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<![CDATA[Lowell Sun Business]]>
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<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com]]>
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<![CDATA[en]]>
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<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[News]]>
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<ttl>15</ttl>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Job outlook still bleak]]>
</title>
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<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13728367?source=rss]]>
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<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13728367]]>
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<![CDATA[WASHINGTON-- Companies across the economy are finding ways to do more with fewer workers, dimming hopes that hiring will take off anytime soon.    Employers became leaner and more efficient in the third quarter.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Martin Crutsinger and Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:36:55 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Butler Bank works to resolve loan portfolio]]>
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<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13728295?source=rss]]>
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<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13728295]]>
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<![CDATA[LOWELL -- Despite a $1.7 million loss in the third quarter of this year, top brass at Butler Bank are working diligently to resolve the bank's troubled loan portfolio.    A key component to securing the bank's future is finding another bank to merge with, said Butler President and CEO Janet Bruno.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Chris Camire, ccamire@lowellsun.com)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:36:04 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Retail sales get pick-me-up]]>
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<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13728281?source=rss]]>
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<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13728281]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[NEW YORK (AP) -- Consumers, enticed by cooler weather, early holiday discounts and an improving economy, spent a little more in October, handing the retail industry its second consecutive monthly sales gain after more than a year of declines.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:35:27 -0700]]>
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<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Fashion goes down-market]]>
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<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13719305?source=rss]]>
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<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13719305]]>
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<![CDATA[NEW YORK -- Some of fashion's best-known names are playing musical chairs.    Faced with a consolidating department store industry and eroding sales, some labels are cutting ties with retailers that sold their clothing and betting their future with one chain.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Anne D'Innocenzio, AP Retail Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:38:55 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Home-based parties invite little liability]]>
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<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13719346?source=rss]]>
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<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13719346]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[Q: My wife often hosts product sales parties at our home.  I am afraid of getting stuck with liability if a guest is injured in my home. Who bears the liability for accidents at these parties?    A: Many husbands are jaded by the home-based sales party industry.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:41:48 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Business confidence climbs a little more, survey shows]]>
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<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13719328?source=rss]]>
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<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13719328]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[BOSTON -- Business confidence continued its slow rise from its all-time low set in February, according to a monthly survey conducted by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM).    AIM reported on Tuesday that its Business Confidence Index rose nine-tenths of a point in October, to 43.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:36:01 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Business Briefs]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13719309?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13719309]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[Bay State technology groups merge    BURLINGTON (AP) -- Two organizations that represent the interests of technology companies in Massachusetts are combining forces. The Mass Technology Leadership Council, also known as MassTLC, announced yesterday that it was merging with Massachusetts Network Communications Council, also known as MassNetComms.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:35:28 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Service sector grows but doubts about economy linger]]>
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<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13719302?source=rss]]>
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<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13719302]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[NEW YORK -- The U.S. service sector grew for a second straight month in October, but at a slower pace than in September, as a broad economic recovery creeps along.    The Institute for Supply Management said yesterday that its service index dipped to 50.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Tali Arbel, AP Business Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:35:20 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Find the Line]]>
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<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13719296?source=rss]]>
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<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13719296]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[Which brands are where in the fashion industry's game of musical chairs:    LIZ CLAIBORNE: Starting this fall, J.C. Penney will become the exclusive retailer of its Liz Claiborne and Claiborne line of women's wear, men's wear, accessories, shoes and household products.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:35:16 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Assisted-living facility opens in Wilmington]]>
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<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13710554?source=rss]]>
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<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13710554]]>
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<![CDATA[WILMINGTON -- The economic downturn still has many businesses reaching for the layoff ax.    Not Windsor Place.     The new assisted-living facility at the intersection of West and Lowell streets is creating jobs -- with 50 new positions to be generated by the time the facility reaches full occupancy.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Alexandra Mayer-Hohdahl, amayer-hohdahl@lowellsun.com)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:56:33 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Social networking can help business]]>
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<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13710625?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13710625]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, MySpace, LinkedIn -- all of these social-networking sites have created many opportunities for business owners and companies. There are many others, but I just needed to name a few.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:12:06 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Buffett buys a railroad]]>
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<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13710612?source=rss]]>
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<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13710612]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[NEW YORK -- Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. yesterday agreed to buy Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., making a $34 billion bet on the future of the U.S. economy.    Burlington Northern, the nation's second-largest railroad, is the biggest hauler of food products like corn and coal for electricity, making it an indicator of the country's]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Samantha Bomkamp, AP Transportation Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:11:42 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Business Briefs]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13710611?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13710611]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[Window maker closing plant in Springfield    SPRINGFIELD (AP) -- Window and door manufacturer Harvey Building Products has announced plans to close its Springfield facility and move about 100 jobs to other locations in New England.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:11:41 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Recovery gaining momentum]]>
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<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13702031?source=rss]]>
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<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13702031]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[WASHINGTON -- Hopes for the fledgling economic recovery got a boost yesterday from better-than-expected news on manufacturing, construction and contracts to buy homes.    The surprisingly strong readings provided some comfort that the economy is packing more momentum than assumed going into the end of the year.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:27:17 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Ford looks to bail itself out]]>
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<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13701967?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13701967]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- One of the troubled Detroit Three automakers, Ford, is making money again and looking for better times in no more than two years.    Emerging from a three-year makeover with popular cars and trucks, Ford said yesterday it earned nearly $1 billion in the third quarter and will be solidly profitable by 2011.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:36:09 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Have you been waiting for Windows 7? Your wait is over; it is officially here. But should you upgrade?]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13701962?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13701962]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[Don't forget that Vista was supposed to be the best operating system ever created. It quickly became a stinker. What went wrong with Vista? Everything has problems, but most of the Vista problems might not be valid.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:36:04 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Discussion begins on small-business health-care reform]]>
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<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13701961?source=rss]]>
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<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13701961]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[LOWELL -- On the heels of Gov. Deval Patrick's call last week for small-business health-insurance reform, a brief public hearing yesterday at Middlesex Community College's Federal Building drew a handful of business owners and insurance representatives.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Dennis Shaughnessey, dshaughnessey@lowellsun.com)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:36:02 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Pepperell man's efforts definitely bold water]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13690021?source=rss]]>
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<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13690021]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[PEPPERELL -- When Aga Khan University's new Faculty of Arts and Science building opens in Pakistan, not a single drop of water that toilets are flushed with will go to waste.    Brian Vinchesi can assure you of that, because his Pepperell company, Irrigation Consulting Inc.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Hiroko Sato, hsato@lowellsun.com)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:20:23 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Don't bring leaves to the curb]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13693810?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13693810]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[If you are dreaming of gorgeous flowers blooming across your garden, this may be the time to start planning for it.     That's because fallen leaves are a great source of nutrients that plants need. Instead of buying chemical fertilizers in the spring, you might want to make your own organic compost from the leaves that you are about to dump on]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Hiroko Sato, hsato@lowellsun.com)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:27:32 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Tewksbury assisted-living facility is acquired by Burlington company]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13689989?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13689989]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[TEWKSBURY -- A Burlington-based company that oversees senior living communities throughout New England has added the Isle at Emerald Court to its portfolio.    The assisted-living facility, which features 94 units, opened in Tewksbury three years ago.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Alexandra Mayer-Hohdahl, amayer-hohdahl@lowellsun.com)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:23:16 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Tread carefully in coping with this recession]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13689959?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13689959]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[It is no secret that facing today's challenges requires more skill, strength of character, motivation and preparation than during more normal times. Whether employed, worried about your job, or unemployed and seeking a new position, we are all facing a situation that is more serious than in the past.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:20:13 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Risk and return]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13689932?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13689932]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[Seattle-based Merriman Capital conducted a study for how various asset allocations performed over five-year periods. The results give investors an idea of what to expect in terms of worst-case scenarios (average loss) and average return for five-year periods.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:19:23 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Know your risk tolerance before targeting returns]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13689931?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13689931]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[When it comes to investing, there is no perfect way to know in advance precisely what level of loss one may be willing to accept. But there are ways to help investors get a better handle on it.     One of the first conversations we have at Capital Wealth Management with any potential client is about investment risk.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:19:21 -0700]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[How to claim homebuyer credit with IRS]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13684653?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13684653]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[Q: I see the first-time homebuyer credit may be extended. When I buy this winter, how do I claim my first-time homebuyer credit with the IRS?      A: As I write this column, The Associated Press and the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid report that senators agreed to extend the existing tax credit for first-time homebuyers while offering]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:02:31 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Title insurance protects owner against previous claims]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13684614?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13684614]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[NEW YORK -- Amid the heap of obligations and expenses that come with buying a house, title insurance can be one of the most bewildering.    The topic can make your eyes glaze over, but anyone buying a home for the first time needs to understand exactly what it is.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Candice Choi, AP Personal Finance Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:35:30 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Business Briefs]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13676011?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13676011]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[Raytheon lands $81.1M Navy contract TEWKSBURY (AP) -- Raytheon Co.'s Integrated Defense Systems unit received an $81.1 million Navy contract for an undersea warfare sensor for the Navy's MH-60R multi-mission helicopter, the company said.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:18:55 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Sales up at American Superconductor; shares jump 22.5%]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13676080?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13676080]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[DEVENS -- Shares of American Superconductor surged yesterday after the maker of high-conductivity wires announced better-than-expected earnings and increased its outlook for the rest of this fiscal year.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:16:20 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Droid, Verizon's answer to iPhone, on sale Nov. 6]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13667341?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13667341]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[NEW YORK -- Verizon Wireless will start selling its answer to the iPhone -- the Droid -- for $200 next week as the company taps into the growing appetite for smart phones that go far beyond making calls.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Barbara Ortutay, AP Technology Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:13:47 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Exec who jumped to Dunkin' is paying off Starbucks]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13667407?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13667407]]>
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<description>
<![CDATA[SEATTLE (AP) -- Competition between Starbucks Coffee Co. and Dunkin' Donuts has gone beyond mochas and lattes, to corporate executives.    Paul Twohig of Hilton Head, S.C., a former Starbucks senior vice president who jumped ship to work for Dunkin', reportedly is paying $500,000 to settle a lawsuit.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:41:29 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Costco to start taking food stamps]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13667345?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13667345]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Costco says it will start accepting food stamps at its warehouse clubs nationwide after testing them at stores in New York.    It's a big about-face for a retailer that has catered to the bargain-hunting affluent -- and a sign of the grim reality facing retailers and their customers.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:35:28 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Kickstarting the Bay State]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658689?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658689]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[BOSTON -- Massachusetts will consider a fund to provide capital to small and medium-sized businesses, Gov. Deval Patrick announced yesterday as he closed a one-day summit with government and business leaders.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Glen Johnson, AP Political Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:01:54 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Consumers aren't buying recovery]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658608?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658608]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[CHICAGO -- Consumers' confidence about the U.S. economy fell unexpectedly in October as job prospects remained bleak, a private research group said yesterday, fueling speculation that an already gloomy holiday shopping forecast could worsen.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Ashley M. Heher, AP Retail W\riter)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:35:43 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Amtrak costs taxpayers $32 per passenger, private study finds]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658607?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658607]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. taxpayers spent about $32 subsidizing the cost of the typical Amtrak passenger in 2008, about four times the rail operator's estimate, according to a private study.    Amtrak operates a nationwide rail network, serving more than 500 destinations in 46 states.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:35:42 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Study: Economy scales down quality of retirement]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658605?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658605]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[DES MOINES, Iowa -- Workers in more than half of U.S. households will likely be unable to retire at 65 at the same lifestyle they enjoy today, a new study says.    The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College says its latest analysis of household financial status shows 51 percent are at high risk of falling short of having enough money in]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (David Pitt, AP Personal Finance Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:35:30 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Home sales up again in Bay State]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658602?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658602]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[BOSTON (AP) -- Home sales in Massachusetts rose for the third consecutive month in September as the median price continued to decline.    The Massachusetts Association of Realtors and The Warren Group said yesterday that the increase in sales of single-family homes when compared to the year-ago month is due in large part to the $8,000 federal tax]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:35:25 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Obama announces $3.4B for smart grids]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658601?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658601]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[By Charles Babington    Associated Press Writer    ARCADIA, Fla. -- President Barack Obama made a pitch for renewable energy yesterday, announcing $3.4 billion in government support for 100 projects aimed at modernizing the nation's power grid.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:35:25 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Business calendar]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658594?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658594]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[October    28 - "Inheritance Planning... A Journey Through Life." Presented by Workers' Credit Union Investment and Insurance Center. A hands-on workshop on how to increase your estate's value, avoid probate and take advantage of Medicaid laws.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:35:13 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Law requires businesses to protect personal information]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658593?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658593]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[If you own a business in Massachusetts, do business in the state or have customers or clients who live there, you must become aware of a new set of privacy laws.     Let's start from the beginning: The law, found at 201 CMR 17:00, entitled "Standards for the protection of personal information of residents of the Commonwealth," says businesses must]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:35:13 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Nashoba Chamber to present leadership awards]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658592?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13658592]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[DEVENS -- The Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 11th annual Community Service &amp; Leadership Awards event Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Devens Common Center, 31 Andrews Parkway. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:35:09 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Seasonal help]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13638979?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13638979]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[CHICAGO -- If you're hunting for holiday work, you may have better luck this year, but pickings will still be slim for would-be workers hoping to snag extra Christmas cash.    Retailers slashed their hiring last Christmas, bringing on roughly 380,000 seasonal employees -- half the number they hired the year before and the fewest since 1989.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Ashley M. Heher, AP Retail Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:55:57 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA['Green Cones' keep Vt. food out of landfills]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13642991?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13642991]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[In Montpelier, Vt., what people dump into cafeteria trash cans and kitchen wastebaskets helps farmers grow food.     Some food scraps from schools and businesses wind up on a farm that feeds the nutritious waste to 2,000 chickens, which in turn produce giant eggs with gorgeous orange yolks that high-end restaurants seek.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Hiroko Sato, hsato@lowellsun.com)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:46:38 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Pop-up warning? Be careful what you're clicking]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13649906?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13649906]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[While surfing the Internet, a window suddenly pops up on your computer that indicates it's infected with a virus. What do you do?     Don't click on anything except the red "x" in the upper-righthand corner.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:35:22 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Ex-mutual fund CEO takes industry to task]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13643147?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13643147]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[BOSTON -- Dan Calabria is a believer in mutual funds, imperfect as they may be: "I consider them to be the worst investment in the world, except for everything else that's out there," he quips.    His belief in the power of small investors pooling their money together is rooted in a fund industry career that spanned more than four decades,]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Mark Jewell, AP Personal Finance Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:38:29 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[SLASHING EXEC PAY   Some experts see 'brain drain' from bailed-out firms]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13643157?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13643157]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[NEW YORK -- The Obama administration's decision to cut the pay of top executives at companies on taxpayer life support will help quiet the popular outrage over excessive compensation. But it introduces a new concern: brain drain.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Rachel Beck, AP Business Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:06:27 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Office parties simpler this year -- but still can be fun]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13643145?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13643145]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[NEW YORK -- With Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season weeks away, many small-business owners are planning holiday parties for employees and clients despite the still wobbly economy. But the celebrations are expected to be low-key, frugal and, some say, much more fun.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Joyce M. Rosenberg, AP Business Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:06:08 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Casenet raises $3M in convertible debt]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13643092?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13643092]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[BEDFORD -- Casenet Inc., a startup that makes software for the health-care industry, has raised $3 million in convertible debt, according to a report in Mass High-Tech. The debt was secured by existing investors HLM Venture Partners and Sigma Partners, according to the report.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:04:31 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Important terms that can get you the job]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13643090?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13643090]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[I've been catching up with some e-mail questions and comments from my series on competency-based behavioral interviewing techniques, along with coaching how one can score highly on their performance evaluation if aware of their specific criteria.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:04:27 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Merrimack taps Modica-Napolitano]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13643087?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13643087]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[Josephine Modica-Napolitano of Tewksbury has been named dean of the School of Science and Engineering at Merrimack College.    She had served as interim dean since March, working with her colleagues to identify and pursue strategic goals and sharing the vision of excellence for the School of Science and Engineering.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:04:23 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Home sales spurt in September]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13635589?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13635589]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[WASHINGTON - Home resales in September clocked the largest monthly increase in 26 years as buyers scrambled to complete their purchases before a tax credit for first-time owners expires. Sales jumped 9.]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (Alan Zibel, AP Real Estate Writer)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:27:24 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>
<![CDATA[Frequent-fly miles can be inherited]]>
</title>
<link>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13635588?source=rss]]>
</link>
<guid>
<![CDATA[http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_13635588]]>
</guid>
<description>
<![CDATA[Q: My father was a business traveler. He recently passed away, owning tons of frequent flyer miles. Can the miles be passed in his will? A: In a desperate economic age where airlines are strapped for cash, most reserve the right to refuse the inheritance of frequent-flyer miles, though airlines often allow their transfer when an accountholder]]>
</description>
<category domain="Media News Group">
<![CDATA[/business]]>
</category>
<author>
<![CDATA[editor@lowellsun.com (The Lowell Sun)]]>
</author>
<pubDate>
<![CDATA[Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:24:48 -0600]]>
</pubDate>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>