<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<rss version="2.0">
	<channel>
		<title>Commercial and Investment Banking</title>
		<link>http://emediaworld.com/press_release/rss/rss_74.xml</link>
		<description>Commercial and Investment Banking</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<lastBuildDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:39:15 EST</lastBuildDate>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[TSX Venture Exchange Closing Summary for January 5, 2009]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309407</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:53:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(eMediaWorld - Jan. 5, 2009) - 

The following report is available on tsx.com at the following web page:

http://www.tsx.com/en/news_events/media_kit.html

Trading was very heavy on a volume of 158.6 million shares worth 31.2 million dollars.

There were 376 advances, 216 declines and 508 issues unchanged.

The S&amp;P/TSX Venture Composite Index closed up 27.80 at 874.49

/T/

Most Active Issues by Volume

Volume      Name                                  Symbol    Close    Change

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[United Community Banks, Inc. Updates Outlook on Credit Quality for Fourth Quarter 2008]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309409</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BLAIRSVILLE, GA--(eMediaWorld - January 5, 2009) -  United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCBI)
announced today an updated outlook on credit quality for the fourth quarter
of 2008.

United expects its fourth quarter loan loss provision and charge-offs to
remain at elevated levels due to continued credit deterioration and current
economic conditions, particularly in the residential construction portfolio
in the Atlanta market.  United also expects to increase its loan loss
reserve for the quarter.  The estimate for the fourth quarter loan loss
provision is $85 million, with an expected $74 million in charge-offs and
an $11 million build-up in the allowance for loan losses to 2.14% of total
loans.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Dime Community Has Elected Not to Participate in the U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309411</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:10:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BROOKLYN, NY--(eMediaWorld - January 5, 2009) -  Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCOM)
(the &quot;Company&quot;), the parent company of The Dime Savings Bank of
Williamsburgh (the &quot;Bank&quot;), today announced that it has elected not to
participate in the U.S. Department of Treasury&#039;s Capital Purchase Program
(&quot;CPP&quot;).  The Company disclosed on December 5, 2008 that the Bank had
received preliminary approval to receive up to $77.3 million of capital
from the CPP and that its evaluation as to the costs and benefits of
participation was ongoing.  The determination not to participate in the CPP
was reached after evaluating all of the relevant financial and other
factors.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[S Split Corp. Declares Monthly Distribution]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309413</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:03:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[TORONTO, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Jan. 5, 2009) - S Split Corp. (the &quot;Fund&quot;) (TSX:SBN.PR.A)(TSX:SBN), has declared its monthly distribution of $0.04375 on each of its Preferred Shares and $0.02970 each of its Class A shares, payable January 30, 2009 to shareholders of record as of January 15, 2009. To the extent that any portion of the distributions are ordinary taxable dividends and not capital gains dividends, they will be eligible dividends.

The Fund is a mutual fund corporation which invests in a portfolio of common shares of The Bank of Nova Scotia (&quot;BNS Shares&quot;). Investors in the Fund&#039;s Class A Shares will receive leveraged exposure to the performance of The Bank of Nova Scotia, including increases or decreases in the value of BNS Shares and increases or decreases in the dividends paid on BNS Shares. Investors in the Fund&#039;s Preferred Shares will receive monthly distributions on a fixed, cumulative and preferential basis.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[La Banque Nationale du Canada annonce un placement d&#039;actions privil&eacute;gi&eacute;es]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309414</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:59:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(eMediaWorld - 5 jan. 2009) - La Banque Nationale du Canada (la &quot;Banque Nationale&quot;) (TSX:NA) a annonc&eacute; aujourd&#039;hui qu&#039;elle a conclu une entente avec un groupe de preneurs fermes dirig&eacute; par Financi&egrave;re Banque Nationale Inc. en vue de l&#039;&eacute;mission par voie de prise ferme de 5 millions d&#039;actions privil&eacute;gi&eacute;es de premier rang &agrave; taux rajust&eacute; tous les cinq ans et &agrave; dividendes non-cumulatifs s&eacute;rie 24 (les &quot;actions privil&eacute;gi&eacute;es s&eacute;rie 24&quot;), au prix de 25,00 $ l&#039;action, afin de r&eacute;unir un produit brut de 125 millions de dollars.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[National Bank of Canada Announces Preferred Share Offering]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309416</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:57:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(eMediaWorld - Jan. 5, 2009) - National Bank of Canada (&quot;National Bank&quot;) (TSX:NA) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with a group of underwriters led by National Bank Financial Inc. for an issue on a bought deal basis of 5 million non-cumulative 5-year rate reset first preferred shares series 24 (the &quot;Series 24 Preferred Shares&quot;), at a price of $25.00 per share, to raise gross proceeds of $125 million.

National Bank has also granted the underwriters an option to purchase, on the same terms, up to an additional 3 million Series 24 Preferred Shares. This option is exercisable in whole or in part by the underwriters at any time up to two business days prior to closing. The maximum gross proceeds raised under the offering will be $200 million should this option be exercised in full.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Announces Schedule for Fourth Quarter 2008 Earnings Release and Teleconference]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309417</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:51:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ITASCA, IL--(eMediaWorld - January 5, 2009) -  First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (&quot;First Midwest&quot;)
(NASDAQ: FMBI), the holding company of First Midwest Bank, today announced
the following schedule and contact information for its fourth quarter 2008
earnings release and teleconference:


--  4th Quarter 2008 Earnings Release:  Wednesday, January 28, 2009, prior
    to the market opening, by eMediaWorld distribution and First Midwest&#039;s web
    site at www.firstmidwest.com.
    
--  Teleconference:  Wednesday, January 28, 2009, from 10:00 A.M. ET to
    11:00 A.M. ET.  Listen-only mode via telephone and Internet broadcast on
    the First Midwest web site at www.firstmidwest.com.
    
--  Dial-in Numbers:  (866) 713-8310; International (617) 597-5308;
    passcode 287 96 096.  Please call 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled
    start of t]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[CurrencyShares(SM) Exchange Traded Products Declare Monthly Distributions]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309419</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:38:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ROCKVILLE, MD--(eMediaWorld - January 5, 2009) -  Rydex Investments today announced the
distribution declarations for seven CurrencyShares exchange traded
products: CurrencyShares(SM) Australian Dollar Trust (NYSE: FXA),
CurrencyShares(SM) British Pound Sterling Trust (NYSE: FXB),
CurrencyShares(SM) Canadian Dollar Trust (NYSE: FXC), CurrencyShares(SM)
Euro Trust (NYSE: FXE), CurrencyShares(SM) Mexican Peso Trust (NYSE: FXM),
CurrencyShares(SM) Russian Ruble Trust (NYSE: XRU), and CurrencyShares(SM)
Swedish Krona Trust (NYSE: FXS).
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Banque Nationale Groupe financier se positionne de nouveau au classement des 50 Employeurs de choix]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309421</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:21:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(eMediaWorld - 5 jan. 2009) - Banque Nationale Groupe financier est heureuse de figurer, pour une 5e ann&eacute;e cons&eacute;cutive, au palmar&egrave;s des &quot;50 Employeurs de choix&quot;.

R&eacute;alis&eacute; annuellement par la firme Hewitt et associ&eacute;s, ce classement reconna&icirc;t les entreprises dot&eacute;es de pratiques de gestion des ressources humaines visant &agrave; renforcer l&#039;engagement et la mobilisation des employ&eacute;s.

&quot;Je suis fier de voir que les employ&eacute;s de la Banque reconnaissent leur entreprise comme l&#039;un des meilleurs employeurs au Canada et au Qu&eacute;bec. Nous accueillons cette 5e nomination comme la concr&eacute;tisation d&#039;efforts constants de faire &eacute;voluer nos pratiques, notamment en ressources humaines, et de cr&eacute;er un milieu de travail mobilisant et propice &agrave; l&#039;expression de la performance&quot;, a mentionn&eacute; Louis Vachon, pr&eacute;sident et chef de la direction de la Banque Nationale. &quot;Merci &agrave; tous nos employ&eacute;s d&#039;avoir une fois de plus nomm&eacute; Banque Nationale Groupe financier parmi les meilleurs employeurs au Canada!&quot;, a-]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[National Bank Financial Group Again Ranks Among the 50 Best Employers]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309423</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:19:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(eMediaWorld - Jan. 5, 2009) - National Bank Financial Group is pleased to announce that it has been named to the list of the &quot;50 Best Employers in Canada&quot; for a 5th consecutive year.

The list, compiled annually by Hewitt Associates, recognizes companies with human resources practices that strengthen employee commitment and engagement.

&quot;I am proud that Bank employees consider their company one of the best employers in Canada.&quot; We view this 5th appearance on the list as the achievement of ongoing work to adapt our practices, particularly those affecting human resources, and create a workplace that motivates employees and encourages performance,&quot; stated Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Bank. &quot;I would like to thank all of our employees for once again having ranked National Bank Financial Group as one of the top employers in Canada,&quot; added Mr. Vachon.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Milestone Succeeds in Difficult Times]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309426</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[LANCASTER, PA--(eMediaWorld - January 5, 2009) -  The decision by 21st Services and AVS
Underwriting to lengthen mortality tables sent shockwaves through the life
settlement industry. The effects of this industry shakeup, in combination
with the economic crisis, left many in the industry clinging for survival.
Providers across the country have been pulling offers and are scrambling
for funds; many are even struggling to stay afloat. Milestone Providers,
LLC is most definitely not one of these providers.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Zcom Networks, Inc. Targeting Acquisitions for Company Diversification]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309427</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[LOS ANGELES, CA--(eMediaWorld - January 5, 2009) -  Zcom Networks, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: ZCNW)
management announced that it is actively seeking acquisition targets as
part of the company&#039;s restructuring and vision of growth throughout its
Media &amp; Broadcasting and Real Estate &amp; Mineral Rights divisions. The
company recently completed its capital restructuring to facilitate
acquisitions in line with management&#039;s plan for diversified growth
throughout its principal industries divisions including the broadcast
media, real estate and mineral rights industries. The company&#039;s growth
plan, dubbed &quot;Zcom Concentric Model,&quot; is based on Zcom seeking and
acquiring promising companies for development and accelerated growth.
Acquisition targets are generally &quot;early opportunity&quot; technology, media and
resourced based companies in our area of operations with synergistic
potential that can grow rapidly within the Concentric Model A]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[This Week&#039;s NelsonHall Webcast to Review 2008 BPO Activity and Examine 2009 Opportunities]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309429</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:15:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[LONDON and BOSTON, MA--(eMediaWorld - January 5, 2009) - 


WHO:      John Willmott, the founder and CEO of NelsonHall, the world&#039;s
          leading BPO analyst firm

WHAT:     Will present a complimentary Webcast featuring the NelsonHall
          &quot;BPO Index,&quot; a detailed review of 2008 business process
          outsourcing (BPO) contract activity.  Willmott will also share
          his firm&#039;s perspectives on 2009 BPO contract opportunities.

WHEN:     Thursday, January 8, 2009
          11:00 a.m. EST; 16:00 p.m. GMT
          The Webcast will run for approximately 45 minutes.

WHERE:    To register for this free Webcast, please visit
          http://www.nelson-hall.com/webcasts

DETAILS:  NelsonHall&#039;s Quarterly BPO Index Webcasts provide the market
          leading analysis of current and emerging BPO opportunities.
          The company tracks and analyzes the contracts of services vendors
          globally, achie]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Mexico Fund, Inc. Pays Dividend Distribution]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309431</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:01:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON, DC--(eMediaWorld - January 5, 2009) -  The Mexico Fund, Inc. (NYSE: MXF) announced
that it will pay today a cash dividend distribution of $1.2388 per share,
equivalent to 3.28% of the Fund&#039;s NAV per share on July 31, 2008, to
stockholders of record on December 18, 2008. As described further below, it
is estimated that this dividend distribution, which is the third under the
Fund&#039;s Managed Distribution Plan (MDP), will be fully comprised of
long-term capital gains.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Adaptive Planning Announces Hamid Bahadori as New Vice President of Engineering and Hosted Operations]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309433</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Bahadori to Bring 22 Years of Product Development, Hosted Operations, and Executive Management Experience to Adaptive Planning]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Green Star Energies Secures Bond and Has Scheduled Oil Production]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309434</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Green Star Management Has Renegotiated the Crows Run Project to Allow for Oil Production to Commence]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Prudential PLC - Corporate Reporting Calendar 2009]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309435</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[LONDON, UK--(eMediaWorld - January 5, 2009) -  




DATE: 09:00 Monday 5 January 2009


PRUDENTIAL PLC - CORPORATE REPORTING CALENDAR 2009


Prudential plc&#039;s full corporate reporting calendar for 2009 is detailed
below.


Prudential plc remains committed to continuing to improve its
communication with the market to ensure that the information provided
is of maximum benefit and relevance.


The Company has reviewed its reporting calendar for 2009 in order to
meet this objective and in particular, the need to provide additional
relevant information in its quarterly reporting.


The Company&#039;s 2009 corporate reporting calendar will now begin on
20 February with the Full Year 2008 New Business Figures announcement.
The First Quarter 2009 Interim Management Statement will be announced
at the AGM on 14 May 2009 and the Third Quarter 2009 Interim Management
Statement will be on 28 October 2009. The Full Year 2008 Results and
Interim Results 2009 will be on 19 March 2009 and 13 August 20]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[TSX Venture Exchange Closing Summary for January 2, 2009]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309437</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:50:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(eMediaWorld - Jan. 2, 2009) - 

The following report is available on tsx.com at the following web page:
 http://www.tsx.com/en/news_events/media_kit.html

TSX Venture Exchange Closing Summary for January 2, 2009

Trading was very heavy on a volume of 144.4 million shares worth 24.4 million dollars.

There were 534 advances, 111 declines and 369 issues unchanged.

The S&amp;P/TSX Venture Composite Index closed up 49.67 at 846.69

/T/

Most Active Issues by Volume

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Copernican International Premium Dividend Fund-Distribution sp&eacute;ciale de revenus]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309438</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:33:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BURLINGTON, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - 2 jan. 2009) - Capital Copernican Corp. a annonc&eacute; aujourd&#039;hui qu&#039;elle a finalis&eacute; les termes de la distribution sp&eacute;ciale de revenus payable aux porteurs de parts de la Copernican International Premium Dividend Fund (TSX:CPM.UN) (la &quot;fiducie&quot;) inscrits en date du 30 d&eacute;cembre 2008. Ces porteurs de parts ont re&ccedil;u une distribution sp&eacute;ciale de revenus au montant int&eacute;gral de 0.004675 $ par part, en date du 31 d&eacute;cembre 2008. Elle a &eacute;t&eacute; vers&eacute;e sous forme de parts &agrave; tous les porteurs de parts, au lieu d&#039;&ecirc;tre distribu&eacute;e au comptant. Imm&eacute;diatement apr&egrave;s la r&eacute;partition de parts, les parts en circulation ont &eacute;t&eacute; consolid&eacute;es sur la base d&#039;une part pour chaque 1.001055 part &eacute;mise et en circulation de mani&egrave;re &agrave; ce qu&#039;apr&egrave;s cette consolidation, le nombre de parts en circulation soit &eacute;gal au nombre de parts en circulation imm&eacute;diatement avant la distribution. A la suite de la distribution et de la consolidation, les porteurs de parts ont donc le m&ecirc;me nombre de parts qu&#039;a]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Copernican International Premium Dividend Fund-Special Income Distribution]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309440</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:32:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BURLINGTON, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Jan. 2, 2009) - Copernican Capital Corp. today announced the finalized consolidation ratio in connection with the special income distribution payable to unitholders (&quot;Unitholders&quot;) of record of Copernican International Premium Dividend Fund (TSX:CPM.UN) (the &quot;Trust&quot;) as at December 30, 2008. Unitholders of the Trust will receive a special income distribution on December 31, 2008 in the aggregate amount of $0.004675 per Trust unit (&quot;Unit). Such distribution will be paid by way of Units to all Unitholders, rather than by way of cash. Immediately following the Unit distribution, outstanding Units of the Trust will be consolidated on the basis of one Unit for every 1.001055 Units outstanding, such that after the consolidation of Units, the number of Units outstanding will be equal to the number of Units outstanding immediately prior to the Unit distribution. After the Unit distribution and subsequent consolidation, each Unitholder will hold the same numbe]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Copernican British Banks Fund-Distribution sp&eacute;ciale de revenus]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309441</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:17:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BURLINGTON, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - 2 jan. 2009) - Capital Copernican Corp. a annonc&eacute; aujourd&#039;hui qu&#039;elle a finalis&eacute; les termes de la distribution sp&eacute;ciale de revenus payable aux porteurs de parts de la Copernican British Banks Fund (TSX:CBB.UN) (la &quot;fiducie&quot;) inscrits en date du 30 d&eacute;cembre 2008. Ces porteurs de parts ont re&ccedil;u une distribution sp&eacute;ciale de revenus au montant int&eacute;gral de 0,311846 $ par part, en date du 31 d&eacute;cembre 2008. Elle a &eacute;t&eacute; vers&eacute;e sous forme de parts &agrave; tous les porteurs de parts, au lieu d&#039;&ecirc;tre distribu&eacute;e au comptant. Imm&eacute;diatement apr&egrave;s la r&eacute;partition de parts, les parts en circulation ont &eacute;t&eacute; consolid&eacute;es sur la base d&#039;une part pour chaque 1.225975 part &eacute;mise et en circulation de mani&egrave;re &agrave; ce qu&#039;apr&egrave;s cette consolidation, le nombre de parts en circulation soit &eacute;gal au nombre de parts en circulation imm&eacute;diatement avant la distribution. A la suite de la distribution et de la consolidation, les porteurs de parts ont donc le m&ecirc;me nombre de parts qu&#039;avant cette distri]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Copernican British Banks Fund-Special Income Distribution]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309443</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:16:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BURLINGTON, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Jan. 2, 2009) - Copernican Capital Corp. today announced the finalized  consolidation ratio in connection with the special income distribution payable to unitholders (&quot;Unitholders&quot;) of record of Copernican British Banks Fund (TSX:CBB.UN) (the &quot;Trust&quot;) as at December 30, 2008. Unitholders of the Trust will receive a special income distribution on December 31, 2008 in the aggregate amount of $0.311846 per Trust unit (&quot;Unit&quot;). Such distribution will be paid by way of Units to all Unitholders, rather than by way of cash.  Immediately following the Unit distribution, outstanding Units of the Trust will be consolidated on the basis of one Unit for every 1.225975 Units outstanding, such that after the consolidation of Units, the number of Units outstanding will be equal to the number of Units outstanding immediately prior to the Unit distribution.  After the Unit distribution and subsequent consolidation, each Unitholder will hold the same number of Units as]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Zweig Fund, Inc. Declares Distribution]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309445</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:37:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY--(eMediaWorld - January 2, 2009) -  The Zweig Fund, Inc. (NYSE: ZF), announced
that its fourth quarterly distribution for 2008 will be $0.084 per share,
payable on January 12, 2009, to shareholders of record on December 31, 2008
(ex-date January 5, 2009).

The distribution represents a cash dividend yield of 10% on an annualized
basis.  Distributions may represent earnings from net investment income,
capital gains, excess gains taxable as ordinary income or, if necessary,
return of capital.  The tax status of the Fund&#039;s distributions is
determined at the end of the taxable year.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. Declares Distribution]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309447</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:37:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY--(eMediaWorld - January 2, 2009) -  The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (NYSE: ZTR),
announced that its last monthly distribution for 2008 will be $0.033 per
share, payable on January 12, 2009, to shareholders of record on December
31, 2008 (ex-date January 5, 2009).

The distribution represents a cash yield of 10% on an annualized basis.
Distributions may represent earnings from net investment income, capital
gains, excess gains taxable as ordinary income or, if necessary, return of
capital.  The tax status of the Fund&#039;s distributions is determined at the
end of the taxable year.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. Declares Fourth Quarter Dividend]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309448</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:24:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[OSWEGO, NY--(eMediaWorld - January 2, 2009) -  Thomas W. Schneider, President/CEO of Pathfinder
Bancorp, Inc., the mid-tier holding company of Pathfinder Bank, (NASDAQ: PBHC) (listing: PathBcp) has announced that the Company has declared a cash
dividend of $.1025 per share on the Company&#039;s common stock for the fiscal
quarter ending December 31, 2008.  The dividend will be payable to all
shareholders of record on January 16, 2009 and will be paid on January 30,
2009.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[MunicipalBonds.com Acquired: New Site for Retail Investors Launching January 21, 2009]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309451</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW CANAAN, CT--(eMediaWorld - January 1, 2009) -  MunicipalBonds.com announced today that it
has been acquired by a company wholly owned by Bhu Srinivasan. Bhu
Srinivasan plans on launching the new MunicipalBonds.com on January 21,
2009.

&quot;We&#039;re excited about developing the premier site for municipal bond
investors. When we launch, individual investors will have a whole new way
of understanding, analyzing, purchasing, and managing their municipal bond
investments,&quot; said Bhu Srinivasan, President of MunicipalBonds.com LLC.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[University Bancorp Gives Notice of Voluntary Delisting]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309452</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ANN ARBOR, MI--(eMediaWorld - December 31, 2008) -  University Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNIB)(the
&quot;Company&quot;) announced today that it has given notice to The Nasdaq Stock
Market of its determination to voluntarily withdraw the Company&#039;s common
stock, $0.01 par value per share, from listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market
and to withdraw the registration of the common stock under Section 12(b) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the &quot;Act&quot;). The Company will file a
Form 25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission to effect the delisting
and withdrawal from registration under the Act. Trading in the Company&#039;s
common stock will be discontinued prior to the opening of trading on
January 12, 2009.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[TSX Venture Exchange Closing Summary for December 31, 2008]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309454</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:51:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 31, 2008) - 

The following report is available on tsx.com at the following web page:

http://www.tsx.com/en/news_events/media_kit.html

Trading was very heavy on a volume of 151.5 million shares worth 23.8 million dollars.

There were 438 advances, 206 declines and 601 issues unchanged. 


The S&amp;P/TSX Venture Composite Index closed up 23.96 at 797.02


/T/

Most Active Issues by Volume

Volume      Name                                    Symbol   Close   Change

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Yadkin Valley Financial Corporation Receives Preliminary Approval for $36 Million Investment Under the U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309456</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:10:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ELKIN, NC--(eMediaWorld - December 31, 2008) -  Yadkin Valley Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: YAVY), the holding company for Yadkin Valley Bank and Trust Company,
announced that it has received preliminary approval for a $36 million
investment from the U.S. Department of Treasury under its Capital Purchase
Program. The Company expects to issue $36 million in preferred stock to the
U.S. Treasury along with related warrants to purchase $5.4 million in
shares of Yadkin Valley&#039;s common stock.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Fulton Financial Corporation Promotes Wenger to President and Chief Operating Officer]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309457</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:38:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[LANCASTER, PA--(eMediaWorld - December 31, 2008) -  R. Scott Smith, Jr., chairman and chief
executive officer of Fulton Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: FULT), today
announced that E. Philip Wenger, of Pequea, has been promoted to president
and chief operating officer of Fulton Financial Corporation.  Wenger has
served as senior executive vice president for Fulton Financial Corporation
and chairman of Fulton Bank since 2006.

&quot;Phil has gained tremendous knowledge and expertise throughout his 30 years
of banking. He has very strong skills and a clear vision to help lead this
company,&quot; said Smith. &quot;As his responsibilities have grown in the community
banking capacity, employees and customers alike have benefited from his
dedication to creating and delivering our customer service promise.&quot;
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Northern Star Financial, Inc. Reports First Quarter Results]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309459</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:43:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[MANKATO, MN--(eMediaWorld - December 30, 2008) -  Northern Star Financial, Inc. (OTCBB: NSBK)
today announced results for the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary
Northern Star Bank for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending June 30,
2009.

Northern Star Financial, Inc., the parent company of Northern Star Bank,
reported a net loss of $110,923 in the first quarter ended September 30,
2008 compared with a net loss of $129,893 in the first quarter of fiscal
year 2008. The basic loss per share of $0.12 for the first quarter of the
fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 compared with a basic loss per share of
$0.16 during the first quarter of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[First Asset PowerGen Fund: Press Release]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309460</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[TORONTO, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 30, 2008) - First Asset PowerGen Fund (TSX:PGT.UN) announced today that further to the press release of October 22, 2008, the Fund will limit the number of units that may be redeemed in January, 2009 to 10% of the units outstanding as at December 31, 2008. The Manager is of the opinion that a greater amount would have the potential to impair the operation of the Fund. Redemptions will be completed on a pro-rata basis to the extent units tendered for redemption exceed the 10% limit. The valuation date is January 30, 2009. As at December 29, 2008, the net asset value per unit of the Fund was $16.74.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[TSX Venture Exchange Closing Summary for December 30, 2008]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309462</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:53:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 30, 2008) - 

The following report is available on tsx.com at the following web page:

http://www.tsx.com/en/news_events/media_kit.html

Trading was very heavy on a volume of 145.1 million shares worth 20.7 million dollars.

There were 454 advances, 189 declines and 540 issues unchanged.

The S&amp;P/TSX Venture Composite Index closed up 30.07 at 773.06


/T/

Most Active Issues by Volume

Volume     Name                                    Symbol   Close   Change

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[First Asset REIT Income Fund Announces Normal Course Issuer Bid for Units]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309463</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:08:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[TORONTO, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 30, 2008) - First Asset REIT Income Fund (the &quot;Fund&quot;) (TSX:RIT.UN) announced today acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange (the &quot;TSX&quot;) of the Fund&#039;s Notice of Intention to make a Normal Course Issuer Bid (the &quot;NCIB&quot;).

Pursuant to the NCIB, the Fund proposes to purchase through the facilities of the TSX, from time to time, if it is considered advisable, up to 969,930 Units of the Fund, representing approximately 10% of the public float which is the same number as the Fund&#039;s issued and outstanding Units, being 9,699,300 Units as of the date hereof. The Fund will not purchase in any given 30-day period, in the aggregate, more than 193,986 Units, being 2% of the issued and outstanding Units as of the date hereof. Purchases of Units under the NCIB may commence on January 2, 2009. The Board of Directors of First Asset Funds Inc., the manager of the Fund, believes that such purchases are in the best interests of the Fund and are a desirable use of the ]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[TICC Announces Full Repayment of Its Credit Facility]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309464</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:57:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[GREENWICH, CT--(eMediaWorld - December 30, 2008) -  TICC Capital Corp. (the &quot;Company&quot;) (NASDAQ: TICC) announced today that, following a period of concerted deleveraging of
its balance sheet, it has now reduced to zero its outstanding borrowings
under its credit facility with Royal Bank of Canada as agent and a lender
and Branch Banking &amp; Trust Company as an additional lender (the &quot;Credit
Facility&quot;). The Company also undertook steps to unilaterally terminate its
Credit Facility, effective December 30, 2008, in accordance with its terms
as a result of the completion of the repayment of its outstanding
borrowings thereunder.  The Credit Facility had been scheduled to terminate
on January 29, 2009.  Jonathan Cohen, the Company&#039;s CEO, said &quot;In the midst
of the worst credit environment in many years, we are pleased to be in a
position where we have no capital obligations to any bank or borrower.  As
we head into a new year]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Sparta Commercial Announces New Revolving Credit Facility]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309465</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY--(eMediaWorld - December 30, 2008) -  Sparta Commercial Services, Inc. (OTCBB: SRCO)
has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Sparta Funding LLC, has
entered into a one year, extendable revolving credit agreement with
Autobahn Funding Company LLC as lender, and DZ Bank AG Deutsche
Zentral-Genossenchaftsbank New York Branch (&quot;DZ Bank&quot;) as Administrative
Agent and Liquidity Agent. The new credit facility is for the purchase of
retail sales and lease contracts secured by new and used powersports
vehicles, including motorcycles, select scooters, and all-terrain vehicles
(ATVs), and a portion of this facility can also be used to finance
municipal and commercial fleet leases. DZ Bank, based in Frankfurt, is the
fifth largest bank in Germany, is the central bank for approximately 1,000
cooperative banks and maintains a presence in key financial centers
throughout the world.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Alliance HealthCard Reports 2008 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Financial Results]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=309466</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Company Reports Record Quarterly Revenue and Earnings]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[GA Capital Corp. Announces Revised Terms to Proposed Qualifying Transaction With Kimpar Resources Inc.]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306499</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:20:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[TORONTO, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 24, 2008) - GA Capital Corp. (TSX VENTURE:GAC.P)(&quot;GAC&quot;) is pleased to announce that, pursuant to the terms of a new letter of intent dated December 18, 2008, it has agreed with Kimpar Resources Inc. (&quot;Kimpar&quot;) to revise certain terms of its previously announced proposed transaction with Kimpar, pursuant to which GAC intends to complete a business combination with Kimpar (the &quot;Transaction&quot;). If completed, the Transaction is expected to constitute a qualifying transaction for GAC, as defined in Policy 2.4 of the TSX Venture Exchange (the &quot;Exchange&quot; or &quot;TSX Venture&quot;) Corporate Finance Manual.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Fortis reports EUR 295 million of currency losses following suspension of transactions]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306500</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:11:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BRUSSELS, BELGIUM--(eMediaWorld - December 24, 2008) -  In preparation of the contemplated
closing of the transactions with
the Belgian government and BNP Paribas announced on 6 October, Fortis
acquired US dollars and pounds sterling on 8 December. These currency
transactions were entered into in order to enable Fortis to provide
its portion of the funding of the envisaged structured credit
portfolio entity, Royal Park Investments, in the currency of the
assets of the portfolio.

Following the unexpected ruling by the Court of Appeal of Brussels of
12 December, the closing of the transactions with the Belgian
government and BNP Paribas, including the envisaged structured credit
portfolio entity, was suspended. Given the current uncertainty,
Fortis decided to sell the US dollars and pounds sterling again,
resulting in a net loss for Fortis of EUR 295 million. This loss
reflects the recent devaluation of the US dollar and the pound
sterling.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Salvation Army &quot;Rings&quot; in New Technology to Allow Card Donations at Red Kettles]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306501</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:34:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[U.S. Bank Donates $10,000 With Simple Swipe of a Card]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Timberland Bancorp, Inc. Receives $16.6 Million Investment From the U.S. Treasury&#039;s Capital Purchase Program]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306502</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[HOQUIAM, WA--(eMediaWorld - December 23, 2008) -  Timberland Bancorp, Inc. (&quot;Company&quot;) (NASDAQ: TSBK), the parent company of Timberland Bank (&quot;Bank&quot;), today announced that
it has received $16.6 million from the U.S. Treasury Department as a part
of the Treasury&#039;s Capital Purchase Program.  This funding marks the
Company&#039;s successful completion of the sale of $16.6 million in senior
preferred stock, with a related warrant to purchase up to $2.5 million in
common stock to the U.S. Treasury.  The transaction is part of the
Treasury&#039;s program to encourage qualified financial institutions to build
capital to increase the flow of financing to businesses and consumers and
to support the U.S. economy.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[TSX Venture Exchange Closing Summary for December 23, 2008]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306503</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:04:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 23, 2008) - 

The following report is available on tsx.com at the following web page:

http://www.tsx.com/en/news_events/media_kit.html

Trading was very heavy on a volume of 259.7 million shares worth 26.1 million dollars.

There were 416 advances, 404 declines and 718 issues unchanged.

The S&amp;P/TSX Venture Composite Index closed up 6.29 at 698.31

/T/

Most Active Issues by Volume

Volume        Name                               Symbol    Close    Change

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Capital Pacific Bancorp Closes on Funds From U.S. Treasury&#039;s Capital Purchase Program]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306504</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:36:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[PORTLAND, OR--(eMediaWorld - December 23, 2008) -  Capital Pacific Bancorp (OTCBB: CPBO), parent
company of Capital Pacific Bank, today announced it has issued $4 million
in preferred stock as part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury&#039;s Capital
Purchase Program (TCPP). Capital Pacific Bancorp announced last month that
it had received preliminary approval of its application. At the time it was
believed Capital Pacific Bancorp was the first bank of its size in this
region to be approved. TCPP is designed to attract broad participation by
healthy banking institutions to help stabilize the financial system and
increase lending for the benefit of the U.S. economy.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Retrocom Mid-Market REIT Announces Close of Property Sale and Refinancing Update]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306505</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:24:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[TORONTO, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 23, 2008) - 

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO ANY NON-CANADIAN SOURCE

Retrocom Mid-Market Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:RMM.UN) (the &quot;REIT&quot;) announced today that it has closed the sale of Plaza La Sarre in La Sarre, Quebec for approximately $4.5 million to a local buyer. Net proceeds of $4.4 million were used to pay down to $12.7 million the bridge loan in the original amount of $33.5 million. In July 2008 the REIT used the proceeds of the bridge loan to refinance a $30 million debenture and repay a property mortgage. This facility does not have any further scheduled principal repayments prior to its maturity in July 2010.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Royal Bank America Parent Company Receives Preliminary Approval to Participate in the U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306506</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:15:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NARBERTH, PA--(eMediaWorld - December 23, 2008) -  Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.
(NASDAQ: RBPAA) (&quot;Royal&quot;), parent company of Royal Bank America and Royal
Asian Bank, today announced it has received preliminary approval for
voluntary participation in the U.S. Department of the Treasury&#039;s
(&quot;Treasury&quot;) TARP Capital Purchase Program. Under the Capital Purchase
Program and subject to final approval, the Treasury will make an investment
of just over $30 million in Royal in return for the issuance of $30 million
in shares of senior preferred stock and warrants to purchase approximately
1.1 million shares of common stock (based on a purchase price of $4.09 per
share).
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Brigitta Herzfeld Joins Management Team at Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc.]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306507</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:01:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[MIAMI, FL--(eMediaWorld - December 23, 2008) -  Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. is pleased to
announce that Brigitta Herzfeld (30), daughter of firm&#039;s founder and
chairman, has joined the firm.  Her focus will be Asian and emerging market
closed-end funds, but she will also be involved in research and operations,
including duties related to The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc.
(NASDAQ: CUBA).

Brigitta is a graduate of Bowdoin College (BA, Government and Legal
Studies), Singapore Management University (Asian Executive Management
Program), Stanford University (MA, East Asian Studies) and the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management (MBA).
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[1ST Constitution Bancorp Completes Sale of $12 Million in Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock and Common Stock Warrant to the U.S. Treasury]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306508</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:15:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[CRANBURY, NJ--(eMediaWorld - December 23, 2008) -  1ST Constitution Bancorp (NASDAQ: FCCY), the
holding company for 1ST Constitution Bank, is pleased to announce that it
closed a sale to the U.S. Treasury of 12,000 shares of Fixed Rate
Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, of 1ST Constitution Bancorp
for $12 million in cash and issued a warrant to the Treasury to purchase
200,222 shares of 1ST Constitution Bancorp common stock.  1ST Constitution
was chosen as one of the stronger community banks to participate in the
U.S. Treasury Department&#039;s TARP Capital Purchase Program.  On December 11,
2008, 1ST Constitution was advised by the Treasury that 1ST Constitution&#039;s
application under the program was preliminarily approved by the U.S.
Treasury on December 8, 2008.  1ST Constitution intends to use the proceeds
from this sale for general corporate purposes which include utilizing the
additional capital to grow the le]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Nominations Accepted Through January 9th for the M&amp;A Advisor 2009 Turnaround Awards]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306509</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:36:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY--(eMediaWorld - December 23, 2008) -  Has your business made a significant
turnaround this past year, despite the shaky economy?  If so, nominate your
company for the 2009 Turnaround Awards, to be conferred during the 3rd
Annual Distressed Investing Conference and Turnaround Awards Gala at the
Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, Fl on March 15-16, 2009.

Carrying on the tradition of honoring the top dealmakers and their
transactions, The M&amp;A Advisor is currently accepting nominations for deals
in the distressed investing, restructuring and turnaround marketplace that
closed between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008. Transactions must be
valued at more than $10 million and less than $1 billion (U.S.). The
deadline for submission is January 9, 2009.  Visit www.maadvisor.com to
download a nomination form. The M&amp;A Advisor is a leading publisher in the
middle-market industry.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[HearUSA and Siemens Amend Agreements]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306511</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:58:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Debt Consolidated Into $50 Million Self-Liquidating Revolving Credit Facility; Siemens Purchases 6.4 Million Shares; HearUSA&#039;s Working Capital Improves by $17.2 Million]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Senior Management Changes at Brookfield Infrastructure Partners]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306512</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:05:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Aaron  Regent Resigns as Co-CEO; Sam Pollock Appointed Sole Chief Executive Officer]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Current Events and Politics: Can the Fed Deliver Fiscal Fitness? -- Vision.org]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306513</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:56:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[The United States Federal Reserve System Turns 95 and the Vitality of This Influential Financial Institution Is Examined by Vision.org]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Washington Federal Declares $0.05 Cash Dividend]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306514</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:24:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[SEATTLE, WA--(eMediaWorld - December 22, 2008) -  The Board of Directors of Washington Federal,
Inc. (NASDAQ: WFSL), parent company of Washington Federal Savings, today
announced a quarterly cash dividend of 5 cents per share.  The dividend
will be payable January 16, 2009 to common stockholders of record on
January 2, 2009.  This will be Washington Federal&#039;s 104th consecutive
quarterly cash dividend.

This cash dividend of 5 cents per share represents a decrease of 16 cents
or 76% compared to the 21 cents per share paid by the Company in October
2008.  The decision to reduce the cash dividend results primarily from
significantly higher credit costs due to continued deterioration in the
general economy and the housing market.  For the quarter ended December 31,
2008, the company expects to record a provision for loan losses of
approximately $35 million and believes that total non-performing assets
will be approximatel]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Royal Bank America Parent Company Announces Appointment of Edward F. Bradley to Board of Directors]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306515</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:50:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NARBERTH, PA--(eMediaWorld - December 22, 2008) -  Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.
(NASDAQ: RBPAA) (&quot;Royal&quot;), parent company of Royal Bank America and Royal
Asian Bank, is pleased to announce the appointment of Edward F. Bradley to
its Board of Directors.

Mr. Bradley is currently an Adjunct Professor of Taxation in the Graduate
Business School of Philadelphia University.  Prior to entering academia he
spent approximately 30 years working as a Financial Services Partner for a
major international accounting firm.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[CPA-Attorney Honored With National Lifetime Service Award in Estate Planning]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306516</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:54:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Byrle M. Abbin, JD, CPA, AEP (Distinguished) Honored With Hartman Axley Lifetime Service Award by the National Association of Estate Planners &amp; Councils]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Idaho Bancorp Receives Preliminary Approval to Participate in U.S. Treasury&#039;s TARP Program]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306517</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:07:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BOISE, ID--(eMediaWorld - December 22, 2008) -  Idaho Bancorp (OTCBB: IDBC) announced today that
it has received preliminary approval for up to $6.9 million in investment
funds from the U.S. Department of Treasury&#039;s TARP Capital Purchase Program.
The anticipated investment is subject to standard closing conditions and
the execution of definitive agreements.

The TARP Capital Purchase Program is a voluntary program to encourage
qualifying U.S. financial institutions to build capital to increase the
flow of financing to U.S. businesses and consumers and to support the U.S.
economy.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Taiwan Greater China Fund Announces Completion of Semi-Annual Repurchase]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=305460</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:22:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY--(eMediaWorld - December 22, 2008) -  The Taiwan Greater China Fund (NYSE: TFC), a
diversified closed-end registered investment company listed on the New York
Stock Exchange (the &quot;Fund&quot;), announced today that it had completed the
repurchase of shares of its common stock in connection with the semi-annual
repurchase offer that expired on December 12, 2008.  The repurchase price
per share was $3.93 (100% of the net asset value per share as determined at
the close of regular trading on the Taiwan Stock Exchange on December 17,
2008, to which a 2% repurchase fee was applied, such that the net amount
paid was $3.85 per share).
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Taiwan Greater China Fund Announces Completion of Semi-Annual Repurchase]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306518</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:22:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY--(eMediaWorld - December 22, 2008) -  The Taiwan Greater China Fund (NYSE: TFC), a
diversified closed-end registered investment company listed on the New York
Stock Exchange (the &quot;Fund&quot;), announced today that it had completed the
repurchase of shares of its common stock in connection with the semi-annual
repurchase offer that expired on December 12, 2008.  The repurchase price
per share was $3.93 (100% of the net asset value per share as determined at
the close of regular trading on the Taiwan Stock Exchange on December 17,
2008, to which a 2% repurchase fee was applied, such that the net amount
paid was $3.85 per share).
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Ed Butowsky Hosts the New CNN Radio Program, Investment Forensics, Giving You Access to the Best and Brightest Financial Minds From Wall Street to Main Street]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306519</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[DALLAS, TX--(eMediaWorld - December 22, 2008) -  Investment Forensics debuts on CNN radio 1190AM on January 4, 2009 from
10am-11am (CST) live from Dallas, TX. Each Sunday, host Ed Butowsky, managing partner of Chapwood Capital Investment
Management, interviews Wall Street insiders, financial scholars,
professional athletes, Hollywood celebrities and CEOs about issues that
affect your portfolio. Investment Forensics reveals the tricks,
misdirections and head-fakes of the investment advisory world.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Yadkin Valley Financial Corporation Declares Fourth Quarter Dividend of $0.13 per Share]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306520</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ELKIN, NC--(eMediaWorld - December 22, 2008) -  Yadkin Valley Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: YAVY) today announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.13 per share
for the fourth quarter of 2008, payable on January 23, 2009 to shareholders
of record on January 2, 2009. The dividend is the Company&#039;s 84th
consecutive quarterly dividend and represents a yield of 3.42% based on
Yadkin Valley&#039;s closing price of $15.20 as of December 19, 2008.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[1ST Constitution Bancorp Declares a 5 Percent Stock Dividend]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=305225</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:20:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[CRANBURY, NJ--(eMediaWorld - December 22, 2008) -  1ST Constitution Bancorp&#039;s (NASDAQ: FCCY)
Board of Directors has declared a 5 percent stock dividend to shareholders
of record as of the close of business on January 20, 2009, payable February
2, 2009.  Robert F. Mangano, President and Chief Executive Officer, said
that this action represents the seventeenth consecutive year that a stock
dividend has been paid by 1ST Constitution.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[1ST Constitution Bancorp Declares a 5 Percent Stock Dividend]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306521</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:20:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[CRANBURY, NJ--(eMediaWorld - December 22, 2008) -  1ST Constitution Bancorp&#039;s (NASDAQ: FCCY)
Board of Directors has declared a 5 percent stock dividend to shareholders
of record as of the close of business on January 20, 2009, payable February
2, 2009.  Robert F. Mangano, President and Chief Executive Officer, said
that this action represents the seventeenth consecutive year that a stock
dividend has been paid by 1ST Constitution.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[FNB Bancorp Declares First  Quarter Dividend 2009]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=305226</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(eMediaWorld - December 22, 2008) -  FNB Bancorp (OTCBB: FNBG), the
holding company for First National Bank of Northern California, announced
that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of
fifteen cents per share on the Company&#039;s Common Stock totaling
approximately $454,597.65.  The dividend is payable on February 13, 2009 to
shareholders of record as of January 30, 2009.

Cautionary Statement: This release contains certain forward-looking
statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those stated herein.  Management&#039;s
assumptions and projections are based on their anticipation of future
events and actual performance may differ materially from those projected.
Risks and uncertainties which could impact future financial performance
include, among others, (a) competitive pressures in the banking industry;
(b]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[EastBridge Investment Group&#039;s Management Update]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=305227</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[PHOENIX, AZ--(eMediaWorld - December 22, 2008) -  EastBridge Investment Group (EBIG) (OTCBB: EBIG) today announced its auditors from the audit firm, Jewett, Schwartz,
Wolfe &amp; Associates of Hollywood, Florida, are still in China doing their
field audit of EBIG&#039;s client, Wenda and EBIG&#039;s two acquisitions, JiBo and
Aoxing. Of Wenda&#039;s seven  campuses in various cities, the auditors have
finished auditing two of the campuses. They will continue working on the
other five campuses and the two acquisitions until the audits are
completed. Due to the holidays and the Chinese Lunar New Year (in late
January), the work will be slightly delayed.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[SCOR receives Life Retakaful licence]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=305228</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:07:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[PARIS--(eMediaWorld - December 22, 2008) -  Press Release

22 December 2008

For further information please contact:

Beat Werder +33 (0)1 46 98 71 39

Chief Communications Officer

Marco Circelli +44 (0) 207 553 8106

Head of Investor Relations

SCOR receives Life Retakaful licence

The Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority (LOFSA) has granted SCOR
Global Life an operating licence to provide Retakaful reinsurance products
complying with the principles of Islamic finance. LOFSA also granted SCOR
Global Life a conventional (i.e. &quot;Non-Takaful&quot;) Reinsurance licence. The
new entity will be called SCOR Global Life SE, Labuan Branch.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Bridge Bank Establishes the Bridge Bank Chair at San Jose State University]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=306522</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:51:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[SAN JOSE, CA--(eMediaWorld - December 19, 2008) -  Bridge Capital Holdings (NASDAQ: BBNK), whose
subsidiary is Bridge Bank, National Association, today announced that it
has established a term academic chair at the Center for Banking and
Financial Services in the College of Business at San Jose State University.
In recognition for providing resources for the advancement of the
educational mission at San Jose State, the term academic chair has
officially been named the &#039;Bridge Bank Chair for Banking and Financial
Services.&#039;
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[First California Financial Group Receives $25 Million From U.S. Treasury&#039;s Capital Purchase Program]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=304656</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA--(eMediaWorld - December 19, 2008) -  First California Financial Group, Inc.
(NASDAQ: FCAL) today announced that it has received $25 million of new
capital from the U.S. Treasury Department&#039;s Capital Purchase Program
(TARP).  As of September 30, 2008, First California&#039;s total risk-based
capital ratio of 14.01% was already well above the regulatory requirement
of 10.00% for a &quot;well capitalized&quot; institution, but increased pro forma to
16.91% with the additional capital from the TARP.  First California&#039;s
tangible equity to tangible assets ratio has also increased from 7.29% as
of September 30, 2008 to 9.42% pro forma.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Wilde Wealth Management Group, Inc. Selected as One of The Most Dependable(TM) Wealth Managers of the Southwest US]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=304657</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:25:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[SCOTTSDALE, AZ--(eMediaWorld - December 19, 2008) -  Wilde Wealth Management Group, Inc. has been
selected by Goldline Research as one of The Most DependableT Wealth
Managers of the Southwest US. The list of the Most DependableT Wealth
Managers of the Southwest US is scheduled to be published in the December
22nd issue of Forbes.

&quot;We are especially proud of being recognized with this honor in such a
tough year in the markets and economy. We strive to provide our clients
with an exceptional level of customer service and consistent review
processes in good and bad times. We are proud and honored to be recognized
as one of the Most DependableT wealth management firms in the Southwest
United States!&quot; said Trevor Wilde, Managing Director of Wilde Wealth
Management Group, Inc.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Decisions of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on 19 December 2008]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=304658</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:52:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BRUSSELS, BELGIUM--(eMediaWorld - December 19, 2008) -  The Shareholders&#039; Meeting of Fortis SA/NV
has decided to vote on the
proposal to continue the activities of the company in accordance with
article 633 of the Companies Code. The proposal to continue the
activities was approved with a 96.98% majority.

The percentage of share capital represented in Brussels amounted to
22.84%.

A new Shareholders&#039; Meeting will take place at the latest on 12
February 2009.

At this Shareholders&#039; Meeting, the shareholders, in accordance with
the decision of the Brussels Court of appeals of 12 December 2008,
will vote on the decisions taken by the Board of Directors on 3, 5
and 6 October 2008 and on the agreements that have been entered into
in execution of these decisions.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Settlement Quotes, LLC Provides 7 Tips for Consumers Selling Structured Settlement Payments]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=304440</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:33:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Making an Educated Decision Is the Best Decision When Selling the Rights to a Structured Settlement]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Copernican International Premium Dividend Fund distribution speciale de revenus]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=304051</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:04:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BURLINGTON, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - 18 d&eacute;c. 2008) - Capital Copernican Corp. a annonc&eacute; aujourd&#039;hui qu&#039;elle a finalis&eacute; les termes de la distribution sp&eacute;ciale de revenus payable aux porteurs de parts de la Copernican International Premium Dividend Fund (TSX:CPM.UN) (la &quot;fiducie&quot;) inscrits en date du 30 d&eacute;cembre 2008. Ces porteurs de parts ont re&ccedil;u une distribution sp&eacute;ciale de revenus au montant int&eacute;gral de 0.004675 $ par part, en date du 31 d&eacute;cembre 2008. Elle a &eacute;t&eacute; vers&eacute;e sous forme de parts &agrave; tous les porteurs de parts, au lieu d&#039;&ecirc;tre distribu&eacute;e au comptant. Imm&eacute;diatement apr&egrave;s la r&eacute;partition de parts, les parts en circulation ont &eacute;t&eacute; consolid&eacute;es sur la base d&#039;une part pour chaque 1.001067 part &eacute;mise et en circulation de mani&egrave;re &agrave; ce qu&#039;apr&egrave;s cette consolidation, le nombre de parts en circulation soit &eacute;gal au nombre de parts en circulation imm&eacute;diatement avant la distribution. A la suite de la distribution et de la consolidation, les porteurs de parts ont donc le m&ecirc;me nombre de parts qu&#039;]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Copernican International Premium Dividend Fund-Special Income Distribution]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=304052</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:03:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BURLINGTON, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 18, 2008) - Copernican Capital Corp. today announced the finalized special income distribution amount payable to unitholders (&quot;Unitholders&quot;) of record of Copernican International Premium Dividend Fund (TSX:CPM.UN) (the &quot;Trust&quot;) as at December 30, 2008. Unitholders of the Trust will receive a special income distribution on December 31, 2008 in the aggregate amount of $0.004675 per Trust unit (&quot;Unit). Such distribution will be paid by way of Units to all Unitholders, rather than by way of cash. Immediately following the Unit distribution, outstanding Units of the Trust will be consolidated on the basis of approximately one Unit for every 1.001067 Units outstanding, such that after the consolidation of Units, the number of Units outstanding will be equal to the number of Units outstanding immediately prior to the Unit distribution. After the Unit distribution and subsequent consolidation, each Unitholder will hold the same number of Units as they he]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[TSX Venture Exchange Closing Summary for December 18, 2008]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=304053</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 18, 2008) - 

The following report is available on tsx.com at the following web page:

http://www.tsx.com/en/news_events/media_kit.html

Trading was very heavy on a volume of 363.3 million shares worth 41.9 million dollars.

There were 104 advances, 208 declines and 1,247 issues unchanged.

The S&amp;P/TSX Venture Composite Index closed up 700.45 at 700.45

/T/

Most Active Issues by Volume

Volume        Name                               Symbol    Close    Change

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Copernican British Banks Fund distribution sp&eacute;ciale de revenus]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=304054</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:48:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BURLINGTON, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - 18 d&eacute;c. 2008) - Capital Copernican Corp. a annonc&eacute; aujourd&#039;hui qu&#039;elle a finalis&eacute; les termes de la distribution sp&eacute;ciale de revenus payable aux porteurs de parts de la Copernican British Banks Fund (TSX:CBB.UN) (la &quot;fiducie&quot;) inscrits en date du 30 d&eacute;cembre 2008. Ces porteurs de parts ont re&ccedil;u une distribution sp&eacute;ciale de revenus au montant int&eacute;gral de 0,311846 $ par part, en date du 31 d&eacute;cembre 2008. Elle a &eacute;t&eacute; vers&eacute;e sous forme de parts &agrave; tous les porteurs de parts, au lieu d&#039;&ecirc;tre distribu&eacute;e au comptant. Imm&eacute;diatement apr&egrave;s la r&eacute;partition de parts, les parts en circulation ont &eacute;t&eacute; consolid&eacute;es sur la base d&#039;une part pour chaque 1,206521 part &eacute;mise et en circulation de mani&egrave;re &agrave; ce qu&#039;apr&egrave;s cette consolidation, le nombre de parts en circulation soit &eacute;gal au nombre de parts en circulation imm&eacute;diatement avant la distribution. A la suite de la distribution et de la consolidation, les porteurs de parts ont donc le m&ecirc;me nombre de parts qu&#039;avant cette distr]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Copernican British Banks Fund-Special Income Distribution]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=304055</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:47:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BURLINGTON, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 18, 2008) - Copernican Capital Corp. today announced the finalized special income distribution amount payable to unitholders (&quot;Unitholders&quot;) of record of Copernican British Banks Fund (TSX:CBB.UN) (the &quot;Trust&quot;) as at December 30, 2008. Unitholders of the Trust will receive a special income distribution on December 31, 2008 in the aggregate amount of $0.311846 per Trust unit (&quot;Unit&quot;). Such distribution will be paid by way of Units to all Unitholders, rather than by way of cash. Immediately following the Unit distribution, outstanding Units of the Trust will be consolidated on the basis of approximately one Unit for every 1.206521 Units outstanding, such that after the consolidation of Units, the number of Units outstanding will be equal to the number of Units outstanding immediately prior to the Unit distribution. After the Unit distribution and subsequent consolidation, each Unitholder will hold the same number of Units as they held before the no]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Stewardship Financial Corporation Declares Cash Dividend]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=303792</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:55:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[MIDLAND PARK, NJ--(eMediaWorld - December 18, 2008) -  The Board of Directors of Stewardship
Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: SSFN), parent company of Atlantic
Stewardship Bank, has declared a $0.095 per share cash dividend.
Stockholders of record as of January 15, 2009 will be paid the dividend on
February 2, 2009.  This represents a 10.8 percent increase over the first
quarter cash dividend paid in 2008, as adjusted for the 5 percent stock
dividend paid in November 2008.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Banque Nationale Groupe financier pr&eacute;sente ses perspectives &eacute;conomiques et financi&egrave;res, Hiver 2009]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=303793</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:28:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[L&#039;&eacute;conomie mondiale bat en retraite]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[National Bank Financial Group Economic and Financial Outlook, Winter 2009]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=303794</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:27:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[World economy pulling back]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Barclays Canada Announces Revised Estimated Annual Reinvested Distributions for the iShares Funds]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=302964</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:15:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[TORONTO, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 17, 2008) - Barclays Global Investors Canada Limited (iShares)(TSX:XBB) (TSX:XCB) (TSX:XCG) (TSX:XCV) (TSX:XDV) (TSX:XEG) (TSX:XFN) (TSX:XGB) (TSX:XGD) (TSX:XIC) (TSX:XIN) (TSX:XIT) (TSX:XIU) (TSX:XLB) (TSX:XMA) (TSX:XMD) (TSX:XRB) (TSX:XRE) (TSX:XSB) (TSX:XSP) (TSX:XTR) (TSX:XSU) (TSX:XEN) (TSX:XCS) (TSX:XCR) (TSX:XGR) (TSX:XGC) (TSX:XAL) - 

Barclays Global Investors Canada Limited (Barclays Canada) announces today the revised estimated annual reinvested distributions for iShares(R) exchange traded funds. These annual reinvested distributions generally represent realized capital gains within the funds or special dividends received by the funds. The reinvested distributions are not paid in cash but will be reported as taxable distributions and can be used to increase the investor&#039;s adjusted cost base of the fund. These estimated reinvested distributions do not include the fourth quarter cash distributions which are reported in a separate press re]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Barclays Canada Announces Quarterly Cash Distributions for the iShares Funds]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=302965</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:15:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[TORONTO, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 17, 2008) - Barclays Global Investors Canada Limited (iShares) (TSX:XBB)(TSX:XCB)(TSX:XCG)(TSX:XCV)(TSX:XDV)(TSX:XEG)(TSX:XFN)(TSX:XGB)(TSX:XGD)(TSX:XIC)(TSX:XIN)(TSX:XIT)(TSX:XIU)(TSX:XLB)(TSX:XMA)(TSX:XMD)(TSX:XRB)(TSX:XRE)(TSX:XSB)(TSX:XSP)(TSX:XTR)(TSX:XSU)(TSX:XEN)(TSX:XCS)(TSX:XCR)(TSX:XGR)(TSX:XGC)(TSX:XAL) - 

Barclays Global Investors Canada Limited (Barclays Canada) announced today the fourth quarter 2008 cash distributions to holders of iShares(R) Funds. Unitholders of record on December 30, 2008 will receive cash distributions payable on December 31, 2008. The ex-dividend date will be December 24, 2008. These cash distributions do not include the estimated annual reinvested distributions which are reported in a separate press release. Details of the fourth quarter per unit cash distributions are as follows: 

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[VSB Bancorp, Inc. Announces Cash Dividend]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=302966</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:11:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[STATEN ISLAND, NY--(eMediaWorld - December 17, 2008) -  VSB Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSBN)
announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash
dividend of $0.06 per share payable on January 2, 2009 to stockholders of
record on December 17, 2008. Joseph J. LiBassi, Chairman of the Board of
Directors, stated, &quot;We are continuing to pay a quarterly cash dividend to
our stockholders despite the harsh economic climate.&quot;
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Club Vivanet, Inc. Signs Agreement With CCPC to Allow Merchant Processing for International Businesses]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=302672</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:27:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[CAPE CORAL, FL--(eMediaWorld - December 17, 2008) -  CLUB VIVANET, INC. (PINKSHEETS: CVIV) has
executed a Marketing Agreement with Credit Card Processing Consultants
(&quot;CCPC&quot;), Atlanta, Georgia, to market credit and debit card processing to
the enormous number of new and established business entities worldwide
advancing to 24/7 internet based payment solutions.

Club Vivanet now has a significant advantage in growing market share as a
result of CCPC&#039;s international capabilities.  &quot;We now have a complete
payment solution that allows businesses to utilize our debit cards to
provide a convenient global payout solution,&quot; says Don Steinberg, CEO, Club
Vivanet.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[C.A. Bancorp Canadian Realty Finance Corporation (TSX:RF.PR.A)(TSX:RF.A) Announces Distributions]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=302673</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:26:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[TORONTO, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 17, 2008) - C.A. Bancorp Canadian Realty Finance Corporation (the &quot;Corporation&quot;)(TSX:RF.PR.A)(TSX:RF.A) is pleased to announce its fourth-quarter distribution of $0.4219 per Preferred Share, Series 1. The distribution will be paid on January 15, 2009 to Preferred Shareholders of record on December 31, 2008. Trading on the TSX under the symbol RF.PR.A, the Corporation currently has approximately 1,495,000 Preferred Shares, Series 1 outstanding.

The Corporation is also pleased to announce its initial quarterly distribution of $0.19 per Class A Share. The distribution will be paid on January 15, 2009 to Class A Shareholders of record on December 31, 2008. Trading on the TSX under the symbol RF.A, the Corporation currently has approximately 3,623,000 Class A Shares outstanding.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[1st Century Bancshares Announces Nasdaq Listing]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=302674</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Company to Begin Trading on Nasdaq December 18, 2008 Under Symbol FCTY]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Direxion Shares Adds Six New Leveraged ETFs to Existing Fund Line Up]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=302675</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[New Funds Offer Leveraged Exposure to Developed Markets, Emerging Markets and Technology Sector]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Arctic Oil &amp; Gas Corp. (AOAG) Alaska Gold Mines Financing Developments]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=302676</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[LAS VEGAS, NV--(eMediaWorld - December 17, 2008) -  Arctic Oil &amp; Gas Corp. (PINKSHEETS: AOAG), a
resources development company, is pleased to announce the Company&#039;s
precious metals division is securing updated ore reserves reports on its
Alaska gold projects and finalizing summer 2009 mining development plans.

The company is preparing a hybrid private Gold Mine Finance Offering for
qualified banks and institutions.

AOAG plans to offer qualified partners, a potentially more profitable
mechanism than gold exchanges for securing large quantities of gold
bullion, with an effective projected net cost approximately 30% below the
current spot gold price.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Update on financial position following the ruling by the Court of Appeal of Brussels]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=302677</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:37:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BRUSSELS, BELGIUM--(eMediaWorld - December 17, 2008) - 

On 14 November 2008, Fortis published an Interim Management Statement
reflecting the pro forma financial position  of Fortis at the end  of
September after completion  of all the  transactions announced  early
October. On 12 December,  the Court of  Appeal of Brussels  suspended
the decisions taken by the Board of Directors of Fortis on 3, 5 and 6
October and hence the execution  of some of these transactions.  This
necessitated a new update on  the financial position of Fortis.  This
update is entirely  dependent on whether  or not the  ruling will  be
successfully challenged.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Change of Manager of frontierAlt Opportunistic Global Fund]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=302380</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:53:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[TORONTO, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 16, 2008) - 

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES.

Ark Fund Management Ltd. (&quot;Ark&quot;) is pleased to announce that the proposed change in trustee and manager of the frontierAlt Opportunistic Global Fund (the &quot;Fund&quot;) from frontierAlt Funds Management Limited to Ark has received all necessary unitholder and regulatory approvals and is now complete.

The name of the Fund has been changed to &quot;Ark NorthRoad Global Fund&quot; and the portfolio advisor of the Fund will be changed to NorthRoad Capital Management LLC on or about February 28, 2009, subject to the receipt of all required regulatory approvals. Units of the Fund are now offered for sale to investors pursuant to a simplified prospectus and annual information form dated December 10, 2008, copies of which are available by contacting Ark as indicated below.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[National New Markets Fund Closes $9 Million Investment With U.S. Bank for Redevelopment in San Francisco&#039;s Mission District]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=302381</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:34:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Federal Tax Credit Financing Will Support $9.5 Million Plaza Adelante Project in Underserved and Economically Distressed Community]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[W. P. Carey &amp; Co. LLC Announces New $10 Million Share Repurchase Program]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=301857</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:15:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY--(eMediaWorld - December 16, 2008) -  Investment firm W. P. Carey &amp; Co. LLC (NYSE: WPC) announced today that the Executive Committee of its Board of Directors
has approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of
up to $10 million of the Company&#039;s outstanding shares from December 16,
2008 through March 4, 2009 or the date that the maximum amount has been
purchased, if earlier. It is intended that the shares will be purchased
through a Rule 10b5-1 plan. Under the Company&#039;s previous share repurchase
plan, which ran through December 15, 2008, it purchased approximately $8.5
million of its outstanding shares.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[American Indian College Fund Selects DonorFirst(TM) Platform]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=300857</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY--(eMediaWorld - December 15, 2008) -  Crown Philanthropic Solutions, LLC
(www.crownps.com), an innovative provider of philanthropic technology for
the financial services and nonprofit industries, announced today that the
American Indian College Fund (the Fund) has selected them to provide the
Web-based administrative platform for their new Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
initiative.

&quot;We are excited to be selected by the American Indian College Fund to
support their new initiative, and consider it a tribute to our corporate
vision of enhanced donor engagement and collaboration that an organization
with their unique mission and commitment has elected to provide our program
to their donors,&quot; said William Hewitt, Crown Philanthropic Solutions&#039;
National Marketing Director. Distributing approximately 5,000 scholarships
each year and supported by more than 22,000 donors, The American Indian
College Fund transforms Indian higher education by cre]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[1st Century Bancshares Announces Participation in FDIC&#039;s Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=300858</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[LOS ANGELES, CA--(eMediaWorld - December 15, 2008) -  1st Century Bancshares, Inc. (OTCBB: FCTY)
(&quot;Company&quot;), the holding company of 1st Century Bank, N.A. (&quot;Bank&quot;), today
announced the Bank&#039;s participation in the Transaction Account Guarantee
Program (TAGP) component of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation&#039;s
(FDIC) Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program.

Under the TAGP, the FDIC will provide deposit insurance coverage for the
full amount in all of the Bank&#039;s customers&#039;
non-interest bearing deposit accounts through December 31, 2009.  This
includes traditional non-interest bearing checking accounts and certain
types of attorney trust accounts, as well as negotiable order of withdrawal
(NOW) accounts with interest rates of 0.50 percent or less.  The TAGP
insurance coverage is in addition to the increased coverage provided by the
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which temporarily raises the
basic FDIC d]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[IBM Signs Five-Year IT Outsourcing Agreement With Madhav Nagrik Sahakari Bank in India]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=300859</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Deal Aims to Support Expansion Plans as Well as Launch of Internet and Mobile Banking]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Fortis statement on the ruling by the Court of Appeal in Brussels]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=300860</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:35:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BRUSSELS, BELGIUM--(eMediaWorld - December 15, 2008) - 

Fortis notes the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Brussels on 12
December 2008 and is currently studying the implications for its
legal position.

The ruling means in the first instance that the closing of the
transaction with BNP Paribas, which was scheduled for the beginning
of this week, will now be postponed.

As a result of the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Fortis will remain
the 100% owner of Fortis Insurance Belgium at least temporarily. The
operations in question will be added to the pro forma activities of
Fortis as specified in the press releases of 14 October and 14
November 2008. The 66% interest in a Structured Credit Portfolio
entity to be created forms part of the agreement with BNP Paribas and
the Belgian state and will therefore not be included in the assets of
Fortis for as long as that agreement is suspended.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[PROM&Eacute;RICA BANK Announces Decision to Not Participate in TARP]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=300649</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:13:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[LOS ANGELES, CA--(eMediaWorld - December 12, 2008) -  PROM&Eacute;RICA BANK (OTCBB: PMRA) reported today
that its Board of Directors and Executive Management have decided not to
apply for funds available through the U.S. Department of the Treasury&#039;s
Capital Purchase Program, part of the federal government&#039;s Troubled Assets
Relief Program (TARP).

Scott Montgomery, Interim CEO, stated, &quot;After a careful examination of
TARP&#039;s Capital Purchase Program by our Board of Directors and Executive
Management, we determined that it is not in the best interest of our
shareholders to participate.  PROM&Eacute;RICA BANK is extremely well capitalized
with a Total Risk-based capital ratio almost four times higher than
required to meet the requirements of a &#039;Well Capitalized&#039; bank.  The TARP
Capital Purchase Program would result in the U.S. Treasury purchasing up to
$1.7 million of the Bank&#039;s preferred stock that would require the Bank to
p]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Empyrean Holdings, Inc. Secures $10 Million Equity Line of Credit With Dutchess Private Equities Fund, Ltd.]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=299878</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[HOUSTON, TX--(eMediaWorld - December 12, 2008) -  Empyrean Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: EMPYE) is
pleased to announce that it has finalized an agreement with Dutchess
Private Equities Fund, Ltd. for up to $10,000,000 financing through an
Equity Line of Credit. In accordance with the terms of the Agreement,
Dutchess has committed to purchase up to $10,000,000 of the Company&#039;s
common stock over the course of 36 months. The funds shall become available
to Empyrean at the option and timing determined best by the company once
the Company&#039;s registration statement on Form S-1 to register the shares for
the Equity Line is deemed effective by the SEC.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[SCTN Board of Directors Approves Corporate Stock Repurchase Program]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=299879</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:17:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[LAS VEGAS, NV--(eMediaWorld - December 12, 2008) -  Smart Chip Technologies (PINKSHEETS: SCTN), a
leading technology provider of incentives solutions, today announced that
its Board of Directors have approved the implementation of SCTN&#039;s corporate
stock repurchase plan. The plan is effective immediately and will last
until March 1, 2009 at which time the stock repurchase results will be
announced.

Subject to applicable rules and regulations, the shares may be purchased
from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated
transactions. Such purchases will be at times and in amounts as SCTN deems
appropriate, based on factors such as market conditions, legal requirements
and other business considerations.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[SEK finances for important infrastructure project for Skanska]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=299881</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:53:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN--(eMediaWorld - December 12, 2008) - 

Today SEK has signed a loan agreement with Skanska co-owned GTC,
Gdansk Transport Company S.A.  The loan totals EUR 345 million and is
provided for Phase 2 of the Polish A1 motorway. A major part of the
construction will be performed by Skanska.

SEK has today, together with the Nordic Investment Bank, NIB, and the
EuropeanInvestment Bank, EIB, signed a loan agreement with GTC, a
company co-owned by Swedish Skanska Infrastructure Development AB.
The entire financing totals EUR 1,070 million, of which SEK&#039;s part is
EUR 345 million, with a 28 year-maturity.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Interface Financial Group Announces Small Businesses Can Avoid Cash Flow Crunch During the Holidays via Factoring]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=299882</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[With No Obligations, Invoice Factoring Is Not a Loan so There Are No Upfront Fees, No Co-Signers Required, and No Accounts to Open, so Small Businesses Can Benefit by Receiving Working Capital During Tough Economic Times]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Industry Leaders Address the Year of Crisis and Look Ahead to 2009 and Beyond]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=299469</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:58:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Eugene Ludwig, CEO of Promontory, James Rohr, Chairman and CEO of The PNC Financial Services Group, Mark Zandi, Chief Economist and Cofounder of Moody&#039;s Economy.com, and SEC Chairman Christopher Cox Are Among the Industry Leaders Interviewed in This Month&#039;s Issue of The RMA Journal]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[H&amp;R Block: Remember Unemployment Benefits Count as Taxable Income]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=299010</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Act Now to Ensure No Surprises Come Tax Time]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[DineEquity, Inc. Announces Suspension of Common Dividend]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=299011</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Cash to Be Used to Retire Company&#039;s Consolidated Funded Debt]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Ellegrove Capital Ltd.: Corporate Update]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=297931</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:36:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ST. MICHAEL, BARBADOS--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 9, 2008) - Ellegrove Capital Ltd. (&quot;Ellegrove&quot;), a Barbados resident company, through its joint actor, announces that it has acquired 27,066,120 common shares, at a deemed price of C$0.15 per share, of Fortress Minerals Corp. (&quot;Fortress&quot;) pursuant to a loan arrangement.

These shares are being held in escrow and have no voting rights until disinterested shareholder approval is obtained to the shares for debt arrangement, which is expected to be sought in April 2009.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[TSX Venture Exchange Closing Summary for December 9, 2008]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=297932</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:04:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 9, 2008) - 

The following report is available on tsx.com at the following web page:

http://www.tsx.com/en/news_events/media_kit.html

Trading was very heavy on a volume of 153.9 million shares worth 24.8 million dollars.

There were 261 advances, 410 declines and 706 issues unchanged.

The S&amp;P/TSX Venture Composite Index closed down 12.01 at 686.17

/T/

Most Active Issues by Volume

Volume        Name                               Symbol    Close    Change

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Healthcare M&amp;A Rides the Credit Crunch, More at iiBIG Forum]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296946</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:15:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY--(eMediaWorld - December 9, 2008) -  iiBIG&#039;s upcoming Investment and M&amp;A
Opportunities in Healthcare, scheduled for January 27-28, 2009 at the
Nashville Convention Center in Tennessee, features over 40 executive
leaders in healthcare and finance, such as Healthways, Centers for Medicaid
&amp; Medicare Services, National Renal Alliance, CCMP Capital Advisors,
General Electric, The Carlyle Group, UBS, Fortress Investment Group, and
much more.

As 2008 comes to a close and despite the crisis that plagued the capital
markets, deal value and activity in the healthcare markets continues to
increase. The historically low dollar, coupled with downward pressure on
valuations, has created many attractive opportunities in the U.S. market.
The three sectors with the highest deal value in the Q3:08:
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[MarketResearch.com Announces Distribution of Coyne Partnership Research]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296947</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:56:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY--(eMediaWorld - December 9, 2008) -  As the leading distributor of market
intelligence, MarketResearch.com is pleased to announce a business
partnership with Coyne Partnership which allows for the marketing and
distribution of Coyne Partnership&#039;s proprietary market analyses through the
MarketResearch.com website.

The new relationship offers business professionals throughout the world
easy access to complete product descriptions and tables of contents from
research publications authored by Coyne Partnership. At the same time,
visitors to the MarketResearch.com website have the ability to purchase the
material directly through MarketResearch.com&#039;s secure server.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Archer Technologies Eases the Burden of Red Flag Compliance]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296948</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Through Policy Management, Employee Training, Risk Assessment and Incident Tracking, Companies Are Fighting Identity Theft Using Archer&#039;s Best-in-Class Enterprise GRC Solutions]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Actimize Expands IBM Partnership; Embeds Technology to Fight Fraud and Financial Crime]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296950</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Actimize Enterprise Risk Platform to Include IBM Name Matching Analytics Technology]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[bnetTV.com&#039;s 4th Quarter Is Yielding Successful Results]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296952</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY--(eMediaWorld - December 9, 2008) -  bnetTV.com, Inc. (www.bnettv.com), a
subsidiary of Winmax Trading Group, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: WNMX), predicts that
the 4th quarter will yield successful results with the expansion of
industry traction through increased event coverage, original programming,
partnerships and new revenue streams.   This year bnetTV.com experienced
record growth and is preparing for an even bigger year for 2009.  This fall
marked the extension of bnetTV&#039;s global footprint into the Asian Market
with the coverage of the GSMA Mobile Asia
Congress in Macao (China) where the &quot;on-the-ground&quot; reporting teams
conducted approximately 75 interviews with wireless industry leaders and
Mobile Innovation Award winners.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Selling Source, LLC Names Michael Pooley EVP of Business Development at DataX, Ltd.]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296953</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:57:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[LAS VEGAS, NV--(eMediaWorld - December 9, 2008) -  Selling Source, LLC Chief
Executive Officer Derek LaFavor announced today that Michael Pooley has
joined DataX, Ltd., as executive vice president of business development.

A leading online provider of credit reporting and data services,  DataX Ltd., a Selling Source company,
collects and provides consumer data verification and authentication on
borrowers seeking
micro-loans and other specialty finance services. DataX&#039;s FCRA-compliant
credit reporting agency features Transaction Based DecisioningT,
allowing lenders to see each consumer&#039;s daily funding and detailed payment
activities in near real-time to reduce defaults by predicting loan
performance.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Barclays Global Investors Announces Name Change of iShares Lehman Exchange Traded Funds]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296955</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(eMediaWorld - December 9, 2008) -  Barclays Global Investors (BGI) announced
the change in name of 14 iShares exchange traded funds to reflect the name
change of their respective indexes (formerly Lehman indexes) effective
yesterday.  Barclays Capital recently announced the indexes&#039; name changes
in order to retire references to Lehman indexes.  No changes are being made
to the funds&#039; investment objectives, tickers or respective index
methodologies in connection with these name changes.  No shareholder action
is required.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Business update]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296956</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:59:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[CAYMAN ISLANDS--(eMediaWorld - December 9, 2008) - 


Effective 2 December 2008, in agreement with the Rating Agencies and
the Security Trustee, Theta Corporation has amended its NCO and market
risk sensitivity tests such that a failure to remedy a breach of these
within the appropriate cure period will result in the company entering
Restricted Operating Mode rather than resulting in an Automatic
Enforcement Event.

                    This information is provided by RNS
          The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END


]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Rahaxi Inc. Reports Consistent Growth in Its Core Transaction and Processing and Related Revenue]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296958</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Current Quarter Profit Margins on Sales Have Increased to a Record 58%]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Complement to the press release dated 8 December (Fortis Finance bondholders can opt for early redemption)]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296959</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:40:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BRUSSELS, BELGIUM--(eMediaWorld - December 9, 2008) - 

As stated before, Fortis reconfirms that sufficient means are made
available in the Group to service all debt.

The financial situation as communicated in the press release of 14
November 2008, will not be materially impacted even in case of
substantial reimbursements.










Fortis holding (Fortis SA/NV and Fortis N.V.) will, after the
conclusion of the deal with BNP Paribas, include only (1)
international insurance activities, (2) a 66% stake in a structured
credit portfolio entity and (3) financial assets and liabilities of
various financing vehicles.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Phase 2 International Announces Move of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Hosting to IBM Servers]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296397</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:40:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[HONOLULU, HI--(eMediaWorld - December 8, 2008) -  Phase 2 International, the world&#039;s leading
provider of Software as a Service (SaaS), announced that it has chosen new,
high-powered IBM servers to maximize its Microsoft
Dynamics CRM hosting capacity while reducing energy use by more than
65%.

Based in Honolulu, Phase 2 specializes in IT solutions for small and
medium-sized companies, following the Software as a Service &quot;leave the
driving to us&quot; model.  SaaS gives small businesses a big-business
competitive edge in computer technology with the ability to instantly
access high tech business applications using the Internet.  For a small
monthly fee, businesses can utilize Phase 2&#039;s technology and expertise to
access high-end IT business applications such as hosted
Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Customer Relationship Management, Microsoft
Team Fou]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[BFC Financial Corporation Announces New Ticker Symbol for Its Class A Common Stock]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296020</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:29:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[FORT LAUDERDALE, FL--(eMediaWorld - December 8, 2008) -  BFC Financial Corporation (NYSE: BFF)
(PINKSHEETS: BFCF) announced today that, beginning with the opening of the
market on Tuesday, December 9, 2008, the ticker symbol for BFC&#039;s Class A
Common Stock will change to &quot;BFCF.&quot;  The change in ticker symbol relates to
the previously announced move of BFC&#039;s Class A Common Stock to the OTC Pink
Sheets.  BFC&#039;s Class A Common Stock previously traded on the NYSE Arca
under the trading symbol &quot;BFF.&quot;
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[TSX Venture Exchange Closing Summary for December 8, 2008]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296022</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:12:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 8, 2008) - 

The following report is available on tsx.com at the following web page:

http://www.tsx.com/en/news_events/media_kit.html

Trading was very heavy on a volume of 171.3 million shares worth 22.8 million dollars.

There were 342 advances, 287 declines and 625 issues unchanged.

The S&amp;P/TSX Venture Composite Index closed up 13.30 at 697.61

/T/

Most Active Issues by Volume

Volume      Name                                   Symbol    Close   Change

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Royal Bank of Canada Announces Common Share Offering]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296023</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:48:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[TORONTO, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 8, 2008) - 

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S.

Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY)(NYSE:RY) today announced it has entered into an underwriting agreement with a syndicate of underwriters for the sale of 56,750,000 common shares at $35.25 per share for total gross proceeds of $2.0 billion. The offering is expected to close on December 22, 2008.

The bank has also granted to the underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase, on the same terms, up to a further 8,512,500 common shares. The option is exercisable, in whole or in part, up to 30 days after the closing. The maximum gross proceeds raised under the offering will be $2.3 billion if the option is exercised in full.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. Announces That Dr. Fred H. Helpenstell Is Retiring From the Board of Directors]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296025</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NAMPA, ID--(eMediaWorld - December 8, 2008) -  Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;)
(NASDAQ: HOME), the parent company of Home Federal Bank (the &quot;Bank&quot;), today
announced that Fred H. Helpenstell will not stand for re-election as a
director of the Company or the Bank at their respective annual meetings of
stockholders and will retire from service at the conclusion of the
Company&#039;s annual meeting.  The Nominating Committee of the Company&#039;s Board
of Directors has identified and unanimously recommended Senator Brad J.
Little to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Helpenstell&#039;s resignation and to
stand for election for a three year term as a director of the Company at
its annual meeting. Mr. Little also will stand for election at the Bank&#039;s
annual meeting. The Company&#039;s Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held
on Friday, January 16, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. at the Nampa Civic Center located
at 311 3rd Street South, Nampa, Idah]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Park Lawn Income Trust Announces Normal Course Issuer Bid]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296027</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:56:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[TORONTO, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 8, 2008) - Park Lawn Income Trust (the &quot;Fund&quot;) (TSX VENTURE:PLC.UN) announced today that it has received regulatory approval to make a normal course issuer bid through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Fund is executing a normal course issuer bid at this time as its trustees and management believe that the Fund&#039;s value is not adequately reflected in its current price.
 
Under the normal course issuer bid, the Fund will purchase up to 172,033 units representing up to 5% of the 3,440,666 units currently issued and outstanding. The normal course issuer bid is expected to commence on or about December 10, 2008 and will not extend beyond December 9, 2009. The purchase and payment for the units of the Fund will be made in accordance with the requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange. Any purchases will be made by the Fund at the prevailing market prices of the units at the time of purchase. All units purchased will be cancelled. The actual ]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[LSB Corporation Receives Preliminary Approval to Participate in U.S. Treasury&#039;s Capital Purchase Program]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296028</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NORTH ANDOVER, MA--(eMediaWorld - December 8, 2008) -  LSB Corporation (NASDAQ: LSBX) (the
&quot;Company&quot;), the parent company of River Bank (the &quot;Bank&quot;), today announced
that it has received preliminary approval from the U.S. Treasury Department
to participate in the Treasury&#039;s Capital Purchase Program, a voluntary
program available to healthy financial institutions that is designed to
increase the flow of financing to business and consumers and to support the
U.S. economy.  The Treasury intends to invest approximately $15 million in
LSB Corporation in the form of preferred stock and warrants to purchase
common stock.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Shares of BC Advantage Portfolio Company Rise 224% on Positive Phase II Data]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296029</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:57:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[OncoGenex announces significant survival advantage in Phase II metastatic prostate cancer trial]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Fortis Finance Bondholders Can Opt for Early Redemption]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=296031</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:39:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BRUSSEL, BELGIUM--(eMediaWorld - December 8, 2008) -  Further to information provided in the context of the general
shareholders meeting held in Brussels on 2 December, Fortis wishes to
clarify the position of holders of bonds issued by Fortis Finance
N.V. under its Euro Medium Term Note Program.

Fortis confirms that, under the terms of the bonds and given the
recent structural changes to the Fortis group, holders of Fortis
Finance bonds have the opportunity to demand the early redemption of
their claim in accordance with Conditions 7(a)(vii) and 7(a)(ix) of
the Terms and Conditions. For all bonds other than credit-linked
notes, such redemption will proceed at nominal amount increased with
accrued interest until the date of effective payment.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[W. P. Carey &amp; Co. LLC Doubles Staffing of Broker-Dealer Affiliate&#039;s Sales Team and Appoints Trisha A. Miller and C. Jay Steigerwald III Senior Vice Presidents of Carey Financial, LLC]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=295090</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:15:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY--(eMediaWorld - December 8, 2008) -  Investment firm W. P. Carey &amp; Co. LLC (NYSE: WPC) announced today that Carey Financial, LLC, the Company&#039;s broker-dealer
affiliate responsible for raising capital for its Corporate Property
Associates (CPA&reg;) series of non-traded real estate investment trusts, has
doubled the size of its sales team in the last three months and appointed
Trisha A. Miller Senior Vice President National Sales Manager and C. Jay
Steigerwald III Senior Vice President National Accounts.  Ms. Miller and
Mr. Steigerwald will report directly to Mark Goldberg, President of Carey
Financial, LLC.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Appian Anywhere Delivers Secure Single Sign-On via SAML]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=295092</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:56:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Industry&#039;s Only Full-Featured SaaS BPM Suite Enhances Security and Administration Through Open, Interoperable Standard]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ADSI Expects Increased Crew Protection Kit Orders From JCB Totaling More Than $10 Million Thru 2010]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=295093</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[HICKSVILLE, NY--(eMediaWorld - December 8, 2008) -  American Defense Systems, Inc. (ADSI) (AMEX: EAG), a leading provider of advanced transparent and opaque armor,
architectural hardening and security products for Defense and Homeland
Security, reported an expected increase in armored Crew Protection Kit
(CPK) orders from JCB Construction Equipment, the world&#039;s largest
privately-owned producer of construction machinery, in fulfillment of a
major U.S. Army contract announced by JCB.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ORX Consortium Deploys IBM and OpenPages to Help Transform Operational Risk Analysis]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=295095</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ZURICH, SWITZERLAND--(eMediaWorld - December 8, 2008) -  The Operational Riskdata eXchange Association
(ORX), the world&#039;s leading operational risk loss data consortium for the
financial services industry, today announced that it has selected IBM
(NYSE: IBM) and OpenPages to help
transform and web-enable its operational risk loss data capture and
analytic capabilities.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Principal Capital Group, Inc. Signs Integrity Funding Trust I as a New Structuring Client]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=295096</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BEVERLY HILLS, CA--(eMediaWorld - December 8, 2008) -  Management of Principal Capital Group,
Inc. (OTCBB: PCGI) announced today the addition of Integrity Funding Trust
I to its growing list of emerging market companies either requiring next
stage capital or entities being structured under specific state rules as
single purpose business trust. Under the terms of the agreement, Principal
Capital Group, Inc. will be responsible for the preparation of preliminary
funding documents in relation to the issuance of $2,500,000,000.00 in
capital securities.  The securities will be sold in $25,000,000.00 tranches
and carry a 10 year term. They are also responsible for arranging funding
agreements from AAA insurance companies, to purchase guaranteed insurance
contracts (GIC) or funding certificates from AAA rated FDIC insured
financial institutions to purchase guaranteed investment certificate(s) /
contracts (GIC). PCGI will also be]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Venpar Private Equity Calms the Storm!]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=295098</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 8, 2008) - In these turbulent times many would believe that now is not the time to invest, Venture Alliance Partners Venpar recently carried out a survey across Europe targeting senior managers of leading European companies. The results were quite staggering but proved the current strength of the Private Equity Venture Capital Markets. Venpar Venture Alliance Partners discovered through the survey that 76% of people questioned said that they would not at the moment invest in the stock markets however they would consider investing in new start companies, preferably in the high tech market and even more interestingly e-commerce based businesses.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[S Split Corp. Declares Monthly Distribution]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=293286</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:03:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[TORONTO, ONTARIO--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 4, 2008) - S Split Corp. (the &quot;Fund&quot;)(TSX:SBN)(TSX:SBN.PR.A), has declared its monthly distribution of $0.04375 on each of its Preferred Shares and $0.04020 on each of its Class A shares, payable December 31, 2008 to shareholders of record as of December 15, 2008. To the extent that any portion of the distributions are ordinary taxable dividends and not capital gains dividends, they will be eligible dividends.

The Fund is a mutual fund corporation which invests in a portfolio of common shares of The Bank of Nova Scotia (&quot;BNS Shares&quot;). Investors in the Fund&#039;s Class A Shares will receive leveraged exposure to the performance of The Bank of Nova Scotia, including increases or decreases in the value of BNS Shares and increases or decreases in the dividends paid on BNS Shares. Investors in the Fund&#039;s Preferred Shares will receive monthly distributions on a fixed, cumulative and preferential basis.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Liberty All-Star(R) Growth Fund, Inc. November 2008 Monthly Update]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=293287</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:40:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[BOSTON, MA--(eMediaWorld - December 4, 2008) -  Below is the November 2008 Monthly Update for
the Liberty All-Star&reg; Growth Fund, Inc. (NYSE: ASG)


                 November 2008 Monthly Update


Performance                           NAV     Market Price     Discount
-----------                          -----    ------------    ----------
    Beginning of month value          $3.54        $2.99          15.5%
    Distributions                       -            -
    End of month value                $3.24        $2.45          24.4%
    Performance for month             (8.5%)      (18.1%)
    Performance year-to-date         (41.9%)      (55.4%)

   For daily data visit the Fund&#039;s website at www.all-starfunds.com or call
   1-800-241-1850.  The Fund&#039;s daily NAV is also available by using the
   symbol XASGX.  Past performance cannot predict future results.
----------]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New York Sales Executive Joins CSC Trust Company of Delaware]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=292521</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Kevin V. Fisher Hired to Expand Service Offerings, Lead Business Development]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Keeping Up With Rising Food and Energy Costs Tops List of Financial Concerns for Americans, According to American Pulse(TM)]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=292522</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:27:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Majority of Americans Having Difficulties Paying Bills]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Accounting Management Solutions Names Rich Silton to Advisory Board]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=292523</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[WALTHAM, MA--(eMediaWorld - December 4, 2008) -  Accounting Management Solutions, Inc. (AMS), a
leading provider of accounting, financial management, and consulting
services to private, public, and nonprofit organizations, today announced
the appointment of Rich Silton, president and chief operating officer of
Access TCA, Inc., to its Advisory Board.

&quot;Rich brings deep and broad business experience to our Advisory Board, and
we look forward to working with him as we continue our rapid growth
throughout New England and the New York metro area,&quot; said AMS President Jim
Bourdon.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Invesco PowerShares Announces Zero Capital Gains Distributions for 2008 on 119 of 120 Funds]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=292524</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:30:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[CHICAGO, IL--(eMediaWorld - December 4, 2008) -  Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC, a
leading provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), today announced that it
expects to pay zero capital gains distributions for 119 of its 120 equity
and fixed-income exchange-traded funds for 2008.

To date, Invesco PowerShares has never made a capital gain distribution to
shareholders of its equity or fixed-income based ETF portfolios. Only one
PowerShares ETF -- PowerShares S&amp;P 500 BuyWrite Portfolio (NYSE: PBP),
which was named &quot;Most Innovative New ETF&quot; in 2007 -- is estimated to
realize a small capital gains distribution (see table below), due largely
in part to the unique underlying index methodology which writes covered
calls on the S&amp;P 500 Index.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Oak Valley Bancorp Selected to Participate in U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=292525</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[OAKDALE, CA--(eMediaWorld - December 4, 2008) -  Oak Valley Bancorp (OTCBB: OVLY), the bank
holding company for Oak Valley Community Bank, announced today that they
have received preliminary approval from the Treasury Department for a $13.5
million investment under the government&#039;s direct investment program for
U.S. banks.  This voluntary program is available to healthy financial
institutions and will allow Oak Valley Bancorp to increase credit
availability to local, creditworthy, businesses and consumers.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Tri-Star Holdings, Inc. Announces Discussions of Merger]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=292526</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:55:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[FT. LAUDERDALE, FL--(eMediaWorld - December 4, 2008) -  Tri-Star Holdings, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: TSHL) announced the company has entered discussions with UC Hub Group, Inc.
(OTCBB: UCHBE) regarding a potential merger/acquisition. Tri-Star
management stated it initiated negotiations with the bulletin board traded
company with goals of enhanced transparency and shareholder value, access
to human resources and infrastructure, and to facilitate future
acquisitions for the company&#039;s operating divisions.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Moody&#039;s upgrades SCOR to &#039;A2&#039;]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=292527</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:42:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[PARIS--(eMediaWorld - December 4, 2008) -  Press Release

04 December 2008

For further information, please contact:

Beat Werder +33 (0)1 46 98 71 39

Chief Communications Officer

Marco Circelli +44 (0) 207 553 8106

Head of Investor Relations

Moody&#039;s upgrades SCOR to &quot;A2&quot;

Moody&#039;s Investors Service announced today that it had upgraded the
insurance financial strength rating (IFSR) of SCOR and various subsidiaries
to A2 from A3, and SCOR&#039;s subordinated debt to Baa1 from Baa2. All ratings
have a stable outlook.
]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[La Banque Nationale d&eacute;clare des dividendes]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=292528</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:09:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(eMediaWorld - 4 d&eacute;c. 2008) - Le Conseil d&#039;administration de la Banque Nationale du Canada (TSX:NA) d&eacute;clare aujourd&#039;hui un dividende de 0,62 $ par action ordinaire pour le trimestre se terminant le 31 janvier 2009, payable le 1er f&eacute;vrier 2009 aux porteurs d&#039;actions ordinaires inscrits au registre le 2 janvier 2009.

Le Conseil d&eacute;clare &eacute;galement des dividendes trimestriels pour les s&eacute;ries d&#039;actions privil&eacute;gi&eacute;es de premier rang, tous payables le 15 f&eacute;vrier 2009 aux porteurs inscrits au registre le 9 janvier 2009.

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[National Bank Releases its Fourth Quarter 2008 Results]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=292529</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:08:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(eMediaWorld - Dec. 4, 2008) - National Bank Financial Group (TSX:NA)

The financial information in this press release is based on the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year ended October 31 2008. Additional information about National Bank of Canada, including the Annual Information Form, can be obtained from the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and the Bank&#039;s website at www.nbc.ca.

Highlights for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2008:

]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[La Banque Nationale divulgue ses r&eacute;sultats du quatri&egrave;me trimestre 2008]]></title>
			<link>http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=292530</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:08:00 EST</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(eMediaWorld - 4 d&eacute;c. 2008) - Banque Nationale Groupe Financier (TSX:NA)

L&#039;information financi&egrave;re fournie dans le pr&eacute;sent communiqu&eacute; est bas&eacute;e sur les &eacute;tats financiers consolid&eacute;s interm&eacute;diaires non v&eacute;rifi&eacute;s pour le quatri&egrave;me trimestre et l&#039;exercice termin&eacute; le 31 octobre 2008. On peut obtenir de l&#039;information additionnelle sur la Banque Nationale du Canada, y compris la notice annuelle, dans le site web de SEDAR : www.sedar.com et dans celui de la Banque : www.bnc.ca. Les symboles M$ et G$ d&eacute;signent respectivement les millions et les