Business - baltimoresun.com

Valentine's Day helps drive sales of luxury apparel, accessories

By Lorraine Mirabella , The Baltimore Sun — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:09:00 EST

Jewelers, other retailers benefit from rising sales

It's no longer taboo to spend money lavishly, if sales of high-end goods are any indicator. And that bodes well for retailers this Valentine's Day.. A resurgence in spending by the luxury consumer is expected to benefit stores that sell accessories, jewelry and apparel. But even the average shopper may be inclined to splurge for a holiday typically associated with pricier gifts.

Jay Hancock: Exelon gets tax cuts despite pledge to locate in Baltimore

Jay Hancock — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Among the many advantages Constellation Energy's headquarters gives Baltimore — Fortune 500 cachet, hundreds of well-paid workers, millions in charity — is this: The building pays sticker price on property taxes — $745,000 a year. You probably won't be able to say that about its replacement, which Exelon Corp. and developer John Paterakis propose to build at Harbor Point.

Consumers are starting to flex their newfound muscle

By Eileen Ambrose , The Baltimore Sun — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Social media gives consumers the ability to mobilize quickly and change business practices

Eileen Ambrose: Social media gives consumers the ability to mobilize quickly and change business practices

Kiplinger: Baltimore one of the best cities for singles

Eileen Ambrose — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST

Baltimore ranks among the top 10 cities for singles , according to Kiplinger.

Real Estate Wonk: Big price doesn't always mean many bedrooms

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:40:00 EST

Interview: Steve DiBiagio of fleet management firm PHH Arval

By Hanah Cho , The Baltimore Sun — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Sparks fleet management company PHH Arval address distracted driving

From texting to browsing the Web to eating in the car, driver distraction has become a growing problem on the roadways.

To find investors: Go west, young startup — but come back

By Gus G. Sentementes , The Baltimore Sun — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Local startups make pilgrimages to Silicon Valley in hopes of tapping both coasts for funding

Derek Gabbard wasn't dreaming of California when he sought to raise investment capital for his Baltimore-based cybersecurity firm. But the CEO of Lookingglass Cyber Solutions lucked out with a connection to venture capitalists in the state that dwarfs all others in terms of venture capital. Such deals, where mid-Atlantic technology companies straddle both coasts for investors, have been cropping up lately.

GE to hire 5,000 U.S. veterans, investing in plants

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:20:09 EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - General Electric Co plans to hire 5,000 U.S. military veterans over the next five years and to invest $580 million to expand its aviation footprint in the United States this year.

January home sales fall in Baltimore area

By Gus G. Sentementes , The Baltimore Sun — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:23:46 EST

Prices stable while inventory at lowest in nearly six years

January home sales slipped by 5 percent in the Baltimore area, while the number of homes on the market reached its lowest point in nearly six years, numbers released Friday show.

Mortgage settlement has shortcomings, critics say

By Hanah Cho , The Baltimore Sun — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 20:34:00 EST

$25 billion deal designed to address foreclosure problems

As the federal government and 49 states signed a landmark mortgage relief settlement Thursday, housing advocates and others pointed to shortcomings and raised questions about how the $25 billion plan would be able to provide relief to nearly 2 million current or former homeowners across the country.