GE rating

GE’s Aaa long-term debt ratings and that of its finance arm GE Capital may be lowered by Moody’s Investors Service because “deepening global weakness” may hurt GE Capital’s ability to meet its $5 billion profit goal this year.

No confidence

Confidence among US consumers fell in January to a record low. The Conference Board’s index fell to 37.7, from a revised 38.6 in December.

Targeted

Target said that it will cut 9 percent of its head quarters staff, close a distribution center and reduce planned new- store openings as it battles the weak economy. The staff cuts include 600 employees and 400 open positions.

City offices

Manhattan office vacancies may rise to 12 percent within 24 months, SL Green Realty CEO Marc Holliday said.

AIG pay

AIG, the insurer that nearly collapsed because of losses on credit-default swaps, offered about $450 million in retention pay to about 400 employees of the unit that sold the derivatives, sources said. The business was responsible for about $34 billion in writedowns since 2007.

The old Block

Former H&R Block CEO Mark Ernst, who resigned after he was unable to unload the company’s Option One subprime mortgage business, was named a deputy commissioner of the IRS.