T he U.S. manufacturing sector grew for a sixth straight month in January, to its strongest level since August, 2004, as factories pumped up production while their customers restocked inventories, a private trade group says. The Institute for Supply Management says its manufacturing index read 58.4 in January, compared with 54.9 in December

Q uebec-based engineering giant SNC-Lavalin SNC-T announced Monday that it has won a contract in the United Arab Emirates worth an estimated $10-million. The contract is for front end engineering and pre-front end engineering studies for a nitrogen injection as well as a nitrogen breakthrough and nitrogen rejection and carbon dioxide recovery and injection project. The work on behalf of Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Ltd., a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, will cover three areas, SNC-Lavalin said in a news release.

Grammy highlights 01:54 Grammy highlights The Associated Press Monday, Feb. 01, 2010 10:41AM EST Beyonce becomes the most decorated female on a Grammy night as she collects six trophies, while Taylor Swift gets top honor, album of the year, for her best-selling ‘Fearless.’

Private-equity firm Lightyear Capital LLC today announced that it has completed its acquisition of three ING Groep NV broker-dealers. ING Financial Network Investment Corp., Multi-Financial Securities Corp.

The best investment opportunities are likely to be found in defensive growth stocks, according to Jim Tierney, portfolio manager and analyst with W.P. Stewart & Co. Ltd

Why We’re Sending You Alexander Green’s New York Times Bestseller for FREE The moneymaking tips contained in this book could put an extra $378,015 into your retirement account starting just minutes from now. It’s no wonder experts declare this bestseller the “perfect antidote.” Here’s how to claim your FREE copy . Thermal Coal Investments: China Fires Up a New Age for This Commodity by Tony Daltorio, Investment U Research Monday, February 1, 2010 The price of thermal coal recently broke through the psychological $100 barrier for the first time in more than a year, just as a wave of brutally cold weather and heavy snow hit China.

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