Market News for US Airways (NYSE:LCC), A New $100 Bill, and Verizon’s Plunge (NYSE:VZ)

US Airways Group, Inc. (NYSE:LCC)  announced Thursday that it has discontinued merger talks with United Airlines.  The Phoenix-based US Airways halted talks after months of speculation about a potential merger with UAL Corporation (UAUA, Fortune 500), the fourth largest U.S. carrier and the parent of United Airlines.  "US Airways has long been a proponent for consolidation in our industry," US Airways chief executive Doug Parker said in a statement.   "We have recently held discussions with United Airlines regarding a possible combination between our two airlines. After an extensive review and careful consideration, our Board of Directors has decided to discontinue those discussions," he later added.  – CNNMoney

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke introduced the latest remake of the $100 bill, featuring advanced security designs and a larger portrait of founding father Benjamin Franklin.  The bills, viewable at http://www.newmoney.gov/, will go into circulation in February 2011. The new look, aimed at thwarting counterfeiters, has several new security features, including a “3-D Security Ribbon” and an image of a bell on the front of the note that, when tilted, changes in color from copper to green. The reverse side of the bill includes a new vignette of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.  – Bloomberg

First-quarter profit at Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) plunged 75%, mainly because of a large health-care charge, but sales rose and the carrier said Thursday that it added 1.5 million wireless customers. Yet like archrival AT&T Inc., New York-based Verizon signed up fewer customers to annual contracts. More than two-thirds of its new subscribers chose cheaper prepaid plans or discount services sold by resellers.  At the same time, growth in the company's fiber business has slowed and Verizon's traditional landline business showed another sharp decline. – MarketWatch