tranfamilies.net The Trans' Connection

Reuters - The EU and the IMF could extend the period in which Greece must repay its bailout loans by five years, to make it easier for it to service its debt, a Greek newspaper said on Saturday, citing an IMF official.

AP - EU officials say European finance ministers plan Sunday to discuss a bailout package for debt-laden Ireland.

AP - Many Americans are determined not to let higher gas be the Grinch that spoils their holiday spending plans.

Reuters - Irish talks to secure an 85 billion euro ($112.5 billion) aid package entered the final hours on Saturday with opposition parties warning they would oppose any deal that forced the country to pay a high interest rate on EU/IMF loans.

AP - Spain's prime minister mounted a vigorous defense Saturday of his nation's economy and finances, insisting his administration will forge ahead with austerity measures and force troubled banks and regional governments to reveal information about savings and restructuring efforts.

Reuters - Retailers scaled back discounts and shoppers were less frenzied on Saturday, a day after the mad rush for "Black Friday" bargains kicked off the holiday shopping season.

AP - Shoppers who skipped the crowds on Black Friday gave online merchants a 16 percent spike in revenue, according to data released Saturday.

Reuters - There is no sign that investors' headaches from Europe are going away, but early indications of strong holiday spending and an improving labor market could soothe Wall Street next week.

Reuters - Shoppers were back in a Black Friday bargain-binging mood, snapping up hoodies and computer laptops at stores, in a turnout that could give the economic recovery more steam.

AP - An enormously fat cat named Prince Chunk who became famous when he was found wandering in New Jersey after his owner lost her home to foreclosure has died.

Reuters - General Motors Co's initial public offering became the world's biggest at $23.1 billion after underwriters swiftly took up additional shares following last week's IPO.

Investor's Business Daily - For the Record: The Nov. 22 New America story "Oil Producer Finds New Mother Lodes In Old Southwestern Fields," should have said the Marbob acquisition included Concho Resources' 76 mil barrels of oil equivalent in proven reserves, not billions.

Investor's Business Daily - General Motors said underwriters exercised all over-allotment options, pushing the size of its IPO offering to $23.1 bil from $20.1 bil. Earlier, shares rose 1%.

AP - General Motors Co. said the underwriters of its recent initial public offering have exercised their overallotment of an additional 71.7 million shares of common stock, bringing the total size of the deal to $23.1 billion.

Reuters - General Motors Co's underwriters exercised their full overallotment option, making the initial public offering of the U.S. automaker the biggest in the world, at $23.1 billion.

Reuters - Ireland hammered out the final details of an EU/IMF rescue on Friday as financial market pressure mounted on Portugal and Spain despite vehement denials from euro zone governments that they too might require bailouts.

Reuters - Ireland's government saw its parliamentary majority cut to two on Friday, as voters in one of the ruling party's heartlands punished it for seeking an EU/IMF bailout and instead backed nationalists Sinn Fein.

AP - All-night shop-a-thon: Black Friday draws crowds

AFP - General Motors cemented its place on the list of the world's largest ever initial share offerings Friday as it announced secondary sales took the value of the recent deal to 23.1 billion dollars.

AP - Oil prices recovered somewhat on Friday after dipping earlier in the day on growing concerns about Europe's debt crisis.