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HAWAII
Got a problem? SBA can help
If you've got a complaint about dealing with a federal agency, the government wants to know about it.No, the feds aren't compiling a watch list of complainers (not that they're admitting to, anyway). But the Small Business Administration's national ombudsman, Michael Barrera, is coming to town to meet with small business owners who feel they've suffered harsh enforcement, or unreasonable fines or conditions, at the hands of federal agencies.
The local chapter of the SBA is hoping to find entrepreneurs who've had problems with the federal compliance officers to testify at regulatory enforcement fairness meetings. The first will take place 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 4 at the Federal Building in Honolulu, Room 5-208. A second hearing will take place at 1 p.m. Feb. 6 in Wailuku, Maui.
Small business owners who have had problems with federal agencies and regulations adversely affect their business are being asked to participate. For more information, call the SBA's Hawaii office at 541-2973 or (800) 659-7113.
Apple confirms Ala Moana store
Apple Computer Inc. confirmed that it will open an Apple Store in the former Pocketbook Man location on the mall level of Ala Moana Center, across from Shriokiya and near Macy's. The 4,600-square-foot store will open in the spring said Jane Rauckhorst, a spokeswoman at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.Apple now has 50 of its own retail stores across the country and they are doing well, Rauckhorst said. About 50 percent of the people who buy new computers in the stores have switched to Apple and Macintosh from Windows-based computers, she said.
MAINLAND
Gold price surges to six-year high
The price of gold surged today to a six-year high, propelled by fears of a looming showdown with Iraq and the weakness of stocks and the U.S. dollar.Gold has risen more than 14 percent in the past 60 days and is likely to rise further amid growing nervousness that a U.N. weapons inspections report to be issued Monday might trigger a U.S.-led war on Iraq.
Gold has increased steadily in value since mid-2001, and the growth has accelerated in recent weeks.
"The trend may well be more on the upside than the down," said Philip Newman, an analyst at the precious metals consultancy Gold Fields Mineral Services Ltd.
New York's Handy & Harman gold price was up $6.20 at $364.70. Gold rose 70 cents during the day in London to close at $364 per troy ounce. The closing price was the highest since Jan. 3, 1997.
AT&T posts profit, but issues warning
NEW YORK >> Struggling phone giant AT&T Corp. said today it earned $516 million in the fourth quarter, largely because of selling its cable division, but warned the current quarter's results could be below analysts' expectations. Its stock fell sharply.In the final three months of 2002, AT&T earned 66 cents per share on revenue of $9.3 billion. In the comparable period of 2001, AT&T lost $1.4 billion, or $1.97 a share, on revenue of $10.2 billion.
AT&T closed down $4.83, or 19.1 percent, to $20.49 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Fears of espionage in Silicon Valley on rise
CUPERTINO, Calif. >> The case of a Chinese businessman charged with illegally shipping missile guidance technology to China's military has intensified concerns about foreign espionage in Silicon Valley.Qing Chang Jiang, who will be arraigned today, is at least the fourth Chinese native indicted since October on charges involving the shipment of equipment or trade secrets to China from Silicon Valley.
Prosecutors worry Jiang may have been illegally exporting technology to China since 1998.
