S&P 500 hits 17-month high as banks lift Wall St

March 12th, 2010

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 hit a 17-month closing high as rising bank shares led a late rally that lifted stocks on Thursday, more than offsetting worries China may move to cool its overheating economy.


Examiner sees gimmicks in Lehman demise

March 12th, 2010

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc used accounting gimmicks and had been insolvent for weeks before it filed for bankruptcy in September 2008, but there was not extensive wrongdoing, a court-appointed examiner has found.


Bank reform talks fail, Dodd to go solo

March 12th, 2010

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chances of a broad overhaul of U.S. financial regulation dimmed on Thursday after bipartisan Senate talks collapsed, jeopardizing a top Obama administration priority and boosting bank share prices.


Obama to tap Yellen for Fed vice chair: source

March 12th, 2010

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama plans to nominate San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Janet Yellen to be vice chairman of the central bank, a source familiar with the process said on Thursday.


Toyota discounts boost sales, U.S. mulls “black box”

March 12th, 2010

DETROIT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Unprecedented discounts after a series of damaging recalls boosted Toyota Motor Corp’s U.S. sales in early March, as U.S. regulators weighed new auto safety measures.


Citigroup sees return to sustained profitability

March 12th, 2010

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc Chief Executive Vikram Pandit told investors on Thursday the bank is on track to return to sustained profitability and losses from some of its worst assets should be manageable if the economy does not deteriorate.


Movie “Avatar” has few fans among mining execs

March 12th, 2010

NEW YORK (Reuters) - It’s enough to make a mining executive grit his teeth or his kids to give him the silent treatment.


Fed seen keeping “extended period” low rate vow

March 12th, 2010

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lingering U.S. labor market weakness and nagging doubts about the solidity of the economic recovery are expected to keep the Federal Reserve committed to holding borrowing costs very low for a long time at a monetary policy meeting next week.


Jobless claims fall, trade gap narrows on oil

March 12th, 2010

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell only slightly last week, indicating a sluggish return to jobs growth. The U.S. trade gap shrank as oil imports fell.


BP to pay Devon $7 bln for fields

March 12th, 2010

LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - BP will pay $7 billion to Devon Energy for assets that will extend its reach into Brazil and bulk up its position in the Gulf of Mexico, as the world’s top oil companies look to acquisitions to refill depleting reserves.