BUSINESS BRIEFS
Fed might leave rates alone again
Advertiser Staff and News Services
WASHINGTON — This may prove to be one of the most boring years for the Federal Reserve in a long time.
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues are widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged after their meeting this week, according to a market in which investors bet on future Fed moves. It would be the sixth-consecutive meeting in which the Fed would stay on hold.
Several economists, including those at Moody's http://Economy.com, Argus Research and Lehman Bros., expect the Fed will keep rates on hold during 2007. The Fed hasn't had a year without changing interest rates since 1993.
YOUTUBE AWARDS WANT YOUR VOTES
NEW YORK — Lonelygirl15, OK Go and other YouTube sensations will get an opportunity to walk down a virtual red carpet.
The video-sharing Web site announced today that it will hold the first YouTube Video Awards to recognize the best-user created videos of 2006. Awards will be handed out for the most creative, most inspirational, best series, best comedy, musician of the year, best commentary and "most adorable video ever."
The nominees, picked by YouTube, are compiled in a gallery at www.youtube.com/YTAwards. YouTube community members can vote on their favorites between today and Friday. The winners, as chosen by the community, will be announced Sunday.
NET NEW FRONTIER FOR TV'S BOCHCO
LOS ANGELES — Emmy Award-winning writer Steven Bochco has become the latest Hollywood leader to embrace the Internet, teaming with a video site to produce a series of confessional short videos on such topics as "my first time" and "my weird family."
The man behind such TV hits as "Hill Street Blues" and "L.A. Law" has joined with Metacafe.com to launch "Cafe Confidential" today.
The unscripted videos, which don't feature professional actors, are designed to provoke responses from viewers. Those whose posts attract the largest audience are eligible for payment — and might just catch the eyes of starmakers.
CHINA MAY START BUILDING AIRCRAFT
SHANGHAI, China — China's top leaders have approved a program to build large commercial aircraft, lending crucial government support to plans to challenge the domination of Boeing and Airbus in the country's fast-growing aviation market.
A Cabinet meeting held last month approved "in principle" setting up a formal program for domestic production of large commercial aircraft, said a statement seen today on the Web site of the State Council Information Office.
It said the decision followed a report by a panel that researched feasibility. No timeframe was given, but last week a top official of state-owned China Aviation Industry Corporation I, or AVIC I, said that the company planned to start making large aircraft by 2020.
