlike the English Premier League where broadcasting revenue is divided among all clubs, Real and Barcelona hold their own lucrative TV deals. The majority of the club’s broadcast revenue is still generated from its broadcast rights contract with Mediapro which runs until 2013-2014.The club hopes the arrival of the “Special One,” manager Jose Mourinho, and continued investment in playing staff translates into on-pitch domestic and European success that will keep it at the top of the Money League.

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Fewer Unpaid Internships to Be Offered

As summer intern season draws near, many employers are doing away with unpaid internships or converting them to paid programs amid lawsuits that claim interns should have been compensated for their work, labor lawyers say.

"They're saying, 'We're not going to run the risk,' " says Al Robinson, a Washington, D.C., lawyer and former acting administrator of the Labor Department's wage and hour unit.

Many employers are doing away with unpaid internships.

Unpaid internships are legal only if they meet stringent Labor Department criteria. For example, programs must provide training and benefit interns, not employers. Some firms are modifying programs by rotating interns among several departments, says lawyer Brian Dixon of Littler Mendelson.

During and after the recession [cnbc explains] , unpaid internships spread as employers faced tight budgets, says Ross Perlin, author of 2011's “Intern Nation: How to Earn Nothing and Learn Little in the Brave New Economy.” And laid-off workers were eager to fill gaps on their résumés. But the set-ups encourage employers to replace low-level employees with unpaid students, says Ross Eisenbrey of the Economic Policy Institute.

There are about 1.5 million internships in the U.S. each year, nearly half unpaid, Perlin says. In 2010, the Labor Department outlined criteria they must meet. That led many employers to re-evaluate their internships. Such reviews have intensified with the filing of two class-action lawsuits, Robinson says.


Current DateTime: 10:59:11 08 Mar 2012
LinksList Documentid: 44817528Last month, Xuedan Wang, an unpaid intern at Harper's Bazaar in 2011, sued parent Hearst, saying she shuttled fashion samples between the magazine and vendors, among other menial tasks. "This is the kind of work that's done by a (paid) fashion assistant," Wang, 28, said in an interview.

Hearst says its programs "are designed to enhance the educational experience of students," who get academic credit.

In a lawsuit against Fox Searchlight Pictures last September, two interns on the film “Black Swan” said they tracked purchase orders, petty cash, and other paperwork. Fox spokesman Russell Nelson says the plaintiffs interned for the film's production company, not Fox.

Lawyer Elizabeth Wagoner of Outten & Golden, which filed the two lawsuits, says such internships favor those who can afford to work for free.

But Michael Aitken of the Society for Human Resource Management says an overreaction by employers could doom legitimate internships. "That's a lost opportunity for students," he says.

This story first appeared in USA Today.



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