AP - Greek, Spanish and Portuguese stocks led European markets lower Wednesday amid mounting skepticism about the Greek government's ability to get a grip on its finances as workers there threatened strike action against austerity measures.
AFP - Early gains on the London stock market were wiped out Wednesday after US private-sector job data showed that the economy still had some way to go before unemployment could be expected to fall.
Reuters - U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday after President Barack Obama reiterated his commitment to overhaul the healthcare system and impose stricter regulatory reforms on Wall Street.
Reuters - A federal court dismissed fraud claims brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against three Cohmad Securities Corp executives accused of helping Bernard Madoff conduct a $65 billion Ponzi scheme. -- read full article
Reuters - Stocks rallied for a second day on Tuesday as better-than-expected earnings and encouraging data calmed investors after the market's recent sell-off.
AP - The following stocks were among those that moved substantially or traded heavily Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market: -- read full article
AP - Signs of strength in the housing market pushed the Dow Jones industrial average to its second straight gain of more than 100 points. An increase in the number of people with contracts to buy homes and the first profit at homebuilder D.R. Horton in three years raised hopes that one of the weakest parts of the economy is improving. The National Association of Realtors said its index of sale contracts rose 1 percent in December. -- read full article
Investor's Business Daily - U.S. stock mutual funds started the new year flushed with red ink, even as uplifting news was brewing that the economy grew at an annual rate of 5.7% in the fourth quarter -- the fastest pace in six years. -- read full article
AP - Finding accusations "speculative and flimsy," a judge has dismissed civil securities fraud charges against a New York brokerage firm and its executives that resulted from a probe into Bernard Madoff's epic fraud.
Reuters - Oil bounced back above $77 on Wednesday, reaching its highest level in almost two weeks, as recovery optimism drove Asian stock markets higher, led by China.
AP - World stock markets jumped Wednesday, following Wall Street higher after encouraging reports about the beleaguered U.S. housing sector helped restore confidence in an economic recovery.
Bloomberg - Feb. 1 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama’s budget would
boost U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission funding 11 percent
to $1.23 billion to help the agency improve technology and hire
staff with expertise in financial products. -- read full article
