Realtors: Twin Cities home sales surge in 2009 on lower prices, stimulus: Home sales around the Twin Cities last year were at their highest level since 2005 as buyers snapped up foreclosed homes and took advantage of federal tax credits meant to stimulate the economy, three area Realtor associations said today. The associations said there were 52,167 pending home sales at the end of 2009, up 18.4 percent from 2008. Closed home sales were up 16.7 percent. The associations cited low mortgage rates, historically low home prices, pent-up demand and the Federal First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit with helping to fuel the sales growth. Read full story

Delta aims to boost diversity of suppliers: Delta Air Lines has made another move to boost the number of small, minority- and women-owned businesses that supply it. The Atlanta-based airline, which purchased Northwest Airlines and still keeps a big Twin Cities presence, is now using new web-based technology developed by CVM Solutions to broaden its search for diverse suppliers and to increase purchasing from certified business enterprises owned by minorities, women, veterans and disabled persons. Read full story

Zareba Systems stock doubles on acquisition news: Shares of Zareba Systems were up nearly 100 percent today, a day after the company announced it would be acquired by Woodstream Corp. for $22.5 million. Plymouth-based Zareba, which makes electronic perimeter fence systems to contain pets and livestock, said its shareholders will receive $9 per share from the deal, which is expected to close in the first half of the year. That price is about double the closing price for Zareba shares on Monday. Zareba stock was up $4.25 per share, or 94.2 percent, to $8.76 in midday trading today. Read full story

ATS Medical expects '09 loss, stock falls 17 percent: ATS Medical’s stock was down nearly 17 percent today, a day after the Plymouth-based maker of cardiac surgery products said it expected a loss for 2009 amid reduced sales projections. ATS Medical said it expected annual revenue to be $75.4 million to $75.8 million for 2009 — down from its previous projection of $77 million to $79 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected nearly $78 million in sales. Read full story