Disney-Marvel Deal Could Signal M&A Recovery

Boom spawned many small charities now forced to close doors

(NEWSER) - The recession is ravaging the nonprofit sector, forcing many to consolidate or disappear, even as demand for their services rises. Over the past 15 years, the number of registered nonprofits doubled to 1.5 million organizations. Now, as funds dwindle—private donations fell 6% throughout the sector in 2008, their biggest drop in more than 50 years—many fear there are just too many groups, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Comics fans are just a little miffed by Marvel’s $4 billion acquisition by Disney: “SOOOO NOT HAPPY! Spider-man should not be co-mingling with Goofy,” reads one blog post. The problem, Linda Holmes writes for NPR, is “one of perception: Put simply, Marvel has a cool factor and Disney doesn't.” Marvel devotees don’t “see themselves as close cousins of people who love Donald Duck just because there's drawing involved.” More»

Cohen predicts S&P to gain 10% by Jan 2010

(NEWSER) - A top Goldman Sachs forecaster predicts the recovery in stocks that began in March should hold, Reuters reports. The S&P 500 could rise as much as 10% from its current level to top 1,050-1,100, says Abby Joseph Cohen, the chief of Goldman’s investment policy committee. "We do think the new bull market has begun," Cohen said. "It may prove it began in March of this year." More»

(NEWSER) - Law firms, once thought to be better able than most to weather sour economies, are finding themselves in a tough spot these days, the Wall Street Journal reports. While bankruptcy practices are holding steady, business in litigation has fallen off steeply as corporate clients settle instead of writing checks to firms. Across the industry, profits were down 8% to 12% last year, and firms are letting lawyers go left and right. More»

Superheroes still going strong

(NEWSER) - Marvel Comics' gang of mismatched superheroes are quite the draw. The Avengers crashed the billion-dollar mark just 19 days after hitting theaters, scooping up $103.2 million here and in Canada for Disney this weekend, and another in $95.4 million overseas, reports Bloomberg . Dark Shadows came in second with $28.8 million in its opening weekend. The hungry crowds make it likely movie studios will top 2009's record receipts of $10.6 billion. Sales are up 18% so far, and attendance has grown 20% over last year. More»