Blumenthal: Beware of debt-reduction companies (Connecticut Post) -Tue, 06 Jan 2009

HARTFORD -- Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, key lawmakers and statewide housing advocates want to put predatory debt-reduction companies out of business.

Blumenthal proposes ban on predatory debt-reduction practices (New London Day) -Tue, 06 Jan 2009

Predatory debt-reduction practices, currently unregulated in Connecticut, would be banned under a proposal submitted today by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. Blumenthal, joined in a press conference

Debt-reduction offers warrant scrutiny by consumers (The Indianapolis Star) -Mon, 05 Jan 2009

As some bring in the new year with cheer, others just see another year of cowering under what appears to be insurmountable debt.

European Bonds Drop Most in Almost 4 Months Before Debt Sales (Bloomberg) -Tue, 06 Jan 2009

Jan. 6 (Bloomberg) -- European government bonds fell by the most in almost four months before sales of debt in the euro region this week and as gains in equity markets eroded investor demand for the safest assets.

India Bonds Gain as Reserve Ratio Cut May Boost Demand for Debt (Bloomberg) -Tue, 06 Jan 2009

Jan. 6 (Bloomberg) -- India?s 10-year bonds gained on optimism a central bank move to cut the amount of cash lenders must hold in reserve will give them more funds to buy debt.

Brazil Stock, Debt Issuance Plunged 30.7% In 2008 (Nasdaq) -Tue, 06 Jan 2009

SAO PAULO -(Dow Jones)- Brazilian financial markets saw issuance of debt and shares plunge 30.7% in 2008 as the global credit crisis blocked capital market activity, according to data issued by the Brazilian Investment Banks Association, or Anbid, Tuesday.

Network Equipment Technologies Announces Preliminary Third Quarter Financial Information and Reduction in Workforce (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance) -Tue, 06 Jan 2009

Telecommunications equipment maker Network Equipment Technologies, Inc., announced today it expects revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 to be flat to up 5%, as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2009. The company also announced a reduction in its workforce, leaving the company with approximately 255 employees as compared to 295 at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2009.

ING Says Buy Inflation-Protected Bonds, Hungarian, Polish Debt (Bloomberg) -Mon, 05 Jan 2009

Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Investors should buy European inflation-linked bonds and government debt from Hungary or Poland in early 2009 amid a revival in risk appetite, ING Groep NV said.

Moody's affirms Teva Pharma debt rating (AP via Yahoo! Finance) -Tue, 06 Jan 2009

Moody's Investors Service said Tuesday it affirmed its rating on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and upgraded the credit facilities of Barr Laboratories, which Teva acquired last month.

'Debt is a dirty word' (The Star) -Wed, 07 Jan 2009

As businesses big and small feel the effects of the sharp downturn in the economy, for those who make a living out of consumers' inability to make ends meet, it's boom time.