P/$ rate closes at P49.85 to $1.
The peso rate closed higher at P49.85 to the US dollar yesterday at the Philippine Dealing System of the Bankers Association of the Philippines from P49.96 last Friday. The weighted average rate appreciated to P49.859 from P50.029. Total volume amounted to $ 373.9 million. Report on WESM...

L'Oreal & The Body Shop: a long game ahead.
By now we've all had the chance to ask each other why L'Oreal has dished out $1.1 billion of shareholders' money to buy The Body Shop, with all those rather mediocre products, high prices and, higher still, scruples. We think it's part of a very long game...

Loyalty's reward - a felony conviction: recent prosecutions of high-status female offenders.
I. INTRODUCTION Over the past four years, the American public has witnessed a seemingly unending number of corporate and white-collar scandals. Corporate scandals in the business world are not a new phenomenon; indeed, every decade has had its share. Michael Milken, the Wall Street wonder of the...

Business of doing business: prioritizing the myriad challenges problems, and diversions.
Sometimes when you see others trying to take business from you, the diversion can be more detrimental than the actual consequence. Some time ago, I noticed that FedEx was poaching my customers. In fact, they had initiated a new business model to snatch new customers from my...

US anti-trust probe on RP telcos ends sans action.
Byline: EMMIE V. ABADILLA The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) is ending its two year old Grand Jury investigation against Philippine carriers for alleged violations of American anti-trust laws without taking any action. Apparently, the US DOJ has found it has no case against Filipino...

ERC prepares guidelines to curb market abuse in power industry.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is at the process of finalizing and will soon issue policy guidelines that are out to curb abuses in the market, especially when the electricity sector reaches its full-blown stage of deregulation. Through the Competition Rules it is crafting, the regulator expects...

BRIEFLY.
Byline: The Register-Guard METRO County convention and visitors association jazzes up Web site The Convention & Visitors Association of Lane County Oregon recently revamped its Web site at www.VisitLaneCounty.org. The site provides information about Lane County art, attractions, recreation, lodging, restaurants and community...

It's all your business: the value of music teacher surveys.
One of the most valuable ways to increase professionalism in the independent studio is to network with other teachers about successful policies. Discussing business issues during local and state music teacher associations meetings offers the opportunity to share favorite teaching practices and seek solutions to joint concerns. Such sharing...

Micron may admit fixing chip prices with Hynix.
Byline: From Register-Guard and news service reports Micron Technology Inc., as part of an agreement to win amnesty from prosecution by the Justice Department, may admit it conspired with competitors, including Hynix Semiconductor Inc., to manipulate computer-chip prices, people familiar with the probe said. Micron,...

ERC approves rules on fair trade practice.
Byline: LEE CHIPONGIAN To improve market growth and prevent abuses in the power sector, the Energy Regulatory Commission finally approved the policy guidelines establishing rules of competition or fair trade practice in a deregulated power industry. According to ERC chairman Rodolfo B. Albano Jr., it...