· Private Equity-backed M&A totaled $5.8 billion during January 2010, the lowest total monthly since April 2009.


· Imputed global advisory fees during January totaled just over $1.3 billion, down 32% from this time last year.

· Global high yield offerings totaled $22.1 billion from 43 transactions in January marking the best start of the year on record.

· Covered Bonds issuance in January 2010 reached $48.5bln and marked the 3rd busiest month on record.

· The largest level of IPOs for any January on record have been issued on the Shenzhen exchange, in terms of both value and number of issues.

· BRIC IPO volumes for the beginning of 2010 are at their largest level, in terms of both value and number of issues, for any January on record.

And a bit more on M&A:
· The volume of worldwide mergers & acquisitions totaled $158.7 billion during January 2010, an increase of 5% compared to January 2009. The total number of announced M&A transactions during the month totaled 2,697 - the lowest monthly volume, by number of deals, since May 2005.



· The telecommunications and energy and power sectors accounted for 43% of announced M&A during January, bolstered by the acquisition of Mexican telecom provider Carso Global Telecom SAB de CV by America Movil, in a deal valued at $27.5 billion. The transaction is the largest telecommunications deal since the $28.1 billion acquisition of Alltel by Verizon and Vodafone in June 2008. Three of the top five largest M&A deals announced during the month involved Mexican targets, with the Carso Global Telecom acquisition ranking as the second largest acquisition of a Mexican company on record.

· Private Equity-backed M&A totaled $5.8 billion during January 2010, the lowest total monthly since April 2009 when deal activity totaled $2.1 billion. Three of the top five largest worldwide private equity-backed transactions during the month were in the retail industry. The buyout of UK-based retailer Pets at Home Ltd by Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts, valued at $1.5 billion, ranked as the biggest buyout-backed deal of the month.

· Imputed global advisory fees during January 2010 totaled just over $1.3 billion, down 32% from this time last year and the lowest monthly period for completed M&A fees since August 2009.

Quentin Webb
 




Door opens for NAB in $11 billion AXA Asia-Pac bid: sources
Statoil plans retail division spin-off, listing
Dubai's Istithmar to sell ISS, wants $700m: sources
Talk of VW bid drives MAN stock higher: traders
Dubai World asset sale nears, debt talks plod
Ericsson to buy U.S. mobile aggregation business
PartyGaming's M&A hand boosted by strong Q4
SocGen hires six bankers to boost M&A team
Kraft to sell debt in four-part offering: banker
BA, Iberia say on track for merger deal in Q1
 




Door opens for NAB in $11 billion AXA Asia-Pac bid: sources
February 03, 2010 06:32 AM ET
    SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian wealth manager AMP Ltd will not seek to extend its exclusive agreement with France's AXA SA on a joint $11.4 billion bid for AXA's Australian unit, sources said, opening the door for rival bidder National Australia Bank Ltd to start talks with AXA SA.

Full Article



Statoil plans retail division spin-off, listing
February 03, 2010 06:35 AM ET
    OSLO (Reuters) - Norway's Statoil plans to spin off and float its international chain of forecourts, in the most radical yet in a succession of moves by major western oil companies to reduce exposure to low-margin fuel retailing.

Full Article



Dubai's Istithmar to sell ISS, wants $700m: sources
February 03, 2010 11:12 AM ET
    LONDON/DUBAI (Reuters) - Dubai World's investment arm Istithmar aims to sell port and shipping agent Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) for up to $700 million, and has drawn interest from private equity, people familiar with the matter said.

Full Article



Talk of VW bid drives MAN stock higher: traders
February 03, 2010 09:09 AM ET
    FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Market talk that Volkswagen could announce at an investor conference on Wednesday that it planned to take over MAN SE soon pushed shares in the German truckmaker up more than 4 percent.

Full Article
     

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This was verified by snopes:  http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/photos/crashers.asp

Recognize anyone in this photo?  Are you a good detective?

See the guy in the white suit ?

See the blond in the white dress ?

See the guy in the middle ? 

This picture was taken a few years ago and it seems Obama has known these two phony's for awhile now, or at least when he was a Senator.

They're getting all this press now as "the party crashers" and the Secret Service is taking the heat ...

Funny how this has not come out in the press and, it's no wonder the White House doesn't want the Social Secretary, Desiree Rogers, to testify.  She knows that the Secret Service is not responsible even though they took the fall and three guys were put on leave !

1/28/2010 - FBI Seeks Public’s Assistance to Identify the “Geezer Bandit”
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Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty to Federal PCP Distribution Charge
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:41:02 -0600

Darryl Lewis, of New Haven, Connecticut, pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 100 grams or more of phencyclidine, also known as PCP.


Eight Idaho Residents Sentenced on Drug Charges
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:45:27 -0600

Eight Idaho residents have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 12 to 70 months for their involvement in a methamphetamine production ring.


Leader of Virginia Heroin Trafficking Ring Pleads Guilty
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:55:12 -0600

Darryl Wright, of Hampton, Virginia, the leader of a heroin drug trafficking ring responsible for bringing heroin from New York and New Jersey to the Virginia Peninsula, pled guilty to managing a criminal enterprise.


Thirty-Two Arrested in Texas on Drug Charges
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:57:59 -0600

Thirty-two individuals were arrested in the Monahans, Texas area on charges including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances as well as distribution of controlled substances, namely crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and heroin.


Two Charged in Florida Armed Robberies
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:19:14 -0600

Jeffrey St. Louis and Irving J. Roberts were charged in connection with the armed robberies of gas stations in Davie and Plantation, Florida. During each of the robberies, the gas station clerks were pistol whipped and the defendants stole cash and other property.


California Bank Employee Pleads Guilty to $1.8 Million Embezzlement
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:32:09 -0600

Donice Maxine Medina, of Parlier, California, pled guilty to using her position as a customer service manager of a Bank of the West branch in Parlier to embezzle approximately $1.8 million of the bank's funds.


Kentucky Man Sentenced for Bank Robbery
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:41:24 -0600

Foster Haley, of Burlington, Kentucky, was sentenced to 115 months in prison for robbing a bank in Erlanger.

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Three Connecticut Residents Charged in $6.2 Million Bank Fraud Scheme
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:32:13 -0600

Susan A. Curtis and her husband, Gary J. Stocking, both of Naugatuck, Connecticut, and Curtis' ex-husband, Kevin W. Caffrey, of Wolcott, Connecticut, were charged with defrauding Webster Bank (where Curtis was formerly employed) out of nearly $6.2 million.


Connecticut Man Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearm
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:49:10 -0600

Alexander DeFelice, of Milford, Connecticut, was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.


Indiana Inmate Sentenced for Possessing Heroin
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:51:38 -0600

Steven G. Roden, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for possessing contraband in prison.


Indiana Inmate Sentenced for Possession of Weapon
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:55:20 -0600

Flavio Pelayo-Torres, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for possessing contraband in prison.


New York Entrepreneur Sentenced for Identity Theft and False Statements
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:02:23 -0600

Terrence Chalk, the principal of a White Plains, New York-based computer systems company, was sentenced to 76 months in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to make false statements and representations to financial institutions in connection with applications for loans, lines of credit, and credit cards, and for the crime of aggravated identity theft for using another person's Social Security number to seek a line of credit from a bank.


Maryland Gang Leaders Convicted of Racketeering Activities
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:12:29 -0600

Sherman Pride, of Salisbury, Maryland, and Ronnie Thomas, of Baltimore, were convicted of participating in a racketeering conspiracy through the Tree Top Piru Bloods (TTP Bloods), which engaged in narcotics trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder and robbery. Pride also was convicted of conspiring to distribute cocaine.


Six Indicted in Ohio in Connection with Massive Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:23:31 -0600

A two-year investigation by the Greater Cincinnati Mortgage Fraud Task Force has resulted in a seven-count indictment charging two Cincinnati area home builders, a former Huntington National Bank vice president, and a self-employed tax preparer and interior designer with participating in a mortgage fraud scheme to sell four high-end luxury properties to "straw buyers."


Pennsylvania Men Charged in Robbery Conspiracy
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:06:25 -0600

Michael Matthews and Michael Anderson, both of Philadelphia, were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery which interfered with interstate commerce, two counts of attempted robbery which interfered with interstate commerce, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.


Pennsylvania Man Sentenced for Role in Drug Distribution Organization
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:08:02 -0600

Corey Crabb, of Milton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 96 months in prison for his involvement in a crack cocaine trafficking ring distributing drugs to the Northumberland and Sunbury areas.


Pennsylvania Bank Employee Charged with Stealing Money
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:09:39 -0600

Mary M. Knecht was indicted on charges of theft, embezzlement, and misapplication by a bank employee for allegedly embezzling approximately $750,000 from First Keystone National Bank of Berwick, Pennsylvania, where she worked as an accounting administrator.


Louisiana Man Charged in Bribery Conspiracy
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:11:51 -0600

Ray Anthony Davezac, of Destrehan, Louisiana, was charged with conspiracy to solicit and give bribes to a public official.


Louisiana Man Sentenced for Multiple Bank Robberies
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:14:25 -0600

Shadrick Triche, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to one bank robbery in Louisiana and five bank robberies in Texas.


Wisconsin Man Charged with Child Pornography Offenses
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:31:27 -0600

Robin S. Bone, of Madison, Wisconsin, was indicted on charges of distribution and possession of child pornography.


Alabama Woman Sentenced for Wire Fraud
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:33:50 -0600

Theresa Canavan Lyda, of Fairhope, Alabama, was sentenced to 10 months in prison on wire fraud charges in connection with defrauding her former employer of more than $106,000.


Missouri Man Sentenced in Indiana for Bank Robbery
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:49:13 -0600

Thomas E. Tucker, of Moscow Mills, Missouri, was sentenced in Indianapolis to 108 months in prison for his commission of the April 21, 2009 armed robbery of a First Bank branch in Poseyville, Indiana.


Indiana Inmate Sentenced for Possession of Marijuana
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:52:19 -0600

Arturo Cantu, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, was sentenced to seven months in prison for possession of marijuana in prison.


Missouri Man Sentenced in High-Tech Fencing Scheme
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:56:29 -0600

John Charles Chass, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for organizing a scheme to shoplift merchandise then sell the stolen property on the Internet auction site eBay.


Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Assault
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:11:10 -0600

Roy Randolf White, Sr., of Redby, Minnesota, pled guilty to assaulting another man without cause, which resulted in serious bodily injury to the victim.


Minnesota Man Sentenced for Bank Robbery
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:12:48 -0600

Frazier Eugene Turner, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was sentenced to 40 months in prison on one count of bank robbery.


Florida Doctor Sentenced to Life for Illegally Distributing Drugs Resulting in Death
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:19:25 -0600

Destin, Florida physician David Willis Webb was sentenced to life in prison for distribution of and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death.


South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Stolen Equipment
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:41:30 -0600

Dannie Gabriel Rhyne, of Chester, South Carolina, pled guilty to possessing four pieces of heavy equipment that had been reported stolen from North Carolina in 2006. The items included a flat bed truck, tractors, and an excavator, all valued at approximately $120,000.


Seven Arrested in Arkansas on Crack Cocaine Distribution Charge
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:43:33 -0600

Seven individuals were arrested in Arkansas as part of Operation Newport, an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force case that investigated those involved in distributing crack cocaine in Newport, Jonesboro, Searcy, Blytheville, Little Rock and the surrounding towns.


Arkansas Man Sentenced on Sex Trafficking Charge
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:48:55 -0600

Everett Cooney, of Little Rock, Arkansas, was sentenced to 90 months in prison on a federal charge of sex trafficking an underage female.


Executives Sentenced for Roles in $6 Million Foreign Bribery Scheme
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:59:09 -0600

Jason Edward Steph and Jim Bob Brown. both former executives of Willbros International Inc., were sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to pay more than $6 million in bribes to government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and officials from a Nigerian political party.


Texas Attorney Convicted for Role in Pump-and-Dump Stock Manipulation Schemes
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:08:16 -0600

Securities attorney Phillip Windom Offill Jr., of Dallas, was convicted by a federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia for participating in multi-million dollar pump-and-dump stock manipulation schemes.

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Good Morning    FRI 29 Jan 2010
 




Toyota faces probe; Honda also recalls models
Senate backs Bernanke for second term at Fed
U.N. trade body calls for write-off of Haiti's debt
Taliban say no decision yet on Karzai offer of talks
Government considering other sites for 9/11 trials
Bin Laden urges abandoning dollar: Al Jazeera tape
UK's Blair voices defiance over Iraq war
North Korea fires more artillery towards South
Obama takes retooled agenda on road after speech
Leaders warn recovery could falter without help

 









Protests as Blair before war inquiry    Salinger fans pay tribute    U.N. memorial held in Haiti






Toyota faces probe; Honda also recalls models
January 29, 2010 08:28 AM ET
    WASHINGTON/TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp faced scrutiny from Congress over its biggest ever safety recall as rival Honda Motor Co, tipped to gain from Toyota's woes, also said it would recall thousands of cars worldwide.

Full Article


Senate backs Bernanke for second term at Fed
January 29, 2010 09:28 AM ET
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday backed Ben Bernanke for a second four-year term running the Federal Reserve, the world's most powerful central bank, despite deep misgivings over his perceived policy missteps.

Full Article


U.N. trade body calls for write-off of Haiti's debt
January 29, 2010 08:05 AM ET
    GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N.'s development agency added its voice on Friday to calls to write off Haiti's $1 billion foreign debt in response to this month's devastating earthquake.

Full Article



Taliban say no decision yet on Karzai offer of talks
January 29, 2010 07:58 AM ET
    KABUL/LASHKAR GAH (Reuters) - Taliban leaders will decide soon whether to join talks with the Afghan government, a militant spokesman said on Friday, after President Hamid Karzai invited them to a peace council aimed at ending the Afghan war.

Full Article


Government considering other sites for 9/11 trials
January 29, 2010 09:14 AM ET
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Under intense bipartisan pressure, Attorney General Eric Holder is considering alternative sites to New York City for prosecuting the accused plotters of the September 11 attacks amid concerns about security and costs, an administration official said on Friday.

Full Article


Bin Laden urges abandoning dollar: Al Jazeera tape
January 29, 2010 07:54 AM ET
    DUBAI (Reuters) - Osama bin Laden urged an end to reliance on the U.S. dollar as one solution to the global financial crisis and blamed developed countries for climate change, in an audiotape said to be of the al Qaeda leader.

Full Article



UK's Blair voices defiance over Iraq war
January 29, 2010 08:50 AM ET
    LONDON (Reuters) - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair made a defiant defense of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq on Friday, saying the September 11 attacks in the United States meant Saddam Hussein had to be disarmed or removed.

Full Article



North Korea fires more artillery towards South
January 29, 2010 04:11 AM ET
    SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea fired artillery toward a disputed sea border with its southern neighbor for the third straight day on Friday in a move seen by the South's president as a ploy by Pyongyang to put pressure on regional powers.

Full Article



Obama takes retooled agenda on road after speech
January 29, 2010 07:51 AM ET
    TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - President Barack Obama vowed on Thursday he would not rest until businesses were hiring again, as he took his recast agenda on the road and sought to dig out of his deepest political rut since taking office.

Full Article



Leaders warn recovery could falter without help
January 29, 2010 08:57 AM ET
    DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - World leaders and policymakers in Davos are nervous the global recovery could falter, especially if governments withdraw support too quickly.

Full Article
 
    


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Good Morning Michael,    FRI 29 Jan 2010
 




"Club drug" ecstasy risky for healthy youth
First lady leads charge against obesity
Bill Gates promises $10 billion for vaccines
Family fat explains some of family diabetes risk
Experimental vaccine works against Chikungunya
Pelvic symptoms unlikely to mean ovarian cancer
Delivery mode not altered by pregnancy exercise
Basilea to continue late-stage antifungal study
Even routine tests can up newborns' pain response
Kids of bipolar parents at risk for mental woes

 






"Club drug" ecstasy risky for healthy youth
January 29, 2010 08:53 AM ET
    LONDON (Reuters) - The so-called "club drug" ecstasy is more likely than other stimulants like speed or crystal meth to kill young, healthy people who are not known as regular drug users, British researchers said on Friday.

Full Article


First lady leads charge against obesity
January 29, 2010 09:03 AM ET
    ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (Reuters) - U.S. health officials have leveraged the star power of first lady Michelle Obama to roll out a new campaign against obesity, a preventable condition that drains billions of dollars from the economy.

Full Article


Bill Gates promises $10 billion for vaccines
January 29, 2010 09:16 AM ET
    DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Bill and Melinda Gates said on Friday they would spend $10 billion over the next decade to develop and deliver vaccines, an increased commitment that reflects progress in the pipeline of products for immunizing children in the developing world.

Full Article



Family fat explains some of family diabetes risk
January 28, 2010 05:35 PM ET
    NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Having type 2 diabetes in the family more than doubles a woman's own risk of developing the disease, new research shows.

Full Article


Experimental vaccine works against Chikungunya
January 28, 2010 05:38 PM ET
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An experimental vaccine works against the newly spreading Chikungunya virus, at least in monkeys, and the approach may also work against other exotic viruses, U.S. government researchers reported on Thursday.

Full Article


Pelvic symptoms unlikely to mean ovarian cancer
January 28, 2010 05:16 PM ET
    NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Only one in 100 women with symptoms typical of ovarian cancer, such as persistent bloating or pelvic pain, actually has the disease, researchers reported on Thursday.

Full Article



Delivery mode not altered by pregnancy exercise
January 28, 2010 05:39 PM ET
    NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women benefit from light-intensity resistance exercise during pregnancy and this type of physical activity is not apt to alter the way they deliver their baby, study findings hint.

Full Article



Basilea to continue late-stage antifungal study
January 29, 2010 05:07 AM ET
    ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss biotechnology group Basilea said it would resume recruitment of patients into a late-stage trial of an antifungal treatment in the first half of 2010 after a U.S. safety panel recommended the study's continuation.

Full Article



Even routine tests can up newborns' pain response
January 28, 2010 05:40 PM ET
    NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Even a routine heel-stick test can be painful enough for some newborns to trigger an increase in potentially harmful free radicals in the blood, a new study suggests.

Full Article



Kids of bipolar parents at risk for mental woes
January 28, 2010 01:31 PM ET
    NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Your preschool child is throwing a fit: is it just a temper tantrum, or could it be an early sign of something more serious, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or oppositional defiant disorder? The answer may lie in your own mental health.