Reuters - Stocks of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the largest U.S. housing finance companies, rallied for a third straight day on Wednesday as investors grew more confident their shareholdings would not be wiped out by any government intervention.

Reuters - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing the now-bankrupt mortgage lender IndyMac Bancorp Inc of inflating the appraised values of homes and misleading borrowers into paying higher closing and financing costs.

Reuters - Stocks rose on Wednesday, led by a rally in financial shares, after surprisingly strong data on durable goods orders soothed some concern about the economy.

Reuters - The Federal Reserve must be "very vigilant" amid strained financial markets while exercising patience over interest rates as it waits for inflation to ease, a top Fed policy-maker said on Wednesday.

Reuters - Apparel retailers Chico's FAS Inc and American Eagle Outfitters Inc posted better-than-expected profits on Tuesday despite taking deep markdowns to lure shoppers of all ages, sending their shares higher.

Reuters - Dutch brewer Heineken NV first-half operating profit rose 7.4 percent, and it said on Wednesday it had managed to pass on higher costs to most markets apart from the United States, despite weaker economies.

Reuters - A weakening global economy will blunt cellphone market sales growth this year, research firm Gartner said on Wednesday.

Reuters - The New York attorney general's office is probing the relationship between Fidelity Investments and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in connection with the sale of auction-rate securities, the Wall Street Journal said, citing a person familiar with the investigation.

Reuters - Lehman Brothers has asked three private equity firms to remain in bidding for its asset management arm even though the investment bank has yet decide on whether to sell the unit, the Financial Times reported.

Reuters - Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) might have to borrow money from the Treasury Department to see it through an expected wave of bank failures, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Reuters - Cautious apparel buyers are foregoing orders to be delivered months down the road and instead are buying for the moment, unwilling to take on excess inventory and unsure over what the future holds.

Reuters - Apparel retailers Chico's FAS Inc and American Eagle Outfitters Inc posted sharply lower profits on Tuesday, hurt by weaker sales and by increased markdowns needed to move unsold merchandise.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Tuesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting showed officials were concerned about slower consumer and business spending.

Reuters - Consumer confidence recovered more than expected in August as fears over inflation eased, while financial markets combed through housing data for reasons to hope the worst is over for the moribund sector.