Amazon offers instant streaming of moviesAmazon.com Inc., the world's largest online retailer, is now offering instant streaming of more than 5,000 movies and TV shows to customers of its Amazon Prime home-delivery service. The service is an add-on to Amazon Instant Video, which offers more than 90,000 commercial-free movies and TV shows to buy or rent, the Seattle-based company said. A membership to Amazon Prime, which costs $79 a year, is required to have access to the unlimited free streaming.
U.S. looks into Toyota Highlander stallsFederal safety regulators are looking into reports that the 2006 model year Toyota Highlander hybrid SUV is prone to stalling. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has received 32 complaints from drivers alleging incidents of the vehicle stalling unexpectedly. In most of the cases, the vehicles could not be restarted and had to be taken in for service. The NHTSA said on its website that the complaints apparently are increasing, with all but one received within the past year. There were no reports of injuries or accidents.
Confidence rises among consumersConfidence among U.S. consumers rose in February to a three-year high, exceeding forecasts, as more Americans predicted the economy and their incomes will grow. The Conference Board's sentiment index increased to 70.4, the highest level since February 2008, from 64.8 the prior month, according to figures from the New York-based private research group. Economists projected the gauge would be little changed at 65.5, according to a Bloomberg News survey.
Disappointing outlook dings Wal-Mart sharesWal-Mart Stores Inc. shares sank 3.1 percent as investors reacted to the retail giant's financial outlook and fourth-quarter results. Wal-Mart credited tax benefits and demand from countries including Brazil and China in reporting that fourth-quarter profit rose 27 percent. But the company gave a first-quarter profit and full-year outlook range that suggested it may fall short of Wall Street expectations, citing in part its view of the global economy. Wal-Mart shares fell $1.71 to $53.67.
More bank branches closed than opened in '10In 2010, for the first time in 15 years, more bank branches closed than opened across the United States. An analysis of government data shows, however, that even as banks shut branches in poorer areas, they continued to expand in wealthier ones, despite decades of government regulations requiring financial institutions to meet the credit needs of poor and middle-class neighborhoods. The number of bank branches fell to 98,517 in 2010, from 99,550 the previous year, according to data compiled by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
Central bank calls for harder line on spendingThe European Central Bank criticized political leaders for moving too timidly against countries whose excessive spending and borrowing endangered the stability of the euro. In its first official comment on proposals by the European Commission to better enforce rules on government spending and debt, the central bank's governing council said there were still too many escape clauses and opportunities for countries in the euro area. The European Commission proposals "fall short of the necessary quantum leap in the surveillance of the euro area which the ECB deems necessary to ensure its stability and smooth functioning," the bank said in a written opinion.
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