Credit card late payments hit 17-year low in 2Q

NEW YORK (AP) — Credit card users are so focused on keeping their accounts in good standing that they've driven the rate of late payments down to its lowest level in 17 years.

The national credit card delinquency rate, or rate of payments 90 days or more past due, fell to 0.60 percent in the second quarter, down from 0.92 percent a year ago. That's the lowest rate since 1994, according to credit reporting agency TransUnion.

Delinquencies were expected to drop, but the improvement in that April to June period was faster than forecast.

And the improved payment habits came despite increased use of credit cards, based on quarterly data reported by banks that issue Visa and …

Sony's annual loss shrinks to $439 million

Sony Corp., maker of the PlayStation 3, stayed in the red last business year but cost cuts and better sales of consumer electronics allowed it to shrink losses and predict a return to profit.

The Tokyo-based company Thursday reported a 40.8 billion yen ($439 million) loss for the year ended March 31, an improvement from the previous year's 98.9 billion yen loss, which was Sony's first annual red ink in 14 years.

The electronics and entertainment giant credited LCD televisions and digital cameras for helping drive its recovery. It also cited its life insurance unit, where revenue surged 58 percent.

Sony expects to climb back into the black in the year …

High winds sock it to county, city: Thousands still without power following storm

More than 18,000 Kanawha County residents remained without powertoday after a storm with winds up to 67 mph raced through the area.

Trees and limbs remained down on roads, traffic lights were stillout, some schools were closed and work crews were trying to repair anoutfield wall at Watt Powell Park in time for the state high schoolbaseball tournament to begin.

Charleston's street department was working through a three-page,hand-written list of problems that were caused by Tuesday's storm.And Kanawha County reported 40 power lines were down at one point.

"We got swatted," said Kanawha County Commission President KentCarper. "I haven't ever seen so many power …

Konrad Thurano, world's oldest trapeze artist, dies at 98

A German man widely thought to be the world's oldest active trapeze artist, has died, a spokeswoman for his regular variety-show venue said Thursday. He was 98.

Konrad Thurano was with his family in Denmark, where he has been living, when he died on Tuesday, said Kathrin Rauschning, spokeswoman for Duesseldorf's Roncalli Apollo Variety. She said he died of natural causes, but had no details.

Thurano was born in Duesseldorf in 1909 and began his entertainment career with the variety show in 1924.

"Our …

EU: Pfizer promising changes to Wyeth bid

U.S. drug maker Pfizer Inc. has promised to make changes to its takeover of rival Wyeth in order to win European Union regulatory approval for the deal, the EU's executive said Tuesday.

The European Commission gave no details of any potential selloffs or commitments put forward, merely saying it would extend a deadline to rule on the deal until July 20 to look at changes that aim at soothing antitrust concerns.

New York-based Pfizer, the world's largest pharmaceutical company, launched the $68 billion takeover of Wyeth, of Madison, New Jersey in January. The value of the deal has since declined with Pfizer's share price.

The acquisition is fueled …

Governor hedges on insurance reform

SPRINGFIELD Gov. Thompson said yesterday that business lobbyistsare shifting gears in their effort to persuade him to veto insurancereform legislation designed to make liability coverage more availableand affordable.

Thompson said he will take more time to review the bill, passedby the Democratic-controlled Legislature on June 30, in light of theargument that it would make matters worse than no change in the lawregarding how lawsuits are handled.

"At first the . . . business groups opposed my signing the billbecause they wanted me to call a special session and get a betterbill," the governor explained.

"But after looking at the roll calls, which were …

Partial List of Emmy Winners

Partial list of winners at Sunday's 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:

Miniseries: "Broken Trail," AMC.

Variety, Music or Comedy Series: "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central.

Variety, Music or Comedy Special: "Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC.

Made-for-TV Movie: "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," HBO.

Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Robert Duvall, "Broken Trail," AMC.

Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Terry O'Quinn, "Lost," ABC.

Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Jeremy Piven, "Entourage," HBO.

Supporting Actor, …