Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 17

Holiday spending Classifieds may have Christmas gift answers C2-8 Compiled from staff and news service reports Tips for saving cash this Christmas season Thursday Money 15-second pitch Questions or comments regarding this section? Contact Business Editor Scott Perry at 421-7976 CABANA WEST WHERE: 108 E. Main Maroa CALL US: 794-2107 EMPLOYEES: 3 THE BOSS: and Dawnette Weik- 1 1 jJ(ny(W Dens died Farm Farm Bill at Tuesday's conference. Farm programs are more publicized than they ever have been, which underscores the need to convince the public to spend money on the programs, Grossi said. "If we're going to be going back to Congress to try to get more money or at least the money we had, we're going to have to make sure we can make the case to the American public that it is being spent wisely," Grossi said. "It's going to be difficult to maintain the current spending levels for agricultura" Wiesemeyer said a growing federal budget deficit could affect what is included in the Farm Bill.

The current farm bill, which was approved in 2002, expires in fall 2007. Chris Lusvardi can be reached at or 421-7972. State conference talk sees no radical shifts By CHRIS LUSVAROI Staff Writer BLOOMINGTON The debate over the 2007 Farm Bill is coming into better focus as the midterm elections settle control of the next Congress. The Democrats have a "working" majority in both House and Senate, said Jim Wiesemeyer, a Pro Farmer newsletter Washington consultant, at the annual Illinois Commodity Conference Tuesday at the DoubleTree Hotel and Convention Center in Bloomington. Because of their narrow control, Wiesemeyer doesn't expect major shifts in what is included in the next Farm Bill.

The incoming chairmen of the agricultural committees, U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minnesota, and U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, will represent farming issues well because they come from strong agricultural states, Wiesemeyer said.

"They're not going to pull the rug out from traditional farm programs," Weisemeyer said. "Neither one of them want revolutionary changes." Congress has a nine-month window next year to get things done before the presidential campaign heats up, Wiesemeyer said. Congress will decide whether to extend or rewrite the Farm Bill. Wiesemeyer said much of what happens with the Farm Bill will depend on what happens to the Doha Round of World Trade Organization negoti ations. Talks broke off earlier this year, but Wiesemeyer expects them to resume at some point in 2007.

"I think there will be no extension unless it's tied to Doha," Wiesemeyer said of the Farm Bill. Many interest groups are supporting an extension. The Illinois Farm Bureau, for example, has encouraged members to support extending the bill, at least until the Doha talks are completed. What is making the debate over the Farm Bill challenging is more groups are involved in discussions of the Farm Bill than ever before, said Ralph Grossi of American Farmland Trust, a group that aims to influence farm policy. For example, representatives of The National Potato Council and Ducks Unlimited, a wildlife interest group, outlined their positions on the Danny le BIRTHDAY: 2005 THE PITCH: Tanning salon, balloon bouquets, greeting cards, Swan Creek candles, felted handbags, jewelry and miscellaneous goodies.

Come visit us Dec. 2 during the Christmas Tour of Main Street. Make your pitch at www.herald-review.com 15-second-pitch Pre-hofiday stock climb Wall Street drifted to a slightly higher finish Tuesday as investors shied away from taking new positions in a holiday-shortened week. Despite the market's languid tone, Google Inc. stock surpassed $500 for the first time.

Investors' hesitation came after Wall Street snapped a six-session winning streak on Monday, concerned that a recent run-up has driven some stocks too high. No big moves were expected before Thanksgiving, although retailers remain in focus ahead of one of the biggest shopping days of the year on Friday. But investors still put more money into the nation's No. 1 search engine. Google rallied more than 2 percent to a new record, hitting an intraday high of $509.88.

Shares have soared since the company priced its initial public offering at $85 a share in August 2004. The New York Stock Exchange will be closed Thursday and will operate on a shortened schedule on Friday. Profits run higher Farm equipment maker Deere Co. posted fourth-quarter profits Tuesday that rose 19 percent as higher prices offset sluggish sales. The news sent its stock price to an HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON Early birds rlier et ea Forget predawn Friday; some retailers will throw open doors on Thanksgiving NEW YORK (AP) The hard-core shoppers who flock to stores and malls at 5 a.m.

Friday for those post-Thanksgiving bargains may find that they're stragglers a growing number of retailers will be open at midnight with early-bird specials to begin the holiday season. And retailers including CompUSA Inc. and BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. aren't waiting for the day known as Black Friday they'll be open on Thanksgiving for the first time to give shoppers and themselves an even bigger head start. Retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

and Best Buy Co. are resisting the urge to puU an all-nighter, at least for now. Bart Reed, Best Buy consumer marketing director, said the store will stick to the 5 a.m. opening on Black Friday to give store associates a "work-life balance" Other retailers say they have no choice but to throw themselves into the midnight game on Black Friday, so named because it was traditionally when the surge of shopping made stores profitable. Many shoppers just love the I TSHfc I V-A I V1 i ff V- fiSdl ix iJ "i I I all-time high, despite the company's warning that its sales slowdown will continue mm More stores are opening earlier because they want to grab customer dollars before the competition early start.

Sharise Monroe, of Miami, said she planned to begin her holiday shopping before dawn on Friday to get the special limited www.bestbuy.com www.kbtoys.com www.toysrus.com www.walmart.com does. It's great for shoppers, who have more options if they're willing to sacrifice a night's sleep. But it also creates challenges for retailers; many industry analysts question how profitable expanded hours are because stores must increase their investment in labor. And many merchants who had a surge in bargain hunters in the wee hours later suffered a dropoff in business after the early-bird specials ended and the crowds dissipated. "It makes for a flashy start.

But in recent years, the overall weekend has been just ho-hum," said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist at the International Council of Shopping Centers. "I just don't know whether this is the kind of strategy that makes for a good holiday season." offers at Wal-Mart, Target Corp. and other stores. "I try to get the one of five items they have out for that price," said Monroe, who will be looking for computer upgrades and a printer for a Kodak digital camera.

Two years ago, mall developer General Growth Properties experimented with having its Birmingham, mall open at midnight. This year, seven malls will be greeting very early shoppers this year. The big crowds and the discounts of 50 percent and 60 percent have created a buzz that has even caught the attention of foreign tourists, who in the last two years are making trips specifically to partake in Black Friday shopping. Associated Press photos ABOVE: Tina Douglas waits for her change after a purchase at a kiosk in Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover, on the weekend before Black Friday. AT LEFT: Mac specialist Zack Wexler-Beron, left, helps customers Lupe Zepeda and her son Chris Varo with a MacBook at the Apple Store in Palo Alto, Calif.

into 2007. Analysts say investors likely think Deere's forecast of flat sales next year is too conservative. With crop prices on the rise and ethanol boosting demand for corn, farm income could grow and boost sales of Deere's trademark green-and-yellow machinery. Deere officials agreed the outlook for farm income is encouraging, but said farmers won't realize the impact of higher crop prices until later next year. They also said uncertainty over a new U.S.

Farm Bill and high levels of used farm equipment on the market will hold back sales. Trade group backs biotech The World Trade Organization on Tuesday ruled that European countries broke international trade regulations by preventing imports of genetically modified foods. Argentina, Canada and the United States which brought the dispute to the WTO said the decision proves there was no scientific evidence to justify the ban. The three urged the 25-nation European Union to immediately bring into compliance its laws on genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. In a somewhat surprising development, the EU did not postpone the decision through an appeal.

Environmentalists blasted Brussels for bypassing the chance to appeal Tuesday's decision. The EU, however, signaled its intention to ignore the WTO's finding that its six-year moratorium on the products beginning in 1998 violated international rules. It says it ended the moratorium in 2004, when it allowed onto the market a modified strain of sweet corn grown mainly in the United States, and argues that it has come into compliance with the subsequent approval of further biotech crops. i 3 DOW (Industrials) 52-wk Hi Lo Name 52-wk Hi Lo 52-wk Hi Lo Name Last Chg. Name Chicago (AP) Futures trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange: Open High Low Settle Chg.

Last Chg. Last Chg. Chicago (AP) Futures trading on the Chicago Board of Trade: Open High Low Settle Chg. WHEAT DuPont Dynegy EnPro CATTLE 40,000 cents per lb. 87.50 87.97 87.20 87.87 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel Dec 06 478 4804k 472 45 .38 21 .04 33.26 32.75 47.49 39.98 64.75 84.11 53.69 46.37 Grain markets Decatur area prices supplied by ADM Growmaric-Tabor Co.

Com $3.53 Beans $6.40 Hogs Prices supplied by USDA Eastern Combeit Negotiated Pnce Range $50.00 to $60.50 Weighted Average $56.56 Cattle Volume Top 33.30 16.50 AMR 35.00 24.00 Inc 49.87 37.50 AbtLab 41.90 30.41 Airgas 64.85 50.22 AUstats 85.55 68.36 Althe 5524 47.96 Ameren 50.00 40.17 Anheusr 87.00 50.16 ApoleC If 26.47 17.29 Apptebeas 46.71 23.37 ArctiDan 34.94 30.10 AsscdBanc 494 503 495 503 469V2 476 471' 476 473' 483 479 4 501 8 502(2 8V4 474' 6' 4751 7 482 7 482 8 Dec 06 Feb 07 Apr 07 Jun07 Aug 07 Oct 07 Dec 07 Mar 07 May 07 Jul 07 Sep 07 Dec 07 Mar 08 492 491 467 470'i 471 VS 482 90.25 91.00 87.65 86.60 88.80 89.SO 90.92 .30 91.45 27 88.07 .32 86.87 .30 89.10 .35 89.70 .30 90.70 91.30 87.87 86.60 88.87 89.50 90.95 91.50 88.12 86.90 89.20 89.90 482 482 Mon's sales 50.037 33,251 219,770, down -777 88.60 Z13 23.65 33.71 2 33.51 Mori's sales Irion's open int Mon's open Int 428,215, down -1665 CORN 48.26 38.52 6.38 4.37 40.08 26.30 42.74 3159 63 62 50.91 74.97 55.60 30.91 2157 49.32 33.18 39.23 3162 9.48 6.06 36.48 31.61 36.56 18.33 47.45 37.15 19.31 9.75 73.07 50.86 40.85 28.35 43.95 32.85 16.03 9.80 49.00 34.95 27.49 16.75 94.05 72.73 37.98 30.69 FEEDER CATTLE Exeton Exxon 11 FamDir Fastens! FMidBc FordM GenElec GnMotr Goodrich Goodyear Hanson HewtettP HomeDp UronOffSol IngerRd Intel 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel Dec 06 359'2 362 357 361 Va 1'A Index Name Close 372 377111 2V4 375V2 380'A 2 Mar 07 375 378 May 07 377V2 380' Jul 07 379 382 Sep 07 355 361 377 355 381 V4 2 360V4 3' 34512 4'4 352 4V4 339 50,000 cents per lb. Jan 07 97.95 98.90 97.80 98.771.10 Mar 07 97.10 98.10 97.00 98.021.27 Apr 07 97.90 98.50 97.40 98.501.40 May 07 98.00 99.00 97.90 98.751.27 Aug 07 101.25 101.95 101.15 101.95 .90 Sep 07 101.50 101.50 101.50 101.50 .50 Oct 07 100.60 101.50 100.60 101.00 .50 Mon's sales 4,695 Mon's open int 24,806, down -690 HOGS-Lean 40,000 cents per lb. Dec 06 62.45 62.80 62.25 62.35 30 Dec 07 341 346V Mar 08 348 354 Mon's sales 48.03 .16 6.17 .07 35.13 .38 42.44 .03 56.72 .82 73.39 .96 28.72 .43 37.48 38.37 8.56 35.80 32.61 45.13 .28 17.78 -J)1 71.66 .46 39.99 .28 37.92 16.05 .05 39.15 .83 21.57 93.08 32.66 47.75 72.64 .96 21.82 -25 29.30 .59 65.20 30.68 .10 2.60 42.06 .17 45.00 4422 -35 91.83 .98 29.92 .03 7023 347 26.30 18.66 Motorola 22.03 38.04 33.26 NatOy 36.78 30.56 20.53 Navistar If 30.62 .97 57.71 39.10 NorflkSo 50.40 69.80 56.11 PPG 65.06 .27 8249 51.80 Penney 80.69 65.99 56.00 PepsiCo 62.56 .06 28.60 2020 Pfizer 26.96 64.38 52.75 ProctGam 63.26 23.95 13.73 RadbShk 18.15 27 39.15 32.37 RegionsFn 3654 21.45 1168 Saks 20.30 .02 18l38113.92SearsHldgs17l35 .69 13.62 9.66Svcmstr 11.97 -2 21.10 13.25 SteaknShk 17.41 74.24 56.66 Stricycle 7105 -31 88.35 67.05 3M Co 81.64 .72 31.28 24.60 TycolnB 30.32 7.20 4.72 Unisys 7.00 .11 83.99 65.50 UPSB 79.52 .24 37.55 28.92 VernonCm 35.13 .46 44.95 32.42 ViacomBn 38.91 5215 4131 WaUtert 47.81 .09 51.60 3955 Wakjm 41.19 -58 96.08 74.07 Whrtpl 86.30 25 54.13 40.90 Wyeth 48.68 308.906 12321.59 6918.08 2022.19 2454.84 1114.43 1402.81 2204.52 456.45 14136.22 Chg. Peoria 0 na WPh I 212 Spot commodity prices: 0.60 Prev- Year 2.31 Close Day Ago Aluminum 1.193 1.197 36" Copper 3.0915 3.0925 2.1700 "J' Gold 624.50 625.50 492.60 Silver 13.020 12.895 8.145 Dow Jones Industrials NYSE Composite Amex Index NASD Composite Nasd Global Select Value Line Arithmetic Value Line Geometric Wiishire 5000 Mon's open int 1.429,541, up 4308 OATS 115.2483.81 AutoZone 76.85 636 BP PLC 47.49 35.12 Baxter 59.50 42.75 BestBuy 34.87 2172 BobEvn 47.95 32.04 CBRLGrp 30.11 23.85 CBS Bn 50.99 166 CP1 38.30 23.85 CSX 43.85 30.50 Cabot 27.20 20.15 Caseys 82.03 56.36 Caterpillar 70.83 53.76 Chevron 51.33 44.81 Citjgrp 47.50 39.36 Cocad 29.61 17.50 Coming 45.75 30.96 Crane 6224 45.98 DamirC 91.98 6Z65 Deere 33.85 23.70 Disney 19.84 12.10 DoUarG 35.92 28.50 OonHeyRR 46.60 33.00 DowChm 114.53 .02 67.01 .78 44.90 55.56 .93 34.38 45.13 2 29.63 43.47 .05 36.58 .14 4271 24.55 .33 62.19 128 70.22 .98 50.61 46.99 21.00 .07 39.55 .19 60.11 95.27 5.86 33.23 .11 15.57 .42 35.79 .28 40.08 Feb 07 Apr 07 May 07 Jun07 Jul 07 66.55 .60 68.62 .25 72.80 .20 74.55 .42 72.40 .73 71.00 .45 66.65 68.75 72.40 74.20 71.80 70.65 66.77 68.95 72.90 74.60 72.45 71.00 66.15 68.40 72.40 74.05 71.80 70.65 IBM IntPap JPMorgCh Kohls Kroger LeeEnt LincNat Lowes Lucent McDnlds MercBkshs Merck MemllLyn Microsoft MorgStan Aug 07 48.57 37.52 75.54 42.78 24.15 18.05 39.98 22.98 65.92 51.21 34.85 26.15 3.22 1.99 4248 31.73 45.48 34.29 46.37 27.84 91.57 64.58 30.00 21.46 80.00 5452 Mon's sales 20,703 187,208, down -275 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel Dec 06 251'2 258 251'A 255V2 1 Mar 07 266 271 265 268 V4 May 07 273 273 273 273 Jul 07 276 277 276 277 V4 Sep 07 250' 251 250' 251 Dec07 231 231 231V4 231' May 08 231Va 231' 231' 231' Mon's sales 3,005 Mon's open int 15,687, up 173 SOYBEANS 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel Jan 07 667 674' 666 Va 673 5' Mar 07 680 687 679 686V4 6V4 May 07 6871)4 696 Vs 687l 695' SV Jul 07 697 704 697 702 5 Aug 07 705 7061 701 7061 51 Sep 07 707 707 707 707 3 Nov 07 7081A 5 7oel4 714' 6 Mon's safes 84.483 Mon's open int 386.215, down 157 Spot commodity prices: Prev. Close Day Key barometers in the Treasury market Yield Prev.

Mon's open int PORK BELLIES 40,000 cents per lb. Feb 07 94.00 94.40 92.70 92.82 North See Brent West Texas I. 5832 57.98 5603 56.46 5.25 4.94 5.03 4.58 4.66 5.25 4.94 5.03 4.60 4.68 Federal Funds 3-month 1-year bi 10-year rate 30-year bond Mar 07 May 07 Jul 07 AtatkaAMstt Coast 5192 5150 93.00 93.80 95.00 93.30 93.00 93.00 93.80 92.85 95.00 92.85 93.30 93.30 93.00 92.85 .05 92.85 25 93.30 227 Aug 07 FOOTNOTES Nm 52-week tow. dd Loss iff lesl 12 mos. New issue in past 52 weeks pi Moil's 1 Moll's open int Prefewetf.

Spa or stock dividend of 25 percer or mow paw 52 weeks, umw 52-week high- i.