The Chase Manhattan Corporation was a bank holding company formed as parent of the Chase Manhattan Bank.

During its time as the parent company, it was led in succession by David Rockefeller, Willard C. Butcher, and Thomas G. Labrecque.

In 1996, it was taken over by Chemical Banking Corporation, which assumed the Chase Manhattan name though it continued to be run from the headquarters building which Chemical had taken over with the acquisition of Manufacturers Hanover Corporation by Chemical Chairman and CEO Walter V. Shipley with Labrecque as one of his top deputies.

On December 31, 2000, the "new Chase" merged with J.P. Morgan & Co. to form JPMorgan Chase.

"Chase Manhattan Corporation." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 13 May 2008, 05:01 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chase_Manhattan_Corporation&oldid=212043282>.

The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), established in 1848, is the world's oldest futures and options exchange. More than 50 different options and futures contracts are traded by over 3,600 CBOT members through open outcry and eTrading. Volumes at the exchange in 2003 were a record breaking 454 million contracts. On 12 July 2007, the CBOT merged with the CME under the CME Group holding company and ceased to exist as an independent entity.

"Chicago Board of Trade." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 10:10 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chicago_Board_of_Trade&oldid=257249764>.

Chrysler LLC is an American automobile manufacturer that has been producing automobiles since 1925. From 1998 to 2007, Chrysler and its subsidiaries were part of the German based DaimlerChrysler (now Daimler AG). Prior to 1998, Chrysler Corporation traded under the "C" symbol on the NYSE. Under DaimlerChrysler, the company was named "DaimlerChrysler Motors Company LLC", with its U.S. operations generally referred to as the "Chrysler Group".

On May 14, 2007 DaimlerChrysler AG announced the sale of 80.1% of Chrysler Group to American private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., although Daimler continues to hold a 19.9% stake. This was when the company took on its current name. The deal was finalized on August 3, 2007.

On August 6, 2007, after the announcement of the spin-off to Cerberus, the Chrysler LLC, or "The New Chrysler", unveiled a new company logo and launched its new website with a variation of the previously used Pentastar logo. Robert Nardelli also became Chairman and CEO of Chrysler under the ownership of Cerberus.

On October 23, 2008, Daimler announced that its stake in Chrysler had a book value of zero dollars after write offs and charges.

After Senate Republicans defeated the auto bailout, Chrysler said that it does not have cash on hand to continue operations through calendar year 2008. As such, Chrysler has hired bankruptcy lawyers.

"Chrysler." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 12 Dec 2008, 14:37 UTC. 13 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chrysler&oldid=257497893>.

Citigroup Inc., doing business as Citi, is a major American financial services company based in New York City, NY. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate Travelers Group on April 7, 1998. Citigroup Inc. has the world's largest financial services network, spanning 107 countries with approximately 12,000 offices worldwide. The company employs approximately 358,000 staff around the world, and holds over 200 million customer accounts in more than 100 countries. It is the world's largest bank by revenues as of 2008. It is a primary dealer in US Treasury securities and its stock has been a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average since March 17, 1997. Citigroup, which had huge losses during the global financial crisis of 2008, was rescued in November 2008 in a massive bailout by the U.S. government. Its largest shareholders include funds from the Middle East and Singapore.

"Citigroup." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Dec 2008, 23:11 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Citigroup&oldid=257154772>.

The Coca Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups in the world, and one of the largest corporations in the United States. The company is best known for its flagship product Coca-Cola, invented by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton in 1886. The Coca-Cola formula and brand was bought in 1889 by Asa Candler who incorporated The Coca-Cola Company in 1892. Besides its namesake Coca-Cola beverage, Coca-Cola currently offers nearly 400 brands in over 200 countries or territories and serves 1.5 billion servings each day.^[2]

The company operates a franchised distribution system dating back to 1889 where The Coca-Cola Company only produces syrup concentrate which is then sold to various bottlers throughout the world who hold an exclusive territory.

The Coca-Cola Company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Its stock is listed on the NYSE and is part of DJIA and S&P 500. Its current president and CEO is Muhtar Kent.

"The Coca-Cola Company." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 9 Dec 2008, 14:13 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Coca-Cola_Company&oldid=256832890>.

Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. (CPII) is an American film production and distribution company. It was one of the so-called Little Three among the eight major film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age.

Today, as part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group—owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony—it is one of the leading film companies in the world, a member of the so-called Big Six. It has no connection with CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System).

The studio, founded in 1919 as Cohn-Brandt-Cohn Film Sales by brothers Jack and Harry Cohn and Joe Brandt, released its first feature film in August 1922. It adopted the Columbia Pictures name in 1924 and went public two years later. In its early years a minor player in Hollywood, Columbia began to grow in the late 1920s, spurred by a successful association with director Frank Capra.

With Capra and others, Columbia became one of the primary homes of the screwball comedy. In the 1930s, Columbia's major contract stars were Jean Arthur and Cary Grant (who was shared with RKO Pictures). In the 1940s, Rosalind Russell, Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, and William Holden became major stars at the studio.

In 1982, the studio was purchased by Coca-Cola; that same year it launched Tri-Star Pictures as a joint venture with HBO and CBS. Five years later, Coca-Cola divested Columbia, which merged with Tri-Star. After a brief period of independence, the combined studio was acquired by Sony in 1989.

"Columbia Pictures." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 04:57 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Columbia_Pictures&oldid=257214943>.

Daimler

Daimler AG (ISIN: DE0007100000) (formerly Daimler-Benz AG, DaimlerChrysler AG) is a German car corporation (not to be confused with the British Daimler Motor Company) and the world's thirteenth largest car manufacturer as well as the largest truck manufacturer in the world. In addition to automobiles, Daimler manufactures trucks and provides financial services through its Daimler Financial Services arm. The company also owns major stakes in aerospace group EADS, high-technology and parent company of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes racing team McLaren Group, Japanese truck maker Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation and US automaker Chrysler Holding LLC.

DaimlerChrysler was founded in 1998 when Mercedes-Benz manufacturer Daimler-Benz (1926-1998) of Stuttgart, Germany merged with the US-based Chrysler Corporation. The deal created a new entity, DaimlerChrysler. However, the buyout failed to produce the trans-Atlantic automotive powerhouse dealmakers had hoped for, and DaimlerChrysler announced on May 14, 2007 that it would sell Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management of New York, a private equity firm that specializes in restructuring troubled companies. On October 4, 2007 a DaimlerChrysler Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting approved the renaming of the company. From October 5, 2007, the company has been titled Daimler AG. The US company adopted the name Chrysler LLC when the sale completed on August 3, 2007.

Daimler produces cars and trucks under the brands of Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, Smart, Freightliner and many others.

 Free Encyclopedia. 8 Dec 2008, 19:44 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Daimler_AG&oldid=256678314>.

Dow Jones & Company is an American publishing and financial information firm.

The company was founded in 1882 by three reporters: Charles Dow, Edward Jones and Charles Bergstresser. Like The New York Times and the Washington Post, the company was in recent years publicly traded but privately controlled. The company was led by the Bancroft family, which effectively controlled 64% of all voting stock, before being acquired by News Corporation.

The company became a subsidiary of News Corporation after an extended takeover bid during 2007.  It was reported on the 1st of August 2007 that the bid had been successful after an extended period of uncertainty about shareholder agreement. The transaction was completed on December 13, 2007. It is worth US$5 billion or $60 a share, giving NewsCorp control of The Wall Street Journal and ending the Bancroft family's 105 years of ownership

informally the Dow Jones or The Dow) is one of several stock market indices, created by nineteenth-century Wall Street Journal editor and Dow Jones & Company co-founder Charles Dow. Dow compiled the index to gauge the performance of the industrial sector of the American stock market. It is the second-oldest U.S. market index, after the Dow Jones Transportation Average, which Dow also created.

The average is computed from the stock prices of 30 of the largest and most widely held public companies in the United States. The "industrial" portion of the name is largely historical—many of the 30 modern components have little to do with traditional heavy industry. The average is price-weighted. To compensate for the effects of stock splits and other adjustments, it is currently a scaled average, not the actual average of the prices of its component stocks—the sum of the component prices is divided by a divisor, which changes whenever one of the component stocks has a stock split or stock dividend, to generate the value of the index. Since the divisor is currently less than one, the value of the index is higher than the sum of the component prices.

"Dow Jones Industrial Average." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 8 Dec 2008, 14:43 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dow_Jones_Industrial_Average&oldid=256626612>.

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NYSE: DWA) is an independent American animation studio which primarily produce a series of critically and commercially successful computer animated films, including Shrek, Shark Tale, Madagascar, Over the Hedge, Bee Movie and Kung Fu Panda. It was formed by the merger of the feature animation division of DreamWorks SKG and Pacific Data Images (PDI). Originally formed under the banner of DreamWorks SKG, it was spun-off into a separate public company in 2004.

They are currently distributed only through Paramount Pictures (in turn owned by Viacom) who acquired the rest of DreamWorks SKG in February 2006. DreamWorks Animation maintains two studios: the original DreamWorks feature animation studio in Glendale, California and the PDI studio in Redwood City, California.

"DreamWorks Animation." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Dec 2008, 11:35 UTC. 11 Dec2008<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=DreamWorks_Animation&oldid=257032474>.

Enron

Enron Creditors Recovery Corporation (formerly Enron Corporation, former NYSE ticker symbol ENE) was an American energy company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy in late 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 (McLean & Elkind, 2003) and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, pulp and paper, and communications companies, with claimed revenues of nearly $101 billion in 2000. Fortune named Enron "America's Most Innovative Company" for six consecutive years. At the end of 2001 it was revealed that its reported financial condition was sustained substantially by institutionalized, systematic, and creatively planned accounting fraud, sometimes called the "Enron scandal". Enron has since become a popular symbol of willful corporate fraud and corruption. The Scandal was also considered a landmark case in the field of business fraud and brought into question the accounting practices of many corporations throughout the United States.

Enron filed for bankruptcy protection in the Southern District of New York in late 2001 and selected Weil, Gotshal & Manges as its bankruptcy counsel. It emerged from bankruptcy in November 2004 after one of the biggest and most complex bankruptcy cases in U.S. history. On September 7, 2006, Enron sold Prisma Energy International Inc., its last remaining business, to Ashmore Energy International Ltd. Following the scandal, lawsuits against Enron's directors were notable because the directors settled the suits by paying very significant sums of money personally. The scandal also caused the dissolution of the Arthur Andersen accounting firm, affecting the wider business world.

In early 2007, Enron changed its name to Enron Creditors Recovery Corporation, to reflect its status as a (largely) asset-less shell corporation. Its current goal is to liquidate all remaining assets of the company. For most of 2007, Enron continued to operate under the name Enron Corp. by filing a Doing Business As, or "dba" certificate in Harris County, Texas.

"Enron." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 8 Dec 2008, 01:31 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Enron&oldid=256532626>.

The Exxon Mobil Corporation, or ExxonMobil, is an American oil and gas corporation and a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company. Formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil, ExxonMobil is the world's largest company by revenue, at $404.5 billion for the fiscal year of 2007, having interchanged this status with Wal-Mart in recent years, as oil prices have fluctuated. It is also the largest publicly held corporation by market capitalization, at $501.17 billion on April 18, 2008. Exxon's reserves were 72 billion oil-equivalent barrels at the end of 2007 and, at current rates of production, are expected to last over 14 years. While it is the largest of the six oil supermajors with daily production of 4.18 million BOE (barrels of oil equivalent) in 2007, this is only approximately 3% of world production and ExxonMobil's daily production is surpassed by several of the largest state-owned petroleum companies. When ranked by oil and gas reserves it is 14th in the world with less than 1% of the total.  Currently, the company ranks #1 in the world in net income, which was almost $40 billion last year.

"ExxonMobil." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 1 Dec 2008, 21:37 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ExxonMobil&oldid=255283578>.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on worldwide vehicle sales, following Toyota, General Motors, and Volkswagen. Based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, the automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury brands, Ford also owns Volvo Cars of Sweden, and a small stake in Mazda of Japan and Aston Martin of England. Ford's former UK subsidiaries Jaguar and Land Rover were sold to Tata Motors of India in March 2008.

In 2007, Ford fell from the second-ranked automaker to the third-ranked automaker in US sales for the first time in 56 years, behind General Motors and Toyota. Based on 2007 global sales, Ford fell to the fourth-ranked spot behind Volkswagen. Ford is the seventh-ranked overall American-based company in the 2007 Fortune 500 list, based on global revenues in 2007 of $172.5 billion. In 2007, Ford produced 6.553 million automobiles and employed about 245,000 employees at around 100 plants and facilities worldwide. Also in 2007, Ford received more initial quality survey awards from J. D. Power and Associates than any other automaker. Five of Ford's vehicles ranked at the top of their categories and fourteen vehicles ranked in the top three.

Ford introduced methods for large-scale manufacturing of cars and large-scale management of an industrial workforce using elaborately engineered manufacturing sequences typified by moving assembly lines. Henry Ford's methods came to be known around the world as Fordism by 1914.

"Ford Motor Company." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Dec 2008, 21:32 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ford_Motor_Company&oldid=257134443>.

Milton Friedman (July 31, 1912 – November 16, 2006) was an American economist and public intellectual, and a recipient of Nobel Prize in Economics. He is best known among scholars for his theoretical and empirical research, especially consumption analysis, monetary history and theory, and for his demonstration of the complexity of stabilization policy. A global public followed his restatement of a political philosophy that insisted on minimizing the role of government in favor of the private sector. As a leader of the Chicago School of economics, based at the University of Chicago, he had a widespread influence in shaping the research agenda of the entire profession. Friedman's many monographs, books, scholarly articles, papers, magazine columns, television programs, videos and lectures cover a broad range of topics in microeconomics, macroeconomics, economic history, and public policy issues. The Economist hailed him as "the most influential economist of the second half of the 20th century…possibly of all of it".

"Milton Friedman." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 9 Dec 2008, 01:09 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Milton_Friedman&oldid=256739282>.

The F. W. Woolworth Company (often referred to as Woolworth's) was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first Woolworth's store was founded, with a loan of $300, in 1878 by Frank Winfield Woolworth. Despite growing to be one of the largest retail chains in the world through most of the 20th century, increased competition led to its decline beginning in the 1980s. In 1997, F. W. Woolworth Company converted itself into a sporting goods retailer, closing its remaining retail stores operating under the "Woolworth's" brand name and renaming itself Venator Group. By 2001, the company focused exclusively on the sporting goods market, changing its name to the present Foot Locker Inc (NYSE: FL).

Retail chains using the Woolworth name survive in Germany, Austria, Mexico, and South Africa, as well as the United Kingdom - although the operating company is in the process of closing down its business in this last market. The similarly-named Woolworth's supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand are operated by Woolworths Limited, a separate company with no historical links to the F. W. Woolworth Company or Foot Locker, Inc.

"F. W. Woolworth Company." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 12:39 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=F._W._Woolworth_Company&oldid=257263899>.

General Foods Corporation

General Foods Corporation was a company whose direct predecessor was established in the USA by Charles William Post (October 26, 1854 - May 9, 1914) as the Postum Cereal Company in 1895. The name General Foods was adopted in 1929, after several corporate acquisitions. In November, 1985 General Foods was acquired by Philip Morris Companies (now Altria Group, Inc.) for $5.6 billion, the largest non-oil acquisition to that time. In December, 1988 Philip Morris acquired Kraft, Inc., and in 1990 combined the two food companies as Kraft General Foods (KGF). "General Foods" was dropped from the corporate name in 1995 and now exists only as part of a brand name for a flavored coffee-based beverage, General Foods International. General Foods also sponsored Lucille Ball's 3-year running TV show until 1951, My Favorite Husband.

"General Foods." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 12 Dec 2008, 16:21 UTC. 13 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=General_Foods&oldid=257514884>.

General Motors Corporation (GM) (NYSE: GM) is a multinational automobile manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in the United States. As of 2008^[update], General Motors employs about 266,000 people around the world.  GM is the ninth largest publicly traded company in the World ranking on Fortune's Global 500.

It manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 different countries and sells them under the brands of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM Daewoo, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall, and Wuling.

"General Motors." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 20:04 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=General_Motors&oldid=257334824>.

Global Crossing

Global Crossing Limited is a telecommunications company that provides computer networking services worldwide. It maintains a large backbone and offers transit and peering links, VPN, leased lines, audio and video conferencing, long distance telephone, managed services, dialup, colocation and VoIP, to customers ranging from individuals to large enterprises and to other carriers. The main emphases are on higher margin layered services like managed services and VoIP with leased lines. Global Crossing is a tier 1 carrier. The company is legally domiciled in Bermuda, although its administrative headquarters are in New Jersey.

"Global Crossing." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 4 Dec 2008, 06:03 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Global_Crossing&oldid=255793265>.

Goodrich Corporation (formerly the B.F. Goodrich Company) NYSE: GR, is an American aerospace manufacturing company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in Akron, Ohio in 1870 as Goodrich, Tew & Co. by Dr. Benjamin Franklin Goodrich. The company name was changed to the "B.F. Goodrich Company" in 1880, to BFGoodrich in the 1980s, and to "Goodrich Corporation" in 2001.

The company has a history of innovation. As B.F. Goodrich, the company became one of the largest tire and rubber manufacturers in the world, helped in part by the 1986 merger with Uniroyal (formerly the United States Rubber Company). This product line was sold to Michelin in 1988, and the company acquired Rohr (1997), Coltec Industries, and TRW Aeronautical Systems (formerly Lucas Aerospace) in 2002. The sale of the specialty chemicals division and subsequent change to the current name completed the transformation. In 2006, company sales were $5.8 billion dollars, of which 18%, 16% and 12% of total revenues were accounted for by the U.S. government, Airbus and Boeing, respectively.

"Goodrich Corporation." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 3 Dec 2008, 17:26 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goodrich_Corporation&oldid=255664732>.

Alan Greenspan (born March 6, 1926 in New York City) is an American economist and was from 1987 to 2006 the Chairman of the Federal Reserve of the United States. He currently works as a private advisor, making speeches and providing consulting for firms through his company, Greenspan Associates LLC.

"Alan Greenspan." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 04:21 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alan_Greenspan&oldid=257210343>.

Harley Davidson Motor Company

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (NYSE: HOG, formerly HDI) is an American manufacturer of motorcycles based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company sells heavyweight (over 750 cc) motorcycles designed for cruising on the highway. Harley-Davidson motorcycles (popularly known as "Harleys") have a distinctive design and exhaust note. They are especially noted for the tradition of heavy customization that gave rise to the chopper-style of motorcycle.

Harley-Davidson attracts a loyal brand community, with licensing of the Harley-Davidson logo accounting for almost 5% of the company's net revenue ($41 million in 2004). Harley-Davidson supplies many American police forces with their motorcycle fleets.

In 2003, the Buell Motorcycle Company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, the same year that Harley-Davidson celebrated its 100th birthday. In August 2008, Harley-Davidson purchased the Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta.

"Harley-Davidson." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 8 Dec 2008, 02:07 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harley-Davidson&oldid=256538436>.

The Hertz Corporation

The Hertz Corporation (also known as Hertz Rent A Car or simply Hertz) is the largest general-use car rental company in the world, with 1,900 locations in the United States and 5,100 worldwide.

Hertz also maintains a heavy equipment rental division known as the Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation, aka HERC. It is headquartered in Park Ridge, New Jersey. HERC has nearly 300 branches throughout the United States, Canada, Spain, France and India.

"The Hertz Corporation." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 8 Dec 2008, 18:02 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Hertz_Corporation&oldid=256659618>.

The Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ), commonly referred to as HP, is a technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States. HP is the largest technology company in the world and operates in nearly every country. HP specializes in developing and manufacturing computing, storage, and networking hardware, software and services. Major product lines include personal computing devices, enterprise servers, related storage devices, as well as a diverse range of printers and other imaging products. Other product lines, including electronic test equipment and systems, medical electronic equipment, solid state components and instrumentation for chemical analysis were spun off as Agilent Technologies in 1999.

HP markets its products to households, small to medium size businesses and enterprises both directly, via online distribution, consumer-electronics and office-supply retailers, software partners and major technology vendors.

HP posted US $91.7 billion in annual revenue in 2006 compared to US$91.4 billion for IBM, making it the world's largest technology vendor in terms of sales. In 2007 the revenue was $104 billion, making HP the first IT company in history to report revenues exceeding $100 billion.

HP is the largest worldwide seller of personal computers, surpassing rival Dell, according to market research firms Gartner and IDC reported in January 2008; the gap between HP and Dell widened substantially at the end of 2007, with HP taking a near 3.9% market share lead. HP is also the 5th largest software company in the world.

"Hewlett-Packard." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Dec 2008, 03:17 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hewlett-Packard&oldid=256975237>.

Humidor

A humidor is any kind of box or room with constant humidity (and often temperature as well) used to store cigars or pipe tobacco. For private use, small wooden or acrylic glass humidor boxes for a few dozen cigars are used, while cigar shops may have walk-in humidors, sometimes consisting of a whole floor. Humidors of all sizes use hygrometers to keep track of the humidity levels.

"Humidor." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 15 Nov 2008, 10:01 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Humidor&oldid=251936225>.

Initial Public Offering  (IPO) 

Initial public offering (IPO), also referred to simply as a "public offering", is when a company issues common stock or shares to the public for the first time. They are often issued by smaller, younger companies seeking capital to expand, but can also be done by large privately-owned companies looking to become publicly traded.

In an IPO, the issuer may obtain the assistance of an underwriting firm, which helps it determine what type of security to issue (common or preferred), best offering price and time to bring it to market.

IPOs can be a risky investment. For the individual investor, it is tough to predict what the stock or shares will do on its initial day of trading and in the near future since there is often little historical data with which to analyze the company. Also, most IPOs are of companies going through a transitory growth period, and they are therefore subject to additional uncertainty regarding their future value.

"Initial public offering." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 7 Dec 2008, 06:41 UTC. 13 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Initial_public_offering&oldid=256376561>.

John Hancock Finacial

John Hancock Financial is a loose term for a major United States insurance company which existed, in various forms, from its founding on April 21, 1862, until its acquisition in 2004 by the Canadian insurance company Manulife Financial. It was named in honor of John Hancock, a prominent patriot. The company continues to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Manulife.

"John Hancock Insurance." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 20 Oct 2008, 23:05 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Hancock_Insurance&oldid=246606083>.

Kelly, Emmet Leo

Emmett Leo Kelly (December 9, 1898 – March 28, 1979), a native of Sedan, Kansas, was an American circus performer, who created the memorable clown figure "Weary Willie," based on the hobos of the Depression era. Kelly began his career as a trapeze artist.

"Emmett Kelly." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 00:56 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Emmett_Kelly&oldid=257176233>.

L

Machiavelli, Niccolo

Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (May 3, 1469 – June 21, 1527) was an Italian diplomat, political philosopher, musician, poet and playwright. Machiavelli was a figure of the Italian Renaissance, and a servant of the Florentine republic. In June of 1498, following the ouster and execution of Savonarola, the Great Council elected Machiavelli as the Secretary to the second Chancery of the Republic of Florence.

He is most famous — or notorious — for one of his shorter works, The Prince, sometimes described as a work of realist political theory. However, both that text and the more substantial republican Discourses on Livy — as well as History of Florence (commissioned by the Medici family) — were printed only after his death, all appearing in the early 1530s. In his own lifetime, while he circulated The Prince among friends, the only work Machiavelli promoted through printing was his dialogue on The Art of War. But generations from the sixteenth century onwards were most attracted and repelled by the cynical approach to power on display in The Prince, Discourses and History. Whatever Machiavelli's own intentions (and they remain a matter of heated debate), his name became synonymous with ruthless politics, deceit and the pursuit of power by any means.

"Niccolò Machiavelli." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 16:44 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli&oldid=257298125>.

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MMC) is a US-based global professional services and insurance brokerage firm. In 2007, it had over 57,000 employees and annual revenues of $12.069 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies was ranked the 207th largest corporation in the United States by the 2007 Fortune 500 list, and the 5th largest U.S. company in the diversified financial industry.

"Marsh & McLennan Companies." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 9 Dec 2008, 15:06 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marsh_%26_McLennan_Companies&oldid=256839923>.

Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) is an American entertainment company formed from the merger of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and Toy Biz, Inc.

The company's oldest character is Ka-Zar introduced in 1936. In 1939, the company began publishing comic books as Timely Publications with Marvel Comics #1.

"Marvel Entertainment." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 24 Nov 2008, 21:31 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marvel_Entertainment&oldid=253866604>.

Merrill Lynch and Co.

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MER TYO: 8675) is a global financial services firm. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, the company provides capital markets services, investment banking and advisory services, wealth management, asset management, insurance, banking and related financial services worldwide. Merrill Lynch is headquartered in New York City, and occupies the entire 34 stories of the Four World Financial Center building in Manhattan. Plans were announced on September 14, 2008 for Bank of America to acquire Merrill Lynch. Under its terms Merrill Lynch shareholders would receive 0.8595 shares of Bank of America stock. Shareholders of both companies approved the acquisition on December 5, 2008.

"Merrill Lynch." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 14:16 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Merrill_Lynch&oldid=257276057>.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a global financial services provider headquartered in New York City, New York, United States. It serves a diversified group of corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals. Morgan Stanley also operates in 33 countries around the world with 600 offices, with an approximate employee workforce of 45,000. The company reports US$779 billion as assets under its management.

The corporation, formed by J.P. Morgan & Co. employees Henry S. Morgan (grandson of J.P. Morgan), Harold Stanley and others, came into existence on September 16, 1935. In its first year the company operated with a 24% market share (US$1.1 billion) in public offerings and private placements. The main areas of business for the firm today are Global Wealth Management, Institutional Securities and Investment Management.

The company found itself in the midst of a management crisis in the late 1990s that saw it lose a lot of talent and competence and ultimately saw the firing of its then CEO Philip Purcell in 2005.

On September 21, 2008, it was reported that the Federal Reserve allowed Morgan Stanley to change its status from investment bank to bank holding company. On September 29, 2008, it was announced that Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Japan's largest bank, will take a stake of $9 billion in Morgan Stanley equity. In the midst of the October 2008 stock market crash, concerns over the completion of the Mitsubishi deal caused a dramatic fall in Morgan Stanley's stock price to levels last seen in 1994. The stock grew considerably after Mitsubishi UFJ closed the deal to buy 21% of Morgan Stanley on October 14, 2008.

"Morgan Stanley." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 7 Dec 2008, 18:56 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Morgan_Stanley&oldid=256460936>.

Charles Thomas Munger (b. January 1, 1924, Omaha, Nebraska) is Vice-Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Corporation, the diversified investment corporation chaired by investor Warren Buffett.

"Charlie Munger." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 19 Nov 2008, 01:07 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charlie_Munger&oldid=252689459>.

 N

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is a stock exchange based in New York City, New York. It is the largest stock exchange in the world by dollar value of its listed companies securities. As of October 2008, the combined capitalization of all domestic New York Stock Exchange listed companies was $10.1 trillion.

The NYSE is operated by NYSE Euronext, which was formed by the NYSE's merger with the fully electronic stock exchange Euronext. Its trading floor is located at 11 Wall Street and is composed of four rooms used for the facilitation of trading. A fifth trading room, located at 30 Broad Street, was closed in February 2007. The main building, located at 18 Broad Street between the corners of Wall Street and Exchange Place, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978.

"New York Stock Exchange." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 01:46 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_York_Stock_Exchange&oldid=257185873>.

O

Pabst Brewing Company

Pabst Brewing Company is an American company founded in 1844 by Jacob Best. Best known for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, it is historically associated with Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it was founded, although its corporate headquarters are currently in Woodridge, Illinois. Pabst retains a datacenter in San Antonio, Texas, the previous location of its headquarters. In 1999, the Pabst Brewing Company began transferring its production to Miller Brewing Company on a contract basis. In 2001, it closed its last brewery in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The pending InBev purchase of Anheuser-Busch, announced in July 2008, prompted Pabst to claim to be the largest American-owned brewer. In fact, it is a "virtual brewer," a marketing company whose 85 brands are brewed by either Miller or Lion. The Pabst brands make up 2.8% of the American beer market.

"Pabst Brewing Company." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Dec 2008, 16:36 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pabst_Brewing_Company&oldid=257077509>.

Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and distribution company, located on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Founded in 1912, it is the oldest running movie studio in Hollywood, beating Universal Studios by a month. Paramount is owned by media conglomerate Viacom.

"Paramount Pictures." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Dec 2008, 00:03 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paramount_Pictures&oldid=256941027>.

Phillips Petroleum Company was founded in 1917 by L.E. Phillips and Frank Phillips, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Their younger brother, Waite Phillips was the benefactor of Philmont Scout Ranch.

Phillips Petroleum was headquartered in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the landmark case of Phillips Petroleum vs. State of Wisconsin which held that the Federal government should regulate under the Natural Gas Act the prices which natural gas producers charge when selling gas at the wellhead.

In late 1984, Mesa Power LP Company, led by T. Boone Pickens, Jr., attempted a hostile takeover of Phillips Petroleum. Phillips remained an independent company, but recapitalized with greater debt.

On August 30, 2002, Conoco Inc. merged with Phillips Petroleum to form ConocoPhillips.  The best-known brand of Phillips Petroleum is Phillips 66, named in part for US Highway 66.

." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 7 Dec 2008, 16:30 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phillips_Petroleum_Company&oldid=256437147>.

Playboy Enterprises, Inc.

Playboy Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: PLA), also organized as New Playboy, Inc. (NYSE: PLAA), is the company founded by Hugh Marston Hefner to manage the Playboy magazine empire. Today, Playboy Enterprises, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development and distribution of adult entertainment. The Playboy brand is one of the most widely recognized and popular brands in the world. The company is structured with three business segments: Publishing (which manages the magazine), Entertainment (which controls electronic assets), and Licensing (which licenses the Playboy name and bunny logo to third parties).

Sales of Playboy magazine peaked in 1972 at over 7 million copies and then declined as the market shifted to "laddy" magazines such as Maxim. The company now derives only one-third of its revenues from Playboy magazine, with the other two-thirds from the dissemination of adult content in electronic form, such as television, the internet and DVDs. Much of this electronic revenue comes not from the soft nude imagery which made the magazine famous, but from hardcore pornography connected with the company's ownership of Spice Digital Networks, Club Jenna, and Adult.com

At one point Playboy Enterprises, Inc. maintained a mirror service on their network for open source software used by the network administrators by using spare resources at no extra cost.^[7] However, this mirror service is no longer active.

Playboy Enterprises, Inc. occupies the top office floors of 680 N. Lake Shore Drive (formerly 666 N. Lake Shore Drive) in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood. The company employed 782 full-time employees at the end of 2006.

"Encyclopedia. 14 Nov 2008, 09:37 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Playboy_Enterprises&oldid=251738677>.

Q

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & bailey Circus

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was started when the circus created by James Anthony Bailey and P. T. Barnum was merged with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Ringling brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, but ran the circuses separately until they were finally merged in 1919.

"Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 29 Nov 2008, 00:03 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ringling_Bros._and_Barnum_%26_Bailey_Circus&oldid=254695436>.

Schering-Plough Corporation

Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) is a pharmaceutical company founded in 1851 by Ernst Schering as Schering AG in Germany. Following the entry of the United States into World War II in 1941, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ordered Schering AG's U.S. assets be seized. These became Schering Corporation. The company was placed under a government administratorship until 1952, when it was released and its assets sold to the private sector. In 1971, the Schering Corporation merged with Plough to form Schering Plough.

Today Schering Plough manufactures several pharmaceutical drugs, the most well-known of which are the allergy drugs Claritin and Clarinex, and through a collaboration with Merck & Co., Vytorin, an anti-cholesterol drug.

Schering Plough also owns and operates the major foot care brand name Dr. Scholl's and the skin care line Coppertone.

As of June 2005^[update], Schering Plough has 1.4% market share in the U.S., placing it at #17 in the top 20 pharmaceutical corporations by sales compiled by IMS Health.

Schering Plough is a full member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).

"Schering-Plough." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 28 Nov 2008, 21:11 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Schering-Plough&oldid=254666997>.

Shell Oil Company is the United States-based affiliate of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company ("oil major") of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas. Shell Oil Company, including its consolidated companies and its share in equity companies, is one of America’s largest oil and natural gas producers, natural gas marketers, gasoline marketers and petrochemical manufacturers.

"Shell Oil Company." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 5 Dec 2008, 03:08 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shell_Oil_Company&oldid=255972036>.

Spanish Cedar

Cedrela odorata (Spanish cedar, Mexican cedar, Cigar-box cedar, Cedro-cheiroso) is a monoecious semi-deciduous tree ranging in height from 10 meters to 30 meters. The trunk has a thick gray - brown colored bark, with longitudinal irregular grain. Pinnately compound leaves, grouped towards the end of the branches, ranging from 15 cm to 50 cm long, with pairs of scythe-shaped leaflets, lanceolate to oblong, 7-15 x 3-5 cm, with the base obliquely truncated and asymmetric. This plant is often used for honey production (beekeeping) and humidor construction. It is occasionally used for tops or veneers on some kinds of electric guitars, but is used as a neck on classical guitars.

"Cedrela odorata." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 21 Oct 2008, 02:03 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cedrela_odorata&oldid=246637273>.

Eliot Laurence Spitzer (born June 10, 1959) is an American lawyer and former politician of the Democratic Party. He served as Governor of New York from January 2007 until his resignation on March 17, 2008 in the wake of his involvement in a high-priced prostitution ring. Prior to being elected governor, Spitzer served as New York State Attorney General.

"Eliot Spitzer." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 05:13 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eliot_Spitzer&oldid=257216839>.

Standard Oil 

Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870, it operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational corporations until it was broken up by the United States Supreme Court in 1911. John D. Rockefeller was a founder, chairman and major shareholder, and the company made him a billionaire and eventually the richest man in modern history.

"Standard Oil." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 7 Dec 2008, 17:59 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Standard_Oil&oldid=256451671>.

Stock Certificate

In corporate law, a stock certificate (also known as certificate of stock or share certificate) is a legal document that certifies ownership of a specific number of stock shares (or fractions thereof) in a corporation. In large corporations, buying shares does not always lead to a stock certificate (in a case of a small number of shares purchased by a private individual, for instance).

Sometimes a shareholder with a stock certificate can give a proxy to another person to allow them to vote the shares in question. Voting rights are defined by the corporation's charter and corporate law.

Stock certificates are generally divided into two forms: registered stock certificates and bearer stock certificates. A registered stock certificate is normally only evidence of title, and a record of the true holders of the shares will appear in the stockholder's register of the corporation. A bearer stock certificate, as its name implies is a bearer instrument, and physical possession of the certificate entitles the holder to exercise all legal rights associated with the stock. Bearer stock certificates are becoming uncommon: they were popular in offshore jurisdictions for their perceived confidentiality, and as a useful way to transfer beneficial title to assets (held by the corporation) without payment of stamp duty. International initiatives have curbed the use of bearer stock certificates in offshore jurisdictions, and tend to be available only in onshore financial centres, although they are rarely seen in practice.

"Stock certificate." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 15:56 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stock_certificate&oldid=257290240>.

The Studebaker-Packard Corporation was the entity created by the purchase of the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, in 1954.

"Studebaker-Packard Corporation." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 23 Oct 2008, 20:02 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Studebaker-Packard_Corporation&oldid=247238085>.

The Prince

Il Principe (The Prince) is a political treatise by the Florentine public servant and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. Originally called De Principatibus (About Principalities), it was written in 1513, but not published until 1532, five years after Machiavelli's death. The treatise is not representative of the work published during his lifetime, but it is the most remembered, and the work responsible for bringing "Machiavellian" into wide usage as a pejorative term. It has also been suggested by some critics that the piece is, in fact, a satire.

"The Prince." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 8 Dec 2008, 05:06 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Prince&oldid=256564451>.

Ticker tape was used by ticker tape machines, the Ticker tape timer, stock ticker machines, or just stock tickers.

"Ticker tape." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 26 Nov 2008, 03:43 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ticker_tape&oldid=254157918>.

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), usually called the Alyeska Pipeline in Alaska or the Alaska Pipeline elsewhere, is a major U.S. oil pipeline connecting oil fields in Alaska's North Slope to a North Pacific seaport where the oil can be shipped to the Lower 48 states for refining.

The main Trans-Alaska Pipeline runs north to south, almost 800 miles (1,300 km), from the Arctic Ocean at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to the Gulf of Alaska at Valdez, Alaska, passing near several Alaskan villages and towns, including Wiseman (pop. 21), Bettles (pop.39), Livengood (pop.29), Fox (pop.300), Fairbanks (pop. 34,540), and Glennallen (pop.554) [see map].

Construction of the pipeline through the sparsely-populated region presented significant challenges due to the remoteness of the rugged terrain and the harsh environment along the route. Between the North Slope and Valdez, there were three mountain ranges, active fault lines, miles of unstable, boggy ground underlain with frost, hundreds of streams and rivers, and migration paths of caribou and moose.   Since its completion in 1977, the pipeline has transported over 15 billion barrels (2.4 TL) of oil.

"Trans-Alaska Pipeline System." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Dec 2008, 06:11 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trans-Alaska_Pipeline_System&oldid=256997845>.

Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc.

Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. is a holding company which owns, operates and manages casinos/hotels in the United States The company was formed in 2005 as a result of the restructuring of its predecessor Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts. Donald J. Trump is Chairman of the Board and Mark Juliano is President and Chief Executive Officer.

"Trump Entertainment Resorts." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 1 Dec 2008, 20:16 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trump_Entertainment_Resorts&oldid=255266705>.

U.S. securities and Exchange Commision (SEC)

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (commonly known as the SEC) is an independent agency of the United States government which holds primary responsibility for enforcing the federal securities laws and regulating the securities industry, the nation's stock and options exchanges, and other electronic securities markets. The SEC was created by section 4 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (now codified as 15 U.S.C. § 78d and commonly referred to as the 1934 Act). In addition to the 1934 Act that created it, the SEC enforces the Securities Act of 1933, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other statutes.

The SEC is composed of five commissioners, of which no more than three can be from a single political party. Currently the SEC commissioners are chairman Christopher Cox (R), Kathleen L. Casey (R), Troy A. Paredes (R), Luis A. Aguilar (D) and Elisse B. Walter (D).

"U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 9 Dec 2008, 18:59 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=U.S._Securities_and_Exchange_Commission&oldid=256881319>.

V

Wachovia Corporation

Wachovia Corporation (NYSE: WB), based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a diversified financial services holding company provided via its operating subsidiaries a broad range of banking, asset management, wealth management, and corporate and investment banking products and services. It is one of the largest providers of financial services in the United States, operating financial centers in 21 states and Washington, D.C., with locations from Connecticut to Florida and west to California. It also serves retail brokerage clients under the name Wachovia Securities nationwide as well as in six Latin American countries, and investment banking clients in selected industries nationwide. Wachovia provides global services through more than 40 offices around the world. Presently it is the fourth-largest bank holding company in the United States based on total assets. Wells Fargo plans to acquire Wachovia for $15.1 billion in stock. The Federal Reserve approved the merger on October 12, 2008.

"Wachovia." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 8 Dec 2008, 19:09 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wachovia&oldid=256671884>.

Wall Street is a street in lower Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. It runs east from Broadway to South Street on the East River, through the historical center of the Financial District. Wall Street was the first permanent home of the New York Stock Exchange; over time Wall Street became the name of the surrounding geographic neighborhood. Wall Street is also shorthand (or a metonym) for the "influential financial interests" of the American financial industry, which is centered in the New York City area. Several major U.S. stock and other exchanges remain headquartered on Wall Street and in the Financial District, including the NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYMEX, and NYBOT.

"Wall Street." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 9 Dec 2008, 23:30 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wall_Street&oldid=256935034>.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is an English-language international daily newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company in New York City with Asian and European editions. As of 2007, It has a worldwide daily circulation of more than 2 million, with approximately 931,000 paying online subscribers. It was the largest-circulation newspaper in the United States until November 2003, when it was surpassed by USA Today. Its main rival is the London-based Financial Times, which also publishes several international editions.

The Journal newspaper primarily covers U.S. and international business and financial news and issues—the paper's name comes from Wall Street, the street in New York City that is the heart of the financial district. It has been printed continuously since being founded July 8, 1889, by Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser. The newspaper has won the Pulitzer Prize thirty-three times, including 2007 prizes for backdated stock options and for the adverse impact of China's booming economy.

The future of the Journal has been widely speculated on since the acquisition of Dow Jones by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. The announcement that managing editor Marcus Brauchli, a 20-year veteran of the newspaper and a former foreign correspondent, would step down reinvigorated speculation that Murdoch would make deeper changes in the newspaper. Although Brauchli elected to remain at News as a consultant, his departure from the top editorial job he held for barely a year (when he took over from the long-serving Paul Steiger) stoked rumors about Murdoch's plans.

"The Wall Street Journal." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 9 Dec 2008, 15:56 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Wall_Street_Journal&oldid=256847939>.

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) is one of the largest media and entertainment corporations in the world. Founded on October 16, 1923, by brothers Walt and Roy Disney as an animation studio, it has become one of the biggest Hollywood studios, and owner and licensor of eleven theme parks and several television networks, including ABC and ESPN. Disney's corporate headquarters and primary production facilities are located at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. The company is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

"The Walt Disney Company." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 06:23 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Walt_Disney_Company&oldid=257226202>.

Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. (also known as Warner Bros. Pictures, or simply Warner Bros.) is one of the world's largest producers of film and television entertainment.

It is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank, California and New York City. Warner Bros. has several subsidiary companies, including Warner Bros. Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Games, Kids' WB, Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Home Video, TheWB.com,and DC Comics. Warner owns half of The CW Television Network.

Founded in 1918 by Jewish immigrants from Poland, Warner Bros. is the third-oldest American movie studio in continuous operation, after Paramount Pictures, founded in 1912 as Famous Players, and Universal Studios, also founded in 1912.

"Warner Bros.." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Dec 2008, 13:55 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Warner_Bros.&oldid=257051180>.

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is at Englewood, Colorado, and its international marketing and commercial services headquarters are in Montvale, New Jersey. Until it discontinued the service, this company was the best known US company in the business of exchanging telegrams.

Western Union has a number of divisions, with products such as person-to-person money transfer, money orders, and commercial services. As of September 9, 2008, the company has 350,000 Western Union agent locations in over 240 countries and territories. Reported revenues top $5 billion annually.

"Western Union." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Dec 2008, 04:47 UTC. 11 Dec 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Western_Union&oldid=257213709>.

X

Y

Z