News Digest for October 19, 2006

There are 7 items … Microsoft Releases Internet Explorer 7 | The Ties UnitedHealth Failed to Disclose | SEC to ease margin rules | US businesses see greenhouse laws by 2015 - survey | Rocketboom meets Wall Street | In a crisis, answer the most obvious questions first | Aggressive Hedge Funds Win Demands in 60% of Cases

Microsoft Releases Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP
Microsoft Corp. today released to the public Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP, the latest version of the world’s most popular Web browser. Customers can upgrade and browse the Web with confidence knowing that the new browser provides a greater level of security, makes everyday tasks easier, and works well with the Web sites they visit. See IR Web Report article: Will Microsoft’s New Browser Break Your IR Website?

The Ties UnitedHealth Failed to Disclose
For years, the health insurer didn’t tell investors about personal and financial links between its former CEO and the “independent” director in charge of compensation

SEC to ease margin rules in cost-cut move
The move removes a key barrier to the competitiveness of the US capital markets as similar margin rules already exist in Europe, attracting increasing numbers of hedge funds to London.

US businesses see greenhouse laws by 2015 - survey
Of 31 major corporations that completed a 100-question survey, 90 percent expect the U.S. government to set standards for greenhouse gas emissions imminently; 67 percent believe those laws will go into effect between 2010 and 2015.

Rocketboom meets Wall Street
I’m not sure who the intended audience is. It’s surely not traders and fund managers. Much too frothy. And as for “normal” investors, well there’s not a lot of space for reason and research to buttress the blog comments.

In a crisis, answer the most obvious questions first. Even if you can’t answer them
The news is going to happen with you or without you. Validate the difficult but most obvious questions surrounding a crisis and you’ll always come out better in the end. Always.

NYU Stern Professor Reveals Aggressive Hedge Fund Activism Forces Companies to Acquiesce to Demands in 60% of Cases
Hedge funds had a 100% success rate in replacing the CEO, a 73% success rate in achieving seats on a firm’s board of directors and a 56% success rate in preventing a merger—all objectives stated in their initial 13D filings.

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