Soccer interactions dwarf other events on Facebook

NEW YORK — Through one week of the World Cup, Facebook has already seen more people having more interactions about the tournament on the social media site than it had for the Sochi Olympics, Super Bowl and Academy Awards combined.

A total of 141 million people have commented about, "liked" or shared posts on Facebook about the World Cup, the company said Friday. There have been 459 million different interactions on it.

Much of the action is international: 85 percent of the people talking about the World Cup on Facebook are from outside of the United States. There are 1.28 billion people on Facebook worldwide, 80 percent of them living outside the U.S.

"We always see a large level of conversation on Facebook around big sporting events," said Justin Osofsky, the company's vice president of global operations and media partnerships. "But what we're witnessing around the World Cup has been extraordinary."

By contrast, the Super Bowl engaged some 50 million people on Facebook, the Sochi games 45 million people and the Oscars 11.3 million people, the social media site said.

Facebook has targeted the World Cup as part of its effort to become a site with more real-time conversation and news distribution around big events, functions where many people think of Twitter first. Facebook is promoting World Cup-related hashtags, has a special World Cup-related section and heavily promotes celebrity-related posts.

A photo posted by Pitbull, who performed at the opening ceremonies, has received more than 1.2 million interactions, as has a photo posted by Brazilian soccer star Neymar, Facebook said.

Facebook is also working with other media outlets to increase its exposure. One of the most prominent is Univision, the broadcaster with the Spanish-language rights to telecast the World Cup in the United States, which is featuring details about Facebook postings on its telecast. For CNN International, Facebook is constantly measuring what topics surrounding the World Cup are getting the most attention.

"In a fundamental sense, we're just getting started," Osofsky said.

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David Bauder can be reached at dbauder@ap.org or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dbauder. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/david-bauder

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Massachusetts job creation strong in May

Massachusetts added more than 9,000 jobs in May and the unemployment rate dropped to 
5.6 percent in what economists called an "encouraging" report after the state lost 2,000 jobs in the previous month.

"It's undeniably a strong report," said Michael Goodman, an economist with UMass Dartmouth. "It's striking that the state has a level of employment that is not only above the pre-great recession peak but above the pre-dot-com bubble peak."

The state added 9,100 jobs across a variety of industries in May.

Leisure and Hospitality, Construction and Education and Health Services were among the sectors that saw solid gains last month.

"The jobs are widespread," said Robert Nakosteen, a UMass Amherst economist. "Very encouraging."

The unemployment rate fell to a near six-year low at 5.6 percent, down from 6 percent last month. The jobless rate has now dropped 1.5 percent since October.

"We are in a strong place within our borders," said Rachel Kaprelian, the state's secretary of labor and workforce development.

The national rate was 6.3 percent in May, unchanged from the previous month.

Despite the down month in April — now revised to 2,000 jobs lost instead of 1,600 — the state job market in is good shape, economists said.

"The trajectory has been upward," Goodman said.

Herald wire services contributed to this report.

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IRS: Inspector general probing hard drive crash

WASHINGTON — The head of the IRS says his agency's inspector general is investigating a hard drive failure in connection with a congressional probe.

The probe is about whether the IRS singled-out tea party groups for tax-exempt status.

Commissioner John Koskinen (KAHS'-kihn-ihn) is testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee. He says eight federal employees experienced hard drive failures. That means emails related to the investigation could be unrecoverable.

Koskinen is telling lawmakers that a hard drive belonging to former IRS executive Lois Lerner was recycled and presumably destroyed after unsuccessful efforts to recover information on it. He says the inspector general is investigating that.

A week ago, the IRS acknowledged it could not produce some of Lerner's emails because her computer crashed in 2011.

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TD Garden gets growing on $70M redo

TD Garden yesterday unveiled further details of a two-year, $70 million renovation that includes digital technology and Wi-Fi enhancements, concourse and Legends Club upgrades, new menu items and a much larger pro shop.

The goal is to provide a "best-in-class hospitality and in-game event experience," according to Charlie Jacobs, principal of arena owner Delaware North Cos. and the Boston Bruins. "I hope it will set a standard for the arena industry and the hospitality industry," he said.

A high-density Wi-Fi system with 400-plus antennas will be installed in the 19-year-old arena. Delaware North also is exploring an industry-first: placing 24 of those Wi-Fi antennas in the hockey boards that circle the ice.

The project will add 29 video walls displaying game feeds, fans' Twitter posts and sponsor messaging; 72 overhead digital LED displays; and eight digital maps.

A larger Legends Club, the restaurant for season ticket holders, will have poles wrapped in LED displays and changing projections of sports banners. A raw bar, charcuterie and items including lobster pot pie and braised short rib nachos are on the new made-to-order menu.

TD Garden also will sport four new "fan hospitality zones," 25 new portable food and beverage carts, new craft beer bars and revamped concession stands with digital menu boards. Burgers and local specialties such as lobster rolls, fried clams, meatballs and cannoli will be sold.

"I think people will be most excited about the food," TD Garden president Amy Latimer said.

The current pro shop will remain open until the new second-level shop, which is more than double the size, opens by year's end.

"We're looking for some fun technology as well for that space," Latimer said.

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Back Bay Station deal blasted

The Patrick administration has come under fire for what critics say is an inside deal that will give the owner of the John Hancock Tower exclusive rights to build a skyscraper over Back Bay Station — public property that they say should prompt an open bidding process.

"There are many commercial interests who would drool over the prospect of building in that location," said former state Inspector General Gregory W. Sullivan, now at the Pioneer Institute. "I would call that a wired contract. It would be an outrage to even consider it a possibility of not awarding that to the highest bidder. Those air rights are worth ... a lot of money."

The state Transportation Department said this week it was negotiating solely with Boston Properties to allow it to build a tower and another building over Back Bay Station and an MBTA busway in exchange for financing a $25 million rehab of the transit hub.

Boston Properties bought the Hancock Tower in 2010 for $930 million. It also acquired a parking garage adjacent to the station that it leases from MassDOT for $1.5 million a year.

Back Bay Station — and the air rights above it — are owned by the MBTA, which is required to go out to bid.

MassDOT spokeswoman Cyndi Roy said her parent agency intends to acquire the station from the T to avoid a bid and go ahead with the project, which also involves building over the parking garage.

"Under current statute, the MBTA can lease the property to MassDOT, and MassDOT is not required to bid the property. However, under normal circumstances, we would do that to ensure we get the best deal," she said.

Boston Properties, which did not return multiple messages, has 54 years left on its 99-year garage lease. The company would give MassDOT a lump sum to end that lease and get a new 99-year term, Roy said.

Roy argued the garage lease makes it "nearly impossible" for any other developer to build over the site with Boston Properties as its tenant.

Roy said MassDOT has conducted "internal estimates" on the value of the air rights but she declined to provide them.

One longtime Boston-based developer said the best way to determine the market value of the air rights is put it out to bid.

"It could be $30 million below the market value. …Not putting a major project like this, in the core of the city, out to bid is unheard of," said the developer.

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East-meets-Gothic in Zen makeunder

The interior of the five-bedroom penthouse unit at the Burrage House mansion 
in the Back Bay, which just went on the market for 
$10.7 million, is nothing like you'd expect from the building's exterior.

The imposing residence at 314 Commonwealth Ave., built in 1899 as the home of copper tycoon Albert Burrage, was modeled after a French Gothic chateau and is decorated with gargoyles, dragons and cherubs carved into its elaborate stonework.

But the current penthouse owners went for a minimalist approach, with an interior designed by Japanese-born architect Moho Abe of Woburn-based Zen Associates. Abe has successfully incorporated an Eastern aesthetic within the confines of a very Western building.

There are only four units in the Burrage, which was converted to condos in 2003-2004.

The penthouse has large, open living spaces filled with natural light that radiate serenity.

"People are taken aback by the open space and minimalist design," said listing broker Terry Maitland of Landvest. "The buyer is 
going to have be someone with a really modern aesthetic because too much has gone into the renovation."

The architect took 
advantage of the top floors by creating vaulted ceilings and adding skylights throughout. Fine touches include a staircase to the fifth floor with floating maple stairs and handrails wrapped in leather.

The entryway off the 
elevator, modeled after a Japanese house, has movable walls that are ideal for displaying artwork. The open living/dining area features beige limestone floors and a wood fireplace set 
inside a large wall of onyx.

The building has two turrets: Under one is a free-standing stainless steel hot tub, and the other hosts a meditation space.

The custom kitchen features blue limestone floors and stainless steel Poggenpohl cabinetry, and Sub-Zero, Kuppersbusch and Miele 
appliances. At the far end of the kitchen is a built-in tropical fish tank that acts as a 
divider to a family room with cathedral ceilings, skylights and a gas fireplace.

Off the family room is a cleverly designed child's bedroom with built-in beds. A hallway has a long row of burled walnut cabinets with lots of storage space and a Miele washer and dryer.

The fifth floor, taken up by the master bedroom suite, has a carpeted bedroom with a sunken bed and a wall of burled walnut closets with custom built-ins. The bedroom opens onto a two-tiered roof deck with another hot tub as well as great Back Bay tower views.

If there's any negative, it's that three of the unit's bedrooms are in a connected 1,265-square-foot apartment in the building next door. The unit, made for a nanny
or other live-in help, is rather average-looking and is untouched by the hand of the architect.

The penthouse and live-in apartment total 8,565 square feet and the taxes are $81,461 this year. The condo fee, even though it includes all utilities, including heat and central air conditioning, is a staggering $5,676 a month.

But in its favor, the penthouse comes with four deeded spaces in the building's garage, plus there's one outdoor parking space. You'd be hard-pressed to get this kind of parking anywhere in the city no matter the price.

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The Ticker

Wynn: No criminals to profit from casino site

Wynn Resorts says all three owners of the former chemical plant in Everett where it wants to develop a $1.6 billion resort casino have signed statements that no criminals will secretly profit from the land deal.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has said signing the disclosure document was critical as it decided whether to award Wynn the lone casino license in the lucrative Boston region. The state's 2011 casino law expressly prohibits felons from profiting from a casino.

The commission's investigators are concerned at least two convicted felons are still silent partners in the land venture and at least one of the owners of the land had refused to sign the statement in recent months.

Mohegan Sun is also vying for the Boston-area casino license with a Revere proposal.

Coach to close 70 stores

Upscale retailer Coach Inc. warned of lower sales next year and said it would close about 70 stores in North America as it struggles against fast-growing rivals in its biggest market.

Coach's stock fell as much as 11 percent and was one of the top losers on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday.

The clothes, shoes and handbags retailer said it expected revenue to fall in low double digits in percentage terms in the year ending next June, with North American same-store sales falling in "high teens" in percentage terms.

Known for its Poppy handbags, the company has struggled to keep up with rivals Kate Spade & Co. and Michael Kors Holdings Ltd.

Silver, gold rise as Fed holds rates low

Gold and silver futures rose yesterday, a day after the Federal Reserve said it saw no immediate end to its low-interest rate policy.

Gold for August delivery rose $41.40, or 3.3 percent, to $1,314 an ounce. Silver for July delivery rose 87 cents, or 4.4 percent, to $20.65 an ounce.

Today

 Darden Restaurants reports quarterly financial results before the market opens.

THE SHUFFLE

Peabody Essex Museum in Salem has announced the appointment of Amanda Clark MacMullan as chief philanthropy officer. Recently managing partner and chief development officer for the venture philanthropy fund New Profit Inc., MacMullan brings nearly 15 years of high-level fundraising experience from the education and nonprofit sectors.

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Kraft Foods recalls 260 cases of Velveeta

NEW YORK — Kraft said Thursday it is recalling its Velveeta cheese product from Walmart stores in as many as 12 states, mostly in the Midwest, because the cheese product lacks the proper amount of preservatives.

Insufficient levels of sorbic acid has led to the recall of 260 cases of Velveeta original pasteurized recipe cheese product because it could cause the cheese product to spoil prematurely or cause food-borne illnesses.

Kraft Foods Group Inc. said the cheese product was sent to three Walmart distribution centers and could have been shipped to as many as 12 states: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The company said the code on the packages is 021000611614. The packages also have a date stamp that reads "17 DEC 2014" and the timeframe is between 10:54 and 14:35.

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Drug maker Shire rejects offer from AbbVie

LONDON — The Dublin-based drugmaker Shire said Friday it has rejected an unsolicited 27 billion-pound ($46.2 billion) offer from AbbVie Inc., arguing that it fundamentally undervalues the company and its prospects.

The company said in a statement Friday that U.S.-based AbbVie's proposal was for 20.44 pounds ($34.78) and 0.7988 shares per Shire share. That values Shire stock at 46.11 pounds each — a 23 percent premium to its price of 37.38 pounds on Thursday.

Based on the number of outstanding shares in the company, the deal values Shire at 27.1 billion pounds.

Besides the price, Shire PLC says its board also has concerns about company structure "as AbbVie would redomicile in the UK for tax purposes."

The offer comes at a time of intense speculation in the industry, as drugmakers look to grow or eliminate noncore assets while focusing on strengths.

Last month, Pfizer pulled the plug on a takeover offer for Anglo-Swedish AstraZeneca, amid intense political pressure to keep jobs in Britain.

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Stocks edge higher in early trading; Oracle slides

Stocks are slightly higher in early trading as the market heads for a week of solid gains.

Oracle slumped after the company's quarterly results fell short of Wall Street's forecasts.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose two points, or 0.1 percent, to 1,961 in the first few minutes of trading Friday.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 16 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,938. The Nasdaq composite rose two points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,361.

On Thursday, the S&P 500 index notched an all-time high for the second day in a row. The index is on track to gain 1.2 percent for the week.

U.S. government bonds prices slipped, pushing yields up. The yield on the 10-year note rose to 2.64 percent from 2.62 percent late Thursday.

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