Business Finance Today

AA and US Airways reportedly near merger
American Airlines and US Airways are working out final details of a merger that would create the world's biggest airline, according to media reports. Creditors of AMR, American's parent company, have reached agreement on the allocation of equity in the new entity, sources familiar with the matter said. US Airways Group CEO Doug Parker is expected to head the merged carrier, they said. Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas)/Sky Talk blog (2/6), WFAA-TV (Dallas-Fort Worth) (2/6), San Jose Mercury News (Calif.) (free registration)/Tribune Media Services (2/6)
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Investors press for more LBOs like Dell deal
Facing surging demand for higher returns, banks and investors are trying to persuade private-equity firms to consider more leveraged buyouts, such as Dell's $24.4 billion deal with Silver Lake Partners. Financial Times (tiered subscription model) (2/6)
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Your Bottom Line

SEC is asked to shorten reporting deadlines for investors
The Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals and the National Investor Relations Institute are seeking to have the Securities and Exchange Commission shorten the time that institutional investors have to report their holdings in companies to two days after the end of a quarter, from the current 45. The petition is posted on the SEC's website. The Wall Street Journal/CFO Journal (2/6)
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FASB updates standard involving other comprehensive income
The Financial Accounting Standards Board has updated a standard that deals with reporting reclassification out of other comprehensive income. "The update improves reporting in a manner that enhances reporting for users of financial statements, without imposing significant costs to preparers of financial statements," Chairman Leslie Seidman said. Accounting Today (2/6)
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In the C-Suite

4 ways to be a more intense boss
Intensity is a powerful tool for any leader, although it's important to ensure that your focus and commitment don't come across as anger or obsession, writes Art Petty. Authenticity is a vital part of that process, Petty adds. "Your commitment to the mission at hand must come through in your every word, action and during every encounter," he writes. ArtPetty.com (2/4)
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6 ways to lead like a mother lion
On a trip to the Serengeti, Beth Armknecht Miller spotted a lioness caring for her cubs -- and showcasing some key skills every business leader needs. A lioness models good hunting techniques for her cubs, watches them carefully while allowing them space to fail, and rewards their successes. "One of the primary roles a leader has is to develop her team to their full potential. And on the plains of the Serengeti, eating and being aware of your surroundings are critical to survival," Miller writes. Great Leadership (1/31)
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Off the Charts

Don't set your watch by clocks at Grand Central station
All of the clocks at New York's Grand Central Terminal are set to the wrong time. Officials decided to set the clocks a minute fast, creating the illusion that trains leave slightly late, to encourage commuters to take their time and not run for the trains. The tactic seems to be working: The station has "the fewest slips, trips, and falls of any station in the country," Megan Garber writes. The Atlantic online (2/1)
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SmartQuote

Lessons in leadership can be found in the most unexpected places." -- Beth Armknecht Miller, founder and president of Executive Velocity, writing for Great Leadership Share: