The long-term benefits of the Grizzlies’ 90-89 overtime win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, if there are any, won’t be known for a while. The Western Conference playoff standings are ever-changeable.

2. Williams Continuing Family’s Tennis Legacy - Friday, February 22, 2013

The other shoppers in the Knoxville grocery store probably don’t know who she is and certainly have no idea what she is doing.

Michelle DePalmer-Williams is, from all appearances, just another mom loading the cart with milk and bread and orange juice, checking her iPhone for text messages and emails.

3. Detroit, Toyota See Big US Sales Gains in January - Monday, February 04, 2013

DETROIT (AP) – American consumers ignored tax increases and trudged through winter weather to buy new cars and trucks at an unusually strong pace last month.

"(January) was like a sprinter out of the starting blocks," said Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation Inc., the country's largest auto dealership chain.

4. Soccer Tournament Brings 96 College Teams to Town - Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The 19th annual NIRSA National Campus Championship Series National Soccer Championships will be in Memphis Nov. 15, through Nov. 17.

Ninety-six college soccer teams consisting of 48 men’s and 48 women’s teams from across the country will participate in the tournament, which will be held at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The event is an economic boon, because it’s expected to generate more than 3,000 hotel room nights. Moreover, the contest is scheduled to return in 2014.

5. US Panel: China Tech Giants Pose Security Threat - Tuesday, October 09, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – American companies should avoid sourcing network equipment from China's two leading technology firms because they pose a national security threat to the United States, the House Intelligence Committee warned Monday.

6. Soccer Effect - Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Like so many good ideas, the one for the Mike Rose Soccer Complex had buy-in from several quarters.

The late John C. Talley developed the business plan. Then Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout supported the concept.

7. US Consumers More Confident in the Economy in July - Wednesday, August 01, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans breathed a bit easier about the economy in July, as a better outlook on short-term hiring and lower gas prices offset lingering worries about poor income growth.

8. Auto Sales Weaken a Bit in Early July - Monday, July 23, 2012

DETROIT (AP) — The raft of gloomy economic news may be starting to hurt U.S. auto sales.

Industry analysts and dealers said this week that sales during the first half of July slowed a bit from the robust pace in June. But they still were expected to be better than July of 2011.

9. Corn, Soybean Prices at Record Highs on Crop Woes - Friday, July 20, 2012

Prices for corn and soybeans hit all-time highs Thursday as questions built about the extent of damage to the crops from the merciless summer heat.

Corn for September delivery rose 12.75 cents to finish at $8.0775 per bushel, besting its all-time high of $7.87 per bushel set in June 2011. August soybeans gained 50.25 cents, or 3 percent, to end at $17.3375 for a second straight second record-setting day.

10. Fred’s, Other Retailers Report Tepid Sales - Friday, July 06, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Shoppers, worried about jobs and the overall economy, pulled back on spending in June, resulting in tepid sales for many retailers, including Memphis-based Fred’s Inc.

11. Deutsche Bank Analyst Boosts AutoZone to "Buy" - Wednesday, June 27, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – A Deutsche Bank analyst on Tuesday raised his rating for AutoZone Inc. to "Buy" from Hold," saying that the auto parts retailer will soon get a boost from slowing new car sales and falling gas prices.

12. County’s Mortgage Lending Up in May - Monday, June 18, 2012

When bank customers are seen doing something seemingly as simple as making plans for the future – plans, of course, that involve spending money – that conveys a lot to someone like Mike Edwards, Paragon Bank’s president and chief operating officer.

13. April Retail Sales Worst Since 2009 - Friday, May 04, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans' spending – much like the economy – continues to yo-yo.

Major retailers such as Costco and Macy's reported on Thursday that April revenue rose less that 1 percent in the worst performance since 2009 when the U.S. economy was just coming out of a bad recession.

14. First Horizon CEO Touts Strengths - Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Analysts are expecting the parent company of First Tennessee Bank to report a profit of 13 cents per share when it reports first quarter earnings Thursday.

15. Wal-Mart's Q4 Results Show Rebounding US Business - Wednesday, February 22, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s business offers valuable insight into how Americans are reacting in the slow economic recovery: they will spend, but only if they believe they're getting the lowest prices.

16. Sum Greater Than Parts for This Grizzlies Squad - Friday, January 27, 2012

Team identities are never static. When Rudy Gay was injured last season, the Memphis Grizzlies formed a new identity, one even more devoted to the interior game and feeding the ball to power forward Zach Randolph and center Marc Gasol.

17. First Horizon Posts Q4, Yearly Profit - Monday, January 23, 2012

A little more than three years removed from the worst of the credit crisis and with a new chairman of the board in place, the parent company of the largest Tennessee-based bank posted solid fourth-quarter and full-year 2011 numbers Friday, Jan. 20.

18. First Horizon Posts Profit for Q4, Full Year - Friday, January 20, 2012

A little more than three years removed from the worst of the credit crisis and with a new chairman of the board in place, the parent company of the largest Tennessee-based bank posted solid fourth-quarter and full-year 2011 numbers Friday, Jan. 20.

19. Grizzlies’ PG Mike Conley Finding Groove - Friday, January 20, 2012

He’s not Derrick Rose and he’s not Chris Paul. But you know what? That’s not the right comparison for Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley and it never was.

20. Grizz Honor MLK, Get Record to .500 - Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Sometimes the youngest among us say it best. So it was on Monday at FedExForum, where Sherry Knights and her two sons stopped in at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Sports Legacy Symposium before taking in the game between the Grizzlies and the Chicago Bulls.

21. Grizz Honor MLK, Get Record Back to .500 - Monday, January 16, 2012

Sometimes the youngest among us say it best. So it was on Monday at FedExForum, where Sherry Knights and her two sons stopped in at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Sports Legacy Symposium before taking in the game between the Grizzlies and the Chicago Bulls.

22. Grizz Struggling Without Z-Bo As MLK Game Approaches - Friday, January 13, 2012

It’s almost cruel. At a time when the Grizzlies are playing without their best player, power forward Zach Randolph, NBA legends George Gervin and Clyde Drexler are coming to FedExForum.

Drexler and Gervin are being honored on Monday, Jan. 16, for their contributions to civil rights as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. There’s also the matter of the Grizzlies’ nationally televised noon tip-off with the Bulls, the team that handed them a 40-point loss in Chicago earlier this season. So imagine if the Grizzlies could sneak “Clyde the Glide” and Gervin, aka “The Iceman,” into uniform and find a way to make the years magically melt away for a couple of hours.

23. Hiring Rose in November, But Job Openings Dipped - Wednesday, January 11, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. employers stepped up their hiring in November but pulled back slightly on the number of jobs they advertised.

The mostly favorable report shows companies are gaining more confidence in the economy and filling more of their open positions. It follows other encouraging data on hiring that suggest 2012 may be a better year for job growth.

24. BCS as We Know it is Going Away - Tuesday, January 10, 2012

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The Bowl Championship Series as college football fans have come to know it is going away.

Over the next six months, the people who oversee the much-maligned postseason format will talk about how to reconstruct the system for crowning a national champion. In the tumultuous 14-year history of the BCS, the appetite for change among college football's leaders has never been stronger.

25. First Horizon Expected to Post Profit - Monday, January 09, 2012

The parent company of First Tennessee Bank reports fourth-quarter earnings and its full-year 2011 results this month, and Wall Street analysts are expecting another quarterly profit from the Memphis-based company.

26. FedEx Earnings Up 76 Pct. to $497M - Friday, December 16, 2011

FedEx Corp.’s earnings rose significantly during the quarter ended Nov. 30, spurred by a jump in e-commerce during the Thanksgiving weekend, the company has announced.

27. FedEx Earnings Up 76 Pct. to $497M - Thursday, December 15, 2011

FedEx Corp.’s earnings rose significantly during the quarter ended Nov. 30, spurred by a jump in e-commerce during the Thanksgiving weekend, the company announced Thursday, Dec. 15.

The Memphis-based company also announced a delay in the rollout of new domestic jets as it signed an order for other new jets as well as international changes to meet “weakness” in Asia.

28. Retailers Report Strong Sales for November - Friday, December 02, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Oh what a difference a weekend can make.

Shoppers taking advantage of big discounts and earlier store hours during the start of the holiday shopping season last weekend helped boost retailers' revenue for the entire month of November.

29. Wal-Mart's Q3 Profits Down 2.9 Percent - Wednesday, November 16, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s reported its first quarterly revenue gain in its U.S. namesake business in more than two years, but the discounter's third-quarter profit slipped 2.9 percent, missing Wall Street expectations.

30. Annual India Fest Brings Culture to Life - Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Memphis’ growing diversity and exchange of cultures was evident Saturday, Nov. 5, as roughly 8,000 individuals poured into Agricenter International at 7777 Walnut Grove Road to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of India during India Fest 2011.

31. Jordan to Succeed Rose as First Horizon Chairman - Friday, October 21, 2011

Bryan Jordan, the CEO of First Tennessee Bank parent company First Horizon National Corp., will succeed Mike Rose as First Horizon chairman Jan. 1.

32. Wal-Mart Reverses Revenue Decline in US Business - Thursday, October 13, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Wal-Mart's effort to reverse a two-year sales slump at its U.S. Walmart stores is beginning to work.

The world's largest retailer said Wednesday that a key revenue measure has risen three months in a row for its namesake stores in the U.S. The company also said it plans to cut its capital spending in the U.S. as it continues to shift toward opening smaller stores and away from remodeling locations.

33. 30-Year Mortgage Below 4 Pct. for First Time Ever - Friday, October 07, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage this week fell below 4 percent for the first time ever, to 3.94 percent.

For those who can qualify, it's an extraordinary opportunity to buy a home or refinance.

34. Sometimes Survival Feels Like a Rally - Tuesday, September 20, 2011

What Goes Down Pessimism gets old. After running from shadows for the last few weeks, markets turned last week and faced their fears. The news wasn’t good, but it was good enough to cheer a market suffering from “Armageddon hypochondria.” At this point of pessimism, survival can spark a rally. For a ringside seat to this shadowboxing match, observe the movements in the European Financial ETF.

35. Unemployment Rises in More Than Half of US Metros - Thursday, June 30, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Unemployment rates rose last month in more than half of the nation's largest metro areas, driven higher by weak private-sector hiring and natural disasters.

The unemployment rate increased in 210 metro areas in May, the Labor Department said Wednesday. It fell in 131 cities and remained unchanged in 37. That's a sharp reversal from April, when unemployment rates dropped in more than 90 percent of metro areas.

36. Wal-Mart CEO Pushes Plan to Keep Retailer Growing - Monday, June 06, 2011

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. unveiled a $15 billion share buyback program Friday as it hammered home its message to shareholders at its annual meeting that the world's largest retailer will keep growing.

37. Pinched by Gas, Shoppers Pull Back Elsewhere - Friday, June 03, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Shoppers are showing signs of pulling back on spending on discretionary items like clothing and home goods as gasoline and groceries eat up more of their paychecks.

Those pressures led many retailers on Thursday to report only modest revenue increases in May, the latest sign of the economy hitting a soft patch.

38. Wal-Mart: A Year of Taking Stock to Regain Footing - Friday, June 03, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Wal-Mart is in a race against time to give the people what they want before they get comfortable shopping elsewhere.

Shoppers who switched to other stores when Wal-Mart decided to ditch best-selling toothbrush brands, craft supplies and bolts of fabric may be hard to win back.

39. Rising Pump Prices Add to Wal-Mart Uncertainty - Wednesday, May 18, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Rising gas prices are adding another obstacle to Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s campaign to reverse a two-year U.S. sales slump.

40. Retailers Post Strong April but Fret Over Future - Friday, May 06, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Retailers reported surging April revenue helped by a late Easter, extending strong spending momentum since late last year.

But some also warned gas prices nearing $4 a gallon are starting to cut into the spending power of lower-income customers who were already on tight budgets.

41. United, Continental Pushing Fares Up Again - Monday, May 02, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – United and Continental are raising airfares on many U.S. routes by up to $20 per round trip ticket. It's the latest effort to cover spiraling fuel costs across the airline industry.

42. First Horizon’s Mtg. Reflects New Landscape - Wednesday, April 20, 2011

When Mike Rose, board chairman of First Tennessee Bank’s parent company, opened the floor to questions at the annual meeting of shareholders Tuesday morning, the answer he got was – silence.

43. National Pastime with a Local Twist - Monday, April 18, 2011

Amateur baseball has always been a growth industry in the Memphis area.

The old Memphis Park Commission had an enormous adult summer softball organization that remains competitive, if not quite as large as it once was.

44. Wholesale Inventories and Sales Rise in January - Thursday, March 10, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Businesses at the wholesale level added to their stockpiles in January and their sales jumped by the largest amount in 14 months. But the spike in sales was partially influenced by rising oil prices.

45. Consumer Comeback Skips Wal-Mart's Aisles - Thursday, February 24, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Wal-Mart is missing out on the consumer comeback.

The world's largest retailer failed to reverse an almost two-year slide in a key revenue measure in its fourth quarter, it said Tuesday, after all but promising in November it would do just that.

46. Wal-Mart's 4Q Profit Rises; US Sales Still Slump - Wednesday, February 23, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported a 27 percent increase in fourth-quarter net income as the world's largest retailer benefited from cost-cutting and strong sales overseas.

47. U of M Symposium to Discuss City’s Place in Law - Thursday, February 10, 2011

Memphis over the years has been at the center of riveting, controversial and far-reaching court cases.

Many of them have either wound up in the history books or simply re-balanced the scales of justice for ordinary people.

48. 2010 Year of Changes for Financial Services Industry - Monday, December 27, 2010

From the high finance of Wall Street to the Main Street banks in Memphis that make loans and collect deposits, no corner of the financial services industry was spared from dramatic changes in 2010.

49. High Cotton - Monday, December 13, 2010

Carol Perel points from her office to the other side of the ground-floor lobby at 65 Union Ave.

“That trading floor,” she says, “is the Graceland of cotton.”

50. Holiday Shoppers Came Out to Spend in November - Friday, December 03, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Generous discounts lured American to stores and online for holiday gifts in November, providing cheer and delivering the best gains for retailers in four years.

That raises hopes, already buoyed by reports of crowded malls and early numbers, for a strong holiday shopping season and is an encouraging sign for the economic recovery.

51. Wal-Mart Q3 Profit Rises; Pressure Still on in US - Wednesday, November 17, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported a 9.3 percent increase in third-quarter net income as the world's largest retailer benefited from cost controls and a robust international business. The company also raised its full-year profit outlook.

52. Heavy Discounts Fuel Only Modest Retail Gains - Friday, November 05, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans took a pause in shopping in October, leaving retailers with their weakest peformance since April as unsually warm weather depressed their appetite for cold weather items.

53. Shoppers May Have the Upper Hand This Christmas - Friday, October 08, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – The Christmas shopping season doesn't kick off for another six weeks, but retailers already are signaling they're prepared to discount aggressively if needed to entice shoppers still skittish about spending.

54. Retailers Report September Boost - Friday, October 08, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Retailers reported surprisingly solid sales gains for September, boosted by back-to-school shopping, much of it pushed into September by parents who had put off trips to the mall.

55. Trade Deficit Narrows to $42.8 Billion in July - Friday, September 10, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The trade deficit narrowed significantly in July as exports climbed to the highest level in nearly two years, reflecting big gains in sales of U.S.-made airplanes and other manufactured goods while imports declined.

56. Pending Home Sales Rise 5.2 Percent in July - Friday, September 03, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of buyers who signed contracts to purchase previously occupied homes increased in July but remained well below last year's levels, a sign that demand for housing remains weak.

57. Taking Care of Business - Monday, August 30, 2010

A diverse mix of Memphis businesses is defying the odds and finding success spanning multiple family generations. Grant & Co., Champion Awards, Jim’s Place East, Barden Stone and Broadway Pizza are among the Memphis institutions thriving under second- and third-generation ownership and management.

58. Soccer, Music Fest Adds to Mike Rose Complex Offerings - Friday, August 27, 2010

Stranger combinations have come off well – chocolate and peanut butter, poodles and golden retrievers, for example – but organizers of this week’s Soccer Rocks Festival and Copa Memphis soccer tournament hope to add soccer and rock music to the list of successful hybrids.

59. Wal-Mart Q2 Profit Rises 3.6 Pct on Cost-Cutting - Wednesday, August 18, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported a 3.6 percent increase in second-quarter net income and raised its earnings guidance for the full year as it benefits from cost-cutting and robust global growth in China, Brazil and Mexico.

60. Boyle Investment Files Loan on Ridgeway Center Office Building - Tuesday, July 27, 2010

889 Ridge Lake Boulevard
Memphis, TN 38120
Loan Amount: $6.9 Million

Loan Date: July 19, 2010
Maturity Date: Jan. 1, 2020
Borrower: Boyle-889 RLB Partnership
Lender: Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society

61. Rout Brings Experience, Leadership To BankTennessee - Friday, July 23, 2010

Jim Rout was an elected official in Shelby County for nearly 30 years and served two terms as the county’s mayor, beginning in 1994.

It’s safe to say he’s a very experienced public speaker, but back in 1961, as a freshman at then-Memphis State University, the prospect of speaking in front of a few of his college classmates was so daunting that he walked out of the class and never came back.

62. Trade Gap Widens as Imports and Exports Rise - Wednesday, July 14, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) — The trade deficit rose in May to an 18-month peak as rising imports offset another solid gain in U.S. exports. The surge in imports was a hopeful sign for the economic recovery because it suggested businesses are optimistic that U.S. consumers will spend more in coming months.

63. Retailers Post Choppy June, Start to Discount More - Friday, July 09, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) — Stores steepened discounts more than planned in June to help drive recession-scarred customers into the malls to buy summer merchandise. But shoppers spent cautiously amid escalating job worries, resulting in modest gains for many merchants.

64. First Tennessee on Cusp of Profitability - Friday, July 02, 2010

Memphis’ most prominent local bank – which is also the largest based in Tennessee – looks close to breaking an eight-quarter string of earnings losses.

The average estimate among 26 analysts who cover the stock of Memphis-based First Horizon National Corp., the parent company of First Tennessee Bank, is that First Horizon will report another loss when it unveils its second quarter earnings in two weeks. But the loss will likely be a small one.

65. Wal-Mart’s Q1 Net Income Rises 10 Percent - Wednesday, May 19, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s first-quarter net income rose 10 percent as the world’s largest retailer benefited from cost-cutting and robust growth in its international business.

66. Wholesale Inventories and Sales Rise in March - Wednesday, May 12, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) — Inventories held by wholesalers rose for a third consecutive month in March while sales increased by more than double the expected amount. Rising demand is making businesses more confident about the future, a key development needed to sustain the recovery.

67. Rosy Reports: Home Sales Jump, Jobless Claims Fall - Friday, April 23, 2010

'WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. economy is improving, with home sales up, jobless claims down and inflation tame. Yet there are concerns the economic rebound won't get much juice from the housing market, which is being fueled by government tax breaks.

68. Home Sales Surge in Southern Cities - Friday, April 23, 2010

MIAMI (AP) - March home sales climbed nearly 19 percent in the South as buyers scrambled to claim federal tax credits and take advantage of affordable prices.

There were 160,000 sales of previously occupied homes last month in the South, which also saw prices increase more than 5 percent to $154,800, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. The last time prices rose in the South on a year-over-year basis was June 2008.

69. First Horizon Presents Positive Outlook - Wednesday, April 21, 2010

NASHVILLE – First Horizon National Corp. executives said Tuesday morning shareholders can expect the Memphis-based company to return to profitability and repay emergency federal capital soon.

70. Retailers Report 4th Consecutive Month of Gains - Friday, April 09, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) - Warmer weather and an earlier Easter enticed shoppers into stores for spring merchandise in March, helping retailers post strong sales gains for the month.

Discounter Target Corp., department store Macy's Inc., clothier Gap Inc. and Victoria's Secret parent Limited Brands Inc. posted double-digit increases that beat Wall Street analysts' expectations.

71. Tenn. House GOP Leader to Retire - Friday, March 26, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee House Majority Leader Jason Mumpower, who lost last year’s election for speaker in a shocking upset, announced Thursday he won’t seek re-election.

The 36-year-old Republican was first elected to the seat representing part of Sullivan County and all of Johnson County in 1996.

72. Tenn. Considering Extra Fines for 'Super Speeders' - Thursday, March 18, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee lawmakers are considering ways to add new monetary penalties for speeding drivers as a way to boost funding for the state's trauma centers.

As introduced, the "super speeders" bill would fine drivers $200 for traveling 15 mph above the speed limit. Republican Sen. Jack Johnson of Franklin said he plans to rewrite the bill to target drivers going more than 25 mph above the posted speed limit.

73. Wholesale Inventories Fall While Sales Increase - Thursday, March 11, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - Businesses trimmed inventories at the wholesale level again in January even though sales rose for a 10th consecutive month. The dip in inventories underscored that businesses remain cautious about restocking their depleted shelves.

74. Retailers Report Strong Gains for February - Friday, March 05, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) - Shoppers shrugged off the snow and worries about the economy to buy spring clothing and other items at the nation's malls, resulting in the strongest retail sales gain since November 2007, a month before the recession started.

75. Wal-Mart Profit Rises 22 Percent for Q4 - Friday, February 19, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., one of the recession's biggest beneficiaries, felt the pinch during the fourth quarter as quarterly sales fell at its namesake U.S. division for the first time in memory.

76. Wells Fargo Reports Unexpected Q4 Profit - Thursday, January 21, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) - Wells Fargo & Co. on Wednesday took a more optimistic view than other banks about consumer resilience, after it reported a surprise profit for the fourth quarter.

77. Bredesen: Teacher Testing Deal Needed by Weds. Evening - Thursday, January 14, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Phil Bredesen said a final agreement on how to use student test scores in teacher evaluations was needed by late Wednesday to keep the state's application for nearly half a billion dollars in federal "Race to the Top" money on track.

78. Out of Bounds - Monday, November 16, 2009

The August report from the NCAA calls him “student-athlete 1.” Everyone but the NCAA and the University of Memphis calls him Derrick Rose.

79. Earnings Reports to Give Picture of Job Market - Tuesday, October 27, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - Wall Street may be roaring again and manufacturers see a bright future selling their wares in Asia. But for many Americans, it's still a downturn until the jobs come back.

This week, earnings from several companies with deep ties to corporate payrolls, consumer demand and the labor market will show whether employers are hiring, firing or holding off on filling vacancies.

80. Heating Oil Prices Cool Down as Winter Approaches - Tuesday, September 29, 2009

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Homeowners who heat with oil were feeling sticker shock just over a year ago as prices soared close to $5 a gallon, but they're breathing easier now.

Heating oil prices are barely half what they were in summer 2008 – and while prices might go up and even exceed last winter's, nothing indicates any severe spike this winter.

81. 1.3 Million to Lose Jobless Benefits by Year's End - Friday, September 04, 2009

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Jobless since January, Donald Money has already moved in with his elderly parents, stopped going to the movies and started using less of his prescription medication so it will last longer.

82. July Pending Home Sales Rise To Two-Year High - Wednesday, September 02, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) – A gauge of future U.S. home sales rose more than expected in July to the highest level in more than two years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of a tax credit that expires this fall.

83. Wells Fargo Posts Q2 Profit, Surpasses Street - Thursday, July 23, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Wells Fargo & Co. joined other big banks in announcing a big second-quarter profit and tempering the news by reporting it is still contending with losses from failed loans.

84. Caterpillar Q2 Profit Falls 66 Pct on Weak Demand - Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Caterpillar Inc.'s second-quarter profit tumbled on slumping sales of heavy equipment and the cost of staff cuts, but it saw signs that the global economy is starting to stabilize after a prolonged slide.

85. Budget Umpire: Health Care Bills Would Raise Costs - Friday, July 17, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats' health care bills won't meet President Barack Obama's goal of slowing the ruinous rise of medical costs, Congress' budget umpire warned on Thursday, giving weight to critics who say the legislation could break the bank.

86. Obama: Health Care Reform Essential to Stability - Thursday, July 16, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Praising and prodding Congress, President Barack Obama on Wednesday said a vast reform of the nation's health insurance system is required to head off instability to families, industry and the government itself.

87. Mixed-Use Development Slated For Southeast Shelby County - Tuesday, July 14, 2009

50 acres at Forest Hill-Irene Road and Tenn. 385
Memphis, TN 38125
Sale Amount: $4 Million

Sale Date: June 26, 2009
Buyer: Edward Rose Development Co. LLC
Seller: Turley LP

88. Michigan Co. Buys Land for Development - Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Edward Rose Development Co. LLC has bought 50 acres at the southeast corner of Forest Hill-Irene Road and Tenn. 385 for $4 million from Turley LP.

89. Commission Moves to Next Phase of Tax Vote - Monday, June 29, 2009

When the Shelby County Commission meets this afternoon, the body will take the second of three required votes on a new county tax rate for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The commission’s budget committee reaffirmed its support Wednesday of a new property tax rate of $4.02 per $100 of assessed value. The current county tax rate is $4.04.

90. City, County Tax Picture Comes Into Focus - Friday, June 19, 2009

Most property owners whose appraisals increased this year will end up paying more in property taxes, based on tax rates approved this week by Memphis and Shelby County governments.

For those taxpayers, the bills will get higher even though the city and county tax rates will decrease.

91. April New Home Sales Inch Upward - Friday, May 29, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sales of newly built homes were flat in April, but are now 7 percent above the rock-bottom lows of January, another indication the three-year housing downturn could be ending.

92. AutoZone to Report Fiscal Q3 Earnings Today - Wednesday, May 27, 2009

AutoZone Inc. will report fiscal third-quarter earnings today. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinions related to the period.

93. Strip Club Owners Want Oversight by City, Not County - Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Owners of seven Memphis strip clubs who want to keep the tops off dancers and the beer taps flowing soon might have to operate under a stricter set of rules.

But the clubs have filed a new lawsuit against the city in an attempt to make an older, less restrictive ordinance govern what’s allowed inside the dens of skin.

94. Lowe's Q1 Profit Falls, But Tops Wall Street View - Tuesday, May 19, 2009

CHICAGO (AP) - Lowe's Cos. Inc. said shoppers buying paints, plants and replacement parts in the first quarter helped the home-improvement chain beat Wall Street forecasts and prompted it to boost its full-year outlook.

95. Wal-Mart Profit Flat on Impact of Strong Dollar - Friday, May 15, 2009

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which posted flat first-quarter earnings Thursday, will spend another summer marketing its wares to families who want to have fun even in hard times.

96. Valero Q1 Profit Jumps 18 Pct But Revenue Tumbles - Wednesday, April 29, 2009

HOUSTON (AP) - Valero Energy Corp. said Tuesday its first-quarter profit rose more than 18 percent, easily beating Wall Street expectations as higher margins for turning crude into gasoline offset weak demand for a variety of refined products.

97. First Horizon CEO Strikes Optimistic Tone for Shareholders - Wednesday, April 22, 2009
 

First Horizon National Corp. president and CEO Bryan Jordan opened his remarks to shareholders at the Memphis company’s annual meeting Tuesday with what most listeners probably would say was an understatement.

“What an interesting year it’s been,” he said.

Jordan went on to acknowledge the bumpy economy had left the bank holding company with a $192 million net loss at the end of 2008. The company’s loss at the end of the first quarter was $82.8 million after paying out almost $15 million in preferred stock dividends.

Also as part of the unusual series of events in 2008, the company began a major wind-down of its national business and accepted an $866 million infusion of federal capital through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

But Jordan also pointed to a strategic repositioning of the bank’s mission and operations as reasons to be optimistic about the future. First Horizon, the banking arm of which turned 145 years old this year, saw core deposits up about 4 percent in the first quarter compared to the previous quarter.

The company boasts strong capital and liquidity positions, with a Tier 1 capital ratio of 15 percent and tangible common equity to tangible assets at 7.1 percent. And Jordan said the company’s capital markets operation saw a second consecutive quarter of record earnings, with fixed-income revenues of $197 million in the first quarter compared to $156.5 million in the previous quarter.

“History supports a hopeful attitude,” Jordan said. “Our country will bounce back from this downturn. Our company also has a legacy of endurance and success.”

Actions taken by shareholders at the meeting include:

• Appointing KPMG LLP as First Horizon’s auditor for 2009.
• Electing five directors to serve until the 2010 annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected: Mark Emkes, Bryan Jordan, Brad Martin, William Sansom and Vicki Palmer.
• Approving an advisory proposal on executive compensation.

The advisory proposal is an outgrowth of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, amended by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, requiring any participant in the TARP program to include a non-binding shareholder vote on executive compensation.

Commonly referred to as a “say on pay” proposal, it gives shareholders a chance to endorse or speak out against the company’s executive pay program.

The First Horizon board of directors also approved Mike Rose's move from executive chairman of the board to non-executive chairman, a move that means a shifting for Rose away from an active, hands-on management role.

Rose became executive chairman more than two years ago as Jerry Baker became First Horizon's CEO. Baker was replaced in September by Jordan.

"The board and I agreed that I would serve in an executive role during what we realized would be a time of significant change for this company," Rose said in a statement. "And now the board and I agree that it's time for me to move to a non-executive role and focus my energy on the work of the board while leaving the management of the company to the strong CEO and leadership team that's in place today."

98. $2M Retail Center to Rise Near Rose Complex - Monday, March 09, 2009

A $2 million retail center – co-anchored by a gas station/convenience store and a Subway restaurant with a detached automated car wash – will rise soon at 4356 Forest Hill-Irene Road in Southeast Memphis, the project’s developer confirmed last week.

99. Wal-Mart Reports Better-Than-Expected Q4 Earnings - Wednesday, February 18, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it's still pulling shoppers away from its main rivals and enjoying a rise in customer traffic as the world's largest retailer released better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings Tuesday.

100. JPMorgan Posts Profit, But 'Disappointing' One - Friday, January 16, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - JPMorgan Chase eked out a fourth-quarter profit, but its results were anything but calming to investors worried about the mountain of upcoming losses in the troubled banking sector.