callers) or surveys Collective Soul (412) 317-0088 collective sould recounts (internationalcallers) and entering the pass code 426761. The webcast will be archived in theInvestor Information section of the Company`s website. AXIS Capital is a Bermuda-based global provider of specialty lines insurance andtreaty reinsurance with shareholders` equity at September 30, 2008 of $4.6billion and locations in Bermuda, the United States, Europe, Singapore, Canadaand Australia. Its operating subsidiaries have been assigned a rating of “A”(“Excellent”) by A.M. Best and a rating of “A” (“Strong”) by Standard & Poor`s.AXIS Capital has been assigned a senior unsecured debt rating of Baa1 (stable)by Moody`s Investors Service and BBB+ (stable) by Standard & Poor`s. For moreinformation about AXIS Capital, visit our website at InvestorsAXIS Capital Holdings LimitedLinda Ventresca, ORMediaKekst and CompanyJoseph Kuo, 212-521-4800 Copyright Business Wire 2009.

Dick Vitale is about as famous as, well, Paul McCartney. Jack Nicholson? Donald Trump? Oprah Winfrey?Let’s just agree he is one of the most famous personalities of the past 25 years.So when the college basketball guru makes a statement, the rest of the world perks up its ears to hear what he says.However, one was forced to do a double take with the commentary he laid down in New York City on Wednesday night during the later stages of the Duke-Arizona State basketball contest.With the Blue Devils moving along to another victory in the young round-ball season, ESPN play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman began to question Vitale concerning a variety of subjects to keep the TV audience from turning to another channel.At this point, Vitale shocked the world by proclaiming the “Pac-10 is the best college football conference” this season collective soul cd . Shulman prodded the legendary sports analyst with hints that fans of other conferences may feel differently.Vitale held firm, stating he felt that way “because of strength top to bottom” in the Pac-10.Moments later, after additional queries by Shulman, Vitale declared the “Big 10 is the best basketball conference” this season.A most likable and self-deprecating man of great charisma and accomplishments, Vitale is always available for speaking his mind and giving his opinions regarding virtually everything.Dickie V., as he is known to his followers and detractors, is extremely knowledgeable in the major sports shine soul . His candid analysis of athletic issues underpins his position as the most famous person in the business.While entertaining to say the very least, Vitale may have provided college football fans with a rallying cry for the season december soul . No matter who plays in the BCS Title game, does it really matter if they advance without playing in the Pac-10?A review concerning outside of conference schedules for teams in the Pac-10 reveal a very favorable record of 20 wins and nine losses for a 69 percent winning rate.But a comparison to teams in the SEC casts doubt upon the veracity of Vitale’s assertion of PAC-10 supremacy.The outside of conference record of SEC teams is 39-6, an 87 percent success rate.Surely the actual results must mean something in this debate.To be certain, an in-depth analysis regarding quality of the outside opponents could reveal a different conclusion but, even that appears argumentative and unlikely.So there we have it colletive soul . An entire season of work and accomplishment washed down the drain by the ultimate sports announcer.And just thinking, isn’t that the responsibility of the BCS selection committee?   . * Dollar falls as market braces for weak U.S.

payrolls data Currencies * Yen rises as falling stocks dampens risk appetite * Sterling bounces as BoE delivers 50 bps rate cut (Adds quotes, updates prices, changes byline) By Wanfeng Zhou NEW YORK, Jan 8 (Reuters) – The dollar fell against abasket of currencies on Thursday ahead of a government reportexpected to show the U.S collective soul tour . economy lost more than half a millionjobs in December for the second month in a row collective the world i know . The Japanese yen traded broadly higher as falling globalstocks and weak sales at top U.S collective shine . retailer Wal-Mart temperedthe market’s appetite for risk and heightened fears about theglobal economic outlook Worries about the U.S collective december . labor market took center stage afteran ADP survey earlier this week pointed to steep job losses inthe private sector. Weekly jobless claims data showing thenumber of Americans on the unemployment rolls rising to a26-year high further dampened demand for the greenback. “There’s definitely the worry about the jobs datatomorrow,” said Sacha Tihanyi, currency strategist at ScotiaCapital in Toronto.

“Expectations are geared for a fairly uglynumber despite the fact that the weekly initial claims data wasnot as bad as it could have been.” In late trading in New York, the ICE Futures U.S . dollarindex .DXY, which tracks the value of the greenback against abasket of six currencies, fell 0.7 percent to 81.495 bass soul . The dollar was down 1.6 percent at 91.16 yen JPY=,extending losses after Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N) — theworld’s largest retailer — posted weaker-than-expectedDecember sales and cut its profit forecast ultimate soul . For full story, see[ID:nN08485027] “The Wal-Mart news is negative for the overall economy andcertainly a negative for stocks, and this has short-circuitedthe dollar’s New Year rally,” said Brian Dolan, chief currencystrategist, at Forex in Bedminster, New Jersey . The dollar had rallied in the first few days of 2009,buoyed by a planned U.S. stimulus package that many hope wouldhelp pull the economy out of recession But that optimismproved short-lived as fresh U.S. data and dismal earningsfigures reignited fears of a prolonged slowdown.