Ballard Power selected for U.S. hydrogen bus program.

Image via Wikipedia1. Ballard Selected by U.S. FTA to Power Four Buses under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program
 2. Ballard to work with 4 system integrators on reduced-cost bus configurations

Carbon Sciences breakthrough "gas to liquids" technology - Turning CO2 into gasoline!

Carbon Sciences Secures Worldwide Exclusive License to Breakthrough Greenhouse Gas Transformation Technology
License for Dry Reforming of Methane Technology Eliminates Major Development Hurdle for Company

United States invests in Electric Vehicle future!

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United States Department of Energy Boosts 2011 Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Infrastructure Market With $184 Million Grant

TD Bank Financial Group to acquire Chrysler Financial - Canadian Banks flex muscle!

TD Bank Financial Group

News Releases

• TD to gain North American organic growth platform
• Transaction gives TD access to top talent, systems and technology
• Transaction allows TD to expand in large market with significant potential upside

Canadian Banks, "Strongest Banks in the World" Expand Global Presence

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SOURCE: The Bedford Report

 

Dec 20, 2010 08:46 ET

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - December 20, 2010) - Considered the "strongest banks in the world" in a report from the Bank for International Settlements, Canadian banks have been going on a spending spree this year.

Bulk Coal carrier wins Lloyds award.

SOURCE: Safe Bulkers, Inc.

Dec 17, 2010 09:00 ET

Safe Bulkers, Inc. Awarded "The Best Dry Cargo Company for the Year 2010" at the 7th Annual Lloyds List Greek Shipping Awards

ATHENS, GREECE--(Marketwire - December 17, 2010) - Safe Bulkers, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: SB), an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, announced today that it received "The Best Dry Cargo Company for the Year 2010" Award at the 7^th annual Lloyds List Greek Shipping Awards that took place in Athens on December 10, 2010.

Based on nominations from the wider shipping community that are assessed by a distinguished panel of industry judges, the Lloyds List Greek Shipping Awards highlight some of the year's top performers and finest moments in the industry. Since 2004, the Annual Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards have been recognizing the best in the dynamic Greek shipping industry.

In his introductory speech, Nigel Lowry, the Lloyds List Greek Correspondent, remarked that judges noticed not only the successful financial performance of the Company in the New York Stock Exchange, but also its consistent concentration on new quality vessels especially in the Panamax segment, the Company's competitive strength and its ability to take advantage of growth opportunities.

Polys Hajioannou, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "We are very proud to have received this award recognizing our performance and our consistent efforts to grow the Company through selective high quality newbuild acquisitions and to enhance shareholder value for the long term."

About Safe Bulkers, Inc.
The Company is an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, transporting bulk cargoes, particularly coal, grain and iron ore, along worldwide shipping routes for some of the world's largest users of marine drybulk transportation services. The Company's common stock is listed on the NYSE, where it trades under the symbol "SB." The Company's current fleet consists of 16 drybulk vessels, all built post-2003, and the Company has contracted to acquire eight additional drybulk newbuild vessels to be delivered at various times through 2013.

Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and in the Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events, the Company's growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy, including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in the demand for drybulk vessels, competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates, risks associated with operations outside the United States and other factors listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

For further information please contact:

Company Contact:
Dr. Loukas Barmparis
President
Safe Bulkers, Inc.
30-32 Karamanli Avenue
Voula 16673
Athens, Greece
Tel.: +30 (210) 899-4980
Fax: +30 (210) 895-4159
E-Mail: directors@safebulkers.com

Investor Relations / Media Contact:
Ramnique Grewal
Vice President
Capital Link, Inc.
230 Park Avenue, Suite 1536
New York, N.Y. 10169
Tel.: (212) 661-7566
Fax: (212) 661-7526
E-Mail: safebulkers@capitallink.com

Click here to see all recent news from this company

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European Union downplays divisions leading up to meeting. Spanish credit downgrade hinted.

Reuters
7:49 AM, E.T. | December 16, 2010

European leaders sought to paper over deep divisions on how best to resolve the debt crisis ahead of a summit on Thursday, and Spain and Portugal came under renewed pressure to get their finances in order.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she had settled a dispute with Jean-Claude Juncker, the chairman of the Eurogroup of countries, over the idea of issuing euro area bonds, but differences still looked likely to arise at the summit.

 
"Jean-Claude Juncker and I had a long telephone conversation and cleared up the issue a while ago," Merkel said in an interview with Germany's Bild newspaper published on Thursday. "With so much at stake, the emotions sometimes get involved."

Juncker, who is a strong advocate of issuing so-called E-bonds, which Merkel says are unnecessary and would dent Germany's credit standing, also said the disagreement was resolved, but has hinted he could raise the proposal anyway.

He said he regretted "dissonances in public" which had given financial markets more cause for concern, and said he was focused on trying to achieve unity ahead of the two-day summit, as well as getting Spain and Portugal to improve their finances.

"They would do well... to present in detail structural reforms to be introduced beyond the plans of consolidation already announced," he told Corriere della Sera.

DOWNGRADE THREAT
Ratings agency Moody's warned Spain on Wednesday that its debt could be downgraded, saying it was worried about its high debt funding needs, indebted banks and regional finances, although it did not expect Madrid to have to follow Greece and Ireland in seeking an EU bailout.

Spain's Treasury paid just slightly less than expected for long-term bonds on Thursday in a key test of investors' appetite for euro zone peripheral debt and a day after Moody's said it may cut the country's rating.
Portugal on Wednesday announced extra measures to cut red tape and bolster structurally slow growth, in a move to convince EU officials and financial markets it is doing enough to stave off the pressure to seek EU financial aid.

EU leaders will gather at 1500 GMT on Thursday for the end-of-year summit, having spent most of 2010 desperately trying to stem a contagion that has consumed Greece and Ireland and now threatens Portugal, Spain and others.

Apart from agreeing to make a small change to the EU's treaty to set up a permanent system for handling financial crises after 2013, they are not expected to take other concrete decisions, inaction that could be interpreted as weakness and exploited by financial markets unconvinced by the euro zone.

Throughout 2010, EU leaders have struggled to show unity and clear communication in handling the crisis, either putting forward half-formed or contradictory proposals, or not agreeing quickly enough on the right course of action.

Repeated statements of unity at half-a-dozen summits have sometimes not been backed up by action, leaving markets skeptical and piling more pressure on the euro and debt yields.

TREATY CHANGES, ECB CAPITAL
As well as approving the change to the EU treaty, demanded by Germany and backed by France over the opposition of several other member states, EU leaders are expected to discuss how they can improve the current temporary financial safety net -- a 750 billion euro ($1 trillion US) joint EU/IMF loan facility.
One possibility is to increase the size of the fund, while another would involve making it more flexible in terms of the loans it can make, including the possibility of credit lines.

Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders said the EU's portion, 440 billion euros, could potentially be doubled to fend off the threat of renewed market pressure on Portugal and Spain, and Spain has also backed the idea of a larger fund.While that may be discussed, EU sources indicate that they do not expect a concrete decision on enlarging the fund. The European Central Bank holds the second day of a regular, non-rate setting meeting on Thursday, when it is expected to agree to ask euro zone member states for more capital, a move to lower its risk profile as it helps tackle the crisis.

That issue may also be discussed among EU leaders on Thursday, when they will be joined by ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet. The ECB has come under pressure to step up its bond-buying program to help those countries struggling to fund themselves in volatile and punitive market conditions.

As well as fears about the debt situation in Portugal and Spain, which has approximately 275 billion euros of sovereign and bank debt expiring in 2011, there are increasing worries about other euro zone member states, including Belgium.

Underlining concerns about the euro zone economy and the strength of its recovery, the dominant services sector expanded at a much slower pace than expected in December, although the manufacturing sector is growing faster than forecast, figures released on Thursday showed. Switzerland, one of the euro zone's largest trading partners, kept interest rates on hold on Thursday, partly a reflection of the euro-area's difficulties, which have offset strong Swiss economic growth this year.

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