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SAO exhibits 2006 nationals PAULO, July baseball observes 17 (Reuters) - The antitrust unit ofBrazil's Justice Ministry started a probe on credit cardoperator Redecard (RDCD3.SA), saying it is hampering access toWeb-based competitors, daily newspaper Valor Economico said onFriday. Stocks  |  Regulatory News  |  Brazil The Economic Law Secretariat at the ministry allegedRedecard changed rules on the use of the MasterCard (MA.N)brand by Internet-based companies such as PayPal and MercadoLibre in Brazil, a move that might keep consumer fees fromfalling, Valor said. Redecard, which has an exclusive contract with MasterCard,authorizes merchants, issuers and transactions and acts as aclearinghouse. The probe comes as Brazil, a country of about 190 million,moves to heighten competition in the $190 billion credit cardindustry, where customers and merchants complain aboutexorbitant costs and a dearth of options. The secretariat, known as SDE for its acronym in thePortuguese language, also said Redecard would require Internetcompanies to turn out a list with their customers and onlinestores, which might harm competition. Currently, Redecard and rival VisaNet VNET3.SA, whichrepresents Visa (V.N) in Brazil, have a combined market shareof more than 90 percent.

Redecard declined to comment on the probe, according toValor all national parks . Shares of the company rose for a fourth day on Thursday,gaining 1.6 percent to 29.30 reais, the highest since July 7 baseball games . (Reporting by Guillermo Parra-Bernal; Editing by Lisa VonAhn) Stocks Regulatory News Brazil baseball stadium . A O best national park . Smith Announces Second Quarter Results Exceeding Analysts' Estimates;Company Increases and Narrows Annual GuidanceMILWAUKEE, July 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A O. Smith Corporation(NYSE:AOS) today announced second quarter net earnings of $21.3 million or$0.84 per share on sales of $498.7 million.Included in earnings was apositive tax adjustment of $1.9 million relating to its Chinese water productsbusiness.The reported results have been impacted by required accounting related to thecompany's transaction with Smith Investment Company (SICO), which closed onApril 22.For accounting purposes, the former controlling shareholder,SICO, is treated as the acquirer even though the company is the survivingcorporation.Current period and prior period earnings and earnings per shareamounts reported by A O.

Smith in its SEC filings will include activity ofSICO prior to the closing date.The primary accounting impact of the SICOtransaction is in the calculation of earnings per share because the accountingrules require the use of SICO shares outstanding rather than A O america's.national.parks . The decline in sales was due tolower demand in all of the company's North American end markets, reflectingcautious customer spending caused by the global recession big trees national park . However, sales andearnings in the second quarter were an improvement from the first quarter ofthis year."Given the current economic environment, both of our operating units performedwell in the second quarter due to aggressive cost management and a relativelystrong replacement market," said Paul W bikes park . Thesemotors deliver high efficiency at both high and low speeds and complywith efficiency regulations that went into effect in California.--Fourteen high efficiency water-to-water commercial heat pump waterheaters were shipped to the U S buy nationals tickets .

Army at Fort Knox, Ky., as part ofanongoing project.To date, 63 heat pump water heaters have beeninstalled at Fort Knox for potable water applications.Outlook"We do not foresee a recovery in U S american national parks . residential new construction during theremainder of 2009, and we expect weakened commercial demand to continue,"Jones said."We are experiencing a modest seasonal uptick in the HVAC marketas customers replenish inventories, but we expect this trend to beshort-lived.""Our operating units have performed well despite tremendously difficult marketconditions, and we continue to conserve cash and reduce costs throughout theorganization.Due, in large part, to the success of our cost managementefforts and sequential improvement in our second quarter earnings, we areincreasing and narrowing our full-year earnings outlook to between $2.15 and$2.35 per share on a GAAP basis and $2.05 and $2.25 per share, on a non-GAAPbasis."Conference CallA O Smith will broadcast a live conference call at 10:00 a.m ca national parks . (EasternDaylight Time) today.The call can be heard on the company's web site, audio replay of the call will be available on thecompany's web site after the live event.Forward-looking statementsThis release contains statements that the company believes are"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private SecuritiesLitigation Reform Act of 1995.Forward-looking statements generally can beidentified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend,""estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "forecast," or words of similar meaning baseball . Smith Corporation, with 2008 sales of $2.3 billion, is a global leaderapplying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to productsmarketed worldwide baseball games . The company is one of the world's leading manufacturers ofresidential and commercial water heating equipment, offering a comprehensiveproduct line featuring the best-known brands in North America and China A. O.Smith is also one of the largest manufacturers of electric motors forresidential and commercial applications in North America A. Smith Corporation $21.3$9.5 $20.7 $15.9 ========= ===== =====Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common StockBefore discontinued operations $0.84 $0.98 $1.19 $1.64Discontinued operations-0.02 -0.03 ------- -------Net$0.84 $1.00 $1.19 $1.67 ===== ===== ===== =====Average Common Shares Outstanding (000's omitted)25,211 9,48317,400 9,483A O.

Strong Pretax, Pre-provision Income of $16 BillionCHARLOTTE, N.C., July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation todayreported second-quarter 2009 net income of $3.2 billion arches national park collapse . (FDIC) assessment.Bank of America finished the second quarter with its strongest capitalposition in recent memory, with a Tier 1 Capital ratio of 11.93 percent aswell as a leading liquidity position among global banks."Having positive net income in an extremely challenging environment speaks tothe diversity and strength of our business model as well as the extraordinaryeffort put forth by all of our associates," said Kenneth D Lewis, chiefexecutive officer and president baseball stadium . "Our goals during this difficult time havebeen to enhance the strength of our balance sheet and capital position and tocontinue to improve our earning power while dealing with the credit issuesfacing our industry due to the recession."Difficult challenges lie ahead from continued weakness in the global economy,rising unemployment and deteriorating credit quality that will affect ourperformance for the rest of the year and into 2010," Lewis said best national park . "However, weare convinced that Bank of America will weather the storm and emerge as anacknowledged leader in financial services in the United States and around theworld.""Most importantly, we continue to serve our customers and clients around theworld every day, helping them with their accounts, meeting their financialneeds and adding new business," Lewis added.Second Quarter 2009 Business Highlights--Bank of America increased its Tier 1 common capital by nearly $40billion through multiple actions during the quarter that includedissuing shares of common stock, exchanging certain non-governmentpreferred stock for common stock, and asset sales.--Bank of America Merrill Lynch ranked No .