NYC tabloids keep a straight face on Ebola

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

In the hours before Spencer was diagnosed he had gone bowling, rode the A train and stopped by a meatball shop. But there was not a single pun to be found on New York City newsstands Friday morning. No hysteria and no sensationalism.

Instead newspapers like AM New York went with just the facts. The free daily's front page simply said "Ebola in NYC" and showed a picture of Spencer in a hazmat suit while caring for victims in West Africa:

"We didn't want to be alarmists," said Pete Catapano, executive editor of AM New York. "Obviously it's a scary subject... We wanted to be very direct, very straight-forward."

Related: Syracuse University disinvites journalist over Ebola fears

The Daily News also took a tempered approach with its front page:

The New York Post (which is infamous for its outrageous covers) was a little more brash with its "Ebola Here!" headline, but did stick to just the facts:

"A subject like this... people make jokes about it. That's not our place to do that," Catapano said. "We just wanted to be very respectful, and let the story speak for itself."

Related: EU pledges 1 billion euros to fight Ebola

First Published: October 24, 2014: 5:39 PM ET

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The Ebola stocks: Effect of an outbreak

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Some people have considered canceling visits to big theme parks and have aired worries about whether airports and public areas are safe zones.

It's no wonder that investors are assessing Ebola's impact on the economy. Stocks of companies that make drugs that treat the virus have had a wild ride.

It's no small issue. Ebola has killed nearly 5,000 people, mostly in West Africa. The deadly virus has killed one person in the United States and on Friday, a doctor in New York City became the fourth person to have tested positive for Ebola in the country.

One trader, Dave Lutz of Jones Trading, has compiled a list of stocks that are either directly impacted or could be affected by the spread of Ebola.

Canadian biotech firm Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (TKMR)' stock surged in September after the FDA authorized the company's drug for patients with Ebola in the United States. Shares have since pulled back. The company has started limited production of its drug, TKM-Ebola, which will be available in early December.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX) is another small biotech company working on a drug that could be used to treat Ebola. Its stock has been on a roller coaster ride lately.

NewLink Genetics (NLNK) is working with the World Health Organization and other agencies on an Ebola vaccine. Its shares have surged 57% in the past month.

Companies that make protective equipment for healthcare workers or provide services to governments have also seen gains. Lakeland Industries (LAKE) said in September that it was boosting production of the protective suits in response to growing demand. It's stock has surged 76% in the last four weeks.

Alpha Pro Tech (APT) also makes protective equipment for healthcare workers. Its stock jumped 5% on Friday alone.

Some investors believe the airline industry is also vulnerable to the outbreak. Concerns about air travel rose this month after a Dallas nurse, who treated an Ebola patient, flew round trip between Dallas and Cleveland before being diagnosed with the virus.

Though airline stocks were hurt earlier in the month, they are now near all-time highs after reporting record setting profits.

Cruise ship operators have also been in focus after a healthcare worker who handled Ebola test samples was quarantined on a cruise ship earlier this month. Shares of both Carnival (CCL) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) have been under pressure recently.

Hotel chains could also be at risk if worries about Ebola cause people to curtail their vacation plans.

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and Starwood Hotels (HOT) are on Lutz's list...

...as are amusement park operator Six Flags (SIX) and movie theater company Regal Entertainment (RGC).

First Published: October 24, 2014: 4:39 PM ET

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The best time to book your holiday flight is...

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

A new survey shows the lowest prices for domestic airfares are found eight weeks before the departure date, around 19% below the average fare of $496, according to the Airlines Reporting Corporation, a travel industry research group owned by the airlines.

The report, which was based on ticket sales between January 2013 through July 2014, also found Sunday is the cheapest day to buy plane tickets. This Sunday marks nine weeks until Christmas week, so the clock is ticking.

"It's about time we stop believing in the airfare voodoo that Tuesday is the best day to get good ticket prices," said George Hobica, president of Airfarewatchdog.com. The average domestic fare paid on a Sunday is $71 cheaper than on a Monday, the most expensive day, the report showed.

Getting a deal on holiday travel is always hard, but maybe even more so this year, according to Keith Nowak from Travelocity. He said supply and demand is in full effect, giving airlines the pricing power.

Passengers are flying more this year than in the recent past, but airlines aren't adding more seats, he said. "You've got passenger loads growing faster than seats being added. It's clear given the current load factors, holiday planes are going to be full."

Related: Hottest places to travel this winter

The most recent data from the Department of Transportation showed the number of domestic fliers in July was the highest since the end of the recession. U.S. airlines carried 385 million passengers, up 2.1% from 2013.

Here are four expert tips to snag the best deals this holiday season:

Book early. Booking early doesn't always mean better prices, but you're more likely to get the flight and seat you want, especially given the expected high demand.

It's all about value, said Hobica. "You can get a good deal on an ugly, ill-fitting cashmere sweater, or you can pay a little more and get what you want. Flying out at the crack of dawn, jammed in a middle seat is the ugly sweater."

Related: How much should you really tip housekeeping? A travel tipping guide

Be flexible with dates, airports. Put in multiple nearby airports and try different arrival and departure dates when searching for flights.

"You want to open up as many fare options as possible to increase your chances of finding the best deal," said Nowak.

And it's not just about the ticket price. "Smaller airports might have significantly lower parking prices. If you're gone for a week, that can be a lot of savings," he said.

Be persistent. Travelers can hold seats for up to 24 hours without purchasing them with most airlines now, said Hobica, which can make a plane appear fuller than it is and discourage potential fliers.

"People hold seats and then release them. Keep checking the flight, you never know when something might open up."

Travel on the holiday. Flying on the actual holiday tends to bring lower prices. "If you fly late Christmas Eve, on Christmas Day or on January 1, those are always the cheapest days and times to fly," said Hobica.

Related: $134,700 one-of-a-kind trip for fashionistas

Consider Europe. If visiting grandma in the states isn't a requirement, travelers can find cheap affair to Europe right now, said Hobica.

"And if you are in the mood to splurge, business class seats are 50-60% cheaper to Europe during the holidays."

First Published: October 24, 2014: 3:01 PM ET

21.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

NYC tabloids keep a straight face on Ebola

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

In the hours before Spencer was diagnosed he had gone bowling, rode the A train and stopped by a meatball shop. But there was not a single pun to be found on New York City newsstands Friday morning. No hysteria and no sensationalism.

Instead newspapers like AM New York went with just the facts. The free daily's front page simply said "Ebola in NYC" and showed a picture of Spencer in a hazmat suit while caring for victims in West Africa:

"We didn't want to be alarmists," said Pete Catapano, executive editor of AM New York. "Obviously it's a scary subject... We wanted to be very direct, very straight-forward."

Related: Syracuse University disinvites journalist over Ebola fears

The Daily News also took a tempered approach with its front page:

The New York Post (which is infamous for its outrageous covers) was a little more brash with its "Ebola Here!" headline, but did stick to just the facts:

"A subject like this... people make jokes about it. That's not our place to do that," Catapano said. "We just wanted to be very respectful, and let the story speak for itself."

Related: EU pledges 1 billion euros to fight Ebola

First Published: October 24, 2014: 5:39 PM ET

19.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Ebola stocks: Effect of an outbreak

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Some people have considered canceling visits to big theme parks and have aired worries about whether airports and public areas are safe zones.

It's no wonder that investors are assessing Ebola's impact on the economy. Stocks of companies that make drugs that treat the virus have had a wild ride.

It's no small issue. Ebola has killed nearly 5,000 people, mostly in West Africa. The deadly virus has killed one person in the United States and on Friday, a doctor in New York City became the fourth person to have tested positive for Ebola in the country.

One trader, Dave Lutz of Jones Trading, has compiled a list of stocks that are either directly impacted or could be affected by the spread of Ebola.

Canadian biotech firm Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (TKMR)' stock surged in September after the FDA authorized the company's drug for patients with Ebola in the United States. Shares have since pulled back. The company has started limited production of its drug, TKM-Ebola, which will be available in early December.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX) is another small biotech company working on a drug that could be used to treat Ebola. Its stock has been on a roller coaster ride lately.

NewLink Genetics (NLNK) is working with the World Health Organization and other agencies on an Ebola vaccine. Its shares have surged 57% in the past month.

Companies that make protective equipment for healthcare workers or provide services to governments have also seen gains. Lakeland Industries (LAKE) said in September that it was boosting production of the protective suits in response to growing demand. It's stock has surged 76% in the last four weeks.

Alpha Pro Tech (APT) also makes protective equipment for healthcare workers. Its stock jumped 5% on Friday alone.

Some investors believe the airline industry is also vulnerable to the outbreak. Concerns about air travel rose this month after a Dallas nurse, who treated an Ebola patient, flew round trip between Dallas and Cleveland before being diagnosed with the virus.

Though airline stocks were hurt earlier in the month, they are now near all-time highs after reporting record setting profits.

Cruise ship operators have also been in focus after a healthcare worker who handled Ebola test samples was quarantined on a cruise ship earlier this month. Shares of both Carnival (CCL) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) have been under pressure recently.

Hotel chains could also be at risk if worries about Ebola cause people to curtail their vacation plans.

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and Starwood Hotels (HOT) are on Lutz's list...

...as are amusement park operator Six Flags (SIX) and movie theater company Regal Entertainment (RGC).

First Published: October 24, 2014: 4:39 PM ET

19.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

The best time to book your holiday flight is...

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

A new survey shows the lowest prices for domestic airfares are found eight weeks before the departure date, around 19% below the average fare of $496, according to the Airlines Reporting Corporation, a travel industry research group owned by the airlines.

The report, which was based on ticket sales between January 2013 through July 2014, also found Sunday is the cheapest day to buy plane tickets. This Sunday marks nine weeks until Christmas week, so the clock is ticking.

"It's about time we stop believing in the airfare voodoo that Tuesday is the best day to get good ticket prices," said George Hobica, president of Airfarewatchdog.com. The average domestic fare paid on a Sunday is $71 cheaper than on a Monday, the most expensive day, the report showed.

Getting a deal on holiday travel is always hard, but maybe even more so this year, according to Keith Nowak from Travelocity. He said supply and demand is in full effect, giving airlines the pricing power.

Passengers are flying more this year than in the recent past, but airlines aren't adding more seats, he said. "You've got passenger loads growing faster than seats being added. It's clear given the current load factors, holiday planes are going to be full."

Related: Hottest places to travel this winter

The most recent data from the Department of Transportation showed the number of domestic fliers in July was the highest since the end of the recession. U.S. airlines carried 385 million passengers, up 2.1% from 2013.

Here are four expert tips to snag the best deals this holiday season:

Book early. Booking early doesn't always mean better prices, but you're more likely to get the flight and seat you want, especially given the expected high demand.

It's all about value, said Hobica. "You can get a good deal on an ugly, ill-fitting cashmere sweater, or you can pay a little more and get what you want. Flying out at the crack of dawn, jammed in a middle seat is the ugly sweater."

Related: How much should you really tip housekeeping? A travel tipping guide

Be flexible with dates, airports. Put in multiple nearby airports and try different arrival and departure dates when searching for flights.

"You want to open up as many fare options as possible to increase your chances of finding the best deal," said Nowak.

And it's not just about the ticket price. "Smaller airports might have significantly lower parking prices. If you're gone for a week, that can be a lot of savings," he said.

Be persistent. Travelers can hold seats for up to 24 hours without purchasing them with most airlines now, said Hobica, which can make a plane appear fuller than it is and discourage potential fliers.

"People hold seats and then release them. Keep checking the flight, you never know when something might open up."

Travel on the holiday. Flying on the actual holiday tends to bring lower prices. "If you fly late Christmas Eve, on Christmas Day or on January 1, those are always the cheapest days and times to fly," said Hobica.

Related: $134,700 one-of-a-kind trip for fashionistas

Consider Europe. If visiting grandma in the states isn't a requirement, travelers can find cheap affair to Europe right now, said Hobica.

"And if you are in the mood to splurge, business class seats are 50-60% cheaper to Europe during the holidays."

First Published: October 24, 2014: 3:01 PM ET

19.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tumblr CEO: I'm still in charge here

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

"I think and I hope that we were thoughtful about how we raised money, that we've been thoughtful about how we've grown the team," Karp told CNNMoney.

Yahoo bought Tumblr last May for $1.1 billion. Karp says that Tumblr remains "precious" to him, and he maintains autonomy over the final product. But Yahoo (YHOO, Tech30) has given Tumblr the support it needs to grow faster.

For example, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer said this week that since the acquisition, Tumblr's audience has grown by 40% to 420 million users, and the number of blogs has doubled to more than 200 million.

Related: Yahoo profit soars following the Alibaba IPO

Tumblr's ad business has also grown strongly. Mayer said Tumblr will bring in $100 million in revenue next year, and finally turn a profit.

Karp says he's happy about the progress the company has made under Yahoo. He says advertisers have a unique opportunity on Tumblr -- to create a blog and tell a story in a different way than traditional banner ads allow. Yahoo also pushes Tumblr as a great platform for advertisers to reach the coveted millennial audience.

"We're now a couple years into our ad business with hundreds of the biggest brands in the world now spending money on Tumblr," said Karp.

But Karp says that even as the brand grows under Yahoo's watch, Tumblr is still, well, "Tumblry."

"If this thing stays true to what it is, I'm going to be here 30 years from now. This is my dream job."

First Published: October 24, 2014: 9:04 AM ET

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P&G to spin off Duracell

Procter & Gamble is splitting off its Duracell battery unit after owning it for 10 years.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The company said it is acting to boost its share price and to reduce the number of shares outstanding. It hopes to give shares of a new stand-alone Duracell to its shareholders late next year, but said it will look at other options, including a possible sale of the company.

P&G (PG) bought Duracell as part of its $57 billion purchase of Gillette in 2005, the largest acquisition in the company's history. But P&G, whose household products also include Tide laundry detergent and Pampers diapers, has said it is interested in trimming the number of brands it offers consumers.

In August, it said it would dump 90 of its smaller, less popular brands, leaving it with a portfolio of 70 to 80 brands. But those brands being dumped are all much smaller than Duracell.

Related: Breaking up is the latest Wall Street craze

Duracell is the market leader in battery sales ahead of Energizer (ENR).

The market for disposable batteries is seen as shrinking long term. Many devices that use batteries are designed to use less energy, such as LED flashlights. And other products that used to be major users of disposable batteries, such as transistor radios or portable tape players, have been replaced in the market by devices that user rechargable, longer-life batteries.

Duracell is a maker of rechargable batteries as well. But its sales depend mostly on disposable ones.

Other companies have been announcing spin-offs of various units in an effort to boost share value. Other such deals in the works include eBay's (EBAY, Tech30) plans to spin off its PayPal electronic payments unit, and HP (HPQ, Tech30) splitting its PC and printer business from its unit that provides software and services to corporate customers.

First Published: October 24, 2014: 8:33 AM ET

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EU pledges 1 billion euros to fight Ebola

European states have stepped up their efforts to fight Ebola.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

EU member states made commitments this week to give an extra 400 million euros, on top of 580 million previously pledged, officials said.

The United Nations has said it needs at least $1 billion to effectively fight the virus that has already killed 4,800 people, mainly in West Africa.

Donors have been slow to follow through on their promises, prompting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appeal for more countries to join the campaign.

UN's $1 billion fund for Ebola falls woefully short

The U.S. has already committed more than $100 million, but the Pentagon said it was working to shift another $500 million of funds toward the Ebola effort.

In addition to money pledged by EU states, the European Commission is providing 24.4 million euros to help fund research into an Ebola vaccine.

Related: Paul Allen gives $100 million

Ebola could cost West Africa as much as $32.6 billion by the end of 2015, according to the World Bank.

First Published: October 24, 2014: 10:22 AM ET

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Stocks: 4 things to know before the open

Click chart for in-depth premarket data.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

Shares in Amazon are set to take a dive, and the overall market looks set to drift lower.

Here are the four things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Amazon disappoints: Investors are getting fed up with the constant stream of losses at Amazon (AMZN, Tech30). Shares in the online retailer fell by about 10% premarket after the company reported a loss of $437 million in the last quarter, even though revenue was up 20%.

2. Market moves: U.S. stock futures were edging lower ahead of the start of trading after stock markets rallied the previous session. On Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average jumped by 1.3%, the Nasdaq rose by 1.6% and the S&P 500 added 1.2%.

European markets were all dipping lower in early trading. Asian markets ended mixed. The standout performer was the Nikkei in Japan, which rose by 1% after a volatile week.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

3. Earnings: The flow of quarterly results continues into Friday. Ford (F), Bristol-Myers (BMY), Shire (SHPG), Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Procter & Gamble (PG) are all set to report ahead of the open.

Meanwhile, investors are pushing Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) shares up by 3% premarket in reaction to the company's latest earnings.

4. Economics: The U.S. Census Bureau will release monthly data on new home sales for September.

In the U.K., preliminary data show the British economy slowed a bit in the third quarter compared to the second. GDP grew by 0.7%, which was roughly in line with expectations, and by 3% over the same period last year.

First Published: October 24, 2014: 5:09 AM ET

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