Government and company negotiators can't agree on how the merged company would ensure rival ISPs' access to its high-speed cable network, according to the report. On the other side is rock-star analyst Henry Blodget, who took the opposite stand. The deal might miss the November timeframe he last predicted, he said, but Blodget sounded all cheerleady about its completion. Bank of America disappointed Wall Street today with earnings that fell short of estimates. Higher interest rates were part of the problem, but so was a big fat charge for severing thousands of workers.
Higher rates mean banks pay more to borrow for new loans, and that affects profits.
Rates seem to be on hold for now, but BoA continues its layoffs of 10,000 workers, announced last July to help spur growth. Firestone expanded its recall to include another 1.4 million tires today, adding to the 6.5 million it had recalled earlier. Now that's a lot of rubber. I hope they recycle. That's what they're muttering in the executive corridors of Verizon .