5 Winners and Losers of the Week in Business
Among the wins and losses in business this week: the well-timed announcement of a bar-raising new cruise ship and a painful computer failure at a major airline.
Seattle
Boeing 787 Test Flights Possible by Week's End, Sources Say
Boeing plans to conduct two flight tests of its revamped 787 battery system, possibly as soon as the end of the week, sources say.
Boeing Gets Big Boost with Huge Order from Ryanair
Ryanair has made the biggest-ever order of Boeing planes by a European airline, announcing Tuesday it will buy 175 aircraft in a major boost for the U.S. aerospace giant.
Millionaire's Lecture on Living With Less: Preachy, but Useful
A multimillionaire's op-ed about cutting back offers a useful perspective -- even for those who no longer have a choice about whether or not to economize.
Billionaires Set to Return NBA to Seattle - Without the Big Tax Bill
Seattle may be about to get an NBA basketball team again -- and this time, its citizens might not have to pick up part of the tab. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and hedge fund manager Chris Hansen are reportedly teaming up to move the hapless Sacramento Kings to Washington state.
Northeast Air Travel Still Stalled, Thousands of Flights Cancelled
Hurricane Sandy grounded more than 18,000 flights, and it will be days before travel gets back to normal. Authorities closed the three big New York airports, and the ripple effects from the shutdown of the nation's busiest airspace are dramatically affecting travelers in cities far and wide.
Microsoft and NBC Cut Ties on MSNBC.com
Microsoft is pulling out of the joint venture that owned MSNBC.com, freeing the world's largest software maker to build its own online news service. NBC is buying Microsoft's 50% interest in the website and will rebrand it NBCNews.com.
Amazon Locks Down a New Way to Deliver: To the Corner Store
Don't have a secure mailbox or mailing address? No problem: Amazon still wants you as a customer -- which is why it may not be long before the online retail giant opens a locker delivery unit at a convenience store near you.
Home Prices Rise in Most Major U.S. Cities for First Time in 7 Months
Home prices rose in March from February in most major U.S. cities for the first time in seven months. The increase is the latest evidence of a slow recovery taking shape in the troubled housing market.
Is an Amazon Store in the Real World a Good Idea?
Soon, you might be able to buy a new Kindle at an actual, brick-and-mortar Amazon Store. The e-commerce giant is reportedly opening its first pilot store in Seattle. It's an intriguing idea, but the real question is: Why would Amazon want to?
Venti, Meet Vino: Starbucks Spikes Its Drink Menu
Starbucks is renowned for its caffeinated drinks, but it isn't above spiking its beverage menu here and there. The coffee giant is adding wine and beer at up to a dozen cafes in the Southern California and Atlanta markets.
One Sign That the Housing Market Has Hit Bottom
It has been a rough few years for homeowners, and an even worse time for real estate developers. But in a small encouraging sign, luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers is acquiring Seattle-based CamWest Development.
Costs of Aging: Retiring Frugally vs. Finding Love
Planning for a happy retirement takes foresight, a lifetime of saving money and little luck. But planning for love? That might cost you. The choices for how we spend our golden years -- and how much we spend -- have a big impact on our social lives, and our chances of discovering new love.
The 10 U.S. Cities Where Parking Is Most Expensive
City dwellers know that finding an affordable downtown parking spot involves cutthroat competition. And in some urban centers, even the winners pay through the nose for a place to stash their cars. Find out where the rates are worst (and the high price we all pay for "free" parking.)
