business - "market"

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Moody's Investors Service on Wednesday downgraded ratings for both GMAC LLC and the company's Residential Capital mortgage unit. The rating agency lowered GMAC's senior rating to B2 from B1, and ResCap to Caa1 from B2. Moody's said the ratings remain on review for a further downgrade. 'The GMAC downgrade is based upon Moody's opinion that further operating weakness at ResCap poses risks to GMAC's capital position and liquidity that exceed previous estimates,' Moody's said in a statement. The ResCap downgrade results from the mortgage unit facing significant near-term refinancing needs, Moody's said.Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

ABC Learning lost its market appeal yesterday, with investors selling off shares and a call for founder Eddy Groves to resign.

Stocks appeared headed for a moderate decline Wednesday as investors awaited another round of first-quarter earnings reports and hoped the numbers would help determine where the economy is headed.Boeing Co. said its first-quarter earnings rose 38 percent and that its revenue advanced 4.1 percent. The company affirmed its 2008 profit forecast.Some results arriving Wednesday painted a lackluster picture of certain sectors. Bond insurer Ambac Financial Group reported it swung to a loss of $1.66 billion from a profit of $213.3 million a year earlier. The loss came in part because of charges for bonds backed by soured mortgages. The stock is down about 9 percent in premarket, electronic trading.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (MARKET WIRE) SEACOR Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CKH) announced net income for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008 of $37.9 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $354.5 million. For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, net income was $38.2 million, or $1.40 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $310.8 million.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Noble Corp. , citing record-high energy prices and strong demand for its offshore drilling fleet, reported late Wednesday first-quarter net earnings of $384.2 million, or $1.43 a share, up from $250.3 million, or 93 cents, a year ago. Revenue for the three months ended March 31 rose 38% to $797.8 million from $576.9 million. Analysts polled by FactSet Research had expected the Sugar Land, Texas-based offshore rig operator to report earnings of $1.32 a share on $845 million in revenue. Shares of Noble fell 2.3% ahead of the report to close at $57.02. The stock is up 39% over the past 12 months. market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Sharper Image Corp. said late Wednesday it will pursue a sale of its business and assets under the bankruptcy code. The company hopes to complete the sale and seek approval of the bankruptcy court by the end of May. 'Given the present retail climate and specialty nature of the Company, as well as the limited financing available to the Company, a sale of its business and assets at this time will preserve values and yield the best recovery to the Company,' said Chief Executive Robert Conway.Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

AP - wall street ended a choppy session with a moderate advance Wednesday after a better-than-expected profit report at Boeing Co. and a seesaw day in the energy markets.

Let the economists fret about whether we are actually in, or just perilously near, a recession -- what matters is whether your career can withstand a withering job market.

Youth boot camps and their referral services are using deceptive marketing practices when trying to convince parents of troubled kids to try the programs, a federal investigation has found. The programs _ also referred to as residential treatment facilities,...

PARK RIDGE, NJ (MARKET WIRE) Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HTZ)