Credit Card Now

May 25 () – New Zealand shares fell, as Telecom Corp. sank to a new two-decade low, leading the local bourse lower as resurgent fears about Europe’s debt crisis and signs of increased tensions on the Korean peninsula sapped investors’ risk appetite.

The NZX 50 Index fell 57.39, or 1.9%, to 3003.82, the lowest close since late July. Within the index, 35 stocks fell, just two rose and 13 were unchanged. Turnover was $94.7 million.

Shares tumbled again across Asia, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index dropping 3.3% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng down 2.4% as news of wobbly Spanish banks stoked fears of the region’s debt woes and after reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il prepped his military to be battle ready last week. South Korea

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Longtime readers know that I travel often and have encountered many issues with credit cards and problems with money abroad. Most European countries now use chip-and-PIN credit cards, which involve an extra layer of security. They are processed differently and use different card readers.

While many institutions in Europe are still set up to accept payments from both old-school magnetic swipe cards and new chip-and-PIN cards, some don’t. For example, two summers ago in Paris, I found that their automated subway ticket machines only accept euro coins or chip-and-PIN credit cards.

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Nucor Corp. said Thursday its first-quarter earnings jumped sharply as consumers bought more durable products like appliances and automobiles, but the construction businesses remained challenging.

For the quarter that ended April 3, Nucor said it reversed a loss and posted net income of $31 million, or 10 cents a share. A year ago, Nucor had a net loss of $189.6 million, or 60 cents per share. Nucor operates a steel mill on Presidents Island.

BancorpSouth earnings

BancorpSouth achieved net income of $8.4 million during the first quarter that ended March 31, the Tupelo-based bank reported Thursday.

“BancorpSouth has operated effectively in a stressful economic environment that has continued to challenge the financial services industry,” chairman and CEO Aubrey Patterson said.

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Photo by Karen Pulfer Focht // Buy this photo

New urbanism calls for businesses — not their parking lots — to be at sidewalks, which encourages pedestrian traffic and a neighborhood feel. At Cafe Eclectic in Midtown, Kathy Barker and a friend take advantage of sidewalk seating for alfresco dining.

The list of things we can use to achieve a healthy weight includes the usual: fruits, vegetables, portion control, exercise.

Now to the list add streets, the kind that invite walking and biking.

Photo by Karen Pulfer Focht
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Patrons walk and bike to Cafe Eclectic from its surrounding Midtown neighborhood in an example of new urbanism principles at work.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared Smith & Nephew to market a 30-year artificial knee.

The Memphis Orthopaedics Division said Thursday its Verilast technology, when used on Legion brand knee replacement, achieved an 81 percent reduction in wear during a simulation of 30 years of physical activity. The FDA clearance enables the company to expand claims for a product previously touted as offering reduced wear.

“Physically active patients want to end their knee pain for good,” said Joseph M. DeVivo, president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics.

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