General Finance News

Energy and water efficiency standards released today by the U.S. Department of Energy will deliver clothes washers that use as much as 35 percent less energy and water and dishwashers that use about 14 percent less energy and 23 percent less water. While the standards don’t take effect until 2013 for dishwashers and 2015 for clothes washers, many top models in Consumer Reports’ current Ratings of these appliances already make the grade.

Clothes washers and dishwashers account for roughly 3 percent of residential energy use and more than 20 percent of indoor water use in homes across the country, according to the DOE. By reducing the amount of energy and water that all models on the market can use, the new standards have the potential to save consumers a total of $20 billion over the lives of the units.

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Open a Virtual Wallet at PNC Bank and you could earn a $100 reward. The offer is good through Sept. 30, 2011. You can open a Virtual Wallet online or ask to receive a coupon that can be redeemed at a local branch. To receive the reward you must make qualifying direct deposits totaling at least $750 and 10 purchases with a PNC Visa Check Card within 60 days of opening the account.

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– The major U.S. index futures are pointing to a mixed opening on Friday, with sentiment wavering before the release of a key housing data. With no compelling catalysts to offer further thrust, the lull the markets have been witnessing the past couple of session may continue. That said, if new home sales rise notably more than expecting, the indexes could see some bounce. Earnings of the news have been mixed. Across the Atlantic, the major European averages are declining for the fifth straight sessions.

U.S. stocks declined on Thursday, as global economic fears offset the optimism generation by continued strength suggested by domestic data. The major averages opened lower, after separate reports showed continued contraction by the Chinese manufacturing sector and the private sector in the eurozone.

The averages languished below the unchanged line for the better part of the session before closing lower.

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First there was Earth Day, now for the time-crunched there’s Earth Hour, which takes place at 8:30 PM Saturday when people around the globe are asked to turn off the lights. Earth Hour began in Australia in 2007 and by last year almost two billion people in more than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries had flipped the switch to call attention to climate change, according to its sponsor the World Wildlife Fund. Whether or not you join the collective effort, there are plenty of things you can do at home to save energy and money, if not the planet.

Most Americans say they turn off the lights, television or other appliances when not in use, according to a new Harris poll. And one in two people say they replace incandescent lightbulbs with fluorescent ones, use power strips, look for Energy Star when replacing appliances and reduce hot water use by taking shorter showers or doing cold water washes.

But energy-saving behaviors start to decline as the effort and expense to make them goes up.

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Enterprise Bargaining negotiations have now concluded and a copy of the proposed new agreement should have been sent to you from the Bank along with a comprehensive document highlighting the changes that have been made.

This is the first time the FSU has been involved in bargaining at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. On your behalf the union has helped secure some important improvements to your working conditions.

At a time when other banks are cutting costs and jobs we have been able to secure for the next 3 years across the board increases to salaries for all Collective Agreement staff.

We thank our members who have engaged in the process and given feedback to inform discussions at the bargaining table.

The agreement also includes the following improvements.

In the current climate we believe this is a good deal but there is still work to be done in the next agreement, for example the bank could not be persuaded to increase its superannuation contributions despite this being an important issue to members at the bank.

The best way to make sure we achieve greater improvements in the future and secure the entitlements that have been won this time, is through the collective strength of your union.

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– The major U.S. index futures are pointing to a mixed opening on Wednesday, with sentiment turning jittery after some early strength. Asian stocks closed mostly lower, while European stocks have turned lower amid the budget presentation in the U.K. Stocks may now largely move in reaction to the existing home sales report to be released shortly after the markets, although some support could come from some upbeat earnings announcements, including those from Oracle (ORCL).

U.S. stocks retreated on Tuesday, as growth worries took hold after a Chinese move to raise retail fuel prices. The major U.S. averages opened lower and slipped further in early trading. The averages pared their losses over the course of the session but still ended the day in the red.

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Today’s electronics deals, courtesy of The Consumerist:

• Tanga.com: Logitech Surround-Sound Speaker System for $79.99

Entertainment

• NewEgg: Yakuza Dead Souls $44.99, free ship
• Toys R Us: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 $44.99, free ship
• Tanga: Subsonic Neo Bluetooth Wireless Controller for Sony PS3 $17.99

For general buying advice for many of the products on sale above, check out our free Buying Guides.

The Commonwealth Bank’s public commitment to keep jobs in Australia and steer clear of major job slashing was today welcomed by the Finance Sector Union.

The commitment from CEO Ian Narev was made during the bank’s half year results announcement this morning.

“There is a lot of fear and anxiety amongst finance workers at the moment, with ANZ and Westpac embarking on major job slashing, so the news from CBA is very welcome and will no doubt be very reassuring for CBA employees,” said Finance Sector Union Leon Carter.

“CBA’s commitment does beg the question though; If it’s good enough for one, why isn’t it good enough for all?”

“CBA faces the same challenges and cost pressures as the other big banks, so if this bank can give a commitment to keeping jobs in Australia, why can’t the other big banks?” said Leon Carter.

“We’ve said repeatedly that offshoring and job slashing by our major banks is completely unjustified. Today’s announcement by CBA

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