| 'Spartans’ edges ’Rambo’ to lead weekend box office with $18.5M
The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Media By Numbers LLC are:
1. Meet the Spartans, Fox, $18,505,530, 2,605 locations, $7,104 average, $18,505,530, one week.
2. Rambo, Lionsgate, $18,203,876, 2,751 locations, $6,617 average, $18,203,876, one week.
3. 27 Dresses, Fox, $13,360,535, 3,074 locations, $4,346 average, $45,107,889, two weeks.
4. Cloverfield, Paramount, $12,712,134, 3,411 locations, $3,727 average, $64,306,110, two weeks.
5. Untraceable, Sony, $11,354,069, 2,368 locations, $4,795 average, $11,354,069, one week.
JOSEPH C. PHILLIPS: Chatting with the Maker
Moses introduced the concept of history and the building blocks of literacy while Robertson offers this year's new fashion trends. I have it on good authority that God doesn't give a wit about gold prices, the stock market or the American economy. That authority of course is scripture which is remarkably clear on the things God is concerned with, namely our love for Him and our love for each other. Robertson isn't crazy. It may be that he does spend each New Years speaking to God (though what is unclear is of what significance the God of the infinite universe finds in the beginning of our calendar year), and God may even answer him. It may simply be that the good minister has fumbled the message.
Joseph C.
The Most Foolish
Hastings fetches less than 10 times this year's outlook. If you don't think that's cheap, Hastings sure does. The company announced a share buyback after its healthy quarter, letting investors know it's ready to eat its own cooking at these attractive prices. Cabela's (NYSE: CAB) -- $16.35 Outdoor-gear superstore concepts like Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's are sorely misunderstood. The large boxes appear overly lavish, complete with themed camping terrain, large aquarium tanks, and museum-like wildlife displays. Shopping is an adventure, yet the chains are positioned reasonably well for a tightfisted future because they provide a lot of entertainment bang in pursuit of the buck. Sales continue to grow at Cabela's, though earnings dipped slightly this past quarter.
When small fry angle to become big fish
Would you tell your boy to seek employment in the City of London? There could be fewer jobs for him in the Square Mile over the next 12 months. The credit crunch has pared back prospects, but there are better reasons why a likeable lad with a sense of adventure might think twice before walking on to a trading floor. Jérôme Kerviel, the Société Générale "rogue trader", may finally have put paid to our romance with spiffy jobs in banks. It's not his misbehaviour that troubles. We don't yet know whether he did anything really bad — he insists his bosses turned a blind eye and the Paris prosecutor has not laid charges of fraud; instead, the man who cost the bank €5 billion (£3.7 billion) is accused of computer hacking, forgery and abuse of trust.
Yen Slightly Lower In Early Asian Trading [USD/JPY]
PM The Japanese yen showed weakness against its major counterparts in early Asian deals on Thursday, after edging higher yesterday in late New York trading.
The yen's retreat from 3-day high versus the dollar and the sterling was reportedly due to the selling of the currency by importers to meet month-end obligation.
Data released from Japan showed that the manufacturing activity in Japan grew in January at a pace the same as that of December. The index stood at 52.3 for January, same as that of December. The Bank of Japan's policy board member Kiyohiko Nishimura said that if risks to Japan's economic outlook are more, the central bank will undoubtedly act flexibly on monetary policy. He added that the possibility of such risks are "less realized" as of now.The Japanese yen climbed to a 3-day high of 106.04 against the dollar at about 6:25 pm ET, Wednesday.
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