The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

By Jesse J. Holland / The Associated Press Neil Gaiman is one of the world’s beloved writers and could probably work on any project he wants. And what he wanted to do is go back to his roots in the comic-book world.

By Luis Leoncio The 6-percent economic growth in the third quarter that the gov­ernment trumpeted as “among the fastest in Asia” failed to impress the market, which was, in fact, disappoint­ed by the lower-than-expected figure.

We can only commiserate with the campaign strategists of former Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, who is now the Liberal Party standard-bearer.

The technology used by Filipino contractors in lifting the whole bridge as part of an effort to reha­bilitate the multimillion-peso historic Ayala Bridge in San Miguel, Manila only proved that a gigantic project such as this can be achieved at a frac­tion of a cost.

By Riza Lozada The approval of next year’s budget before the end of the year has become a certainty, with the Senate practically railroading it—members of the chamber approved the budget proposal on second and third readings on the same day—despite many questions raised by several experts and even some senators themselves.

The tax-cut measure pending in the Congress is dead in the water, for all intents and purposes.

The Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City, is getting another facelift to make it a garden city, based on a new redevelopment plan for the business district.

AC Energy Holdings Inc., the power unit of Ayala Corp., has scrapped plans to put up a solar project in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur province, following a stockholders’ vote.

Charlotte, North Carolina—LeBron James had 25 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 95-90 victory against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday (Saturday in Manila).

By Leanne Italie / The Associated Press New York—Taking on a cat is one thing; “catifying” your home to rise to true Cat Person status is another.