Many investors think that the extreme swings in the stock markets are unprecedented. It only feels that way. A recent article in SmartMoney charted the extreme market moves made by the Dow Jones Industrial Average for every year going back to 1929. Periods of volatility similar to the one we are experiencing now were seen in the 2008-09, 2001-03, 1987 and 1973-74 bear markets. In fact, the chart suggests that it is the period of unusual calm such as the one we experienced between 2004-06 that is unusual.
The experience of investors in 1932 can help put the current volatility in perspective. The Dow experienced more than 120 days of intra-day swings of 5 percent or more. So far this year, weve had less than 20 days of swings of that magnitude.
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Aesculap announced today that it has acquired the assets of Aragon Surgical, Inc. Aragon Surgical specializes in advanced radio frequency (RF) electrosurgical instruments for tissue fusion and cutting. The Caiman® instruments are the only RF devices on the market with an articulating jaw-technology, which allows the surgeon unparalleled maneuverability at the surgical site. The Caiman advanced energy product line complements Aesculap’s already extensive line of endoscopic and open surgical instruments, positioning the company to better meet the needs of the changing medical community.
“We are very excited about the inclusion of the Caiman product line into the Aesculap family of surgical instruments. The Caiman’s unique articulating jaw design and proprietary Lektrafuse® technology provide improved clinical benefits. This acquisition will widen the scope of our surgical instrument portfolio and enhance Aesculap’s line of products to improve patient care,” said Chuck DiNardo, President of Aesculap, Inc. <
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Become a techno-cook.
One of the best ways to get organized—and save time—in the kitchen is to use technology to help you. If you’re not sure what to make for dinner, use the Allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner app. Match up the categories for “Dish,” “Ingredients” and “Ready In” and see which recipes match your requirements. Or, select “Spin Categories” and see what random recipes appear. A plus? It’s fun! (Available for Android, Free)
If you want to get your recipes organized, try the Paprika Recipe app. It’s like Mom’s recipe card box, but better! You can search for recipes and then create your own categories to store your favorites. (Available for Mac, iPad and iPhone, $19.99)
If you’re wondering how to use up that dusty can of black beans in your pantry, use Super Cook. Fill out “Your Kitchen” list
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Were up to round two in our new series about the best money-saving mobile apps. This week, we cover Shopkick, an app that rewards you simply for going into your favorite stores.
Name of App: Shopkick
Works on: iPhone and Android devices
Price: FREE
Tagline: Your favorite stores just got better
Why you should download it: Shopkick is the first program that rewards you simply for walking into your favorite stores. You don’t even have to purchase anything to reap the benefits of this app.
How it Works: All you need to do is walk into one of many participating stores and open the Shopkick app on your mobile phone. Wait
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U.S. taxpayers hiding income in undisclosed offshore accounts are running out of time to take advantage of a soon-to-expire opportunity to come forward and get their taxes current with the Internal Revenue Service.
The IRS today reminded taxpayers that the 2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative (OVDI) will expire on Aug. 31, 2011. Taxpayers who come forward voluntarily get a better deal than those who wait for the IRS to find their undisclosed accounts and income. New foreign account reporting requirements are being phased in over the next few years, making it ever tougher to hide income offshore. As importantly, the IRS continues its focus on banks and bankers worldwide that assist U.S. taxpayers with hiding assets overseas.
“The time has come to get back into compliance with the U.S. tax system, because the risks of hiding money offshore keeps going up,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “Our goal is to get people back into the system. The s
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