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Small business Watch: November 6, 2008

November 6, 2008

Pete's Independent Honda changes hands Ken Peterson says he has purchased Pete's Independent Honda, an automotive repair shop at 4409 E. Sprague, from Peter Nguyen, for an undisclosed sum and plans to continue to operate the business

Expect sizable changes in investing landscape by 2020

Experts' views vary, but several say they foresee healthier environment

November 6, 2008

Andrew Leckey

"Time, time, time, see what's become of me," sang Simon and Garfunkel in 1966 (and the Bangles in 1987), "while I looked around for my possibilities."Time and possibilities are a jumble in the 2008 investment world, but looking ahead rather than

Fighting financial angst: Here are some ways to take control

Sharing concerns, focusing on wellness activities often can help, psychologists say

November 6, 2008

With the economy in crisis and foreclosures at an all-time high, financial anxiety among Americans appears to be soaring to new heights.In a poll distributed by the American Psychological Association (APA) to more than 1,700 U.S. adults, eight a

Monitoring Federal Home Loan Banks' risk effects

FHLB members show slightly higher exposure to risk than nonmembers

November 6, 2008

In what's touted as the first study to examine the impact of Federal Home Loan Bank membership and funding on commercial bank risk, a University of Arkansas researcher and colleagues at two Federal Reserve banks found evidence to suggest that FHLB

Demand said rising here for nontraditional financing

Factoring sector picks up as credit market tightens; microloan inquiries swell

November 6, 2008

David Cole

An increasing number of businesses here and nationally are turning to nontraditional sources of financing, such as factoring, to meet critical cash-flow needs as banks constrict credit in the current economic crisis, say industry factoring, such as

Sterling moves past WTB in local deposit market share

Washington Trust has led category for years; overall deposits climb 6.7 percent

November 6, 2008

Kim Crompton

Sterling Savings Bank moved ahead of perennial leader Washington Trust Bank in bank deposits in Spokane County over the last year, according to an annual market share report released last month by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.Executives of

Intermountain reports earnings fall 91 percent

Nonperforming assets shoot up to $22.7 million; company cuts personnel

November 6, 2008

Intermountain Community Bancorp, of Sandpoint, has reported third-quarter earnings of $226,000, or 3 cents a share, down almost 91 percent from $2.4 million, or 38 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter.The company also has had a reduction a

Davidson cuts estimates of Sterling's 2008, 2009 profits

Analyst's report points out nonperforming assets grew by $133 million in quarter

November 6, 2008

Richard Ripley

A regional securities brokerage has slashed its estimates for Sterling Financial Corp.'s earnings in 2008 and 2009.The Great Falls, Mont.-based brokerage, D.A. Davidson & Co., says that "subdued" loan growth, pressure on net interest margin, and

Without sales IPOs, venture capital to slow

Angel funds also need the companies they invest in to take next step, free up capital for others

November 6, 2008

Mike McLean

Venture capitalists here say that if the companies they invest in don't go public or get acquired with greater frequency than they are today, they could face a drought in available capital to invest in new ventures. That, they say, would be too to

Preaching calm IN CRISIS

Financial institutions scramble to reassure customers

November 6, 2008

Jeanne Gustafson

As consumers and investors digest a barrage of bad economic news, banks, credit unions, and securities brokerages here are scrambling to reassure their own customers and to pick up new ones who might be fleeing weaker institutions.Industry say a