The Internet has revolutionized ticket scalping, turning it into an electronic extension of the box office, driven by sleek advances in computer hardware and software and by a spate of clever, aggressive online ticketing companies.

A company's financial statements play a critical part in how its share prices fare in the markets. But financial statements aren't the only sources of information markets use to determine the valuation of a company.

Soon, innovation in China will take the form of a move from a primarily manufacturing economy to a more service-oriented one, according to experts gathered at the Fourth Annual Executive Forum in Shanghai.

In the past year, the U.S. government took strong measures to seal the border with Mexico, and the U.S. Border Patrol is reporting that arrests are down 10 percent from last year. Advocates of tougher enforcement point to these facts and say that the crackdown is deterring would-be illegals.

Since their first appearance some 20 years ago, "hospitalists" — doctors who manage patient care during a hospital stay — have assumed an increasingly complex role in the healthcare system.

Managers, markets, and the many players who must contract with a firm: all three groups need credible information about companies. The financial statement — which includes the income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flows — tells a compelling story when read as a whole.

A lot of companies focus on competition, innovation and cost-cutting to drive cash flow. But according to Ruth Bolton, marketing professor at the W. P. Carey School of Business, successful firms understand that cash flow is derived from customers.

The attitudes judges hold toward auditors have eroded since the accounting debacles of Enron, WorldCom and others earlier in the decade. Not only do judges have lesser views of auditors, they also have conflicting views with auditors.

The ascent of a Democratic majority in Congress shifts the balance in the debate on illegal immigration. Voices on both sides quote numbers to prove their points, but as decision makers formulate policy, it's important to separate myth from reality.

In the digital age, more information is available to more people than ever before. But not all the information. Truly unique and rare information — a hot stock tip, for instance, or a warning of an impending market shift — remains a near-priceless commodity.