programs, such as showroom financing. GE Capital earned $1.8 billion in the first quarter, flat from a year earlier, with revenue off 12 percent to $11.4 billion due primarily to drops in its consumer financing business. GE Capital assets totaled $573 billion, 4 percent below its totals in the first quarter of 2011.
KarpReilly in buy mode Greenwich-based KarpReilly L.L.C. won capital commitments totaling $300 million for a pair of funds focused on investments in growth consumer companies. Former Apax Partners executives Allan Karp and Chris Reilly created their initial fund in 2008 with capital commitments totaling $180 million. KarpReilly’s portfolio companies include Bob’s Discount Furniture, Dollar Tree Stores and Targus Inc., among others.
Murphy, McMahon widen leads U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy and Linda McMahon widened their leads in their U.S. Senate primary races, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll. In the Democratic Senate primary, Murphy leads former Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz 50-20 percent, compared with a 37-25 percent lead in midMarch. Former World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. CEO McMahon is ahead of former U.S.
women for Murphy by a 47-38 percent majority. President Obama gets a 53 percent approval rating among Connecticut voters, according to Quinnipiac, with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s own favorability rating at just 34 percent in Connecticut. Connecticut voters disapprove by a 47-44 percent majority of the job Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is doing. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal received a 61 percent approval rating. – Alexander Soule
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Hedge fund hires Fed vet The Stamford-based hedge fund EQA Partners hired as chief economist a former governor of the Federal Reserve System, who helped craft the Fed’s response to the financial collapse of 2008. Randall Kroszner will continue in his current position teaching economics at the University of Chicago, where he has been a faculty member since 1990. With Yale University economist Robert Shiller, Kroszner co-authored a paper last year on reforming the U.S. financial markets in the Dodd-Frank era. A Fed governor from 2006-09, Kroszner chaired committees on supervision and regulation; and consumer affairs. From 200103, he was a member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers. He is a graduate of Brown University and has a doctorate in economics from Harvard University. “As policy debates play out, especially in Europe, there will be significant opportunities in currency markets,” said Andrew Alper, CEO of EQA Partners, in a prepared statement. “Randy’s insights and knowledge of how policy is created will help us take appropriate risks and navigate these markets.”
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Microsoft to give $1M to Junior Achievement Marking its first Microsoft Store in Connecticut at Danbury Fair Mall, Microsoft Corp. is donating $1 million to the local chapter of Junior Achievement, which promotes business careers to youth. Microsoft plans to open the store Saturday, June 23, one of two major openings in store for Danbury Fair Mall along with an L.L. Bean retail store in the finishing stages of completion. In addition to products, the store will offer training and other services.
Rep. Chris Shays 59 to 30 percent for the Republican primary, compared with a 51-42 percent lead in March. Quinnipiac polled just more than 1,400 registered voters between May 29 and June 3, and assigned a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points. McMahon tightened the gap with Murphy, who leads McMahon by a 46-43 majority compared with a commanding 52-37 lead in March. Any McMahonMurphy matchup features a reverse gender gap, Quinnipiac noted, with men backing McMahon 48-44 percent and
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Investing involves risk, including risk of loss. Although guidance is provided one on one, it is educational in nature, is not individualized, and is not intended to serve as the primary or sole basis for your investment or tax-planning decisions. *Kiplinger’s magazine, February 2011. Industry review ranking 14 leading discount brokers. Results based on ratings in the following categories: costs, Web site usability, investment choices, customer service, and research and tools. Criteria not equally weighted. TD Ameritrade tied with Fidelity for the #1 spot. Fidelity Brokerage Services, Member NYSE, SIPC. © 2012 FMR LLC. All rights reserved. 616161.1.0 121669_24_AD_Fairfield_Biz.indd 1
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