Economic indicators.
Market Rates and Bond Yields--% Sep. Mar. Sep. 2004 2004 2003 Reserve Bank Discount 2.58 2.00 2.00 Prime Rate (monthly average) 4.58 4.00 4.00 Federal Funds Rate 1.61 1.00 1.01 3-Month Treasury Bills 1.65 0.94 0.94 6-Month Treasury Bills 1.87 0.99 1.01 3-Month Certificates of Deposit 1.86 1.03 1.08...

Economic indicators.
Market Rates and Bond Yields -- % Apr. Oct. Apr. 2004 2003 2003 Reserve Bank Discount 2.00 2.00 2.25 Prime Rate (monthly average) 4.00 4.00 4.25 Federal Funds Rate 1.00 1.01 1.26 3-Month Treasury Bills 0.94 0.92 1.13 6-Month Treasury Bills 1.09 1.00 1.14 3-Month Certificates of Deposit 1.08...

The survivor? Primus Telecommunications claims to have found an alternative to Chapter 11.
Several months ago, Primus Telecommunications looked set to join the many other competitive carriers in the Chapter 11 club. Revenues were declining, EBITDA was negative and the company's per-minute yields on its long-distance traffic were shrinking. Primus' exposure to more than 10 international markets was also hurting...

The unsure world of surety bonds. (Cover Story).
Suddenly, everyone wants to know about surety bonds. The once benign financial credit risk vehicle has been thrust into the limelight, as the subject of a high-profile lawsuit as well as being blamed for one company's bankruptcy. In the bankruptcies of both Enron Corp. and Kmart Corp., sureties have...

Surety uncertainty: cancellation of surety bonds for self-insured workers' comp in two high-profile bankruptcies sparks debate on the best way to meet benefit obligations. (Workers' Comp).
Retailer Kmart Corp., Troy, Mich., and transportation concern Consolidated Freighways Corp., Vancouver, Wash., share a dubious distinction: The cancellation of surety bonds related to self-insured workers' compensation programs. spelled doom for both firms in 2002. And that's not all. At the time of its January 2002 bankruptcy...

Private capital for public schools: districts overcome cultural barriers to find non-public building partners.
The problems are legion. There is not a school leader in the country unaware of the dilapidated condition of many of America's public schools. A study in 2000 by the National Education Association estimated that $268 billion is needed to bring the nation's schools up to acceptable...

Carrying the torch of freedom.
Reason magazine is published with the help of readers who invest more than the price of a subscription by making contributions to Reason Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. We are grateful to all of them for their support of our journalism and public policy research. In this...

New skills for new challenges: Risk managers have to start now to develop the skills they will need to face the challenges of tomorrow. (Cover Story).
What a difference six months makes. Last year, Enron was lauded for its model enterprise risk management program led by a smart and progressive chief risk officer. In February, CRO Richard Buy was fired by the company's board and taken to task by pundits and the media for reaping...

Ray of light: we shine a light on UV--a new technology for controlling chloramines at your pool.
We all know the reasons why chlorine is used to clean a pool, and swimmers certainly notice its presence. But recently, it's catching on that pool operators can keep a clean community pool without the odor and irritation of chlorine. The use of industrial ultraviolet (UV) technology for controlling...

Gova[euro][TM]t can afford to reduce foreign borrowings in 2006 due to $ surplus.
Byline: LEE C. CHIPONGIAN The Arroyo administration can afford to reduce its foreign borrowings next year because of dollar surplus, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Bureau of Treasury said. BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. and National Treasurer Omar Cruz a" both instructed...