Battle of the Brands
They don't even sell similar products, so why is
Reebok
(RBK)
seething over
Corel's
(COSFF)
advertising? Because Venus Williams gets paid to wear
Reebok
gear. The
notes that Williams played her match yesterday wearing the logo of U.S. Open sponsor Corel -- in clear violation of Reebok's exclusive contract with her -- but faced major fines if she did not wear the logo of the tournament's sponsors.
I've got one word for you: plastic. The
Washington Post
reports that "
Chevy Chase Bank
announced yesterday that it has sold its $4.9 billion credit card portfolio to
First USA
of Wilmington, Del."
Things may get a little slippery, reports the
Telegraph
, as massive job cuts and gas station and refinery plant closures are expected after yesterday's announcement by
Shell
(SC) - Get Report
that they would consolidate their European outlets.
Detroit Diesel
(DDC)
has developed a clean-burning diesel engine that may one day power SUVs. According to the
Detroit Free Press
, the company says the engine "isn't much louder than a conventional V6 engine, the frame will last for 250,000 miles and will never develop the notorious rattle or stench of older diesels."
Sony's
(SNE) - Get Report
, the top U.S. electronics retailer, will end its second quarter far above industry analyst expectations at 40 cents a share, the
said.
There's no gap in the
Gap's
(GPS) - Get Report
sales. The
reports that the company's stock "rose 10% yesterday as the company reported a 9% increase in comparable store sales in August."
The fate of
Kia Motors
will be decided by Sept. 28, according to the
. A second round of international bidding for the insolvent company and its subsidiary
Asia Motor
should begin by the 28th and
Ford
(F) - Get Report
,
General Motors
(GM) - Get Report
,
Hyundai
,
Daewoo
and
Samsung
are expected to place bids.
Coffee, tea or me? The
reports that 12
Safeway
(SWY)
employees have filed grievances over the supermarket chain's smile-and-make-eye-contact rule." Several clerks complain that customers misinterpret the friendliness as propositions and, as a result, have been harassed by regular customers.
And if you've been lacking a little motivation...
An Australian swimming coach has been told to say "see you later alligator" to a newly devised method of motivation. The coach was planning on using a drugged and bound crocodile to encourage his young pupils to swim faster. A city council member was quoted as saying, "We do not condone the stress to a crocodile that must ensue from being physically restrained and put in chlorinated water." In the
Telegraph
.
