Stock Markets News
SEC head urges Congress to act on derivatives
(AP)
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.
SEC head prods Congress on derivatives rules
(Reuters)
Reuters - The top U.S. securities regulator said market watchdogs need to supervise credit default swaps, securities blamed for exacerbating 2008's market meltdown and more recently the Greek debt crisis.
How the major stock indexes fared on Thursday
(AP)
AP - A rally in financial stocks Thursday helped the market extend its grind higher to a third day.
Stocks climb for 3rd day as financial shares rise
(AP)
AP - A rally in financial stocks Thursday helped the market extend its grind higher to a third day.
A look at global economic developments
(AP)
AP - A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world Thursday:
Stocks up for 3rd day; financial shares rise
A rally in financial stocks helped the market extend its grind higher to a third day. Standard & Poor's 500 index closed just above its January peak to set a new 17-month high.
Business - Investing - Stocks and Bonds - Equities - Research and Analysis
Big majority wants Wall Street regulation
An overwhelming majority of Americans wants Wall Street subjected to tougher regulation in the aftermath of the bank bailout and the bonus scandals, according to a poll.
Wall Street - United States - Business - Financial services - Banks and Institutions
Americans' wealth up for 3rd straight quarter
Americans regained more of their shrunken wealth last quarter, mainly because the economy boosted stock portfolios. But the gain was less than in the previous two quarters.
United State - Business - Wealth - Recession - Republican
New jobless claims fall less than expected
The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment insurance fell slightly less than expected last week, a government report showed on Thursday, hinting at a slow labor market recovery.
United States - Jobless claims - Unemployment benefits - Labour economics - Business
Trade gap shrinks as auto, oil imports drop
The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in January, reflecting a big drop in imports of oil and foreign cars. American exports also fell.
Balance of trade - United States - Balance of payments - Business - International Business and Trade