Market Gawk

Nigeria has reached the end of a huge debt elimination programme under the administration of its president, Olusegun Obasanjo, though an auction has not settled all the country’s remaining legacy debt.

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Annuity sales in the US have hit record numbers as companies continue to cut back defined benefits plans and the baby boomers, who were born just after the second world war, seek retirement products with guaranteed payments, according to an insurance industry group.

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? Its Not Just about Pro Dollar or Anti Dollar These Days ? Euro Rallies on Stronger Unemployment and Retail Trade Data ? Yen Slips on Weak Consumer Spending

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The chairman and chief executive of Comcast Corp., the nation’s largest cable television operator, received a 2006 compensation package valued by the company at $27.8 million, according to a proxy statement filed with federal regulators on Thursday.

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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Cognos Inc. late Thursday reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $60.9 million, or 67 cents a share, up from $39.3 million, or 43 cents a share, during the same period a year ago. The Ottawa-based business-software maker posted total revenue of $284.5 million vs. $253.1 million. Excluding amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets and stock-based compensation expense, earnings were 74 cents a share, compared with 49 cents a share last year. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had forecast fourth-quarter earnings of 65 cents a share on revenue of $278 million. Additionally, Cognos said it expects first-quarter per-share earnings of 19 cents to 24 cents, or 28 cents to 33 cents on a pro forma basis, on revenue of $230 million to $240 million. For fiscal 2008, the company said it sees per-share earnings of $1.66 to $1.73, or $1.98 to $2.05 on a pro forma basis, on revenue of $1.055 billion to $1.075 billion.Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire,

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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Airgas Inc. said late Thurday it has agreed to acquire a significant part of Linde AG’s U.S. packaged gas business for $310 million in cash. The deal will be financed under its revolving credit facility, Radnor, Pa.-based Airgas said. The acquired business had 2006 revenue of $346 million, and includes 130 locations in 18 states and more than 1,400 employees. The company expects the deal to add up to 2 cents a share to earnings in the first year after the transaction closes. The acquisition does not Linde’s LifeGas medical gas business, its Spectra Gas rare and specialty gas business, its Caribbean and Canadian gases business, and certain other assets. Upon closing, Airgas plans to sell 17 of the acquired packaged gas facilities in the Carolinas, southern Virginia, and eastern Georgia to National Welders Supply Company Inc., a joint venture between Airgas and the Turner family of Charlotte, N.C.Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on s

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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California on Thursday said 10 counties in the state will receive $540 million in new federal funds to test innovative ways of providing health services to the uninsured. The funds, which will serve 18,000 low-income, uninsured people in the state, stem from legislation signed by the governor last year. ”This initiative will help ten of California’s counties implement health care programs that include preventive and primary care services to uninsured persons who have chronic health care conditions or high health care costs,” California Department of Health Services Director Sandra Shewry said in a statement. The programs and allocations are subject to federal approval.
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — IDT Corp. said Thursday it has named Stephen Brown as chief financial officer and treasurer, effective immediately. Brown, who served as IDT’s CFO from 1995 through May 2006, succeeds Marcelo Fischer. Brown left the CFO post in order to focus on the development of IDT Entertainment, and led the division during its growth and sale to affiliates of Liberty Media Corp. last year. Fischer will assume the role of senior vice president of finance and will focus on accounting and internal reporting matters, the Newark, N.J.-based company said.
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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Reuters is reporting Hilton Hotels Corp.’s board of directors has agreed to accelerate the expiration of its current shareholder rights plan.

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The California State Teachers’ Retirement System announced today it will expand its supplemental retirement savings programs for school employees.

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