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RALEIGH -- High numbers of layoffs and increasing jobless claims in North Carolina might lead to higher unemployment taxes for North Carolina businesses within a few years. With a balance [...]

The ten largest companies in the Portland area have a combined $6.3 billion in cash and short-term investments declared in their balance sheets. Observers believe that the cash and short-term investments may be used to spark a wave of mergers and acquisitions in 2011. Other information on the short-term investments and cash of Portland's largest companies are presented.

Corporate counsels and compliance managers have expressed fears that whistleblowing cases could significantly increase if the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopts the proposed whistleblower program rules. Cash reward will be given to the whistleblower depending on the amount recovered. How the bounty program could affect corporate employees is also discussed.

Corporate spending has increased slightly across the United States but many Tampa Bay area companies have taken a more cautious approach. Capital expenditures among 11 companies in Tampa Bay has shown aggregate spending in 2010 is expected to total $1.5 billion which is down from the previous years. Reasons for large capital expenditures are also discussed.

Tampa Bay area's largest companies have balance sheets that were amassed with cash due to efficient collection, tighter credit policies and better inventory management. However, cash buildup is not essentially good for Florida's economy since companies were not hiring or perceived as managed inefficiently. How companies used the extra cash in debt prepayment is also discussed.

A report by Ernst & Young disclosed that roughly 44 percent of U.S. biotech companies operated with less than a year's worth of cash on hand in 2008, up from 25 percent in 2007. Biotechs raised $5.9 billion through June 4, 2009 as compared with $5.4 billion in the same period in 2008. A table of licensing deals of selected Bay Area biotech financing for 2009 is included.

The crisis in Wall Street is expected to affect businesses in Wisconsin, in terms of decreased demand for services and products and increased financing costs. Businesses in Milwaukee area may face higher interest rates and tougher loan standards. The potential impacts of the Wall Street crisis on local businesses are examined further.

The details of the changes made to the business margin tax and business franchise tax by Texas government are presented.

The voter-approved protection against tax increases has created a firestorm within the top echelons of the business community. However, the considerations contained in draft policy documents obtained by The Business Journal is casting a strong reprimand from the anti-tax business advocates both inside and outside of the coalition.

Business groups would be benefited by $300 million worth of corporate tax cuts when the Legislature reconvenes in January 2005. The key effort includes a $200 million reduction in the state's business property taxes and another $100 million in relief for manufacturers.

Experts believe that increases in a couple of lesser-known, business-friendly tax deductions could stimulate technology spending in Colorado. US President George W. Bush signed the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, a $330 billion, 10-year tax cut plan which contains generous incentives for business investment that are especially helpful to small and medium-sized companies.

In a disturbing trend, Arizona's local corporations are not as well represented on the Fortune 500 list as other mid sized states. In fact, many of the prominent companies in the state are not based in Arizona.

Industry insiders predict that major corporations will commit more dollars to marketing efforts throughout 2003. A Patrick Marketing Group survey of 250 marketing executives indicates that budgets will increase by an average of 11 percent in 2003.

The town of Waxhaw is trying to diversify its tax base by studying how it can best attract business and industry to its quickly expanding borders along North Carolina (NC) highways 16 and 75. The town's property tax revenue comes from nonresidential sources, which are just 5%, and N.C. Institute of Government study suggests that cities and towns should aim to have 40% of their budgets covered by commercial and industrial tax sources.

The demand of Rhode Island legislators to change the present corporate tax laws which bring too low tax payment by the real estate investment trusts is discussed.

The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council report released on February 28, 2004 revealed that urban businesses in Rhode Island are paying heavy state taxes and municipal fees and the burden might increase in near future. Rhode Island derives 54% of its own revenue form property taxes, compared to 27.1% nationally.

The Burien City Council approved an exemption for certain multi-family properties in Burien's downtown commercial zone. The decision is taken with a hope that the tax break would provoke other developers downtown to help revitalize the downtown business district housing to areas with access to mass transit.

Legislators in North Carolina are considering options to improve the state's business environment by reducing the 6.9% rate on corporate profits. Some of the options under review for reducing tax burden for companies that may prove more costly for the state than others are discussed.

A new study estimates the number of women-owned businesses in the United States will grow to 6.2 million in 2002, a growth rate of 14 percent since 1997 -- double [...]

Some of fastest-growing companies in Atlanta, Georgia, say the economy is not in a recession and their outlook for the second half of this year is optimistic. The economic expectations of several companies is presented.

During the recession of the 1990s, compensation for the chief executives of the Bay Area's 10 biggest companies jumped at an average of 25 percent. But corporate chieftains will be [...]

Earnings forecast: Houston firms rise and fall on 1990 list Corporations won't be posting their 1990 revenues and earnings until some time in the first quarter of next year. But [...]