azcentral.com podcast- Business - 7 days

• East Valley joins economic balancing act
  The year ended teetering on recession, if not fully immersed in one, depending on which economist you believe. The Southeast Valley wasnt any exception, feeling the heat of the housing market meltdown and the credit crunch.
• Pool builder: 'Kickbacks' cost homeowners millions
  Pool builder says kickbacks cost homeowners millions
• Recyclers hope to bring microwave tech to Arizona
  A company wants to buy giant microwave machines from New Jersey to cook tires. The result, heating oil, natural gas, carbon and steel, all of which would be recycled and sold.
• Semiconductor company delays venture until '08
  Semiconductor company delays venture until 08
• SkySong deal opens portal to Asia
  An Asian company that supports entrepreneurs and startup businesses has signed an agreement to use SkySong as its first entrance to the U.S. market.
• Set to build homes, without generators
  A Mesa builder and Salt River Project are working to shortcircuit noisy, fumespewing, coughinducing generators on home construction sites.
• Woman-owned firms compete to grow revenue
  A national competition described as American Idol meets The Apprentice comes to Phoenix in March to help women grow their companies.
• Stores cling to post-holiday hopes
  Deep discounts lure bargain hunters but estimates are mixed on December sales. s Bargain hunting
• Hordes line up not to return items, but to spend cards
  More than half of Americans made gift cards No. 1 on their holiday lists this year, the National Retail Federation reported. Many will be out spending their windfall Wednesday.
• Foreigners drawn to U.S. home market
  Cosmopolitan cities such as New York and Miami have long served as second homes for affluent and accomplished foreigners. But the trend is growing. One in five American real estate agents has sold a home to a foreign investor in the past year, according to the National Association of Realtors.
• Food-pantry project takes health care straight to poor
  An outofwork David Thomas walked into a Milwaukee food pantry just seeking groceries. Thomas learned he was a stroke waiting to happen and got bloodpressure medicine along with his bread.
• The Valley's priciest home sales
  Last weeks biggest real estate deals in the Valley.
• You buying or shopping?
  The kind of customer service you prefer likely depends on whether you are a buyer or a shopper.
• Bloggers cash in on online advertising
  Zach Brooks pocketed 1,000 this month blogging about the cheap lunches he discovers around midtown Manhattan 10 or less, preferably greasy, and if hes lucky, served from a truck.
• Last-minute surge of shoppers brings some relief to retailers
  NEW YORK Just weeks ago, the holiday shopping season seemed headed for disaster. But in the waning hours before Christmas, the nations retailers got their wish a lastminute surge of shopping that was expected to help them meet modest sales goals.
• Shuttered Re/Max may have future
  The closure of Gilbertbased RE/MAX 2000 realestate broker is yet another example of the economic impact of a sluggish housing market.
• More shops stay open Christmas
  Some businesses find it pays to be open on Christmas.
• New year, new chance to review investment goals
  NEW YORK Its a time of year when we make promises of selfbetterment that we have little intention of keeping. Sure, failing to drop those last few pounds or slog through a big read like Ulysses might be disappointing, but losing sight of investment goals can lead to longerlasting troubles.
• Stocks gain after Merrill gets $6.2 bil influx from 2 investors
  NEW YORK Wall Street advanced sharply Monday, boosted by news that Merrill Lynch amp; Co. will receive an investment of up to 6.2 billion from two investment groups. The Dow Jones industrial average rose nearly 100 points.
• Merrill Lynch gets up to $6.2 bil as new CEO snags cash infusion
  NEW YORK It hasnt taken John Thain long to put his stamp on the worlds largest brokerage.
• NASA contracts may boost New Orleans recovery
  NEW ORLEANS The route to the moon and perhaps to Mars now goes through New Orleans and the detour couldnt come at a better time in the citys struggle to rebuild its shattered economy after Hurricane Katrina.
• MAXjet halts flights, strands travelers
  NEW YORK MAXjet Airways ceased operations on Monday leaving jets on tarmacs and stranding passengers on Christmas Eve as the allbusinessclass airline said it would file for bankruptcy protection.
• New law gives labor-starved Yuma more challenges
  Arizonas employersanctions law could devastate the Yumaarea produce industry, which fills 80 to 90 percent of the countrys salad bowls from November through April. bnl Feds tightening the rules on employee verification
• 'Black Week' contributions aid charities
  For retailers its called Black Friday the day after Thanksgiving, when a rush of shopping historically pushes many firms into the black, or into a profitable situation for the year.
• Top 10 stories chronicle state's changing economy
  Too many houses on the market depressed prices. Hundreds of customers struggled or failed to make their mortgage payments, and more interestrate resets loom. Foreclosures spiked.
• Don't rush expanding business into Asia
  Asian countries are experiencing rampant economic growth, but slow and steady is the mantra U.S. companies should follow when considering an expansion into the growing markets, according to one international business expert.
• Rising euro may put squeeze on designer brands
  When American consumers tighten their purse strings, European fashion houses take note, particularly if the purse they are clutching bears their famous brand, be it Gucci, Armani, Fendi or Versace.
• US Airways, others upgrade in-flight entertainment
  The Tempe airline hopes to broaden the movie menu in the nottoodistant future with a new fiber optic inflight entertainment system in development with an undisclosed manufacturer.
• Airpark completion timeline accelerated as interest grows
  Despite the sagging housing market and the pain for related businesses, Chandlers economy has a bright spot Development of the airpark is moving more quickly than expected.