Business notebook
Cutting ties?: The Securities and Exchange Commission proposed granting exchange status to the Nasdaq Stock Market, a change that would allow the computerized trading system to gain independence from its regulator, the NASD.
One fell swoop: Prudential Equity Group LLC fired technical analyst Ralph Acampora and said it was eliminating his department, and the economics group, to cut costs.
No strings attached: EarthLink, the fourth-largest US Internet provider, won a $10 million contract to build and maintain a wireless Internet network in Philadelphia, beating out Hewlett-Packard.
Interim: Andrew von Eschenbach, acting chief of the Food and Drug Administration, probably won't be named to lead the agency permanently, Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt said. Von Eschenbach is likely to resume his position as director of the National Cancer Institute when President Bush names a permanent successor to Lester Crawford, who resigned last month, Leavitt said.
But not antitrust: McDonald's launched what it called its biggest promotion ever, reprising a version of its Monopoly game for a third straight year with partner Best Buy. The Monopoly Best Chance Game 3.0 runs through Oct. 31 or while distribution supplies last at participating US McDonald's.
Turning 40: Microsoft will have as many as 40 games for its Xbox 360 console by year-end as it tries to take sales from Sony, the top seller of game machines. The Xbox 360 goes on sale Nov. 22.
Impending iPod: Apple Computer has e-mailed invitations to reporters for a special event next week, prompting speculation on the Internet that the company would unveil a long-rumored iPod that can display videos.
Tuning in: Sirius Satellite Radio, the number two US pay-radio company, added more than 359,000 subscribers in the third quarter and topped the 2 million mark.
Call waiting: Sprint Nextel, the number three US wireless carrier, sued Vonage Holdings and theglobe.com Inc., accusing them of infringing on seven patents tied to making telephone calls over the Internet.
(Globe wire services)
