Yahoo Business - Source Information

Source URL: http://news.yahoo.com/i/749;_ylt=AvP3INWQsksMCsMKPzWEeHOs0NUE
Number of headlines in database: 478
Last update: 2010-03-20 06:13:14

Yahoo Business Headlines

  • Strike begins as talks between BA, union collapse(AP) (2010-03-20 04:50:05)
    AP - A three-day strike by British Airways cabin crew affecting thousands of travelers began Saturday after last-ditch talks between the airline's management and union leaders collapsed.
  • Doha trade talks not at their expected stage - Anand Sharma(Reuters) (2010-03-20 03:09:04)
    Reuters - Minister of commerce and industry Anand Sharma said on Friday that progress in concluding global trade talks was behind schedule but that it was up to political leaders to decide if they can meet their own year-end deadline for a deal.
  • Doha trade talks not at their expected stage - trade min(Reuters) (2010-03-20 02:21:14)
    Reuters - India's minister of commerce and industry said on Friday that progress in concluding global trade talks was behind schedule but that it was up to political leaders to decide if they can meet their own year-end deadline for a deal.
  • End in sight, health care battle tilts Obama's way(AP) (2010-03-20 00:48:31)
    AP - One by one, House Democratic fence-sitters began choosing sides Friday, and the long, turbulent struggle over landmark health care legislation tilted unmistakably in President Barack Obama's direction.
  • URS settles with Minn. for $5M in bridge collapse(AP) (2010-03-19 23:00:54)
    AP - Contractor URS Corp. and the state of Minnesota reached a $5 million settlement Friday in the state's lawsuit over the 2007 downtown Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed 13 people and injured 145 others.
  • Regulators shut 7 banks in 5 states; 37 in 2010(AP) (2010-03-19 22:57:10)
    AP - Regulators have shut down banks seven banks in five states, bringing to 37 the number of bank failures in the U.S. so far this year.
  • No European financial protectionism: Barnier(AFP) (2010-03-19 22:48:50)
    AFP - EU financial services commissioner Michel Barnier sought on Friday to calm US fears of discrimination over European financial services reforms that would regulate hedge funds.
  • Pay czar trims salaries at top of GM exec ranks(Reuters) (2010-03-19 22:40:12)
    Reuters - The U.S. pay czar will slash the number of top General Motors Co executives who will receive base salaries of more than $500,000 this year.
  • MLPs Pump Up The Volume(Investor's Business Daily) (2010-03-19 22:36:00)
    Investor's Business Daily - When the first gas started flowing through the 1,679-mile-long Rockies Express Pipeline in November last year, it was a coming-of-age party for a growing class of pipeline owners called MLPs.
  • Letter: Lehman accounting tricks possibly illegal(AP) (2010-03-19 22:25:47)
    AP - A Lehman Brothers whistleblower warned his bosses that accounting gimmicks the bank used before its collapse may have been illegal, his lawyer said Friday.
  • Embezzler who got tax credit faces more charges(AP) (2010-03-19 22:19:47)
    AP - A convicted embezzler who snagged more than $9 million in business tax credits from the state of Michigan has been charged with defrauding an elderly neighbor.
  • Pressure mounts over IMF role in Greek crisis(AFP) (2010-03-19 21:32:39)
    AFP - Europe split over IMF intervention for debt-ridden Greece on Friday, upping pressure on national leaders to resolve crisis plans just days from a crunch EU summit.
  • Great Wolf to offer $225M of mortgage notes(AP) (2010-03-19 21:15:24)
    AP - Indoor waterpark resort company Great Wolf Resorts Inc. said Friday it plans to offer $225 million of first mortgage notes due 2017.
  • Judge orders renegotiation of 9/11 settlement(AP) (2010-03-19 20:56:16)
    AP - A federal judge on Friday rejected a legal settlement of more than a half-billion dollars for people sickened by ash and dust from the World Trade Center, saying the deal to compensate 10,000 police officers, firefighters and other laborers didn't contain enough money for the workers.
  • EU seeks firm Greek aid plan(Reuters) (2010-03-19 20:26:09)
    Reuters - The European Union's monetary affairs chief urged the bloc's leaders on Friday to agree a standby aid package for Greece next week but France and Germany struck different notes and the euro slid.
  • Syms names Joel Feigenbaum integration chief(AP) (2010-03-19 20:13:48)
    AP - Discount apparel retailer Syms Corp. on Friday named Joel Feigenbaum chief integration officer.
  • EU Commission calls for European loans for Greece(AP) (2010-03-19 20:00:51)
    AP - The European Commission urged Germany and other eurozone governments Friday to put up a package of government-to-government loans to ease Greece's financial plight and end weeks of financial turmoil and speculation.
  • Bair says Senate bill must be tweaked(AP) (2010-03-19 20:00:05)
    AP - The head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said Friday loopholes need to be filled in new Senate legislation to ensure an end to the disastrous "too-big-to-fail" approach that brought the government rushing in to bail out big banks in the financial crisis.
  • Earnings schedule for week of 03/22/10(AP) (2010-03-19 19:59:58)
    AP - Major companies tentatively scheduled to report quarterly earnings next week:
  • The four cities that best weathered the recession(AP) (2010-03-19 19:48:20)
    AP - Call them the Final Four: The four large cities that have made it through the Great Recession with the smallest increases in unemployment.
  • Mom of octuplets may lose home to foreclosure(AP) (2010-03-19 18:46:44)
    AP - Octuplets mom Nadya Suleman could be kicked out of her Southern California home.
  • Oil settles near $80 a barrel(AP) (2010-03-19 18:40:10)
    AP - Oil prices slumped at the end of the week, tumbling Friday close to $80 a barrel as continued uncertainty about Greece's economy helped lift the dollar higher.
  • US states name and shame tax cheats(AFP) (2010-03-19 18:38:51)
    AFP - Americans who don't pay their taxes face hefty fines, can have their property seized or their wages witheld. Or worse still, they could find themselves named and shamed on the Internet.
  • Interest rates rise as stocks push lower(AP) (2010-03-19 18:09:16)
    AP - Interest rates fell in the bond market Friday as renewed concerns about Greece's ability to pay its debts left investors questioning how strong the global economy is.
  • Obama, Democrats push hard ahead of health vote(AP) (2010-03-19 17:54:34)
    AP - President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders lobbied intensively for historic health care legislation Friday, striving to resolve a last-minute dispute over Medicare while gaining another precious "yes" 48 hours ahead of a climactic vote.
  • House GOP calls for Fannie, Freddie phase out(Reuters) (2010-03-19 17:52:25)
    Reuters - Republicans in the House of Representatives on Friday recommended the country's two mortgage finance giants be phased out in four years in an effort to restore stability to the housing market.
  • Appeals court rules bank loans can be disclosed(AP) (2010-03-19 17:49:53)
    AP - A federal appeals court says the Federal Reserve should reveal information to news agencies that had inquired about loans that private banks received from the 12 Federal Reserve Banks.
  • Stocks fall as worries about Greek debt return(AP) (2010-03-19 17:10:00)
    AP - Stocks fell Friday after renewed concerns about Greece's ability to pay its debts left investors questioning a global economic recovery.
  • Prince Harry hopes to join troops on Pole trek(AP) (2010-03-19 17:09:49)
    AP - Prince Harry says he hopes to join a group of disabled soldiers in a charity expedition to the North Pole to raise money for wounded troops.
  • Nigerian armed group claims attack on oil pipeline(AFP) (2010-03-19 16:36:41)
    AFP - Nigerian rebels claimed Friday to have blown up an oil plant in the restive Niger Delta region and threatened further raids, adding to the mounting crises facing Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
  • Boeing accelerates production of 747, 777 models(AP) (2010-03-19 16:30:00)
    AP - Boeing Co. will speed up production plans for its 777 and 747 models in anticipation of greater demand from commercial airlines.
  • Why the U.S. Won't Leave Iraq(The Motley Fool) (2010-03-19 16:24:44)
    The Motley Fool - If you're a fan of Austin-based Stratfor, the highly regarded global intelligence firm, as I am, you'll likely have an interest in a report put out recently by the firm's founder and CEO George Friedman entitled "Thinking About the Unthinkable: A U.S.-Iranian Deal."
  • Europe turns towards IMF fix for Greece(AFP) (2010-03-19 16:20:54)
    AFP - The euro fell sharply Friday as the European Commission pressed EU member states to approve financial aid pledges for debt-laden Greece amid a shift toward IMF intervention in the crisis.
  • Strike looms as talks between BA, union collapse(AP) (2010-03-19 15:57:45)
    AP - A three-day strike by British Airways cabin crew affecting thousands of travellers is set to start at midnight Friday after last-ditch talks between the airline's management and union leaders collapsed.
  • Oil drops near $80 a barrel(AP) (2010-03-19 15:44:53)
    AP - Oil prices dropped Friday, tumbling close to $80 a barrel as continued uncertainty about Greece's economy helped lift the dollar higher.
  • Icahn launches hostile bid for all of Lions Gate(AP) (2010-03-19 15:36:26)
    AP - Activist shareholder Carl Icahn raised the stakes in his yearlong dispute with Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. on Friday, launching an all-out bid to take over the movie studio following disagreements over its spending.
  • Stocks extend pattern of calm trading, small moves(AP) (2010-03-19 15:03:48)
    AP - Stocks fell modestly Friday as investors shied away from major moves in the absence of any significant economic news.
  • Icahn launches hostile bid for Lions Gate(AP) (2010-03-19 15:01:57)
    AP - Activist shareholder Carl Icahn raised the stakes in his battle with Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. on Friday, launching an all-out bid to take over the company.
  • Credit scores can drop after getting loan help(AP) (2010-03-19 14:58:48)
    AP - Some homeowners who sign up for the government's mortgage assistance program are getting a nasty surprise: Lower credit scores.
  • Europe's bruised economies search for way forward(AP) (2010-03-19 14:57:31)
    AP - The wreckage of Spain's economic growth model stands neatly aligned on the roads leading out of Madrid — row after row of unsold houses, windows dark, for-sale signs out front.
  • EADS considering new bid for Pentagon tanker(AP) (2010-03-19 14:51:21)
    AP - Aerospace and defense company EADS said Friday it is considering a new bid for a $35 billion Pentagon contract for mid-air refueling tankers, but wants an extended deadline.
  • Germany, EU at loggerheads over IMF role in Greece(AP) (2010-03-19 14:45:11)
    AP - Germany and the European Union were at loggerheads Friday after government officials said Berlin cannot rule out a Greek bailout from the International Monetary Fund, a solution Brussels is keen to avoid.
  • Nigeria oil facility damaged, military says(AP) (2010-03-19 14:40:13)
    AP - A Nigerian military spokesman says an oil facility in oil-rich southern Nigeria has been damaged by an attack.
  • Lawmaker seeks records on Fed Board stock ownership(Reuters) (2010-03-19 14:35:48)
    Reuters - The head of the House of Representatives' Oversight Committee said on Friday he had asked the Federal Reserve to provide all documents relating to a rule waiver that allowed then-New York Fed Board Chairman Stephen Friedman to hold and purchase stock in Goldman Sachs Gorup .
  • Spain weighs 10-year plan to overhaul economy(AP) (2010-03-19 14:22:32)
    AP - Spanish ministers approved Friday a wide-ranging 10-year reform plan designed to wean the economy off its dependence on construction and create broader, more sustainable growth as the country fights to climb out of recession.
  • Boeing speeds up production of 747, 777 models(AP) (2010-03-19 13:27:16)
    AP - Boeing will speed up production plans for its 777 and 747 models in anticipation of greater demand from commercial airlines in a couple of years.
  • Utah jobless rate rises to 7.1 percent in February(AP) (2010-03-19 13:04:25)
    AP - Utah's unemployment rate rose to 7.1 percent in February, the highest since 1984, the state Department of Workforce Services said Thursday.
  • Allianz sees steady operating profit for 2010(AP) (2010-03-19 12:33:48)
    AP - German insurer Allianz SE expects its 2010 operating profit to be around last year's level of euro7.2 billion ($9.7 billion) as the global economy comes out of a long downturn.
  • Germany: IMF help for Greece not ruled out(AP) (2010-03-19 12:31:05)
    AP - Germany said Friday it isn't ruling out financial aid from the International Monetary Fund for Greece, but insisted no decision is needed now, even as the EU executive chief called for an agreement as soon as possible to ease the debt crisis.
  • German govt says IMF aid an option for Greece(AFP) (2010-03-19 12:15:18)
    AFP - The German government sees aid to Greece from the International Monetary Fund as an option to resolving its debt problems, Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said on Friday.
  • Out-Frenching the French(BusinessWeek) (2010-03-19 12:08:44)
    BusinessWeek - Ooh la la! Our family's INSEAD MBA (INSEAD Full-Time MBA Profile) experience feels like one intense Twilight Zone episode. Time has lost all value, and it's difficult to pinpoint when my husband, Mark, actually attended his first lecture. Was it four months ago or four days ago? Or has it been four years now? Standard calendars confirm the program commenced in September 2009, but the whirlwind of events that has transpired since then has aged me several years. ...
  • Democrats push toward Sunday vote on health care(AP) (2010-03-19 12:06:22)
    AP - Slowly but steadily, support is building behind President Barack Obama's health care legislation in the House, the result of intense lobbying and politically targeted changes aimed at reassuring waverers and winning over critics.
  • Shell makes deep oil strike in Gulf of Mexico(AP) (2010-03-19 12:03:02)
    AP - Royal Dutch Shell PLC says it has made a significant discovery of oil 25,000 feet below the surface in the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Daimler to keep stake in EADS(AP) (2010-03-19 11:50:51)
    AP - Germany's Daimler AG said Friday it doesn't plan to exercise an option to sell its sizable stake in aerospace and defense contractor EADS NV, the Franco-German company.
  • Upbeat Lloyds Bank gives world markets a boost(AP) (2010-03-19 11:13:15)
    AP - British stocks led Friday's advance in global markets after the part-nationalized Lloyds Banking Group issued a buoyant trading update, but the euro continued to founder amid renewed fears about Greek debt crisis.
  • IMF: Europe needs plans for bank collapse(AP) (2010-03-19 11:00:29)
    AP - The head of the International Monetary Fund says the European Union needs to come up with "a fire brigade" to deal with the collapse of banks that operate across several countries.
  • ECB's Trichet warns of speculative debt trading(AP) (2010-03-19 10:58:26)
    AP - The European Central Bank's chief warned Friday that credit default swaps "should not be misused in a speculative manner," backing European leaders eager to curb market pressure on government debt.
  • EU chief calls for quick deal to help Greece(AP) (2010-03-19 10:53:21)
    AP - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso says the EU needs to agree as soon as possible on a mechanism to support Greece financially if needed.
  • China tells Washington to cool yuan pressure(AP) (2010-03-19 10:37:00)
    AP - China is sending a Cabinet official to Washington in a bid to defuse trade tensions, the government said Friday, as it called on U.S. leaders to cool the "politicization and emotionalization" of a currency dispute.
  • McLaren launches new supercar(AFP) (2010-03-19 10:32:15)
    AFP - Formula One automaker McLaren has launched a supercar, part of a drive by the firm to shift up a gear in its battle to capture the high-performance commercial sports car market.
  • World stock markets gain after US economic reports(AP) (2010-03-19 08:49:42)
    AP - World stock markets turned higher Friday as modestly positive reports about the U.S. economy underpinned optimism about the global recovery.
  • Japanese fish dealers welcome tuna ban rejection(AP) (2010-03-19 08:47:33)
    AP - Japanese fish dealers on Friday welcomed the rejection of a proposed trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna — a prized ingredient of sushi — while urging that existing quotas be more strictly enforced to protect the species from overfishing.
  • Pemex says new Mexico fields hold 2bln barrels of oil(AFP) (2010-03-19 06:57:23)
    AFP - Mexico's state-owned Pemex oil company said that the new oil fields it discovered two years ago in the Gulf of Mexico could yield more than two billion barrels of oil.
  • Samsung aims for double-digit sales growth(AP) (2010-03-19 05:12:51)
    AP - Samsung Electronics predicted a strong 2010 as economic expansion in advanced and large developing economies gains speed and said it is aiming for double-digit sales growth from last year's record high.
  • Japan police recommend charges in Prius crash(AP) (2010-03-19 05:10:46)
    AP - Japanese police are recommending charges against a driver who says his Toyota Prius crashed because of brake failure after an analysis of "black box" data showed no defects.
  • Japan police seek criminal charges in Prius crash(AP) (2010-03-19 05:05:39)
    AP - Japanese police are recommending criminal charges against a driver who says his Toyota Prius crashed because of brake failure after an analysis of "black box" data showed no defects.
  • China calls on Washington cool yuan pressure(AP) (2010-03-19 04:44:51)
    AP - China stepped up resistance Friday to U.S. pressure over currency, calling on Washington to cool its "politicization and emotionalization" of the issue and warning a further rise in its yuan could drive exporters out of business.
  • Oil drifts below $82 as month-long rally stalls(AP) (2010-03-19 04:41:17)
    AP - Oil prices drifted below $82 a barrel Friday in Asia, pulling back from a monthlong rally that was fueled by mostly positive news about the U.S. economy.
  • Asian markets mixed as Greece uncertainty weighs(AP) (2010-03-19 04:38:17)
    AP - Asian stock markets turned in a mixed performance Friday, fluctuating as uncertainty over debt-laden Greece weighed on investors.
  • Dems sweeten health bill, set showdown Sunday vote(AP) (2010-03-19 00:59:43)
    AP - Historic health care change in the balance, Democrats plowed fresh billions into insurance subsidies for consumers on Thursday and added a $250 rebate for seniors facing high prescription drugs, last-minute sweeteners to sweeping $940 billion legislation headed for a climactic weekend vote.
  • Student aid linked to health care gets a trim(AP) (2010-03-18 23:59:42)
    AP - Congressional Democrats on Thursday trimmed their original student loan plans, reduced spending for community colleges, and eliminated early childhood money from a broad rewrite of a college aid bill piggybacked on to fast-track health care legislation.
  • Gabelli's son wins dismissal of much of SEC case(Reuters) (2010-03-18 23:40:42)
    Reuters - The son of prominent investor Mario Gabelli has won the dismissal of large parts of a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit alleging securities fraud related to market timing.
  • Obama backs senators' immigration overhaul outline(AP) (2010-03-18 23:08:39)
    AP - President Barack Obama, facing criticism from advocates of immigration reform, pledged Thursday "to do everything in my power" to get immigration legislation moving in Congress this year.
  • Viacom, YouTube air dirty laundry in legal battle(AP) (2010-03-18 23:07:12)
    AP - Viacom Inc. and Google Inc.'s YouTube site began airing each other's dirty laundry Thursday, providing a tantalizing peek at the wheeling and dealing that triggered a bitter battle over the copyright laws governing the Internet.
  • U.S. says driver error possible in NY Prius crash(Reuters) (2010-03-18 22:45:53)
    Reuters - U.S. safety officials believe driver error may be behind the crash in New York of a Toyota Motor Corp Prius that has been investigated as a possible case of unintended acceleration, federal investigators said on Thursday.
  • Two-track economy: 9.7% unemployment, $200K cars(AP) (2010-03-18 22:43:58)
    AP - For the super-rich and everyone else, the economic recovery is taking place in two very different gears.
  • Palm's phone sales slump and its stock dives(AP) (2010-03-18 22:35:53)
    AP - Palm Inc. reported sales figures Thursday that showed it's having a difficult time getting consumers to pay attention to its phones in a market dominated by iPhones and BlackBerrys. The company's shares plunged in after-hours trading.
  • Summary Box: Consumer prices flat in February(AP) (2010-03-18 22:27:25)
    AP - COST OF LIVING FLAT: The price of clothing, shelter and other goods was unchanged last month, the government said, as a drop in energy prices offset a rise in food costs.
  • Summary Box: Dow posts 8th gain on mixed data(AP) (2010-03-18 22:00:18)
    AP - DOW EXTENDS ITS RUN: The Dow Jones industrial average rose for the eighth straight day, its longest streak of gains since August.
  • India urges US 'leadership' on WTO(AFP) (2010-03-18 21:49:26)
    AFP - India on Thursday urged the United States to take the lead in resuming global free trade talks after the EU trade chief lashed out at "protectionism" by President Barack Obama's administration.
  • Anti-Flippers Buy And Hold Cheap Homes(Investor's Business Daily) (2010-03-18 21:45:00)
    Investor's Business Daily - When Paul Gabrail and two partners snag a foreclosed home on the cheap, neighbors have good reason to cheer.
  • Cintas says profit fell as unemployment rose(AP) (2010-03-18 21:36:30)
    AP - Uniform maker Cintas Corp. said Thursday that a sagging job market dragged down its profit by nearly a third in its fiscal third-quarter.
  • America's Most Underwater Housing Markets(U.S. News & World Report) (2010-03-18 21:09:27)
    U.S. News & World Report - Negative equity--what you have when you owe more on your home loan than the property is worth--is one of the defining features of the still-unfolding mortgage crisis. It's a particularly nasty problem because it can lead to all sorts of unpleasant outcomes for the real estate market and the economy as a whole. Having negative equity, which is also known as being "underwater" on a mortgage, makes homeowners more likely to end up in foreclosure. It restricts a borrower's ability to refinance or buy another home, which in turn stifles demand for housing. ...
  • Stocks end mixed after price, jobs reports(AP) (2010-03-18 21:07:10)
    AP - Stocks ended mixed Thursday after reports signaled that the economy is slowly regaining strength.
  • Govt rewarded bank auditors with big bonuses(AP) (2010-03-18 21:02:45)
    AP - As banks gambled on the risky mortgages that helped create the worst financial crisis in generations, the U.S. government handed out millions of dollars in bonuses to regulators at agencies that missed or ignored warning signs that the system was on the verge of a meltdown.
  • Palm's sales slump as its new phones struggle(AP) (2010-03-18 20:55:18)
    AP - Palm Inc. on Thursday reported sales figures that showed it's having a difficult time getting consumers to pay attention to its phones in a market dominated by iPhones and BlackBerrys.
  • Obama signs multibillion-dollar jobs bill(AFP) (2010-03-18 20:39:09)
    AFP - President Barack Obama offered hope Thursday that the faltering US economy will soon create more jobs, as he signed a multibillion-dollar employment package to aid the fragile recovery.
  • Dollar climbs on renewed worries over Greece(AP) (2010-03-18 20:33:27)
    AP - The dollar rose Thursday as Greece warned that it will be forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund if the European Union can't agree to a bailout plan.
  • Court records illuminate Viacom-YouTube battle(AP) (2010-03-18 20:23:02)
    AP - YouTube co-founder Steve Chen once warned a fellow co-founder to stop posting pirated videos on their Web site, according to court documents unsealed Thursday as part of a 3-year-old copyright lawsuit against the online video leader.
  • Five Homegrown Growth Stocks(The Motley Fool) (2010-03-18 20:03:04)
    The Motley Fool - Proponents of diversification extol the virtues of spreading your investments over different assets, sectors, and geography. The last part in this holy trinity geography is particularly captivating to a growing cadre of investors.
  • Illinois high court yanks hospital's property tax break(Reuters) (2010-03-18 19:38:05)
    Reuters - An Illinois hospital lost its property tax exemption on Thursday, ending a long-fought battle watched by nonprofit hospitals concerned about greater scrutiny of their charity care.
  • UAW OKs severance pact in Calif. plant shutdown(AP) (2010-03-18 19:00:02)
    AP - The union that represents workers at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., known as Nummi, have voted in favor of a proposed severance package for the 4,600 workers about to lose their jobs when the plant closes, according to a United Auto Workers official.
  • Texas Pipeline Company Agrees to Pay Civil Penalty to Resolve Clean Water Act Violations(PR Newswire) (2010-03-18 19:00:00)
    PR Newswire - WASHINGTON, March 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Texas-based pipeline company has agreed to pay a $450,000 civil penalty to the United States to settle allegations that it failed to prepare and maintain proper facility response plans to deal with spills and environmental accidents at eight of its oil storage terminal facilities in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.
  • Greece ups stakes in quest for EU help(Reuters) (2010-03-18 18:58:02)
    Reuters - Greece raised the stakes on Thursday in its quest for EU help to tackle its debt crisis, saying it cannot achieve promised deficit cuts if its borrowing costs remain so high and may have to call in the IMF.
  • Gannett expects to meet 1Q earnings forecasts(AP) (2010-03-18 18:26:02)
    AP - Media company Gannett says it is seeing improving trends in advertising revenue and should meet Wall Street expectations with first-quarter earnings.
  • House Dems on track for vote on $940B health bill(AP) (2010-03-18 18:14:42)
    AP - House Democrats are pushing to the brink of passage a landmark, $940 billion health care overhaul bill that would simultaneously deliver on President Barack Obama's promise to expand coverage while slashing the deficit, a strategy aimed at winning over the party's fiscal conservatives.
  • Owners threaten to shut down New Jersey nuke plant(AP) (2010-03-18 18:07:41)
    AP - Owners of the nation's oldest nuclear power plant are threatening to shut it down rather than build cooling towers mandated by New Jersey environmental regulators.
  • Tax gains drive profits for homebuilders(AP) (2010-03-18 17:58:16)
    AP - It's tax season, and the IRS is being particularly generous to some of the nation's largest homebuilders.
  • Obama signs $17.6 billion jobs bill(Reuters) (2010-03-18 17:32:43)
    Reuters - President Barack Obama signed into law a $17.6 billion jobs bill on Thursday and sounded an optimistic note about the U.S. economy, saying it may soon begin adding jobs instead of losing them.
  • Pelosi: GOP, insurers ready to attack health bill(AP) (2010-03-18 17:12:53)
    AP - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is predicting an all-out assault by Republicans and the insurance industry as Democrats prepare to push their health care overhaul through Congress.
  • Greenspan says Fed did not fuel the housing bubble(Reuters) (2010-03-18 17:01:36)
    Reuters - Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, whose legacy has been tarnished by the global financial crisis, on Thursday laid out a scholarly defense of why Fed policy did not fuel the housing bubble.
  • Greece urges EU aid, but Germany 'open' to IMF appeal(AFP) (2010-03-18 16:52:47)
    AFP - Greece warned on Thursday it could call on the IMF for help unless European leaders offered financial aid next week, with Germany now appearing "open" to the idea as the Greek debt crisis hit the euro.
  • Casual Male Retail Group reports 4Q profit(AP) (2010-03-18 16:42:59)
    AP - Men's clothing seller Casual Male Retail Group Inc. on Thursday reported earning a profit in the fourth quarter as it cut costs to compensate for sales being weak.
  • Canada sees gloom for world economy without reform(Reuters) (2010-03-18 16:30:30)
    Reuters - Canada took a gloomy look at what could go wrong with the global economy on Thursday, warning of prolonged recession or a deflationary spiral unless countries push ahead with economic and financial reforms.
  • Obama signs jobs bill, says more must be done(AP) (2010-03-18 16:30:00)
    AP - President Barack Obama on Thursday signed into law a package of tax breaks and spending designed to give the nation a jobs boost by encouraging the private sector to start hiring again.
  • Democrats on track for vote on $940 billion health bill(AP) (2010-03-18 16:29:54)
    AP - House Democrats are pushing to the brink of passage a landmark, $940 billion health care overhaul bill that would simultaneously deliver on President Barack Obama's promise to expand coverage while slashing the deficit, a strategy aimed at winning over the party's fiscal conservatives.
  • FedEx sees economic recovery spreading(AP) (2010-03-18 16:29:48)
    AP - FedEx says the global economic recovery is broadening, as Asia continues to see strong growth and the U.S. economy gains steam.
  • Apple director, ex-auto executive York dies(AP) (2010-03-18 16:24:46)
    AP - Apple Inc. says board member and former auto industry executive Jerome York has died.
  • US freezes assets of 'Hamas-controlled' INB bank, Al-Aqsa TV(AFP) (2010-03-18 16:23:52)
    AFP - The US Treasury on Thursday froze the assets of Gaza-based Islamic National Bank and Al-Aqsa Television, saying they were "controlled" by Hamas which Washington has branded a terrorist group.
  • Pain in the tank: Gas prices highest since 2008(AP) (2010-03-18 16:08:51)
    AP - Motorists are paying the highest prices for gas since October 2008. Retail gasoline prices rose on Thursday on an expected increase in demand and as more expensive spring and summer blends of gasoline make their way to the pumps.
  • American Dairy Chairman Leng You-Bin buys shares(AP) (2010-03-18 15:44:30)
    AP - American Dairy Inc., which produces and distributes infant formula, milk powder and soybean, rice and walnut products in China, said Thursday that Chairman Leng You-Bin bought approximately $1 million of its common stock.
  • Mortgage rates still below 5 percent(AP) (2010-03-18 15:16:37)
    AP - Mortgage rates held below the 5 percent threshold for the third straight week as the Federal Reserve prepares to end a program that has kept rates at or near record lows.
  • Mass. jobless rate for Feb. holds at 9.5 percent(AP) (2010-03-18 15:11:11)
    AP - The Massachusetts unemployment rate held steady at 9.5 percent in February.
  • Teva to buy German generic drug maker Ratiopharm(AP) (2010-03-18 14:50:33)
    AP - Israeli drug maker Teva has beaten out rivals Pfizer and Actavis to acquire German generic drug maker Ratiopharm GmbH — in a deal announced Thursday worth some euro3.6 billion, or nearly $5 billion.
  • Winnebago posts surprise quarterly profit(Reuters) (2010-03-18 14:46:44)
    Reuters - Winnebago Industries posted its first quarterly profit in nearly two years as sales of its largest and most expensive motorhomes rebounded modestly.
  • Natural gas stocks decline less than expected(AP) (2010-03-18 14:40:31)
    AP - The nation's natural gas stockpiles fell less than expected last week, the government said Thursday.
  • Economic mixed bag: No inflation but little hiring(AP) (2010-03-18 14:35:43)
    AP - The picture of an economy growing modestly without producing inflation yet struggling to create jobs emerged from government reports Thursday.
  • Weekly US jobless claims down(AFP) (2010-03-18 14:26:21)
    AFP - New claims for unemployment benefits in the United States edged down last week but gave little respite to the troubled labor market, government data showed Thursday.
  • Barnes & Noble makes CEO switch(AP) (2010-03-18 14:14:46)
    AP - Barnes & Noble changed CEOs Thursday, elevating the president of its Web site to lead the company, a surprise move that highlights the importance of digital books to the bookseller's future.
  • FedEx says economic recovery is broadening(AP) (2010-03-18 14:09:17)
    AP - FedEx says the global economic recovery is broadening, as Asia continues to see strong growth and the U.S. economy gains steam.
  • Stocks in narrow range after price, jobs data(AP) (2010-03-18 13:54:11)
    AP - Stocks are trading in a narrow range Thursday after reports showed inflation remains benign and new claims for unemployment fell last week.
  • Greece: Will ask for IMF help if EU fails(AP) (2010-03-18 13:52:37)
    AP - Greece warned Thursday that it will be forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund if the EU can't agree to a bailout plan next week that will help reduce its market borrowing rates.
  • Stock futures edge up after price, jobs data(AP) (2010-03-18 13:01:04)
    AP - Stock futures rose slightly Thursday after reports showed inflation remains benign and new claims for unemployment fell last week.
  • FedEx sees 'modest' economic gains; 3Q profit up(AP) (2010-03-18 12:54:54)
    AP - FedEx is indicating the global economic recovery is gaining steam.
  • Current account deficit rises to $115.6B in 4Q(AP) (2010-03-18 12:51:21)
    AP - The current account trade deficit widened in the fourth quarter, reflecting an improving economy, but the imbalance for all of 2009 fell to the lowest point in eight years. Economists believe the deficit will increase in 2010 but not return to the record heights seen before the recession.
  • First-time jobless claims drop slightly(AP) (2010-03-18 12:45:14)
    AP - The number of newly laid-off workers requesting jobless benefits fell slightly last week for the third straight time. But initial claims remain above levels that would signal net job gains.
  • U.S. current account deficit widens in fourth quarter(Reuters) (2010-03-18 12:41:17)
    Reuters - The U.S. current account deficit widened less than expected to $115.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009, largely driven by the swelling U.S. trade deficit, a Commerce Department report showed on Thursday.
  • Bank regulators may extend crisis-era guarantee(Reuters) (2010-03-18 12:39:50)
    Reuters - U.S. bank regulators may extend a guarantee program set up at the peak of the financial crisis, fearing that ending the program could spark liquidity failures at small banks.
  • Consumer prices were unchanged in February(AP) (2010-03-18 12:39:25)
    AP - Consumer prices were flat last month, as the weak economy limits the ability of companies to charge more for goods and services.
  • Sirius XM gets 2nd warning from Nasdaq(AP) (2010-03-18 12:21:03)
    AP - Satellite radio operator Sirius XM Radio Inc. said Thursday it has received a second notice that it may be kicked off the Nasdaq exchange.
  • Cape Town B-School Embraces Social Entrepreneurship(BusinessWeek) (2010-03-18 12:08:45)
    BusinessWeek - Tinashe Chinyanga describes his childhood in Zimbabwe as fairly standard, working in the fields every morning before walking to school in a nearby village. But the rest of his education has been a world away from his village friends: boarding school, then a medical degree, and now the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (GSB). Education was his ticket out of an early grave, says 28-year-old Chinyanga. "Most of my peers have HIV, if they're not already dead." Chinyanga owes his more fortunate path in part to his father, who was a teacher and pushed him to succeed. ...
  • US ambassador urges China cooperation on Iran(AP) (2010-03-18 11:08:10)
    AP - Beijing needs to take seriously American concerns about the value of the Chinese currency, but bilateral disputes should not impede cooperation on global issues such as climate change and Iran's nuclear program, the U.S. ambassador to Beijing said Thursday.
  • Porsche takes top spot in dependability study(AP) (2010-03-18 11:06:19)
    AP - Porsche shot to the top of a closely watched study of long-term vehicle dependability, overtaking U.S. and Japanese rivals, J.D. Power and Associates said Thursday.
  • Greek PM fears debt cost spiral(Reuters) (2010-03-18 11:05:37)
    Reuters - Greece raised the stakes on Thursday in its quest for EU help to tackle its debt crisis, warning it cannot achieve promised deficit cuts if its borrowing costs remain high and might have to call in the IMF.
  • Top Irish ex-banker arrested over alleged fraud(AP) (2010-03-18 10:55:40)
    AP - The former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank Corp. was arrested Thursday on suspicion of committing fraud after he hid more than euro70 million ($100 million) in personal loans from shareholders.
  • UK public sector debt climbs above 60 pct of GDP(AP) (2010-03-18 10:48:15)
    AP - Public sector debt in the United Kingdom climbed above 60 percent of GDP in February as government agencies borrowed another 12.4 billion pounds ($19 billion), the Office for National Statistics said Thursday.
  • FTSE 100 stocks dip at open(AFP) (2010-03-18 10:28:40)
    AFP - Leading shares dipped at the open on Thursday as profit-takers moved to cash in on the previous day's gains.
  • China Mobile says 2009 profit up 2.3 percent(AP) (2010-03-18 10:07:47)
    AP - China Mobile Ltd., the world's biggest phone carrier by subscribers, said Thursday its 2009 profit rose 2.3 percent over a year earlier and warned it faces growing competition.
  • Greek PM: need firmer rescue plan from eurozone(AP) (2010-03-18 10:04:12)
    AP - Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou said Thursday his country needs a firmer eurozone bailout plan to lift market pressure on his government and lower its borrowing rates.
  • Greek worries rattle euro, world stocks dip(Reuters) (2010-03-18 09:26:48)
    Reuters - World stocks slipped back from recent closing highs on Thursday and the euro fell half a percent against the dollar on worries about Greece not receiving European Union aid.
  • World stock markets mostly lower as Greece weighs(AP) (2010-03-18 09:21:47)
    AP - World stock markets fell Thursday and the euro weakened after Greece said it might seek international assistance to resolve its debt crisis.
  • Strikes in Greece over proposed tax law overhaul(AP) (2010-03-18 09:03:45)
    AP - Greek taxi drivers and many gas station owners are striking against a proposed overhaul of tax laws under the government's efforts to overcome its debt crisis.
  • Report fails to shed light on SoCal runaway Prius(AP) (2010-03-18 08:59:23)
    AP - A California Highway Patrol officer responding to a report of a runway Toyota Prius last week arrived to find a Border Patrol agent near the driver with emergency lights on.
  • Greece: deficit plan depends on market improvement(AP) (2010-03-18 08:54:59)
    AP - Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou says his country "cannot sustain" its tough austerity program to get out of its financial crisis if it is forced to pay high costs to borrow.
  • China Mobile beats estimates on strong data services(Reuters) (2010-03-18 08:53:19)
    Reuters - China Mobile (0941.HK) is starting to benefit from its years of investment in non-voice services, helping the world's largest mobile carrier by subscribers to report an unexpected rise in revenue per user.
  • Nissan to make Leaf electric cars in Sunderland(AFP) (2010-03-18 08:18:55)
    AFP - Nissan Motor on Thursday said it would start building its zero-emission Leaf electric car at its Sunderland plant from 2013, saving more than 2,000 jobs in one of England's most deprived regions.
  • Greece may seek IMF help(Reuters) (2010-03-18 07:44:47)
    Reuters - Greece may seek financial aid from the International Monetary Fund next month because it is growing increasingly pessimistic about the prospect of help from the European Union, Dow Jones Newswires reported on Thursday.
  • Asian stock markets mostly lower, euro falls(AP) (2010-03-18 06:41:01)
    AP - Asian stock markets were mostly lower Thursday while the euro weakened after Greece said it might seek international assistance to resolve its debt crisis.
  • Australia concerned about Rio Tinto trial(AP) (2010-03-18 06:36:21)
    AP - Australia expressed disappointment Thursday that charges of stealing business secrets against one of its citizens would be tried in a closed court in China, and some lawmakers doubted the mining executive involved would get a fair hearing.
  • Nissan to make electric cars in Britain from 2013(AFP) (2010-03-18 06:35:05)
    AFP - Nissan Motor will start building its Leaf electric car at its British plant from early 2013, the Japanese car maker said Thursday, saving more than 2,000 jobs.
  • IBM denies tax evasion in Japan(AFP) (2010-03-18 06:31:32)
    AFP - IBM Japan on Thursday denied it had evaded taxes after news reports said authorities were probing whether it had failed to declare more than 4.4 billion dollars in income.
  • China Mobile revenue up on surprise ARPU gain(Reuters) (2010-03-18 05:41:58)
    Reuters - China Mobile (0941.HK), the world's largest mobile operator, reported its best quarterly profit in a year, beating expectations for little growth, as customers began spending more on value-added services.
  • Oil falls to near $82 after 2-day rally(AP) (2010-03-18 04:55:03)
    AP - Oil prices fell toward $82 a barrel Thursday in Asia, paring two days of gains that were fueled by signs U.S. crude demand may be improving.
  • Toyota chief says training lapsed amid fast growth(AP) (2010-03-18 04:17:41)
    AP - Toyota's training of workers to maintain quality control failed to keep up with the company's rapid growth, its president Akio Toyoda said in an interview with a major Japanese business daily.
  • GM Holden recalls 9,000 cars over faulty fuel hose(AFP) (2010-03-18 02:56:45)
    AFP - General Motors' Australian subsidiary GM Holden on Thursday recalled 9,000 Cruze sedans over a faulty fuel hose, after a raft of damaging glitches hit Japan's Toyota and Honda.
  • Authorities: Prius seen near Border Patrol vehicle(AP) (2010-03-18 02:42:49)
    AP - A California Highway Patrol report released Wednesday says an officer responding to a report of a runaway Toyota Prius arrived to find a Border Patrol agent near the driver with lights flashing.
  • EPA: More pets injured by flea and tick products(AP) (2010-03-18 02:28:52)
    AP - Products intended to treat cats and dogs for fleas and ticks kill hundreds of pets each year and injure tens of thousands, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday as it outlined plans to make the products safer.
  • Kraft to cut salt in its North American foods(AP) (2010-03-18 02:27:04)
    AP - Kraft Foods Inc. said Wednesday that it will cut the salt in its products that are sold in North America by an average of 10 percent over the next two years to appeal to health-conscious consumers.
  • Computer programmers indicted in NY Madoff fraud(AP) (2010-03-18 02:24:15)
    AP - Two former employees accused of helping fraudulent Wall Street financier Bernard Madoff (MAY'-dawf) program an old computer to generate false records have been indicted.
  • California police report supports Prius driver(Reuters) (2010-03-17 23:42:29)
    Reuters - A California Highway Patrol report released on Wednesday in a sensational "runaway" Toyota Prius incident appears to support the version of events given by the driver, which the automaker has called into question.
  • Convicted embezzler given tax break, then arrested(AP) (2010-03-17 23:08:17)
    AP - A convicted embezzler who snagged a $9.1 million business tax credit from the state of Michigan was arrested Wednesday on a parole violation, a day after he appeared on stage with Gov. Jennifer Granholm as she announced the credits.
  • More than 100 complaints lodged over fixed Toyotas(AP) (2010-03-17 23:05:13)
    AP - Complaints of sudden acceleration in Toyotas repaired under recalls have nearly doubled in the past two weeks, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data.
  • Research monkey deaths prompt calls for crackdown(AP) (2010-03-17 22:56:11)
    AP - Workers at a Nevada research lab were checking on a primate room when they came across a ghastly sight: Thirty dead monkeys were essentially cooked alive after someone left the heater on. Two others were near death and had to be euthanized.
  • BofA CEO says the bank 'missed the mark'(AP) (2010-03-17 22:38:29)
    AP - Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan conceded Wednesday that the company made a series of missteps during the credit crisis and recession that hurt its relationship with shareholders and customers.
  • Summary Box: Stocks rise on hopes for low rates(AP) (2010-03-17 22:20:10)
    AP - THE DOW CATCHES UP: The Dow Jones industrial average joined the Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Nasdaq composite index in reaching new highs for 2010. The indexes are at their best levels in about 18 months.
  • Fed's Bernanke sees U.S. backing Fannie, Freddie debt(Reuters) (2010-03-17 22:07:33)
    Reuters - Current Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities are likely to retain U.S. government backing should Congress create a new system for financing U.S. homes, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday.
  • More regulation needed for Canada oil sands: report(Reuters) (2010-03-17 22:04:52)
    Reuters - Steam-driven projects to extract crude from Canada's oil sands, often held up as more environmentally friendly than mining, have major drawbacks of their own that require more stringent regulation to fix, an environmental think tank said on Wednesday.
  • Prescription-drug heists on the rise(AP) (2010-03-17 21:05:59)
    AP - The $75 million heist at a pharmaceutical warehouse in Connecticut this week was just the most audacious example of a growing phenomenon: Thieves are stealing large quantities of prescription drugs for resale on the black market.
  • Nike 3Q profit rises, helped by improved sales(AP) (2010-03-17 20:54:31)
    AP - Nike Inc. said Wednesday that stronger sales helped boost the athletic shoe and clothing company's third-quarter profit.
  • US Senate sends jobs bill to Obama(AFP) (2010-03-17 20:48:03)
    AFP - Amid deep election-year worries about high unemployment, the US Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to send President Barack Obama a 17.6-billion-dollar package aimed at creating jobs.
  • Gulf lease sale draws $949.3 million in high bids(AP) (2010-03-17 20:35:36)
    AP - With oil prices up $30 a barrel from last year, energy companies issued $949.3 million in winning bids Wednesday for federal offshore petroleum leases off the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
  • Producer prices fall on lower energy costs(Reuters) (2010-03-17 20:35:21)
    Reuters - U.S. producer prices in February posted their biggest fall in seven months as energy costs tumbled, validating the Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates very low on evidence of tame inflation.
  • AP finds over 100 complaints about fixed Toyotas(AP) (2010-03-17 20:34:36)
    AP - An analysis by The Associated Press finds that the government has received more than 100 complaints from drivers who say their recalled Toyotas are still accelerating on their own even after receiving the automaker's fix.
  • Merkel: eurozone expulsion should be possible(AP) (2010-03-17 20:32:02)
    AP - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday there should in future be a mechanism to expel countries from the eurozone as a last resort if they persistently break its financial rules.
  • UAW votes on agreement to shut down Calif. plant(AP) (2010-03-17 20:30:22)
    AP - For 25 years, Juan Carrera has worked at a sprawling auto plant on the edge of Silicon Valley helping produce Toyota cars and trucks. His son works there too. So does his son-in-law.
  • Europe shames its major powers over debts(AFP) (2010-03-17 20:22:30)
    AFP - The European Union Wednesday accused its major powers of running away from bulging government deficits, as Greece said it could still seek IMF help if European backing did not ease its debt crisis.
  • FACT CHECK: Obama plan only slows premiums rise(AP) (2010-03-17 20:21:53)
    AP - Buyers, beware: President Barack Obama says his health care overhaul will lower premiums by double digits, but check the fine print.
  • Parsing the Fed's Statement: Experts Weigh In(The Motley Fool) (2010-03-17 20:12:40)
    The Motley Fool - Surprise, surprise. As expected, the Federal Reserve on Tuesday held short-term interest rates unchanged at historic lows and maintained that it will keep rates low for an extended period of time. The central bank also reiterated its pledge to stop buying mortgage-backed securities at the end of this month. However, the Fed did upgrade its assessment of the economy.
  • US hails debt cancellation for Afghanistan(AFP) (2010-03-17 20:08:03)
    AFP - The United States Wednesday welcomed a decision by Paris Club creditors to cancel Afghanistan's debt owed to members as "a crucial step" toward economic sustainability.
  • CIBC wins dismissal of suit over subprime holdings(Reuters) (2010-03-17 19:57:07)
    Reuters - A U.S. federal judge dismissed a shareholder lawsuit accusing Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and four executives, including Chief Executive Gerald McCaughey, of misleading investors about the bank's exposure to subprime mortgages.
  • Moving target: Goal for foreclosure aid in dispute(AP) (2010-03-17 19:52:52)
    AP - Last year, the message was clear. Now it is murky.
  • Summary Box: Fed boss wants to retain bank duties(AP) (2010-03-17 19:48:03)
    AP - MAKING THE CASE: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke urged Congress to let the Fed keep all of its banking supervision. He argued that information gleaned from that process helps the Fed guide the economy.
  • Italy sees self as resilient to economic collapse(AP) (2010-03-17 19:41:48)
    AP - As Greece wins at least temporary respite from its debt troubles, will Italy be the next to face a crisis?
  • Report: Overhaul doesn't reduce tax credits enough(AP) (2010-03-17 18:58:27)
    AP - Lawmakers' efforts to overhaul the state's complex system of tax credits falls short of the money-saving goals set by Gov. Chet Culver, according to a new report from a liberal think tank.
  • Ford Motor Co. shares hit five-year high(AP) (2010-03-17 18:35:16)
    AP - Shares of Ford Motor Co. are hitting five-year highs this afternoon.
  • Fed boss makes case to keep all banking duties(AP) (2010-03-17 18:34:00)
    AP - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke urged Congress Wednesday to let the Fed keep all of its banking oversight, arguing that information gleaned from that process helps the central bank guide the economy.
  • Greek premier refuses to rule out IMF appeal(AFP) (2010-03-17 18:32:15)
    AFP - Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Wednesday refused to rule out an appeal for aid to the IMF, if European backing is insufficient to resolve its debt crisis.
  • SEC says Lehman report will be helpful(Reuters) (2010-03-17 18:23:12)
    Reuters - A Lehman Brothers bankruptcy examiner's report will help securities regulators in their investigation of large financial firms involved in the Wall Street meltdown, a top regulator said on Wednesday.
  • Wells Fargo signs up for loan modification program(AP) (2010-03-17 18:15:36)
    AP - Wells Fargo & Co. has become the second bank to sign up for a government program to modify second mortgages.
  • Bailout watchdog to audit gov't mortgage program(AP) (2010-03-17 17:12:49)
    AP - The federal bank bailout watchdog is planning to scrutinize the formula used by mortgage companies to evaluate borrowers for the Obama administration $75 billion mortgage relief program.
  • Oil slips past $82 as crude supplies grow(AP) (2010-03-17 16:56:53)
    AP - Oil prices topped $82 a barrel Wednesday after crude inventories grew less than expected last week, and the stock market rose on the Fed's promise to keep interest rates at record lows.
  • YRC says March volume up; still on shaky ground(AP) (2010-03-17 16:35:43)
    AP - YRC Worldwide Inc., one of the country's largest trucking companies, said Wednesday that shipping volume is improving this month after two months of severe winter storms.
  • SEC boss: Agency examining companies(AP) (2010-03-17 16:35:37)
    AP - The head of the Securities and Exchange Commission confirmed Wednesday the agency is investigating several companies' actions in the run-up to the financial crisis of 2008.
  • Greece warns it might revive IMF rescue option(AFP) (2010-03-17 16:22:06)
    AFP - Greece warned on Wednesday it might have to seek help from the International Monetary Fund if the European Union does not do more to help it out of a debt crisis.
  • First of several job-creation bills clears Congress(Reuters) (2010-03-17 16:11:43)
    Reuters - A package of tax breaks and highway spending cleared Congress on Wednesday, the first of what Democrats hope will be several efforts to bring down the 9.7 percent unemployment rate.
  • Regulators to U.S. banks: tighten up on funding(Reuters) (2010-03-17 15:23:48)
    Reuters - The Federal Reserve and other banking regulators jointly reminded financial institutions on Wednesday about the importance of managing their liquidity to avoid a repeat of the financial crisis.
  • TSX adds to gains as miners, oils rise(Reuters) (2010-03-17 15:16:21)
    Reuters - Toronto's main stock index rose to another 17-month high on Wednesday morning, boosted by firmness in commodity prices as the U.S. Federal Reserve's renewed pledge to keep interest rates low for an extended period drew investors to riskier assets.
  • Zara owner's profits rise on strong Asia sales(AFP) (2010-03-17 15:11:42)
    AFP - Spain's Inditex, Europe's biggest clothing retailer and the company behind Zara, posted Wednesday a rise in profit as strong sales abroad, especially in Asia, offset sluggish domestic demand.
  • New CFO says GM has chance to make 2010 profit(AP) (2010-03-17 15:04:10)
    AP - General Motors Co.'s new financial chief says the company has a reasonable chance of making a profit this year but it's still a work in progress.
  • Greece: may turn to IMF if EU fails to deliver(AP) (2010-03-17 15:02:54)
    AP - Greece could seek IMF funding to help overcome its debt crisis if its EU partners do not provide "clear support" next week, a government spokesman said Wednesday.
  • Senate OKs jobs bill for Obama's signature(AP) (2010-03-17 14:46:22)
    AP - Companies that hire unemployed workers will get a temporary payroll tax holiday under a bill that easily won final congressional approval Wednesday.
  • Fed boss to make case to keep all banking duties(AP) (2010-03-17 14:36:48)
    AP - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will make the case to Congress on Wednesday that the Fed should retain supervision of smaller banks.
  • IMF: chance to overhaul global economy is receding(AP) (2010-03-17 14:29:43)
    AP - Nations risk losing a window of opportunity to fix the global financial system in the wake of the credit crisis if they do not push reforms through soon, the head of the International Monetary Fund warned Wednesday.
  • Stocks climb after Fed pledges to hold rates low(AP) (2010-03-17 14:12:53)
    AP - Stocks rose Wednesday after U.S. and Japanese central banks reaffirmed plans to keep interest rates low to revive economic growth.
  • Zara owner posts profit rise on strong Asia sales(AFP) (2010-03-17 14:09:19)
    AFP - Spain's Inditex, Europe's biggest clothing retailer, on Wednesday posted a rise in fourth-quarter net profit as strong sales abroad, especially in Asia, offset sluggish domestic demand.
  • February wholesale prices drop 0.6 percent(AP) (2010-03-17 13:01:26)
    AP - Prices at the wholesale level plunged in February by the largest amount in seven months as a big drop in energy prices offset higher food costs.
  • IMF joins global calls for China to let yuan rise(AFP) (2010-03-17 12:58:39)
    AFP - The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday lent its support to calls by the United States for China to allow its "much undervalued" currency to rise, amid EU complaints of protectionism.
  • OPEC holds oil output steady: source(AFP) (2010-03-17 12:54:04)
    AFP - OPEC formally decided Wednesday to hold oil output steady at its meeting here, according to an OPEC source.
  • Stock futures point toward higher opening(AP) (2010-03-17 12:53:11)
    AP - Stock futures rose modestly Wednesday after U.S. and Japanese central banks reaffirmed plans to keep interest rates low in an effort to drive economic growth.
  • Getting a Mortgage Without Perfect Credit(BusinessWeek) (2010-03-17 12:08:44)
    BusinessWeek - The government keeps promoting programs designed to help existing homeowners refinance their mortgages at a lower rate, as well as get perspective buyers into homes. In other words, Uncle Sam says he's here to help. "Phooey," say homeowners and prospective homeowners, who keep complaining that it is ridiculously hard to get a mortgageor refinance one. Can both sides be right? Unfortunately, yes. But if you are willing to do a bit more work than in the past, it is possible to lower your mortgage rate to 5% or arrange to buy your first home. It is clear that there is pent-up demand to do both. ...
  • Welcome to Real Estate Investing 101 and 102(BusinessWeek) (2010-03-17 12:08:44)
    BusinessWeek - After the housing bubble nightmare, does it still make sense to invest in real estate?
  • When Will Mortgage Rates Go Up?(BusinessWeek) (2010-03-17 12:08:44)
    BusinessWeek - Over the last several months, I've written a lot about the current state of residential real estate, and the opportunities made available by the combination of lower housing prices and falling interest rates. As we approach the end of this year's residential real estate buying-and-selling season, this is a good time to start thinking about what might lie ahead.
  • BSE Sensex joins global mkt party; banks lead(Reuters) (2010-03-17 12:07:00)
    Reuters - The BSE Sensex rose 0.6 percent to its best close in two months, joining the global markets cheer as the U.S. Federal Reserve maintained its pledge to keep interest rates near zero, and pointed to increased momentum in the recovery of the world's largest economy.
  • Dollar slips against euro(AFP) (2010-03-17 12:00:34)
    AFP - The dollar fell Wednesday against the euro after the US Federal Reserve said it would keep record-low interest rates for some time, and amid lingering hopes of help for crisis-hit Greece.
  • OPEC insider: no change in output(AP) (2010-03-17 11:44:14)
    AP - A delegation member at an OPEC oil ministers' meeting says the gathering has agreed to keep output targets unchanged.
  • London stocks rally(AFP) (2010-03-17 11:24:52)
    AFP - London stocks rose Wednesday after bumper gains earlier in Asia, as investors welcomed the US Federal Reserve's upbeat economic outlook, analysts said.
  • EU warns 5 major eurozone nations on budgets(AP) (2010-03-17 11:03:47)
    AP - The European Union has warned Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands that they are relying too much on a healthy economic recovery to meet debt reduction targets.
  • Central banks give world markets a boost(AP) (2010-03-17 11:01:03)
    AP - World stock markets rose Wednesday after the U.S. and Japanese central banks indicated they were in no hurry to start raising borrowing costs and concerns about the Greek debt crisis subsided.
  • Bank of Japan expands lending to fight deflation(AP) (2010-03-17 10:57:22)
    AP - Japan's central bank is escalating the fight against deflation by offering more cheap loans to banks.
  • World Bank says China should grow 9.5 pct in 2010(AP) (2010-03-17 10:55:10)
    AP - The World Bank raised its China growth forecast this year to 9.5 percent from 9 percent on Wednesday but said Beijing needs to cool inflation and possible bubbles in real estate prices.
  • OPEC 'agrees' to maintain oil output level(AFP) (2010-03-17 10:29:23)
    AFP - OPEC members have agreed to maintain the cartel's oil production ceiling in the face of recovering crude prices, de-facto group head Saudi Arabia said here on Wednesday.
  • Porsche H1 profit skids 83 pct on VW merger costs(AP) (2010-03-17 09:48:40)
    AP - A dip in sales and costs from its failed attempt to take over Volkswagen pushed sports car maker Porsche's six-month net profit down by 83 percent.
  • Saudi: no change in OPEC output(AP) (2010-03-17 09:07:15)
    AP - The Saudi oil minister says OPEC will keep output levels unchanged later today because the market is enjoying "good demand, reliable supply, beautiful prices."
  • Asia stocks up after US, Japan central bank moves(AP) (2010-03-17 09:01:05)
    AP - World stock markets pushed higher Wednesday as U.S. and Japanese central banks promised to maintain loose monetary policies, buoying hopes for recovery in the world's two largest economies.
  • Metro 2009 net income falls 7 percent(AP) (2010-03-17 08:58:17)
    AP - German retailer Metro AG said Wednesday its 2009 net income fell 7 percent to euro519 million ($716 million) as the economic downturn cut into sales at most divisions, including its Kaufhof department stores and Cash & Carry wholesale outlets.
  • Pakistan, Iran sign deal on natural gas pipeline(Reuters) (2010-03-17 08:54:03)
    Reuters - Pakistan has signed a deal with Iran paving the way for the construction of a much-delayed pipeline pumping Iranian natural gas to the energy-starved South Asian country, officials said on Wednesday.
  • Unicredit Q4 profit slides 27 percent(AP) (2010-03-17 08:45:57)
    AP - Unicredit SpA, Italy's largest bank, on Wednesday reported a 27 percent drop in fourth-quarter net profit due to a decline in interest income and an increase in provisions to cover bad loans.
  • Korea Life gains; buoys hopes for Samsung Life IPO(Reuters) (2010-03-17 08:21:57)
    Reuters - Korea Life Insurance Co (088350.KS) shares closed up 8 percent in heavy trading on their debut on Wednesday, signaling keen demand ahead of bigger rival Samsung Life's planned $4 billion IPO in May.
  • Suspect in poker heist surrenders to authorities(AP) (2010-03-17 08:11:16)
    AP - Berlin police says a 21-year-old man suspected of taking part in the storming of a poker tournament in which armed robbers made off with euro240,000 ($329,350) in jackpot money has surrendered to authorities.
  • FACT CHECK: Premiums would rise under Obama plan(AP) (2010-03-17 08:03:55)
    AP - Buyers, beware: President Barack Obama says his health care overhaul will lower premiums by double digits, but check the fine print.
  • Senate poised to clear jobs bill for Obama(AP) (2010-03-17 07:21:49)
    AP - Companies that hire unemployed workers get a temporary payroll tax holiday under a bill headed for likely Senate passage Wednesday.
  • Need for wood highlights US insect problems(AP) (2010-03-17 07:06:30)
    AP - Months of heavy rains throughout the South are forcing International Paper Co. to look beyond its usual suppliers for wood for its central South Carolina mill and turn to places that are known to have tree-destroying gypsy moths.
  • Oil above $82 as traders eye US supplies, OPEC(AP) (2010-03-17 07:03:13)
    AP - Oil prices rose above $82 a barrel Wednesday in Asia after a report showed U.S. crude inventories grew less than expected last week.
  • Asia stocks up as Fed, Greece news buoy confidence(AP) (2010-03-17 04:56:45)
    AP - Asian stock markets pushed higher Wednesday after the U.S. central bank again pledged to hold interest rates low and gave a mildly optimistic assessment of the world's largest economy.
  • US Senate bill introduced to punish China on yuan(AFP) (2010-03-17 03:02:10)
    AFP - Facing election-year pressure over unemployment, US senators have introduced legislation that would impose tough new penalties on China if it failed to revalue its currency.
  • Honda recalls 412,000 US vehicles for 'soft' brakes(AFP) (2010-03-17 02:49:19)
    AFP - Honda announced the recall of an estimated 412,000 vehicles in the United States because of problems with "soft" brakes, in the latest blow to the embattled Japanese auto industry.
  • Senators back bill to pressure China on currency(AP) (2010-03-17 01:41:03)
    AP - A group of 14 U.S. senators unveiled legislation Tuesday that seeks to increase pressure on China to let its currency to rise in value against the dollar, saying Chinese "currency manipulation" is hurting the U.S. economy.
  • Bernanke to wage fresh battle for Fed powers(AP) (2010-03-17 01:30:04)
    AP - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke plans to wage a fresh battle against Senate efforts to scale back the Fed's role in supervising the nation's banks.
  • Visteon judge won't halt benefits termination(AP) (2010-03-17 00:59:10)
    AP - A Delaware bankruptcy judge has refused to halt implementation of his order allowing auto parts supplier Visteon Corp. to terminate its retirees' health and life insurance benefits.
  • CIT Group posts 4Q loss of $1 billion(AP) (2010-03-16 23:10:42)
    AP - CIT Group on Tuesday said it lost $1 billion in the fourth quarter, excluding a huge one-time reorganization benefit.
  • Fake tax refund scams on the rise as tax day looms(The Christian Science Monitor) (2010-03-16 23:08:48)
    The Christian Science Monitor - Justice Department lawyers are seeking to shut down a Huntington Beach, Calif., tax preparation service accused of attempting to obtain $15 million in fraudulent tax refund checks.
  • PIMCO: End of mortgage buys form of tightening(Reuters) (2010-03-16 22:50:50)
    Reuters - The end of the Federal Reserve's program of purchasing $1.25 trillion of mortgage-backed securities at the end of March is a form of tightening monetary policy, the chief of the largest U.S. bond fund manager said on Tuesday.
  • CIT Group loses $4 million in 2009(AP) (2010-03-16 22:35:27)
    AP - CIT Group says it lost $4 million in 2009 as losses from bad loans more than offset financial benefits from its bankruptcy reorganization.
  • Canadian MPs accuse Toyota of sitting on info(Reuters) (2010-03-16 22:32:57)
    Reuters - Canadian lawmakers accused Toyota Motor Corp executives on Tuesday of waiting too long to inform the government of problems with faulty accelerators in some of the company's vehicles.
  • Fed renews "extended period" low-rate vow(Reuters) (2010-03-16 22:31:16)
    Reuters - The Federal Reserve renewed its pledge on Tuesday to keep interest rates near zero for an "extended period" even as it sounded more upbeat about jobs.
  • Focus Media posts narrower 4Q loss(AP) (2010-03-16 22:14:37)
    AP - China's Focus Media Holding Ltd. said Tuesday that a drop in one-time expenses helped narrow its fourth-quarter loss.
  • Summary Box: Stocks climb on upbeat Fed chatter(AP) (2010-03-16 22:10:11)
    AP - FED RELIEF: Stocks rose Tuesday after the Federal Reserve said it would continue to hold its interest rate target at a record low. The central bank also said it is seeing the job market stabilize and business spending improve.
  • Brazen Conn. warehouse heist nets $75M in pills(AP) (2010-03-16 22:09:35)
    AP - In a Hollywood-style heist, thieves cut a hole in the roof of a warehouse, rappelled inside and scored one of the biggest hauls of its kind — not diamonds, gold bullion or Old World art, but about $75 million in antidepressants and other prescription drugs.
  • Summary Box: Housing construction falls in Feb.(AP) (2010-03-16 22:06:51)
    AP - HOUSING STARTS: Construction of new homes and apartments fell 5.9 percent in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 575,000 units.
  • EU backs Greek austerity as standby aid readied(Reuters) (2010-03-16 21:48:51)
    Reuters - EU finance ministers backed plans on Tuesday by countries in the euro area to help debt-stricken Greece financially if it becomes the first state in 11 years of monetary union to seek such aid.
  • Conn. officials feel pressure over job losses(AP) (2010-03-16 21:46:19)
    AP - Job cuts at United Technologies Corp. are adding to the political debate over taxes and other costs of doing business in Connecticut.
  • Summary Box: Fed sticks with low-rate pledge(AP) (2010-03-16 21:18:38)
    AP - FEEDING THE RECOVERY: The Fed stuck with its yearlong pledge to hold rates at record lows for an "extended period" to foster the economic recovery.
  • Ex-exec testifies in KB Home fraud trial in LA(AP) (2010-03-16 20:52:04)
    AP - A former KB Home executive has testified in Los Angeles against his ex-boss in a federal fraud trial.
  • Woods' return to golf a boon to sponsors(AP) (2010-03-16 20:43:24)
    AP - Tiger Woods' return to the golf course is a long-awaited boon to sponsors that stood by him and marketers who stand to get big exposure from the big Masters audience.
  • Tax cuts for wealthy should expire: panel chair(Reuters) (2010-03-16 20:25:23)
    Reuters - Most House Democrats back President Barack Obama's plan to let tax cuts for the wealthy expire this year, though the proposal will face a battle in the Senate, the acting chief of the tax-writing panel in the House of Representatives said on Tuesday.
  • Discover posts loss in 1Q, misses expectations(AP) (2010-03-16 20:21:56)
    AP - Discover Financial Services says ongoing loan losses led it to lose money in the first three months of the year and fall well short of analyst forecasts.
  • Is ExxonMobil Still Best of Breed?(The Motley Fool) (2010-03-16 20:19:58)
    The Motley Fool - It doesn't take a genius to recall that ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM - News) is the biggest of Big Oil. So with that fact out of the way, those with a yen for investing in energy are left to question whether the company is also the best of its group.
  • Saab to locate North American HQ in Royal Oak(AP) (2010-03-16 20:13:56)
    AP - Now that General Motors Co. has sold its Saab brand to a Dutch carmaker, the employees who market the brand are moving to a new headquarters in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak.
  • Summary Box: Commodities gain on interest rates(AP) (2010-03-16 20:08:39)
    AP - PRICE GAINS: Prices for most commodities rose as the Federal Reserve left interest rates at record lows to boost economic growth. The key exception was natural gas, which settled lower.
  • GE sees profit, dividend up in 2011, shares climb(Reuters) (2010-03-16 19:46:37)
    Reuters - After two rocky years and a severe global financial crisis, General Electric Co expects its profit and dividend to rise in 2011, the largest U.S. conglomerate's chief financial officer said.
  • Oil settles near $82 as Fed keeps rates low(AP) (2010-03-16 19:32:46)
    AP - Oil prices climbed back near $82 on Tuesday as the Federal Reserve said again that it will hold interest rates at record lows as the economy continues to recover.
  • Ford says new V-8 Mustang tops in fuel economy(AP) (2010-03-16 19:30:30)
    AP - Ford Motor Co. says the 2011 Mustang GT has something unexpected to brag about: Fuel economy.
  • Saudi sees OPEC output steady for rest of year(AP) (2010-03-16 19:07:10)
    AP - Saudi Arabia's oil minister said Tuesday he expected OPEC to keep output steady for the rest of this year, in comments reflecting expectations that crude prices and supply are in sync with the fitfully recovering world economy.
  • Fed holds rates at record lows to foster recovery(AP) (2010-03-16 19:05:32)
    AP - The Federal Reserve on Tuesday repeated its pledge to hold interest rates at record lows to foster the economic recovery and ease high unemployment.
  • Canadian lawmakers grill Toyota execs on recall(Reuters) (2010-03-16 18:54:46)
    Reuters - Canadian lawmakers accused Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) executives on Tuesday of waiting too long to inform the government of problems with faulty accelerators in some of the company's vehicles.
  • Stocks rise after Fed pledges to keep rates low(AP) (2010-03-16 18:47:10)
    AP - Stocks held on to modest gains Tuesday after the Federal Reserve gave a mildly more upbeat view of the economy.
  • Judge freezes assets of accused account hackers(Reuters) (2010-03-16 18:38:17)
    Reuters - A U.S. judge froze the assets of Russian hackers who allegedly hijacked online brokerage accounts and then placed unauthorized trades in order to manipulate markets.
  • Fed holds near-zero rates, to keep them for 'extended period'(AFP) (2010-03-16 18:36:39)
    AFP - The Federal Reserve on Tuesday maintained its near zero benchmark interest rate, saying it expects to hold the "exceptionally low" rate "for an extended period."
  • US warns EU derivatives ban won't work(AP) (2010-03-16 18:22:03)
    AP - Europe's threat to ban the sort of financial derivatives trading that some blame for worsening Greece's debt crisis wouldn't work, a senior U.S. official told EU lawmakers Tuesday.
  • Nigeria says bombing will not stop amnesty program(Reuters) (2010-03-16 18:15:08)
    Reuters - Bombing by Nigeria's biggest militant group in its oil delta this week will not derail an amnesty deal meant to restore security to Africa's largest energy industry, government and security sources said on Tuesday.
  • FTSE 100 posts solid gains(AFP) (2010-03-16 17:24:07)
    AFP - FTSE 100 shares posted solid gains on Tuesday ahead of a US Federal Reserve policy decision on interest rates, widely expected to remain at record lows.
  • GE expects profit, dividend to rise in 2011: CFO(Reuters) (2010-03-16 17:11:14)
    Reuters - After two rocky years and a severe global financial crisis, General Electric Co expects its profit and dividend to rise in 2011, the largest U.S. conglomerate's chief financial officer said.
  • Intel shares jump on talk of strong earnings(Reuters) (2010-03-16 17:03:34)
    Reuters - Intel Corp shares jumped more than 3 percent on Tuesday on speculation the world's top chip maker is preparing to release a positive estimate of earnings for the current quarter.
  • Honda recalls 412,000 US vehicles on 'soft' brakes(AFP) (2010-03-16 17:01:41)
    AFP - Honda has recalled some 412,000 vehicles in the United States because customers complained their brakes felt "soft," the Japanese automaker said Tuesday.
  • Franco-German spat fuels EU economic debate(AFP) (2010-03-16 16:54:50)
    AFP - An economic policy dispute between France and Germany threatens to distract the eurozone as it faces fierce competition from Asian rivals, analysts and German media warned Tuesday.
  • S&P's support for Greece buoys world markets, euro(AP) (2010-03-16 16:53:20)
    AP - European and U.S. stock markets rallied Tuesday after the Standard & Poor's credit rating agency gave its cautious backing to the Greek government's attempts to get a grip on its borrowing.
  • OPEC to freeze oil output target as prices near 82 dollars(AFP) (2010-03-16 16:49:15)
    AFP - OPEC members on Tuesday prepared to announce a freeze in the cartel's oil output ceiling here as crude prices jumped to near 82 dollars.
  • UK unions and lawmakers criticize Kraft CEO(AP) (2010-03-16 16:48:01)
    AP - A Kraft Inc. executive apologized on Tuesday for raising — and then dashing — hopes that it would keep open a British factory after its takeover of Cadbury, as the U.S. company's chief executive came under fire from lawmakers and union leaders.
  • Honda to recall 410,000 vehicles for brake problem(AP) (2010-03-16 16:45:32)
    AP - Honda Motor Co. says it is recalling about 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Element small trucks because of problems with the brake pedals.
  • NYS film tax credit key economic driver: comptroller(Reuters) (2010-03-16 15:32:22)
    Reuters - New York state's film tax credit has generated about $7 billion in economic activity since 2004 and become a key economic driver, the state's comptroller said on Tuesday.
  • GOP assails Dems on approach to health bill(AP) (2010-03-16 15:07:10)
    AP - Republicans are assailing Democrats over their plans to push massive health care legislation through the House without a direct vote.
  • Pepsi to cut sugary drinks from schools worldwide(AP) (2010-03-16 15:00:19)
    AP - PepsiCo plans to remove full-calorie, sugary drinks from schools around the world in the next two years.
  • China dismisses US lawmakers on currency(AFP) (2010-03-16 14:33:45)
    AFP - China on Tuesday dismissed calls from US lawmakers for Beijing to be labelled a currency manipulator, saying the value of the yuan was not to blame for global trade imbalances.
  • Stocks trade in tight range ahead of Fed meeting(AP) (2010-03-16 14:21:24)
    AP - Major stock indexes were little changed Tuesday while investors awaited results from the Federal Reserve's meeting on interest rates.
  • Snowstorm hits US housing market revival(AFP) (2010-03-16 14:10:15)
    AFP - Construction of new houses in the United States slumped in February on freezing temperatures across the nation, breaking a rally that spurred hopes of a rapid recovery for the battered sector.
  • OPEC ministers to keep present output targets(AP) (2010-03-16 14:02:46)
    AP - Saudi Arabia's oil minister said Tuesday he expected OPEC to keep output steady for the rest of this year, in comments reflecting expectations that crude prices and supply are in sync with the fitfully recovering world economy.
  • Housing construction drops 5.9 pct in February(AP) (2010-03-16 13:10:59)
    AP - Housing construction fell in February as winter blizzards held down activity in the Northeast and South. The decline highlighted the challenges facing builders as they struggle to emerge from the worst housing slump in decades.
  • Saudi sees steady OPEC output for 2010(AP) (2010-03-16 13:09:04)
    AP - Saudi Arabia's oil minister says he expects OPEC oil production to remain steady for the rest of the year.
  • Stock futures rise modestly ahead of Fed meeting(AP) (2010-03-16 12:50:46)
    AP - Stock futures rose modestly Tuesday before the Federal Reserve concludes a meeting where it is expected to keep a key interest rate at historic lows.
  • From B-School to the Big House(BusinessWeek) (2010-03-16 12:08:45)
    BusinessWeek - Chelsi Pohlmeier still remembers the butterflies she felt in 2007, when she first saw the barbed wire fences surrounding the Cleveland Prison Unit in Cleveland, Tex. After she passed through security, a guard escorted her down a hallway to a classroom full of former gang members and convicted felons awaiting Pohlmeier and her classmates from the honors program at Texas A&M Mays Business School (Mays Full-Time MBA Profile). ...
  • EU ministers discuss standby plans for Greece(Reuters) (2010-03-16 11:42:25)
    Reuters - EU finance ministers on Tuesday discussed standby plans drawn up by countries using the euro to provide Greece with financial help if it becomes the first state in 11 years of monetary union to seek such aid.
  • Recession left "walking wounded" workers(Reuters) (2010-03-16 11:26:16)
    Reuters - Many workers around the world have given up hopes of advancing in their jobs, but the bad economy is keeping them from finding new ones.
  • Toyota counts rising cost of recall woes(AP) (2010-03-16 11:06:46)
    AP - A massive global recall, mounting legal bills and a battered reputation add up to a very expensive problem for Toyota.
  • Greek power company workers strike(AP) (2010-03-16 11:04:30)
    AP - Greece's state power company workers have begun a 48-hour strike to protest the government's austerity measures, which are designed to pull the country out of a major financial crisis.
  • Greek aid pledge helps lift European markets(AP) (2010-03-16 10:59:30)
    AP - European stock markets rose Tuesday after the 16 countries that share the euro agreed to help Greece with loans, if needed, and a German investor sentiment survey fell less than expected.
  • Shell eyes return to growth as reserves jump(Reuters) (2010-03-16 10:58:48)
    Reuters - Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L) said it was planning a return to robust growth in oil and gas production after seven years of decline and unveiled strong reserves additions that should underpin longer-term growth aims. Europe's largest oil company by market value said it was targeting output of 3.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in 2012, up from 3.15 million in 2009 -- equivalent to an annual growth rate of 3.5 percent.
  • Renault shares up on report Daimler talks widen(AP) (2010-03-16 10:44:35)
    AP - Renault SA shares rose in early trading on the Paris stock exchange Tuesday after a newspaper reported the French car maker could swap stockholdings with Mercedes owner Daimler AG.
  • German investor confidence drops again in March(AP) (2010-03-16 10:36:30)
    AP - German investor confidence slipped for the sixth month in a row in March as expectations settled for a slow recovery in the next half-year, a closely watched survey showed Tuesday.
  • Ahead of the Bell: Housing starts(AP) (2010-03-16 10:29:47)
    AP - Housing construction, which hit a six-month high in January, likely slipped in February, reflecting in part the major snowstorms that hit many parts of the country. The housing industry in good times is a major generator of jobs and economic growth.
  • Markets cautious about EU aid pledge to Greece(AP) (2010-03-16 10:18:30)
    AP - European countries' pledge to help Greece with loans received a lukewarm welcome from markets on Tuesday as investors remained worried that the form and timing of the aid remains unclear.
  • Deutsche Bank confirms 2009 net income of $6.9B(AP) (2010-03-16 09:22:44)
    AP - Deutsche Bank AG says it made net income of euro5 billion ($6.9 billion) in 2009 and that it expects the banking market to progress slowly toward "a new form of normality" this year and next.
  • Asia stocks mixed before Fed statement; Europe up(AP) (2010-03-16 09:07:29)
    AP - Asian stock markets were mixed Tuesday as investors held back ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest assessment of the world's largest economy. European stocks gained in early trade.
  • UK clashes with France on hedge fund rules(AP) (2010-03-16 08:42:36)
    AP - Britain, Europe's center for investment funds, is set to lose a clash with France on new, tougher EU rules for the hedge fund industry that finance ministers will haggle over on Tuesday.
  • Toyota dismisses Calif. man's runaway Prius report(AP) (2010-03-16 08:33:01)
    AP - Toyota Motor Corp. was quiet last week when James Sikes told reporters how the gas pedal got stuck on his 2008 Prius, leading him on a wild ride on a Southern California freeway.
  • Wavering Dems in Obama's sights on health vote(AP) (2010-03-16 07:26:59)
    AP - Days away from a make-or-break vote on his health care overhaul, President Barack Obama is turning up the pressure as only presidents can, as Democratic leaders make a desperate scramble for votes.
  • China hits back at US lawmakers on currency(AFP) (2010-03-16 06:50:51)
    AFP - China on Tuesday dismissed calls from US lawmakers for Beijing to be labelled a currency manipulator, saying the value of the yuan was not to blame for global trade imbalances.
  • Kuwait says OPEC consensus to keep output unchanged(Reuters) (2010-03-16 06:31:18)
    Reuters - There is a consensus among OPEC members to keep output unchanged, and no change is expected at Wednesday's meeting in Vienna, Kuwait's oil minister Sheikh Ahmad al-Abdullah al-Sabah said on Tuesday.
  • China without Google: 'a lose-lose scenario'(AP) (2010-03-16 06:14:47)
    AP - China without Google — a prospect that looks increasingly likely — could mean no more maps on mobile phones. A free music service that has helped to fight piracy might be in jeopardy. China's fledgling Web outfits would face less pressure to improve, eroding their ability to one day compete abroad.
  • Oil below $80 ahead of Fed, OPEC meetings(AP) (2010-03-16 05:45:51)
    AP - Oil prices extended losses below $80 a barrel Tuesday in Asia as investors eyed meetings of the U.S. central bank and OPEC for trading catalysts.
  • Asian stocks mixed ahead of Fed statement(AP) (2010-03-16 05:21:20)
    AP - Asian stock markets were mixed Tuesday as investors held back ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest assessment of the world's largest economy.
  • Financial reform efforts pit US against Europe(AP) (2010-03-16 04:13:53)
    AP - U.S. policymakers are struggling to agree on new rules to avoid another financial crisis.
  • Fed weighs how and when to signal higher rates(AP) (2010-03-16 04:04:35)
    AP - Debate is heating up within the Federal Reserve over how and when to signal that the days of record-low interest rates are numbered.
  • Jackson estate in record deal worth up to $250 mln(AP) (2010-03-16 03:52:21)
    AP - The estate of Michael Jackson has landed the late King of Pop the biggest recording deal in history: a $200 million guaranteed contract with Sony Music Entertainment for 10 projects over seven years, according to a person familiar with the deal.
  • Twitter working on Chinese registration page(AP) (2010-03-16 03:03:16)
    AP - A Twitter executive says the site is working on a way to allow Chinese users to sign up in their own language, though the Web site remains blocked there.
  • Landlords must pay taxes for renters to get credit(AP) (2010-03-16 01:17:22)
    AP - Missouri tax officials are warning people who live in rented housing that they do not qualify for a tax break unless their landlords pay property taxes.
  • InfoGroup's ex-CEO paying $7.3M to settle with SEC(AP) (2010-03-16 00:47:40)
    AP - The founder and former CEO of database provider InfoGroup Inc. agreed Monday to pay more than $7.3 million to settle federal regulators' charges he siphoned off nearly $9.5 million from the company to finance a lifestyle that included jet travel to Africa and Europe, homes around the U.S. and 20 automobiles.
  • Toyota casts doubt on "runaway" Prius claim(Reuters) (2010-03-16 00:01:49)
    Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp said on Monday it had found no evidence to support the driver's account of a widely publicized "runaway" Prius incident in California.
  • Dodd unveils sweeping financial regulation plan(AP) (2010-03-15 23:52:33)
    AP - A new Democratic Senate bill to tame the financial markets would give the government new powers to break up firms that threaten the economy, force the industry to pay for its failures and create an independent consumer watchdog within the Federal Reserve.
  • OPEC members happy with oil output quota(AFP) (2010-03-15 23:44:24)
    AFP - Key OPEC members on Monday said there was no need for the cartel to change its official oil output target owing to the current supply, demand and price situation amid a world economic recovery.
  • Fed saves some regulatory authority in Dodd plan(Reuters) (2010-03-15 23:43:10)
    Reuters - The Federal Reserve would retain some but not all of its oversight powers in the changed financial landscape envisioned by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd in a plan unveiled on Monday.
  • Toyota dismisses account of runaway Prius(AP) (2010-03-15 23:05:10)
    AP - Toyota dismissed the story of a man who claimed his Prius sped out of control on the California freeway, saying Monday that its own tests found the car's gas pedal and backup safety system were working just fine.
  • Euro ministers say have Greek aid plan if needed(Reuters) (2010-03-15 22:52:11)
    Reuters - Finance ministers from the 16-country euro zone agreed on Monday to mobilize financial aid for Greece rapidly if needed but revealed little of how their standby plan for the debt-stricken nation would work.
  • Pay czar limits exec pay at still-struggling GMAC(AP) (2010-03-15 22:41:10)
    AP - The Obama administration's pay czar is limiting 2010 compensation for top executives at GMAC Inc. because the auto finance giant continues to lose money and can't yet repay its $16.3 billion taxpayer bailout, according to people familiar with the negotiations.
  • Bipartisan jobs bill advances past GOP filibuster(AP) (2010-03-15 22:23:40)
    AP - A bipartisan bill that would provide tax cuts for businesses that hire unemployed workers cleared a GOP filibuster in the Senate Monday, opening the way for final congressional approval.
  • Summary Box: Copper prices fall on demand worries(AP) (2010-03-15 22:23:34)
    AP - COPPER DROPS: Copper prices fell as traders worried that China may take steps to curb economic growth, which could hurt demand for the metal used in construction and consumer products.
  • Eurozone readies possible bailout for Greece(AP) (2010-03-15 22:15:18)
    AP - Eurozone finance ministers agreed Monday to offer financial help for Greece — likely in the form of bilateral loans — but refused to give details until European Union leaders make a final decision on the potential bailout.
  • Sen Dodd boosts Fed in new financial reforms(Reuters) (2010-03-15 21:59:36)
    Reuters - The Federal Reserve would take on a greatly expanded role in financial regulation under new legislation unveiled on Monday by a top Senate Democrat, in a push to move ahead with the regulatory reform that has been a top priority of President Barack Obama.
  • China TechFaith posts jump in 4Q profit(AP) (2010-03-15 21:57:53)
    AP - Chinese cell phone designer China TechFaith Wireless Communication Technology Ltd. said Monday it tripled its fourth-quarter profit, helped by a jump in revenue and a rise in value of derivative securities on its books.
  • Copper prices fall amid concerns over China(AP) (2010-03-15 21:54:26)
    AP - Prices for copper fell Monday amid speculation that China, a big importer of the industrial metal, will take steps to slow down its economy.
  • Summary Box: Stocks end mixed ahead of Fed meeting(AP) (2010-03-15 21:44:43)
    AP - THE WAITING GAME: Stocks moved only modestly and ended mixed ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate meeting Tuesday. Investors didn't want to make big moves before they got the latest snapshot of the economy from policymakers.
  • Phillips-Van Heusen, PepsiCo are big movers(AP) (2010-03-15 21:44:30)
    AP - Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Monday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market:
  • Limited Brands to pay $1 dividend, start buyback(AP) (2010-03-15 21:35:06)
    AP - Retailer Limited Brands Inc., owner of Victoria's Secret, said Monday that its board of directors has declared a special dividend of $1 per share and authorized a share repurchase program of $200 million.
  • Toyota casts doubt on man's speeding Prius claim(AP) (2010-03-15 21:01:19)
    AP - Toyota cast doubt Monday on a California man's claim that his Prius sped out of control, saying the report is inconsistent with the findings of the company's preliminary investigation.
  • U.S. presses India on Doha trade talks(Reuters) (2010-03-15 20:59:05)
    Reuters - A top U.S. official on Monday urged India and other large emerging economies to rescue the eight-year-old Doha round of world trade talks by making better offers to open their markets to American goods.
  • China trims holdings of Treasury securities(AP) (2010-03-15 20:55:20)
    AP - China retained its spot as the biggest foreign holder of U.S. Treasury debt in January even as it trimmed its holdings for a third straight month. The string of declines underscored worries that the U.S. government could face much higher interest rates to finance soaring budget deficits.
  • Stocks end mixed ahead of Fed's rate meeting(AP) (2010-03-15 20:53:50)
    AP - Investors turned cautious Monday ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting on interest rates.
  • Toyota says no evidence "runaway" Prius happened(Reuters) (2010-03-15 20:31:25)
    Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp said on Monday it had found no evidence to support the driver's version of a widely publicized "runaway" Prius episode a week ago, suggesting that authorities examine whether the incident happened as reported to police.
  • Oil settles below $80 as demand worries persist(AP) (2010-03-15 20:29:04)
    AP - Oil prices settled below $80 a barrel Monday, dragged down by a stronger dollar and increasing investor concerns about energy demand.
  • The Recovery Is Gaining Momentum, but Government Is in the Way(The Motley Fool) (2010-03-15 19:46:35)
    The Motley Fool - It's been a long row to hoe since the economy entered the Great Recession. Even though the recovery seems to be under way, there's still a way to go until the economy returns to normal. Take a peek at the latest economic activity: On the plus side, February's retail sales rose by a better-than-expected 0.3%, despite the major snowstorms that blanketed parts of the nation and kept people off the roads. Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO - News), J.Crew (NYSE: JCG - News), and Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN - News) all posted good-looking quarters recently. ...
  • $4 billion yanked from stock funds in February(Reuters) (2010-03-15 19:45:49)
    Reuters - Investors in February pulled an estimated $3.7 billion from U.S. stock-focused mutual funds, dashing hopes of a rebound in demand for equities, while showering $19.7 billion on taxable bond funds, according to a report from Morningstar.
  • IRS agent-new UBS-style bank prosecution "shortly"(Reuters) (2010-03-15 19:41:30)
    Reuters - U.S. tax authorities are expected to "very shortly" launch another prosecution against a foreign bank similar to the tax evasion case they pressed against Switzerland's UBS AG, an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent said on Monday.
  • NYC ex-bank prez charged in bailout fraud(AP) (2010-03-15 19:26:05)
    AP - The former president of a small Manhattan community bank on Monday became the first person accused of trying to defraud the federal bailout program.
  • Union reaches deal to close Toyota-GM plant(AFP) (2010-03-15 19:07:41)
    AFP - The United Auto Workers union said Monday it had reached a deal over the closing of a California plant that Toyota had run as a joint venture with General Motors.
  • Ex-NY bank president first accused of TARP fraud(Reuters) (2010-03-15 18:45:10)
    Reuters - The former president of New York's privately held Park Avenue Bank was arrested and charged on Monday with being the first person to attempt to steal from U.S. government bailout funds in the financial crisis.
  • Analyst removes RadioShack from recommended list(AP) (2010-03-15 18:39:02)
    AP - Shares of RadioShack Corp. fell on Monday after Goldman Sachs removed the electronics retailer from its recommended list although it still rates the shares a "buy."
  • Nigeria militants set off bombs, step up threats(AP) (2010-03-15 18:37:23)
    AP - Militants in Nigeria's oil-producing region detonated two car bombs Monday near a government building where officials were discussing an amnesty deal, showing their resolve to resume attacks after an agreement to bring peace and economic benefits to the area unraveled.
  • AP Source: Toyota to cast doubt in Prius case(AP) (2010-03-15 18:34:37)
    AP - A person briefed on the matter says Toyota will cast doubt on a California man's claim that his Prius sped out of control.
  • Stocks fall ahead of Fed meeting on interest rates(AP) (2010-03-15 18:29:01)
    AP - Investors turned cautious Monday ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting on interest rates.
  • Euro ministers discuss Greek standby aid planning(Reuters) (2010-03-15 18:20:18)
    Reuters - Euro zone finance ministers discussed the mechanics of a financial rescue for Greece on Monday but gave few details of their standby planning as Athens tries to fix its public finances alone.
  • Toreador 4Q loss narrows as oil prices rebound(AP) (2010-03-15 17:42:21)
    AP - French energy company Toreador Resources Corp. said Monday that its fourth-quarter loss narrowed to $5 million as rising oil prices partially offset falling production.
  • Oil and Gas Companies Warm to Possibility of Higher Taxes at the Pump(CQPolitics.com) (2010-03-15 17:14:18)
    CQPolitics.com - As a rule, big business hates higher taxes. So it would come as no surprise to find the oil and gas industry upset about climate change legislation that would increase levies at the gas pump.
  • FTSE shares close down(AFP) (2010-03-15 17:05:10)
    AFP - FTSE 100 shares slipped back Monday as a wobble in the recovery of the US industrial sector tempered investor confidence.
  • Homebuilder sentiment index falls in March(AP) (2010-03-15 17:00:43)
    AP - The National Association of Home Builders says its housing market index slipped in March, as harsh winter weather and competition from foreclosed properties hurt builders' sales prospects.
  • Oil prices dive under 80 dollars(AFP) (2010-03-15 16:42:22)
    AFP - World oil prices sank under 80 dollars on Monday, hit by the falling US currency and energy demand concerns, as traders eyed the OPEC cartel's output meeting due later this week.
  • 21 Ways to Cut Expenses in Retirement(U.S. News & World Report) (2010-03-15 16:23:06)
    U.S. News & World Report - Few Americans are saving enough to finance a retirement that could last 30 years or more. Workers who haven't accumulated enough to maintain their current standard of living have two choices: delay retirement or learn to live on less money. Those willing to put in a little effort to downsize big and small expenses may be able to get by just fine with a smaller retirement stash. Here are some frugal strategies retirees can employ to stretch their nest eggs:
  • EU finance ministers in talks on help for Greece(AP) (2010-03-15 16:21:33)
    AP - Eurozone finance ministers will discuss Monday whether to guarantee a lifeline to Greece if it can't borrow from bond markets wary of the country's shaky finances.
  • FCC unveiling sweeping national broadband plan(AP) (2010-03-15 16:19:46)
    AP - Communications regulators are unveiling a sweeping proposal to overhaul U.S. broadband policy. Their aim: to bring affordable, high-speed Internet connections to all Americans and make access much faster for people who already have broadband.
  • Calvin Klein parent to buy Tommy Hilfiger for $3B(AP) (2010-03-15 15:53:15)
    AP - Two iconic American clothing labels — preppy Tommy Hilfiger and classic Calvin Klein — are coming together under one roof after Phillips-Van Heusen said it will purchase Tommy Hilfiger for about $3 billion in cash and stock.
  • American Oriental Bioengineering 4Q profit jumps(AP) (2010-03-15 15:49:11)
    AP - Drug and nutritional product company American Oriental Bioengineering Inc. said Monday its profit climbed 49 percent in the fourth quarter due to reduced acquisition costs.
  • Industrial production rises 0.1 percent in Feb.(AP) (2010-03-15 15:24:03)
    AP - Industrial production edged up 0.1 percent in February, beating expectations and marking the eighth straight monthly increase. The manufacturing sector — for months a rare bright spot in the economy — produced less due to winter storms but is expected to rebound in March.
  • Industrial production rises 0.1 percent in Feb(AP) (2010-03-15 14:55:48)
    AP - Industrial production edged up 0.1 percent in February, beating expectations and marking the eighth straight monthly increase. But the key manufacturing sector — for months a rare bright spot — produced less, as heavy storms slowed the economic recovery.
  • Boston Scientific suspends defibrillator sales(AP) (2010-03-15 14:55:15)
    AP - Medical device maker Boston Scientific said Monday it is suspending sales of its heart-shocking defibrillator implants after uncovering a documentation error with the manufacture of the top-selling devices.
  • UBS: Offshore probes in Britain, Canada, Australia(AP) (2010-03-15 14:46:35)
    AP - UBS AG of Switzerland said Monday that authorities in Britain, Canada and Australia are investigating the bank's offshore business in the wake of revelations that it helped U.S. customers evade their taxes for years.
  • Stocks fall on concern about US credit rating(AP) (2010-03-15 14:21:40)
    AP - Stocks fell Monday after Moody's Investors Service said the U.S. could eventually lose its top-notch credit rating.
  • EU executive to put Greek plan to finance ministers(Reuters) (2010-03-15 13:54:21)
    Reuters - The European Union's executive said on Monday it was ready to propose a framework that could be used to aid Greece, despite signs of continuing reluctance from France and Germany to make concrete commitments.
  • EU finance ministers talk help for Greece(AP) (2010-03-15 13:42:32)
    AP - Eurozone finance ministers will discuss Monday whether to guarantee a financial lifeline to Greece if it can't borrow from wary bond markets and to check that its austerity measures are going far enough to reduce its massive debt load.
  • OPEC has little wiggle room at upcoming meeting(AP) (2010-03-15 13:04:49)
    AP - With U.S. demand for oil lackluster, even traditional OPEC price hawks like Iran and Venezuela are happy with present prices near $80 a barrel as they head into Tuesday's meeting of the 12-nation organization.
  • Tyson Foods spent $625,865 lobbying gov't in 4Q(AP) (2010-03-15 12:58:42)
    AP - Tyson Foods Inc. spent $625,865 in the fourth quarter to lobby the government on diesel tax credits, energy and other issues, according to a recent disclosure report.
  • Stock futures point to lower open(AP) (2010-03-15 12:58:16)
    AP - Investors are entering the new trading week tentatively as the Federal Reserve meets to discuss interest-rate policy. Stock futures fell slightly Monday.
  • Consol Energy to buy Dominion's drilling business(AP) (2010-03-15 12:55:58)
    AP - Consol Energy says it is acquiring Dominion Resources' Appalachian exploration and production business for $3.475 billion in cash.
  • Investigators say no explanation yet for Calif. Prius claim(Reuters) (2010-03-15 12:52:52)
    Reuters - Safety investigators have found no evidence so far to support or disprove a California motorist's claim his Toyota Motor Corp Prius sped out of control on its own, and cautioned the case may never be explained, U.S. regulators said on Monday.
  • Oil prices sag, as focus turns to OPEC(AFP) (2010-03-15 12:47:14)
    AFP - World oil prices weakened on Monday, hit by concerns over Chinese demand, as traders also turned their attention towards this week's crucial output meeting of the OPEC oil cartel.
  • Phillips-Van Heusen to buy Tommy Hilfiger for $3B(AP) (2010-03-15 12:43:05)
    AP - Clothing maker Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. said Monday it has agreed to buy privately held Tommy Hilfiger in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $3 billion, creating one of the world's biggest clothing companies.
  • Germany takes aim at EU fiscal laggards(AFP) (2010-03-15 12:34:00)
    AFP - The German government said Monday that countries which fail to keep their finances in order should be kicked out of the eurozone, as EU ministers prepared to discuss a rescue package for debt-laden Greece.
  • Caution: Stats May Be Slippery(BusinessWeek) (2010-03-15 12:08:48)
    BusinessWeek - Peril permeates a steel mill. Molten metal explodes when exposed to water. Overhead cranes hoist steel coils weighing up to 80,000 pounds. Heavy vehicles roll within feet of high-voltage wires. "We have a work environment that presents every hazard known to man," says Alan H. McCoy, vice-president and spokesman at AK Steel in West Chester, Ohio.
  • Gov't says it cannot explain runaway Toyota(AP) (2010-03-15 11:40:18)
    AP - The federal government said Monday it cannot explain a reported incident of sudden, high-speed acceleration in a Toyota Prius on a San Diego, Calif., freeway last week.
  • US, UK top debt ratings safe for now, Moody's says(AP) (2010-03-15 11:26:58)
    AP - The United States and Britain are more likely than Germany and France to witness an embarrassing downgrade of their top debt rating, agency Moody's Investors Service said Monday.
  • U.S. says no explanation yet for Prius California claim(Reuters) (2010-03-15 11:06:04)
    Reuters - Safety investigators have found no evidence so far to support or disprove a California motorist's claim his Toyota Motor Corp Prius sped out of control on its own, and cautioned the case may never be explained, U.S. regulators said on Monday.
  • Tax rises hit Greece as EU meets on debt crisis(AP) (2010-03-15 11:01:23)
    AP - A wave of new tax hikes hit Greece on Monday, raising the cost of consumer goods despite recession and high unemployment, as European Union finance ministers gathered in Brussels to discuss the country's debt crisis.
  • World markets slip after mixed US economic reports(AP) (2010-03-15 10:49:24)
    AP - Asian stock markets sank Monday after mixed economic reports about the U.S. economy inspired caution among investors. European shares were also lower.
  • Dodd seeks difficult consensus on financial rules(AP) (2010-03-15 10:48:39)
    AP - Combining Obama administration and Republican priorities, the leading Senate author of a sweeping rewrite of the nation's financial regulations is looking for consensus with a proposal that neither side of the political spectrum is ready to embrace.
  • China's BYD sees profit soar on strong auto sales(AP) (2010-03-15 10:44:53)
    AP - BYD, the Chinese automaker with backing from billionaire Warren Buffett, says its net profit more than tripled last year as the company's F3 sedan topped the country's list of best-selling autos.
  • Nigeria: Explosions heard during amnesty talks(AP) (2010-03-15 10:39:24)
    AP - Twin explosions rocked a government building in Nigeria's restive and oil-rich Niger Delta region Monday, only minutes after a militant group promised to attack amnesty talks being held there, a government spokesman said.
  • Gov't says it cannot explain runaway Prius(AP) (2010-03-15 10:15:17)
    AP - The federal government said Monday it cannot explain a reported incident of sudden, high-speed acceleration in a Toyota Prius on a San Diego, Calif., freeway last week.
  • EU rescue fund a 'long term' possibility: Almunia(AFP) (2010-03-15 10:09:11)
    AFP - An emergency fund to rescue eurozone economies could be a "long-term" possibility, the European Union's Commissioner for Competition Joaquin Almunia said Monday.
  • UBS faces tax queries from Australia, Britain, Canada(AFP) (2010-03-15 09:54:40)
    AFP - Swiss banking giant UBS said Monday that Australian, British and Canadian tax authorities have filed requests for information after it settled a massive tax evasion case with US authorities.
  • Tax rises hit Greece as EU to discuss debt crisis(AP) (2010-03-15 09:04:31)
    AP - A wave of new consumer price hikes has hit Greece as European Union finance ministers gathered in Brussels to discuss the country's debt crisis.
  • London stocks open on stable note(AFP) (2010-03-15 08:46:18)
    AFP - Shares in London were flat at the start of trade on Monday as investors remained cautious about the state of the global economy.
  • Chinese automaker BYD plans massive expansion(AFP) (2010-03-15 08:06:58)
    AFP - Chinese automaker BYD Co. said Monday it had massive expansion plans this year and would consider building a plant in the United States, a day after announcing annual profits had tripled.
  • Stocks slip amid China, sovereign debt jitters(Reuters) (2010-03-15 07:20:43)
    Reuters - Asian stocks fell from near seven-week highs on Monday as a currency spat between China and the United States and worries about sovereign debt combined to keep investors away from riskier assets.
  • Vermont dairy farmer talks about immigration probe(AP) (2010-03-15 07:06:27)
    AP - A Vermont dairy farmer who was among those targeted in a federal crackdown on undocumented workers says he thought three illegal workers had proper documentation.
  • Toyota to build Prius at 3rd Japan plant: report(Reuters) (2010-03-15 05:10:22)
    Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp will start making the Prius hybrid model at a third Japanese factory from September in a bid to shorten delivery time to customers, the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun newspaper said on Monday.
  • Oil falls below $81 amid weak US crude demand(AP) (2010-03-15 04:59:34)
    AP - Oil prices fell below $81 a barrel Monday in Asia amid investor concerns flagging U.S. crude demand doesn't justify the recent rally.
  • Asian stocks fall after mixed US economic reports(AP) (2010-03-15 04:48:03)
    AP - Asian stocks slid Monday after mixed economic reports about the U.S. economy inspired caution among investors.
  • Survey: Readers don't want to pay for news online(AP) (2010-03-15 04:10:29)
    AP - Getting people to pay for news online at this point would be "like trying to force butterflies back into their cocoons," a new consumer survey suggests.
  • Talks start in Australia on Pacific trade deal(Reuters) (2010-03-15 03:45:14)
    Reuters - Officials from eight nations including the United States began talks on a transpacific trade deal on Monday in a move Australia said could add momentum to stalled World Trade Organization talks.
  • Lawyer rebuts doubts about runaway Prius driver(AP) (2010-03-15 00:50:14)
    AP - The mystery surrounding a Toyota Prius whose driver reported a stuck accelerator deepened Sunday as the motorist's attorney dismissed a congressional memo that questions his client's version of events.
  • Abu Dhabi SWF sees more global "uncertainty" in 2010(Reuters) (2010-03-14 23:51:36)
    Reuters - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), considered the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, said the global economy still faces "considerable uncertainty," in its first annual review aimed at enhancing transparency.
  • Studies: Intense treatment doesn't help diabetics(AP) (2010-03-14 23:20:51)
    AP - Key results from a landmark federal study are in, and the results are disappointing for diabetics: Adding drugs to drive blood pressure and blood-fats lower than current targets did not prevent heart problems, and in some cases caused harmful side effects.
  • Social Security to start cashing Uncle Sam's IOUs(AP) (2010-03-14 23:19:56)
    AP - The retirement nest egg of an entire generation is stashed away in this small town along the Ohio River: $2.5 trillion in IOUs from the federal government, payable to the Social Security Administration.
  • Sarkozy's party humbled by leftists in French vote(AP) (2010-03-14 22:28:42)
    AP - French voters scarred by economic crisis dealt President Nicolas Sarkozy and his conservative leadership a stern blow Sunday by strongly favoring leftist candidates in regional elections, according to near-complete official results.
  • Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund starts to open up(AP) (2010-03-14 22:27:26)
    AP - The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority broke with its customary privacy by issuing its first yearly statement Monday, marking one of the biggest steps yet by the world's largest sovereign wealth fund to increase transparency.
  • `Alice' extends her No. 1 stay with $62 million(AP) (2010-03-14 22:25:59)
    AP - Alice is still ruling the movie palace.
  • Dodd seeking middle ground on new financial rules(AP) (2010-03-14 20:33:04)
    AP - The senator trying to rewrite the nation's financial industry rules is dropping plans to create a stand-alone consumer financial protection agency and give a single regulator the power to oversee all banks, according to people familiar with the evolving proposal.
  • Amazon reacts to new Colo tax, costing affiliates(AP) (2010-03-14 19:27:48)
    AP - Kristie McNealy blogs from her suburban Denver home about raising four children and health issues. Her husband, Rob, a floor installer, runs another Web site offering product reviews and advice on hardwood floors.
  • Fed may hint at how long rates will stay at lows(AP) (2010-03-14 18:57:54)
    AP - Federal Reserve policymakers may signal at their meeting this week how and when the improving economy will lead them to start raising record-low interest rates.
  • Conn. would waive student loans in 'green' jobs(AP) (2010-03-14 18:55:58)
    AP - Paul Goulet hopes Connecticut will help him get from under nearly $8,000 he's borrowed for college after losing his job in a paper manufacturing plant.
  • Dem House vote-counter lacks health care votes now(AP) (2010-03-14 18:54:14)
    AP - The House's chief Democratic headcounter said Sunday he hadn't rounded up enough votes to pass President Barack Obama's health care overhaul heading into a make-or-break week, even as the White House's top political adviser said he was "absolutely confident" in its prospects.
  • Regulators accused of lax oversight at LA oilfield(AP) (2010-03-14 18:31:13)
    AP - This sprawling metropolis is built atop one of the richest oil basins in the world. Wells dot the city landscape, some hidden behind hollow building facades much like a Hollywood movie set, or, in the case of Beverly Hills High School, encased in a tower painted with flowers.
  • Summary Box: How will the Fed signal higher rates?(AP) (2010-03-14 17:48:29)
    AP - SMOKE SIGNALS: Federal Reserve policymakers may signal at their meeting this week how and when the mending economy will lead them to start raising record-low interest rates.
  • China oil firm takes $3.1B stake in SAmerican firm(AP) (2010-03-14 16:23:30)
    AP - Leading offshore producer China National Offshore Oil Corp. said Sunday it has agreed to pay $3.1 billion to form a joint-venture with a major Argentine energy firm, helping to expand China's access to natural resources in South America.
  • Greek bailout tops EU finance ministers' agenda(Reuters) (2010-03-14 16:03:19)
    Reuters - Finance ministers from countries using the euro hope to agree on Monday on a way of providing heavily indebted Greece with financial aid, despite French and German doubts that a deal will be reached.
  • US looks to Shanghai Expo to help ease distrust(AP) (2010-03-14 15:54:05)
    AP - For millions of Chinese, the USA pavilion's show at the Shanghai World Expo will be the closest they'll ever come to an experience of America. What they'll get — apart from long waits — is a warm welcome and a dose of Hollywood-style entertainment.
  • Memo: Investigators can't replicate runaway Prius(AP) (2010-03-14 15:50:53)
    AP - Investigators with Toyota Motor Corp. and the federal government could not replicate the runaway speeding reported by a Prius owner who said his car's accelerator stuck as he drove on a California freeway, according to a memo drafted for a congressional panel.
  • "No need" for Greek bailout decision - German finance minister(Reuters) (2010-03-14 14:45:30)
    Reuters - German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said there was no reason for Euro zone finance ministers to make any decision on financial aid for debt-ridden Greece when they met on Monday.
  • Boehner determined to kill Dem health care bill(AP) (2010-03-14 13:23:22)
    AP - The top House Republican says the GOP can defeat the Democratic health care bill that may reach the House floor this coming week.
  • Stock market dips 'linked to heart attack surge'(AFP) (2010-03-14 09:36:20)
    AFP - Doctors have found a relation between stock market fluctuations and heart attack frequency, a preliminary study by North Carolina's Duke University Medical Center has said.
  • China PM defends assertive trade, foreign policy(AP) (2010-03-14 09:08:03)
    AP - China vowed Sunday to remain alert to any renewed signs of economic crisis and forcefully defended its currency, trade and more assertive foreign policies as helping global rebalancing, not undermining it.
  • China promises steps to boost imports(AP) (2010-03-14 06:58:57)
    AP - China's premier promised Sunday to increase imports to promote trade and appealed to other nations to oppose what he said was rising global protectionism.
  • APNewsBreak: Probe questions runaway Prius story(AP) (2010-03-14 06:28:53)
    AP - Investigators with Toyota Motor Corp. and the federal government were unable to make a Toyota Prius speed out of control as its owner said it did on a California freeway, according to a draft memorandum obtained Saturday by The Associated Press that casts doubt on the driver's story.
  • China wants US reassurance over dollar(AP) (2010-03-14 05:01:38)
    AP - China's premier expressed concern about the U.S. dollar and called on Washington on Sunday to take "concrete steps" to reassure Beijing about the safety of its huge Treasury bond holdings.
  • Premier: China's yuan to remain `basically stable'(AP) (2010-03-14 04:59:45)
    AP - China's premier rejected foreign pressure over its exchange rate controls and said Sunday the Chinese currency will be kept "basically stable."
  • France's Lagarde not expecting decision on Greece(Reuters) (2010-03-14 01:26:08)
    Reuters - French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said on Saturday that she does not expect Euro zone finance ministers to make any decision on financial help for Greece when they meet next week.
  • New Sen. Brown bashes Obama's 'bitter' health push(AP) (2010-03-14 00:51:47)
    AP - Newly arrived Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts accused President Barack Obama and Democrats on Saturday of a "bitter, destructive and endless" drive to pass health overhaul legislation that Brown warned would be disastrous.
  • China's new generation picky about factory jobs(AP) (2010-03-13 16:11:39)
    AP - Factory worker Chen Qinghai frowned as he looked at a tall bulletin board full of help-wanted notices from companies making everything from photocopiers and DVD drives to mobile phones and car parts.
  • Senate, Obama spar over health plan's pet projects(AP) (2010-03-13 15:26:48)
    AP - President Barack Obama says he wants projects helping specific states yanked from the health care bill Congress is writing. Democratic senators, being senators, beg to differ.
  • Kuwait's Investment Dar files for legal protection(AFP) (2010-03-13 15:23:43)
    AFP - Investment Dar, the troubled Kuwaiti firm that owns half of luxury British carmaker Aston Martin, said on Saturday it has filed for legal protection under Kuwait's financial stability law.
  • Euro finance ministers to agree on Greek aid: source(Reuters) (2010-03-13 15:18:53)
    Reuters - Euro zone finance ministers are likely to agree on Monday on a mechanism for aiding Greece financially, if it is required, but will leave out any sums until Athens asks for them, an EU source said on Saturday.
  • Police: Suspect in poker heist released(AP) (2010-03-13 14:56:13)
    AP - Berlin police said Saturday they had released a man previously suspected of taking part in the storming last weekend of a poker tournament in which armed robbers made off with euro240,000 ($328,000) in jackpot money.
  • New Sen. Brown bashes Obama's `bitter' health push(AP) (2010-03-13 14:55:49)
    AP - Newly arrived Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts accused President Barack Obama and Democrats on Saturday of a "bitter, destructive and endless" drive to pass health overhaul legislation that Brown warned would be disastrous.
  • Economy the focus as China political session ends(AP) (2010-03-13 14:25:53)
    AP - Mao Zedong's grandson couldn't have put it more simply. China's biggest challenge? "Economic development," he said, as the nation's most public political meetings end with sweeping goals to expand growth — and help more Chinese enjoy it.
  • UBS may return to commodities in 2010: report(Reuters) (2010-03-13 13:11:46)
    Reuters - UBS is considering possibly returning to its commodities business this year, some of which it sold during the financial crisis, a Swiss newspaper said on Saturday, citing the co-head of UBS's investment bank.
  • Kuwait Dar seeks government support(Reuters) (2010-03-13 13:02:20)
    Reuters - Kuwait's Investment Dar , which owns half of British carmaker Aston Martin, is applying for support under a government facility set up for troubled companies as part of a debt restructuring.
  • GOP warns again against passing health bill(AP) (2010-03-13 12:40:57)
    AP - Newly arrived Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts accused President Barack Obama and Democrats on Saturday of a "bitter, destructive and endless" drive to pass health overhaul legislation that Brown warned would be disastrous.
  • China to bid on US high-speed rail projects(AP) (2010-03-13 12:39:59)
    AP - China plans to bid for contracts to build U.S. high-speed train lines and is stepping up exports of rail technology to Europe and Latin America, a government official said Saturday.
  • Senators resist Obama over projects in health bill(AP) (2010-03-13 10:42:05)
    AP - President Barack Obama says he wants projects helping specific states yanked from the health care bill Congress is writing. Democratic senators, being senators, beg to differ.
  • China gov't advisers urge steady economy(AP) (2010-03-13 10:37:57)
    AP - China's top parliamentary adviser said Saturday that keeping the economy stable and steady must remain the government's biggest priority this year.
  • California sues Toyota for hiding defects(AFP) (2010-03-13 10:15:07)
    AFP - A California prosecutor has filed a civil lawsuit against Toyota, accusing the Japanese carmaker of intentionally hiding deadly defects from consumers.
  • German finance ministry unaware of Greek bailout deal(Reuters) (2010-03-13 07:38:09)
    Reuters - The German Finance Ministry said on Saturday it was not aware of any agreement by euro zone members to provide a multi-billion euro bailout package for heavily indebted Greece.
  • Wall Street faces Fed meeting with momentum(AFP) (2010-03-13 06:17:01)
    AFP - Wall Street stocks are set to build on nearly year-and-a-half highs as they face next week's key economic reports and the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting.
  • Nortel sales decline as customers cut spending(Reuters) (2010-03-13 01:52:57)
    Reuters - Bankrupt Nortel Networks Corp on Friday posted a 62 percent drop in quarterly revenue, as customers cut spending in the face of uncertainty about its bankruptcy proceedings and the shaky economy.
  • Orange County prosecutor sues Toyota over defects(AP) (2010-03-13 01:45:01)
    AP - The Orange County district attorney has filed a lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corp., accusing the automaker of knowingly selling hundreds of thousands of vehicles with acceleration defects.
  • Nortel Networks posts profit in 4Q(AP) (2010-03-13 01:08:35)
    AP - Bankrupt telecom equipment maker Nortel Networks Corp. said Friday it posted a profit in the fourth quarter, thanks to a large gain related to an asset sale.
  • Examiner unveils Lehman accounting tricks(AP) (2010-03-13 01:02:53)
    AP - An accounting gimmick called Repo 105 provided financial relief for Lehman Brothers in the months before its spectacular collapse, an autopsy of the once-venerable Wall Street house has found. The question now is whether the trickery spells legal jeopardy for executives of Lehman or its auditors Ernst & Young.
  • Euro zone agrees bailout for Greece: report(Reuters) (2010-03-13 01:02:05)
    Reuters - The euro zone has agreed a multi-billion euro bailout for heavily indebted Greece as part of a package to support the euro, the Guardian newspaper reported on Saturday.
  • Runaway Prius case presents nagging questions(AP) (2010-03-13 00:19:20)
    AP - Investigators are confronted with a series of nagging questions as they try to unravel the case of a California real estate agent who said his Toyota Prius turned into a runaway death trap after the gas pedal became stuck.
  • GOP's Ryan Dissects ObamaCare, Lays Out 'Roadmap' To Health(Investor's Business Daily) (2010-03-13 00:12:00)
    Investor's Business Daily - Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., took the national stage last month as he cut down Democratic health care plans point by point. If the GOP should win back the House In November, Ryan will become chairman of the House Budget Committee. And he has lots of ideas. He recently updated his "Roadmap for America's Future" to address many issues, including the budget deficit, entitlement programs, the tax system and health care.
  • Middle-class NYC apartment complex sold at auction(AP) (2010-03-12 23:43:11)
    AP - The developer of a high profile middle-class Harlem apartment complex has lost ownership of the property after defaulting on the mortgage.
  • Regulators shut banks in NY, Florida, Louisiana(AP) (2010-03-12 23:37:14)
    AP - Regulators on Friday shut down banks in New York, Florida and Louisiana, raising to 30 the number of failures this year of federally insured banks.
  • Summary Box: Stocks cap week with modest moves(AP) (2010-03-12 23:32:10)
    AP - QUIET DAY: Major stock market indexes were little changed a day after the Standard & Poor's 500 index closed at a 17-month high. Mixed reports on consumer sentiment and retail sales kept trading subdued.
  • Summary Box: Retail sales post surprising gain(AP) (2010-03-12 23:29:41)
    AP - RETAIL SALES: Retail sales rose 0.3 percent in February, surprising economists who had forecast a decline because of their expectation that major snowstorms would keep consumers away from stores.
  • Hot pursuit: Competition heats up for police cars(AP) (2010-03-12 22:58:51)
    AP - Ford Motor Co. wants to remain the top gun in the U.S. police car market with a new cruiser due out next year, but its competitors are in hot pursuit.
  • Union Pacific CEO seeing signs of better business(AP) (2010-03-12 22:58:28)
    AP - The CEO of Union Pacific said Friday that shipments carried by the nation's biggest railroad are stronger than expected this year, but are still a long way from full recovery.
  • Business Highlights(AP) (2010-03-12 22:54:46)
    AP - Retail sales show surprising gain in February
  • Oil-Dri board approves additional share buy-backs(AP) (2010-03-12 22:45:48)
    AP - Cat litter maker Oil-Dri Corp. of America said Friday its board approved the repurchase of 250,000 more shares and declared a quarterly dividend on common and Class B shares.
  • Whirlpool, Zumiez, LTX-Credence are big movers(AP) (2010-03-12 22:34:05)
    AP - Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Friday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market:
  • Summary Box: Obama mulls choices for Fed vacancies(AP) (2010-03-12 22:24:17)
    AP - RESHAPING THE FED: President Barack Obama needs to fill three vacancies at the Federal Reserve. Janet Yellen, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, is his top pick to be vice chairman.
  • Stocks end mixed after mixed economic reports(AP) (2010-03-12 22:22:24)
    AP - Mixed economic reports held the stock market to only modest moves Friday but gains for the week were strong.
  • Regulators shut down Park Avenue Bank in New York(AP) (2010-03-12 22:18:46)
    AP - Regulators shut down Park Avenue Bank in New York Friday, marking the 28th failure this year of a federally insured bank.
  • Yellen at Fed would likely favor low-rate policy(AP) (2010-03-12 22:17:43)
    AP - President Barack Obama's likely choice of Janet Yellen to become vice chairman of the Federal Reserve would favor a policy that stresses low interest rates to ease unemployment over higher rates to curb inflation.
  • WaMu reaches settlement with JPMorgan, FDIC(AP) (2010-03-12 22:07:09)
    AP - Washington Mutual Inc. has tentatively resolved disputes with JPMorgan Chase & Co. and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. over some $4 billion at issue in the bank holding company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a WaMu attorney said Friday.
  • Democrats look to resurrect college aid plan(AP) (2010-03-12 22:05:38)
    AP - Congressional Democrats want a stalled overhaul of college aid programs to get strapped onto a fast-track health care bill, giving both Obama administration priorities a better chance of passage.
  • Yellen leads picks for Fed seat(Reuters) (2010-03-12 21:59:03)
    Reuters - San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Janet Yellen, a monetary policy dove, tops President Barack Obama's list to be No. 2 at U.S. central bank, the White House said on Friday.
  • Borrowers wait for answers on Obama loan plan(AP) (2010-03-12 21:34:05)
    AP - Hundreds of thousands of homeowners are in limbo waiting to find out if they will be accepted for the Obama administration's foreclosure prevention program.
  • Retail sales rise as shoppers fight winter blues(Reuters) (2010-03-12 21:32:55)
    Reuters - U.S. retail sales rose unexpectedly last month despite heavy snow storms that were thought to have kept shoppers at home and bolstered hopes of a sustainable economic recovery.
  • Nucor CEO's pay package falls 43 percent(AP) (2010-03-12 21:31:11)
    AP - An Associated Press calculation finds that steel maker Nucor Corp. paid its CEO fell 43 percent last year as it eliminated cash bonuses for executives to help it weather the recession.
  • Retail sales show surprising gain in February(AP) (2010-03-12 21:30:48)
    AP - Retail sales posted a surprising increase in February as consumers refused to let snowstorms stop them from stepping up purchases for everything from clothes to appliances. The improvement provided hope that the recovery from the Great Recession is gaining momentum.
  • Adobe CEO 2009 pay package down 68 percent(AP) (2010-03-12 21:10:53)
    AP - Shantanu Narayen, the president and CEO of software maker Adobe Systems Inc., was awarded compensation valued at $5.2 million in fiscal 2009, a 68 percent decline in a year that saw the recession weaken demand for its products.
  • Young war veterans returning home to unemployment(AP) (2010-03-12 21:09:28)
    AP - The unemployment rate last year for young Iraq and Afghanistan veterans hit 21.1 percent, the Labor Department said Friday, reflecting a tough obstacle combat veterans face as they make the transition home from war.
  • Louisiana job outlook improves somewhat in January(AP) (2010-03-12 20:08:53)
    AP - Louisiana's job picture improved somewhat in January, despite the loss of retail jobs for the Christmas season and jobs temporarily held by students, the Louisiana Workforce Commission reported Friday.
  • Slow financial regulatory reform irks industry(Reuters) (2010-03-12 19:54:36)
    Reuters - The pace of financial regulatory reform remains slow even as the global economy struggles to recover from a crisis that many say was caused by inadequacies in the current system, attendees at an annual financial conference said this week.
  • KKR to list shares on NYSE(AP) (2010-03-12 19:17:31)
    AP - KKR & Co. LP, the parent of private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts said Friday that it plans to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
  • Verizon to list on Nasdaq as well as NYSE(AP) (2010-03-12 17:48:10)
    AP - Verizon Communications Inc. said Friday it will list its stock on the Nasdaq exchange along with its existing New York Stock Exchange listing.
  • FTSE shares close higher(AFP) (2010-03-12 17:29:13)
    AFP - FTSE 100 shares ended slightly higher on Friday on news that retail sales in the United States rose unexpectedly in February for the second straight month.
  • KKR files for long-awaited NYSE listing(Reuters) (2010-03-12 16:01:40)
    Reuters - Private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co has filed to list $2.2 billion in shares on the New York Stock Exchange, moving forward in its long effort to become a publicly traded U.S. company.
  • US retail sales give world stocks another lift(AP) (2010-03-12 15:10:03)
    AP - LONDON AP) — European and U.S. stock markets rose Friday after better than expected figures on both sides of the Atlantic helped ease concerns about the pace of economic recovery.
  • European stock markets gain ground(AFP) (2010-03-12 11:58:28)
    AFP - Europe's main stock markets rose Friday as investors awaited crucial economic data and tracked US attempts to rein in the banking sector, dealers said.
  • SEC head urges Congress to act on derivatives(AP) (2010-03-12 01:31:30)
    AP - The government's top securities regulator called Thursday for Congress to impose new oversight on financial derivatives, warning that allowing risky instruments like credit default swaps to continue unfettered could bring further economic damage.