Stock futures slip after stocks hit five-year high

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stock index futures fell on Monday, with markets expected to consolidate after the S&P 500 index closed at a five-year high on Friday.Last week was the best for U.S. stocks in more than a year as a budget deal and economic data boosted investor confidence.Financial shares will be in focus a day after global regulators gave banks four more years and greater flexibility to build...

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Heartland Payment Systems(R) Acquires Ovation Payroll to Position Heartland Payroll Services for Rapid Growth

PRINCETON, NJ–(Marketwire – Jan 7, 2013) – Heartland Payment Systems ( NYSE : HPY ), one of the nation’s largest payments processors, has expanded its Heartland Payroll Services business by acquiring Ovation Payroll, a leading U.S. payroll outsourcing company that offers payroll tax preparation and administration, Internet payroll reporting, direct deposit, and other services.Headquartered in Rochester,...

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Stocks dip at open after five-year high

DEAR ABBY: I spent the afternoon running errands. As I left the shopping center, I saw a young couple with a baby and a toddler holding a sign requesting help with food, as the husband had just been laid off. I drove past, then considered the children and circled back. I had no cash with me, so I stopped and offered them our family's dinner -- a jar of premium spaghetti sauce, a pound of fresh ground...

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Here come the big boys

Here come the big boys.The NFL's wild-card weekend is over, with nary an upset. Moving on are division winners Green Bay, Houston and Baltimore, along with NFC West runner-up Seattle and the only rookie quarterback still standing: Russell Wilson.Ahead are some daunting challenges as the Ravens visit Denver, the Texans go to New England, the Packers head to San Francisco and the Seahawks journey to...

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Storm over Depardieu's 'pathetic' move

STORY HIGHLIGHTSRussian President Vladimir Putin has bestowed Russian citizenship on actor Gérard DepardieuFor Depardieu, a public war of words erupted, with many in France disgusted by his moveDepardieu more than anyone, represents the Gallic spirit, says Agnes PoirierMajority of French people disapprove of his action but can't help loving him, she addsAgnes Poirier is a French journalist and political...

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”Zero Dark Thirty” screenplay among Writers Guild nominees

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The writers of controversial Osama bin Laden thriller “Zero Dark Thirty” and of the presidential drama “Lincoln” won nominations on Friday for the Writers Guild Awards, as momentum built in Hollywood ahead of the Oscars in February.The screenplays for Iran hostage drama “Argo,” cult movie “The Master,” quirky comedy “Silver Linings Playbook,” and shipwreck tale “Life of Pi”...

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Shutterfly’s Improbably Long Survival

Jeffrey Housenbold, the chief executive officer of Shutterfly (SFLY), sat down recently for a meal at Il Fornaio, a popular Italian restaurant in Palo Alto. He says he watched as a diner at a nearby table pulled out a smartphone and began uploading pictures of his steaming plate of cioppino onto Instagram. After describing the scene, Housenbold says: “I don’t have photos of people’s dinner...

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New Job Alerts System Launched to Help Canadians Looking for Work

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Jan 6, 2013) – The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today launched the new Job Alerts system, making it easier for Canadians across the country to find out about local job opportunities.“The new Job Alerts system is an important part of our government”s plan to better Connect Canadians with Available Jobs in their area,” said...

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"Cliff" concerns give way to earnings focus

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors' "fiscal cliff" worries are likely to give way to more fundamental concerns, like earnings, as fourth-quarter reports get under way next week. Financial results, which begin after the market closes on Tuesday with aluminum company Alcoa , are expected to be only slightly better than the third-quarter's lackluster results. As a warning sign, analyst current...

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NHL, union reach tentative agreement

NEW YORK (AP) — Hockey is back, and it took nearly four months and one long night to get the game back on the ice.With the season on the line, the NHL and the players' association agreed on a tentative pact to end a 113-day lockout and save what was left of a fractured schedule.Commissioner Gary Bettman and union executive director Donald Fehr ceased being adversaries and announced the deal while...

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