But Friday's moves were slim, as a dearth of news and low trading volume gave investors little incentive to take a stand ahead of the long New Year-holiday weekend.

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Department stores and supermarkets reported that sales over the lunar new year holiday were 10-20% higher than in 2008.

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Abbott also revealed that he is confident defender David Raven will sign a new two-year deal with the club on his return from holiday.

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But now the greater concern is making sure it doesn't get left short-handed because of China's New Year holiday.

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He was returning from a Christmas and New Year holiday with his wife, Maurizia Castiglioni, and two friends - Elda Scalvenzi and Guido Foresti.

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Prices tend to rise into year-end due to a number of gift-giving holidays around the world, starting with the so-called wedding season in India and continuing through to the Chinese New Year holiday early in the following year.

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The Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong estimated that 10 million workers, or 61% of the province's migrant-labor pool, would head home to see their families for the New Year Holiday, with a return rate of around 90%, leaving a labor shortfall of up to 1.2 million workers after the holiday.

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This year 123 of the company's 199 new franchise agreements came from converting other hotels--a Holiday Inn, say--to one of Choice's chains.

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Whether you're flying to visit your family, catching a train to meet up with a long-distance love or celebrating New Year's Eve on a warm-weather cruise with friends, ever present travel disruptions over the holiday season may leave you needing a place to stay at the last-minute.

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