Sonic Corp., the nation's largest chain of drive-in restaurants, today announced that its Board of Directors has increased the amount available under the company's stock repurchase authorization from $10.7 million to a total of $100 million. The expiration date for the current stock repurchase program, at the newly authorized amount, remains August 31, 2007.

A study has found that a modest reduction in electricity use during peak hours would reduce energy prices by at least $57 million to $182 million annually in the Mid-Atlantic region. The study, prepared by The Brattle Group, examined the effects of reducing electricity use by three percent during the highest use hours for five utility areas. It notes that, "More widespread participation and deeper curtailments would result in even greater price impacts."

Foreign direct investment (FDI) appears to stimulate the development of emerging economies, according to the January issue of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Economic Letter. In "Does Foreign Direct Investment Help Emerging Economies?" economist Anil Kumar examines the effects of FDI on the stability, trade, savings, investment and growth of emerging economies, such as China and India.

Frost & Sullivan will host an exclusive interactive briefing on February 1, 2007, at 3 p.m. GMT, to provide biodiesel producers, agricultural bodies, technology providers, oil companies and related service companies with a detailed overview of the European Biodiesel Market.

Lexus today announced its sponsorship of three emerging designers during Fashion Week in New York. The sponsorships are part of Lexus' ongoing efforts to support the fashion and design industries and two of the sponsorships are a result of Lexus' recent participation in the Vogue/CFDA Awards (Council of Fashion Designers of America).

Over 34 million Americans say they will give a portion of their tax refund to charity this year, an increase of almost nine million people over 2006, according to a new survey. The poll was commissioned by Taxsoftware.com, the only Web site that provides both personal and business tax preparation services online.

The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R)) today listed the common stock of Challenger Energy Corp. under the ticker symbol CHQ. Challenger Energy Corp. is a Canadian company engaged in oil and gas exploration, with its primary emphasis on high impact opportunities offshore Nova Scotia and Trinidad and Tobago. Challenger will begin a three well back- to-back drilling program offshore Trinidad and Tobago with Amex-listed Canadian Superior Energy as the operator. The first well is scheduled to commence by the end of March 2007.

Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC announced today that it has successfully completed its second closed-end fund offering, the Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund. The Fund began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on January 26, 2007 under the symbol AOD.

Kingdom Hotel Investments ("KHI"), the leading hotel and resort investment company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of a prime beach site for the development of a luxury resort and residences for sale in Da Nang, Vietnam. The resort will be built for approximately US$ 65 million. This will be KHI's first hotel in Vietnam and marks an important milestone in the company's continued expansion in Asia.

American Capital Strategies Ltd. announced today that it and an affiliate have acquired a 6.8% equity interest in Explorer Pipeline Company ("Explorer"), the owner and operator of the second largest refined liquid petroleum products pipeline in the United States. American Capital's investment takes the form of senior subordinated debt and common equity. American Capital Equity Fund I LLC ("ACE"), a fund managed by American Capital, provided 30% of the American Capital equity investment. The investment funds the buyout of CITGO Pipeline Holding II LLC's, a wholly owned subsidiary of CITGO Petroleum Corporation, minority interest in Explorer.