Breaking News

Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:08:04 -0400

U.S. President Barack Obama declares the U.S. combat mission in Iraq
over, pledging continued commitment to Iraq.

Markets, Tuesday, 08/31/2010

Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:56:48 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,014.72 up 4.99. | S & P : 1,049.33 up 0.41
|
|NASDAQ: 2,114.03 down 5.94 | Bond (10Y): 2.48% down 0.068
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks end August with a whimper
All three major gauges end the month with losses. Investors mull Fed
meeting minutes and relatively upbeat economic news.

Stocks fall, giving up early gains, after Fed minutes show conflict over economic policy. Dow, S&P and Nasdaq end the month lower.

Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:02:05 -0400

Stocks fall, giving up early gains, after Fed minutes show conflict
over economic policy. Dow, S&P and Nasdaq end the month lower.

SAKS MAY GET A $1.7 BILLION BID: REPORT

Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:51 -0400

SAKS MAY GET A $1.7 BILLION BID: REPORT
The luxury retailer Saks could soon be on the receiving end of a $1.7
billion cash bid from a group of U.S. and U.K. private-equity firms,
according to a media report.

HERMES INTERNATIONAL'S FIRST-HALF PROFIT RISES 55%
Hermes International SCA, the Paris luxury-goods producer, reported
Tuesday a 55% surge in first-half net profit, buoyed by strong sales
in Asia.

RETAIL GIANT CARREFOUR SWINGS TO PROFIT
Carrefour, the world's second-largest retailer, posts a first-half net
profit and expresses confidence in meeting financial goals for the
year as its unveils changes in its hypermarket format.

FDIC says number of troubled banks in second quarter rises to 829 – highest since 1992.

Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:12:03 -0400

FDIC says number of troubled banks in second quarter rises to 829 –
highest since 1992.

Consumer confidence improved in August, beating economist forecasts. Index stands at 53.5, up from 51 in July.

Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:07:03 -0400

Consumer confidence improved in August, beating economist forecasts.
Index stands at 53.5, up from 51 in July.

Stocks open lower as investors remain jittery about the recovery. Dow drops 30 points. Nasdaq slides 0.4%. S&P 500 falls 0.3%.

Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:32:03 -0400

Stocks open lower as investors remain jittery about the recovery. Dow
drops 30 points. Nasdaq slides 0.4%. S&P 500 falls 0.3%.

International Headlines

Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:02:09 -0400

> DUTCH ARRESTS OVER AIRPORT SECURITY CONCERNS
Two men held in the Netherlands may have been trying to test
U.S. airport security by putting bottles with electronic devices
attached in checked bags, a source said.

> WORK DUE TO BEGIN ON MINE RESCUE SHAFT
Chilean officials plan to start drilling a rescue shaft Monday
as they begin a months-long operation to reach 33 miners trapped
underground since August 5.

> SOUTH AFRICA UPS OFFER TO STRIKERS
The South African government has increased its wage and housing
offers to striking workers, a union spokesman said.

> UPDATE EXPECTED ON STALLED GULF CLEANUP
Thad Allen, the government's point man on the BP oil disaster,
and Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser will meet
Tuesday before briefing the public on the cleanup effort.

> KENYA, AFRICAN UNION DEFEND BASHIR VISIT
Kenya and the African Union are defending a visit by Sudanese
President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted on allegations of war
crimes and genocide.

> U.S. EXPANDS SANCTIONS ON NORTH KOREA
U.S. President Barack Obama issued an executive order to impose
financial sanctions on North Korean entities and individuals
doing business with and for the secretive nation.

> S. KOREA OFFERS FLOOD AID TO N. KOREA
South Korea's Red Cross has offered $8.4 million in flood aid to
North Korea, the Yonhap news agency said Tuesday.

> ISRAELI PM HEADS FOR PEACE TALKS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves for Washington,
D.C., on Tuesday with the goal to "seriously and responsibly"
advance a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

~~~~~~~~~~~
BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~
> WHY ARE CHINA BANK RESULTS SO SIMILAR?
China's big banks are all majority owned by the state, their top
executives are mostly former central bankers. But even for such
a homogenous industry their first-half profit results looked
eerily similar.

> CEO PAY HITS FRESH PR MINEFIELD
Is a chief executive's job 19 times more valuable than that of
the US president and hundreds of times more valuable than the
average worker in his or her company?

> AIRLINES' SHARES SOAR
Airline share prices have risen more than 70 per cent from their
lowest point at the beginning of last year, outperforming the
broader equity market, as investors bet on a strong recovery in
the highly cyclical aviation business.

Markets, Monday, 08/30/2010

Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:09:38 -0400

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| Dow : 10,009.73 down 140.92 | S & P : 1,048.92 down 15.67 |
| NASDAQ: 2,119.97 down 33.66 | Bond (10Y): 2.54% down 0.107
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks drop as fear returns
Worries about the U.S. economic recovery overshadow billion-dollar
corporate deals and Bank of Japan's new monetary-easing policies.

Genzyme rejects Sanofi-Aventis buyout offer

Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:00:51 -0400

Genzyme rejects Sanofi-Aventis buyout offer
Genzyme formally rejects a $69-a-share buyout offer made by
Sanofi-Aventis, saying it undervalues the biotechnology company.

DOLLAR GAINS ON EURO; YEN RISES BROADLY
Japan's yen advances after an emergency easing by the Bank of Japan
failed to stem recent strength in the currency. The dollar mostly
gains but loses ground agains the yen.

U.S. STOCKS FALTER AS INVESTORS FIXATE ON ECONOMY
Wall Street trades broadly lower to start off a week that culminates
with the U.S. employment report for August.

ISRAEL STOCKS SLIP; PARTNER RISES AFTER REPORT
Israeli stocks edge lower on Monday, with strength in Ratio Oil and
Israel Chemicals offset by weakness among the banks, the chemicals
companies and the drugmakers.

SALARIES AND WAGES ARE RISING, BUT NOT BY MUCH
After two years of holding back on salary raises, U.S. employers say
they plan bigger increases of workers' wages in 2011 -- but those
plans could change if the economy continues to falter.

International Headlines

Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:02:06 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 GMT -- 30 August, 2010

> DRILLING TO REACH TRAPPED CHILEAN MINERS SET TO BEGIN
Chilean officials plan to start drilling a rescue shaft Monday
as they begin a months-long operation to reach 33 miners trapped
underground since August 5.

> BP STARTS FINAL STEP TO KILL GULF OIL WELL
More than three weeks after plugging its ruptured oil well with
cement and mud from above, BP plans to start a procedure Monday
that will pave the way for a permanent fix for the well.

> 9 DIE IN RUSSIAN RETIREMENT HOME FIRE
A fire at a retirement home northwest of Moscow killed nine
people early Monday morning, Russian state media said.

> BANK OF JAPAN TAKES STIMULUS STEPS
The Bank of Japan moved to halt the rise of the yen and support
the country's faltering economy by expanding a special bank
lending programme by half to Y30,000bn.

> MAYOR KILLED IN MEXICAN BORDER STATE
The mayor of a city in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas
was killed and his 10-year-old daughter was injured Sunday,
officials said.

> OVER 30 AFGHAN INSURGENTS KILLED
Afghan and coalition soldiers killed more than 30 insurgents,
including 13 would-be suicide bombers, as they fought off
assaults on two military bases and government buildings in
eastern Afghanistan, the NATO-led International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) said on Sunday.

> ALLEGED CRICKET BETTING SCAM MAN BAILED
UK police interviewed four members of the Pakistani cricket team
over allegations that gamblers fixed part of a match against
England, the Pakistani team manager says.

> NETANYAHU: ISRAEL'S GOAL IS PEACE
Israel's goal is to "responsibly and seriously promote a peace
agreement" in the upcoming direct talks with Palestinians,
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in his weekly
Cabinet meeting Sunday.

~~~~~~~~~~~
BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> GOOGLE PLANS PAY-PER-VIEW FILMS
Google's YouTube video site is in negotiations with Hollywood's
leading movie studios to launch a global pay-per-view video
service by the end of 2010, doing battle with Apple for digital
distribution.

> DOWNBEAT MOOD AT JACKSON HOLE
If the mood at Jackson Hole in 2008 was one of crisis, and 2009
sounded relief, the mood in 2010 was one of angst.

> THREE MEXICAN AIRLINES SHUT DOWN
Grupo Mexicana suspended operations at its three airlines
Saturday "until further notice," citing the financial problems
inherited when the group changed owners a week ago.

Markets, Friday, 08/27/2010

Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:31:05 -0400

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| Dow : 10,150.65 up 164.84 | S & P : 1,064.59 up 17.37
|
| NASDAQ: 2,153.63 up 34.94 | Bond (10Y): 2.65% up 0.153
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks shake off recovery jitters
Stocks rally as investors focus on GDP, taking Bernanke's cautious
comments and Intel's sales warning with a pinch of salt. Dow surges
165 points.

Stocks end with a bang - Dow gains 165 points - as Bernanke calms fears over lower GDP revision. Nasdaq and S&P 500 gain 1.6%.

Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:03:07 -0400

Stocks end with a bang - Dow gains 165 points - as Bernanke calms
fears over lower GDP revision. Nasdaq and S&P 500 gain 1.6%.

Stocks gain on Bernanke comments, GDP revision

Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:00:53 -0400

STOCKS GAIN ON BERNANKE COMMENTS, GDP REVISION
U.S. stocks rise Friday as investors digest comments from Federal
Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that the Fed is ready to fight deflation
and welcome a better-than-expected GDP revision.

BERNANKE TALKS TOUGH ON DEFLATION
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday that the
central bank would not sit idly and let the U.S. economy sink into a
period of deflation.

BERNANKE PUSHES BACK AT MORE EASING
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is not in any rush to further
ease monetary policy to stimulate the economy, writes Rex Nutting.

U.S. SECOND-QUARTER GROWTH SLOWS TO 1.6% RATE
The Commerce Department's downwardly revised estimate of
second-quarter growth in the U.S. economy comes in at 1.6% -- not as
bad as economists and investors had feared.

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE INCHES UP IN AUGUST
Consumer confidence rises slightly in August but still remains weak,
according to a report released Friday.

Bernanke says recovery has slowed, but expects growth to pick up in 2011. Says deflation is not a 'significant risk.'

Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:01:08 -0400

Bernanke says recovery has slowed, but expects growth to pick up in
2011. Says deflation is not a 'significant risk.'

Economy grew at a much slower pace in the second quarter than previously estimated; GDP revised sharply lower to 1.6% annual rate.

Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:32:04 -0400

Economy grew at a much slower pace in the second quarter than
previously estimated; GDP revised sharply lower to 1.6% annual rate.

Stocks pop at the open after revised GDP comes in better than expected. Dow up 74 points. Nasdaq gains 0.8%; S&P rises 0.5%.

Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:32:07 -0400

Stocks pop at the open after revised GDP comes in better than
expected. Dow up 74 points. Nasdaq gains 0.8%; S&P rises 0.5%.

Market Briefing Newsletter for Thursday, 08/26/2010

Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:31:04 -0400

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| Dow : 9,985.81 down 74.25 | S & P : 1,047.22 down 8.11
|
|NASDAQ: 2,118.69 down 22.85| Bond (10Y): 2.50% down 0.039
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks slump on slowdown fears
Stocks end lower as worries about the economy overshadow a report
showing initial jobless claims declined more than expected.

Stocks end lower, erasing earlier gains, as investors fret about a slowing economy ahead of GDP revision; Dow dips 74 points.

Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:03:04 -0400

Stocks end lower, erasing earlier gains, as investors fret about a
slowing economy ahead of GDP revision; Dow dips 74 points.

U.S. stocks turn lower as economic worries persist

Date: Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 12:00 PM

U.S. stocks turn lower as economic worries persist
Stocks bounce around in jumpy trading, but cling to modest gains as a drop in jobless claims takes some of the edge off concerns over a slowing U.S. economic recovery.

INITIAL JOBLESS CLAIMS DROP TO 473,000, U.S. SAYS
The number of people filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits falls for the first week in four, with the Labor Department pegging the decrease at 31,000 to put the number of applicants at 473,000 for the week ended Aug. 21. 

 

DROP IN JOBLESS CLAIMS SMALL COMFORT
The number of people filing for unemployment benefits declined for the first time in a month, a welcome spot of good news on the economy, writes Rex Nutting.  

DELL RAISES BID FOR 3PAR TO TRUMP H-P'S OFFER
Dell Inc. has raised its buyout offer for 3Par Inc. to $24.30 per share in cash, narrowly beating a bid submitted by arch-rival Hewlett Packard Inc. earlier in the week. 

Number of people filing for initial jobless benefits fell to 473,000 last week; down 31,000 from previous week.

Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:32:06 -0400

Number of people filing for initial jobless benefits fell to 473,000
last week; down 31,000 from previous week.

Stocks open higher after the number of people filing for initial jobless claims declines. Dow edges up 32 points. Nasdaq gains 0.3%.

Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:33:04 -0400

Stocks open higher after the number of people filing for initial
jobless claims declines. Dow edges up 32 points. Nasdaq gains 0.3%.

Markets, Wednesday, 08/25/2010

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:31:04 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,060.06 up 19.61 | S & P : 1,055.33 up 3.46
|
|NASDAQ: 2,141.54 up 17.78 | Bond (10Y): 2.54% up 0.039
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

MARKETS:
Stocks recover from housing blues
A government report showed an unexpected drop in new home sales, but
stocks struggle higher. Dow closes 20 points higher.

July new-home sales fall to record low pace

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:00:58 -0400

July new-home sales fall to record low pace
Sales of new homes in the United States fell to all-time record low in
July, as demand from consumers has dried up after tax breaks for
homebuyers expired in April, the Commerce Department estimated
Wednesday.

HOUSING STILL AT HEART OF OUR PROBLEMS
Four years after the housing bubble began to explode, it looks like
home owners may have to accept further losses before it's all over.

EXISTING-HOME SALES PLUNGE 27.2% IN JULY
The sale of existing U.S. homes sank 27.2% in July -- the biggest
one-month drop ever -- largely because of the phase-out of a federal
tax credit, according to an industry trade group.

U.S. DURABLE-GOODS ORDERS INCH UP 0.3%
Stronger demand for airplanes translate only into a 0.3% increase in
durable-goods orders in July, underscoring broad weakness in other
categories, the Commerce Department estimates.

Stocks open lower on more housing fears. Dow slips 24 points; Nasdaq slides 0.5%; S&P dips 0.3%.

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:32:03 -0400

Stocks open lower on more housing fears. Dow slips 24 points; Nasdaq
slides 0.5%; S&P dips 0.3%.

U.S. durable-goods orders rise a less-than-forecast 0.3% in July

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:35:29 -0400

U.S. durable-goods orders rise a less-than-forecast 0.3% in July
08/25/2010 08:33:49 AM EDT

Existing home sales plunge to annual rate of 3.83 million in July, realtor group says.

Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:04:04 -0400

Existing home sales plunge to annual rate of 3.83 million in July,
realtor group says.

Markets, Tuesday, 08/24/2010

Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:31:04 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,040.45 down 133.96 | S & P : 1,051.87 down 15.49 |
|NASDAQ: 2,123.76 down 35.87 | Bond (10Y): 2.50% down 0.108
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks lose big on home sales shock
Concerns about the economy trigger sell-off after a report shows
existing home sales plunged in July.

Existing-home sales plunge 27.2% in July

Date: Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 12:00 PM

Existing-home sales plunge 27.2% in July
The sale of existing U.S. homes sank 27.2% in July -- the biggest one-month drop ever -- largely because of the phase-out of a federal tax credit, according to an industry trade group. 

BOEHNER: GEITHNER AND SUMMERS SHOULD GO
President Barack Obama should call for the resignation of both Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Larry Summers, the head of the White House's national economic team, House Minority Leader John Boehner said Tuesday.  

ALASKA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA ON TAP FOR TUESDAY
The Republican ticket in the 2008 presidential election figures prominently in Tuesday's primaries as Sen. John McCain seeks to win again in Arizona and Sarah Palin's choice for a Senate seat faces an uphill climb in Alaska; In Florida, the winner of the Democratic nomination faces a tough race in November from both the Republican and independent tickets. 

Markets, Monday, 08/23/2010

Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:31:07 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,174.41 down 39.21 | S & P : 1,067.36 down 4.33
|
| NASDAQ: 2,159.63 down 20.13 | Bond (10Y): 2.61% down 0.005
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
BlackBerry crumble: Why RIM is in trouble
Shares of Research in Motion have been hit hard as investors worry
about disappointing Torch sales. Is RIM now a great bargain or is it
the next Palm?

HP outbids Dell for data-storage provider 3Par

Date: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 12:00 PM

HP outbids Dell for data-storage provider 3Par
Hewlett-Packard offers to buy data-storage provider 3Par for $1.6 billion, eclipsing an earlier agreement 3Par reached with Dell as the tech rivals strive to expand beyond their core businesses in personal computers.

POTASH IN TALKS WITH THIRD PARTIES TO FEND OFF BHP
Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. urged its shareholders on Monday to reject BHP Billiton's nearly $39 billion unsolicited bid and said it's in talks with third parties about an alternative.

SABMILLER MAY OFFER $10.9 BILLION FOR FOSTER'S
SABMiller PLC, the world's No. 2 beer maker, reportedly is considering spending up to $10.9 billion to acquire the beer operations of Foster's Group Ltd., the largest brewer in Australia, according to a media report Sunday. 

HSBC MAY BUY NEDBANK STAKE WORTH OVER $6 BILLION
HSBC Holdings is in exclusive talks to buy a majority stake in Nedbank, South Africa's fourth-largest lender, from U.K. insurance firm Old Mutual. A deal could command a price tag of more than $6 billion, as HSBC looks to position itself to capitalize on growing trade between Africa and Asia.

U.S. STOCKS ERASE GAINS AS DEAL EUPHORIA FADES
U.S. stocks fall slightly, erasing an earlier rally as investors return their focus to the weak economy while excitement over a burst of deal activity fades.

Markets, Friday, 08/20/2010

Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:32:04 -0400

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| Dow : 10,213.62 down 57.59 | S & P : 1,071.69 down 3.94
|
| NASDAQ: 2,179.76 up 0.81 | Bond (10Y): 2.61% up 0.033
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Dow and S&P post 2nd week of losses
Week's dismal data raise fears about the possibility of a double-dip recession.

U.S. stocks decline as economic woes linger

Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:00:54 -0400

U.S. STOCKS DECLINE AS ECONOMIC LINGER
U.S. stocks fall, paced by companies with strong international
exposure, as the euro sinks to a one-month low and the dollar surges.

POTASH REPORTEDLY SEEKS NEW OFFER TO COUNTER BHP
Canada's Potash is reportedly considering alliances with global
companies that could put together a competing offer to
Anglo-Australian miner BHP Billiton's hostile $38.6 billion bid for
the fertilizer giant.

KNOC LAUNCHES $2.9 BILLION HOSTILE BID FOR DANA
Korea National Oil Corp. goes hostile with its acquisition bid for the
U.K.'s Dana Petroleum, whose board rejected an earlier approach.

MCAFEE HAS WHAT INTEL WANTS: A RISING STOCK
Before you can fix something, you first have to recognize that it's
broken, writes Tomi Kilgore. That might be the best thing about Intel
Corp.'s bid to buy McAfee Inc.

TREASURY YIELDS FALL TO NEW LOWS ON SAFE-HAVEN BID
Treasury prices stake out fresh gains as yields shrink further,
playing off falling global stocks and U.S. equity futures as well as
selling in the euro against the dollar.

Losses steepen for U.S. stocks; Dow industrials slide 100 points at midday

Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:49:09 -0400

Losses steepen for U.S. stocks; Dow industrials slide 100 points at midday
08/20/2010 11:47:17 AM EDT

International Headlines

Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 05:02:06 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 GMT -- 20 August, 2010

> THAILAND TO HAND ARMS DEALER SUSPECT TO U.S.
A Thai court rules that suspected international arms dealer
Viktor Bout can be extradited to the U.S. to face charges
including illegally buying U.S. planes to move weapons.

> 'DEAD HEAT' ON EVE OF AUSTRALIAN ELECTION
On the last day of campaigning before voting begins in
Australia's national elections, a poll finds incumbent Prime
Minister Julia Gillard tied with challenger Tony Abbott.

> U.S. TO BOOST FLOOD AID FOR PAKISTAN
Washington announces additional aid as estimates for the number
of Pakistanis left homeless by massive flooding doubles to 4
million people.

> SECOND PLANE WITH ROMA TO LEAVE FRANCE
A second chartered flight carrying Roma, often referred as
Gypsies, is scheduled to leave France on Friday, a spokesman for
the nation's minister of immigration said.

> U.S. TROOP STRENGTH IN IRAQ DOWN TO 52K
The number of U.S. troops remaining in Iraq is about 52,000, the
U.S. military said Thursday.

> JEAN TO LEARN OF HAITI ELECTION ELIGIBILITY
Haiti's election commission said it will decide Friday whether
hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean is eligible to run for president.

> 12 INSURGENTS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN RAID
Afghan and coalition troops killed 12 Taliban insurgents,
including a commander, during a raid in Logar province, NATO's
International Security Assistance Force said Thursday.

> LEADING AL QAEDA MILITANT SURRENDERS
Hezam Mujalli, an al Qaeda leader in Yemen pictured here in
2004, has surrendered to authorities, Yemen's embassy in the
United States said Thursday.

~~~~~~~~~~~
BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> RIO VOWS TO PUSH AHEAD WITH BHP VENTURE
Tom Albanese, chief executive of Rio Tinto, insisted on Friday
the miner would push ahead with its controversial Australian
iron ore joint venture with BHP Billiton, denying a report that
the deal was facing collapse.

> EMERGING ECONOMIES UPEND OIL DEMAND
Emerging economies have upended the long-standing pattern of
global oil consumption, according to the west's energy watchdog,
in a further sign of how countries such as China are
transforming commodities markets.

> 22-MILE HYDROCARBON PLUME IN GULF
Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution said they
have detected a plume of hydrocarbons that is at least 22 miles
long and more than 3,000 feet below the surface of the Gulf of
Mexico, a residue of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Stocks open lower as investors digest strong tech earnings reports amid weak recovery. Dow dips 51 points.

Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:34:04 -0400

Stocks open lower as investors digest strong tech earnings reports
amid weak recovery. Dow dips 51 points.

Markets, Thursday, 08/19/2010

Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:31:04 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,271.21 down 144.33 | S & P : 1,075.63 down 18.53 |
| NASDAQ: 2,178.95 down 36.75 | Bond (10Y): 2.58% down 0.062
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks socked by economic trifecta
Dow drops more than 144 points after weak reports, including a 9-month
high for jobless claims.

Stocks drop on a wave of bad economic news. Dow falls 144 points; Nasdaq, S&P each lose about 1.7%

Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:01:04 -0400

Stocks drop on a wave of bad economic news. Dow falls 144 points;
Nasdaq, S&P each lose about 1.7%

U.S. stocks hit by dismal economic data

Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:01:01 -0400

U.S.STOCKS HIT BY DISMAL ECONOMIC DATA
The latest batch of economic data cast a gloomy light on the strength
of the recovery, overshadowing Intel's deal for McAfee.

INTEL TO BUY MCAFEE FOR $7.7 BILLION
Intel will pay $48 a share in cash for McAfee, as the chip giant
targets security as a growth area.

INTEL'S $7.7 MCAFEE BUY LEADS WEAK TECH ACTION
Tech stocks were mixed in Thursday's trading action, as Intel Corp's
surprise $7.7 billion deal to acquire security-software company McAfee
Inc. highlighted the sector's action.

H-P CULTURE CRUMBLED FURTHER UNDER HURD
The drama surrounding Mark Hurd's abrupt departure as chief executive
of Hewlett-Packard Co. has shined an unflattering light on the
company, writes Therese Poletti.

GOLD ADDS TO ADVANCE AFTER PHILLY FED, INDICATORS
Gold futures touch the loftiest in seven weeks as initial claims for
jobless benefits hit a nine-month high last week and as two leading
indicators of economic activity reinforce expectations for a slowdown
in growth.

Stocks open lower after a surprise surge in jobless claims. Dow dips 35 points. Nasdaq slides 0.4%.

Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:32:06 -0400

Stocks open lower after a surprise surge in jobless claims. Dow dips
35 points. Nasdaq slides 0.4%.

U.S. first-time jobless claims increase to 500,000, highest level since November 2009

Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:34:23 -0400

U.S. first-time jobless claims increase to 500,000, highest level
since November 2009
08/19/2010 08:32:30 AM EDT

U.S. stocks off session lows; tech inches up

Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:00:51 -0400

U.S.STOCKS OFF SESSION LOWS; TECH INCHES UP
U.S. stocks pare losses as investors react tepidly to the latest
trickle of second-quarter earnings and developments on the deals
front.

TARGET PROFIT UP 14% ON CONTROLLED COSTS
Shares of the discounter trend lower, as investors nod to management's
ongoing efforts to controlling expenses in order to make up for signs
of softness in July-quarter sales.

DEERE PROFIT LEAPS 47% ON NORTH AMERICA DEMAND
The manufacturer says North American farmers bought more tractors at
higher prices and demand for construction and forestry equipment
rebounded from last year's slump.

BHP BILLITON TAKES BID TO POTASH SHAREHOLDERS
Miner BHP Billiton goes hostile with its bid for Potash Corp., and
vows to make the case for a $130-a-share offer directly to
stockholders of the fertilizer supplier.

A CONTRARIAN TAKE ON GOLD
Gold market enthusiasm has returned in force over the last couple of
weeks, as bullion reaches a six-week high.

International Headlines

Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 05:02:04 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 GMT -- 18 August, 2010

> FLOOD VICTIMS: 'SURVIVING IS VERY HARD'
A daughter dead, an infant barely alive, a great-grandfather
dragged through floodwaters to safety: One Pakistan family's
desperate bid to save itself.

> BP TO STOP HANDLING MOST GULF CLAIMS
BP has picked Wednesday as the deadline for accepting claims
from people and businesses affected by the Gulf oil disaster.

> JAKARTA SEEKS FRENCHMAN IN TERROR CASE
Indonesian anti-terror police are looking for a French man who
was allegedly involved in a terrorist plot foiled in May, a top
police official said Wednesday.

> ISRAEL HITS SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITE
The Israeli Air Force struck a suspected weapons manufacturing
site in central Gaza Wednesday, in response to two mortars that
were fired from the territory a day earlier, the military said.

> BUS CRASH IN PHILIPPINES KILLS 39
A minibus plunged into a 100-meter deep ravine in the
Philippines' Benguet province Wednesday morning, killing nine
passengers and seriously injuring eight others, official media
reported.

> COLOMBIA SURVIVORS RECALL PLANE BREAKUP
Aires Airlines Flight 8250 was seconds away from landing at San
Andres airport on a small island off the coast of Colombia early
Monday. The pilot had turned on the seat belt sign and told
passengers to stay in their seats. Passengers could see rain and
lightning outside their small cabin windows, but nothing was
amiss. Everything seemed calm. Normal. Routine.

> BLAGOJEVICH FOUND GUILTY OF LYING
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was found guilty on Tuesday
of making a false statement to the FBI. The jury said it was
hung on the other 23 counts against him.

> EMBASSY IN ISRAEL HIT BY HOSTAGE DRAMA
A shooting incident apparently took place at the Turkish Embassy
in Israel, prompting police and emergency crews to race to the
scene.

~~~~~~~~~~~
BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> BUSINESS RESISTS 'CONFLICT MINERALS' LAW
U.S. manufacturers are mounting a lobbying campaign over a
provision slipped into the financial reform legislation
requiring companies to declare products containing minerals from
the Democratic Republic of Congo.

> BP TO STOP HANDLING MOST GULF CLAIMS
BP said on Tuesday it would stop processing claims of people and
businesses hurt by the Gulf oil disaster as a
government-appointed group will take over responsibility on
August 23.

> POTASH REJECTS $39B BID BY BHP
BHP Billiton, the biggest and most cash-rich mining company,
returned to frontline dealmaking on Tuesday with a $39bn
(£25bn) preliminary offer for PotashCorp, a fertiliser maker
whose board rejected the approach.

Dow dips 33 points. Nasdaq slips 0.3%.

Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:34:04 -0400

Stocks open lower as investors fret about latest earning reports. Dow
dips 33 points. Nasdaq slips 0.3%.

Markets, Tuesday, 08/17/2010

Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:31:04 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,405.85 up 103.84 | S & P : 1,092.54 up 13.16
|
|NASDAQ: 2,209.44 up 27.57 | Bond (10Y): 2.64% up 0.070
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks come off week-long slump
Investors put fears of a slower economic recovery on the back burner
for a day on regional Fed chief's comments and Wal-Mart, Home Depot
earnings.

U.S. stocks rise after upbeat retail earnings

Date: Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 12:00 PM

U.S. STOCKS RISE AFTER UPBEAT RETAIL EARNINGS
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--U.S. stocks climbed Tuesday as earnings from key retailers gave investors reason to focus on encouraging corporate reports rather than the latest round of mixed economic data. 

WAL-MART'S PROFIT RISES; FORECAST BOOSTED
The retail giant says demand from Mexico and overseas markets drove the company's growth, while sales in the U.S. remained flat.  

HOME DEPOT PROFIT HIGHER, SEES MORE TRANSACTIONS
The largest U.S. home-improvement retailer manages to control costs against the backdrop of a still-wobbling housing market. 

WAL-MART, HOME DEPOT LIFT RETAILER SHARES
Earnings reports from Wal-Mart Stores and Home Depot Inc. helped lift the retail sector in early trading Tuesday.

POTASH CORP. SOARS; $38.6 BILLION OFFER REJECTED
 Shares of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan rally as investors anticipate a higher acquisition bid after the world's top fertilizer producer rejects a $38.6 billion unsolicited takeover offer from mining giant BHP Billiton. 

Stocks open higher on positive housing news. Dow rises 67 points; Nasdaq, S&P both gain 0.8%.

Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:33:03 -0400

Stocks open higher on positive housing news. Dow rises 67 points;
Nasdaq, S&P both gain 0.8%.

Markets, Monday, 08/16/2010

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:31:05 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,302.01 down 1.14 | S & P : 1,079.38 up 0.13
|
| NASDAQ: 2,181.87 up 8.39 | Bond (10Y): 2.58% down 0.113
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Tech stocks gain in choppy session
Blue-chip issues end little changed as investors remain cautious after
last week's losses.

Petraeus: No qujick fixes in Afghanistan

8/15/2010 1:58:00 PM ET

Progress in the war in Afghanistan remains slow with no quick fix in
sight, the U.S. commander said Sunday.

BP preparing for permanent kill of leaky well

Date: 15 AUG 2010 18:28:34 GMT

BP PLC and the U.S. government may decide as early as Monday to move
ahead with a four-day process to permanently plug the source of the
worst maritime oil leak in U.S. history through a so-called bottom
kill of the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico.

International Headlines

Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:02:04 -0400
TOP STORIES as of 0900 GMT -- 15 August, 2010

> U.N. CHIEF CALLS FOR FASTER AID TO FLOOD-HIT PAKISTAN
On a tour of flood-hit Pakistan, United Nations
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges the international community
to do more to help the country -- and fast.

> RACE CAR PLOWS INTO CROWD, 6 DEAD
At least six people were killed when an off-road race car plowed
into a crowd in southern California on Saturday night,
authorities said.

> S. KOREA PRESENTS REUNIFICATION PLAN
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has proposed a plan to
reunite his country with North Korea, including a tax to cover
expected costs, state media said Sunday.

> SATELLITE SHOWS SCOPE OF RUSSIAN FIRES
Satellite photographs on NASA's website show hundreds of hot
spots generated by Russian wildfires.

> CHINA MOURNS AS DEATH TOLL RISES
Flags will be lowered to half-staff across China and its
consulates Sunday to mourn the 1,156 victims of deadly mudslides
in the country's Gansu provice.

> OBAMA ADDS TO MOSQUE COMMENTS
President Obama on Saturday told CNN that in defending the right
of Muslims to build a community center and mosque near ground
zero, he was "not commenting on the wisdom" of the project.

> AFRICAN MIGRANTS KILLED AT ISRAELI BORDER
As many as four African migrants from Ethiopia and Eritrea
trying to cross into Israel from Egypt's Sinai desert were shot
dead by smugglers and 10 others were wounded, according to state
media.

> BOMB INJURES 3 CHILDREN IN N. IRELAND
Police in Northern Ireland said "it was an absolute miracle"
that three children were not seriously injured Saturday in a
bomb explosion in County Armagh.

~~~~~~~~~~~
BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> TIME TO WORRY LIKE IT'S 2003?
Last week the Federal Reserve's open market committee startled
financial markets by raising its terror alert level over the
economy and declaring it would keep buying bonds to maintain its
loose-money stance.

> EXPORTS DRIVE GERMAN GROWTH SPURT
A surprise surge in Germany's second quarter economic growth has
been put down to an increase in exports. But can the good times
in the typically pessimistic nation last?

> EAST INDIA CO. REBORN AS LUXURY BRAND
It was the world's first multinational company, a trading giant
during the colonial rule of the Indian subcontinent. This week,
The East India Company is being reborn as a luxury brand --
under Indian ownership.

International Headlines

Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 05:02:07 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 GMT -- 14 August, 2010

> FLOOD-HIT PAKISTAN CANCELS INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENTS
Pakistan canceled independence day celebrations Saturday as a
second wave of floods continued to put millions in peril, the
nation's prime minister said.

> OBAMA BACKS MOSQUE NEAR GROUND ZERO
U.S. President Obama threw his support behind a controversial
proposal to build an Islamic center and mosque near New York's
ground zero.

> U.S. TROOPS AID DESPITE TALIBAN RISK
More than 100 U.S. troops are on the ground in a volatile area
of Pakistan, helping that government deliver supplies and rescue
people from flood-ravaged areas, but a U.S. general said Friday
when it comes to fights with the Taliban, rescue teams have had
"none."

> UK MINISTRY OF DEFENCE TO GET 'LEANER'
Britain's military chiefs have been told to prepare for a
"leaner and less centralized" Ministry of Defence.

> RUSSIA MOVING AHEAD WITH IRAN REACTOR
Russia says it will start loading a nuclear reactor in Iran with
fuel next week despite calls from the U.S. to wait for assurance
that Iran is making energy, not weapons.

> 7.2 QUAKE HITS SOUTH OF MARIANAS
A 7.2-magnitude earthquake has struck south of the Mariana
Islands, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

> U.S. SENDING WILDFIRE HELP TO RUSSIA
The United States is sending aid to Russia to help battle the
wildfires there, the White House said Friday.

> DOCTORS OPERATE ON ZSA ZSA GABOR
Zsa Zsa Gabor underwent surgery for the removal of a blood clot
Friday night, a complication relating to her recent hip
replacement surgery, her publicist said.

~~~~~~~~~~~
BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> EXPORTS DRIVE GERMAN GROWTH SPURT
A surprise surge in Germany's second quarter economic growth has
been put down to an increase in exports. But can the good times
in the typically pessimistic nation last?

> EAST INDIA CO. REBORN AS LUXURY BRAND
It was the world's first multinational company, a trading giant
during the colonial rule of the Indian subcontinent. This week,
The East India Company is being reborn as a luxury brand --
under Indian ownership.

> INDIA IMPOSES DEADLINE ON BLACKBERRY
India is expected to make a major decision Thursday regarding
BlackBerry, which is under serious scrutiny because the highly
encrypted messages in the device make it impossible for
intelligence agencies to monitor.

Markets, Friday, 08/13/2010

Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:31:07 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,303.15 down 16.80 | S & P : 1,079.25 down 4.36 |
| NASDAQ: 2,173.48 down 16.79 | Bond (10Y): 2.69% down 0.047
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks end lower for 4th straight day
Indexes end lower for the fourth straight day after investors digested
dour economic reports on July retail sales and inflation.

U.S. stocks fall as global growth worries weigh

Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:00:53 -0400

U.S. STOCKS FALL AS GLOBAL GROWTH WORRIES WEIGH
U.S. stocks fall slightly to close out a tough week for the bulls, as
gains in data on retail sales and consumer sentiment fail to ease
investors' worries about the health of the global economy. See full
story.

HOENIG CALLS FED POLICY 'DANGEROUS GAMBLE'
In a sharp critique of Federal Reserve policy from a sitting policy
member, Thomas Hoenig said Friday that zero interest rates were "a
dangerous gamble" in a period of moderate growth.

AMERICAN CONSUMERS TAKE A BREAK
Nervous consumers aren't spending much this summer, adding to worries
about the momentum of the economic expansion, writes Rex Nutting.

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE EDGES UP IN AUGUST
Consumer confidence in August edged upwards but remained in depressed
territory, according to a report released Friday.

WAL-MART, HOME DEPOT TO HEADLINE RETAIL MOOD
As the retail industry heads into the crunch of second-quarter
earnings next week, investors will be watching results, led by Dow
components Wal-Mart and Home Depot.

Consumer prices rise 0.3% in July, slightly above expectations. Retail sales climb 0.4%, slightly below forecasts.

Date: Friday, August 13, 2010

Consumer prices rise 0.3% in July, slightly above expectations. Retail
sales climb 0.4%, slightly below forecasts.

Markets, Thursday, 08/12/2010

Dte: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:31:03 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,319.95 down 58.88 | S & P : 1,083.61 down 5.86
|
|NASDAQ: 2,190.27 down 18.36 | Bond (10Y): 2.74% up 0.050
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks pare some losses but end lower
Investors worry over Cisco's cautious outlook and unexpected jump in
initial jobless claims.

GM posts $1.3 billion profit; new CEO named

Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:00:52 -0400

GM. POSTS. $1.3 BILLION PROFIT; NEW CEO NAMED
As General Motors reports second consecutive quarterly profit, the
auto maker says CEO Ed Whitacre Jr. will turn over the reins to
director Dan Akerson effective Sept. 1.

GM TO FILE FOR IPO WITHIN DAYS, REPORTS SAY
General Motors may reportedly file for an initial public offering of
stock as soon as Friday.

YEN WEAKENS AFTER OFFICIALS SHARPEN WARNINGS
The U.S. dollar gains against its Japanese counterpart amid reports
that Prime Minister Naoto Kan called the yen's rise 'rough,' even
though he stopped short of indicating any action would be taken to
weaken the Japanese currency.

CHINA'S YEN-ASSET BUYS HURTING JAPAN EXPORTERS
Japanese exporters continue to fall on fear that the yen may rise
further, particularly as China looks likely to continue it purchases
of Japanese assets, given their relative safety.

GLOBAL PLAN NEEDED TO STOP FAILING BIG BANK: PANEL
The financial crisis has revealed the need for an international plan
to handle the collapse of a giant financial institution so that its
failure doesn't cause collateral damage to the global markets, a
congressional watchdog group says.

International Headlines

Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:01:09 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 GMT -- 12 August, 2010

> STORM STALLS WORK ON GULF WELL
Remnants of what was Tropical Depression Five will likely reach
the northern Gulf Coast Thursday and will stall the crucial work
of permanently sealing BP's ruptured oil well.

> PAKISTANIS BEGIN RAMADAN AMID FLOODS
Pakistanis start the Muslim holy month of Ramadan surrounded by
floodwater that has devastated the country and inspired U.N.
calls for millions of dollars in aid.

> DEATH TOLL TOPS 1,100 IN CHINA MUDSLIDES
A 50-year-old man was saved Wednesday after three days trapped
in mudslides in northwest China, state media reported.

> CONDEMNED IRANIAN DENOUNCES LAWYER
A woman sentenced to death in Iran for adultery says she knew
about a plot to kill her husband but thought it a was joke. Her
lawyer says the remarks were coerced.

> STOCKS HIT AS GLOBAL MARKETS SHUN RISK
Global equity markets fell sharply on Wednesday and investors
sought the safety of government bonds as a deteriorating outlook
for economic growth, led by the US, fanned an aversion for
holding risky assets.

> ZIMBABWE 'HUMANE' DIAMONDS ON SALE
Zimbabwe launched its first multi-million dollar diamond sale
this week since obtaining certification last month that the
nation's precious stones are harvested humanely and are not
"blood diamonds."

> BOLIVIA: PROTESTERS' CLAIMS OFF BASE
The Bolivian government on Wednesday defended itself from
accusations that it has not invested enough in a southwestern
province that has found itself under siege by protesters for two
weeks.

> JURY: 14 YEARS FOR BIN LADEN'S DRIVER
A military jury at the U.S. facility in Guantanamo Bay
recommends a 14-year prison term for a Sudanese man who served
as cook and driver for Osama bin Laden.

~~~~~~~~~~~
BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> NEW GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS
Life has its share of both stormy and sunny moments. There are
clouds (your car broke down) and then there are silver linings
(but at least it's a nice day for a walk).

> BLACKBERRY FACING WOES IN INDIA
Indian businessman Paramjit Saluja battles two money-munching
time wasters in his auto exports business: New Delhi's trademark
traffic jams and the myriad time zones of his clients.

> TOYOTA STOPS CAR EXPORTS TO IRAN
Toyota Motors said Wednesday it's halting shipments to Iran
following international moves to put financial and commercial
pressure on Tehran to curb its nuclear ambitions.

Breaking News

Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:24:04 -0400

A 6.9-magnitude quake strikes Ecuador, southeast of Quito, according
to U.S. Geological Survey.

Initial unemployment claims rise to 484,000 in latest week, highest total in more than 5 months, government says.

Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:33:08 -0400

Initial unemployment claims rise to 484,000 in latest week, highest
total in more than 5 months, government says.

Markets, Wednesday, 08/11/2010

Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:31:05 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,378.83 down 265.42 | S & P : 1,089.47 down 31.59 |
| NASDAQ: 2,208.63 down 68.54. | Bond (10Y): 2.68% down 0.096
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
The Fed ate my savings!
Conservative investors who rely on Treasurys and CDs for steady income
are punished by the Fed's low rates and bond buying. That's why
dividend-paying stocks are gaining fans.

U.S. stocks slide on economic-recovery fears

Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:00:55 -0400

U.S. stocks slide on economic-recovery fears
U.S. stocks tumble sharply, echoing a retreat by equities around the
globe, as the Federal Reserve's stimulus plan intensifies worries
about the economic recovery.

DOLLAR, YEN JUMP AS GROWTH FEARS RATTLE MARKETS
The Japanese yen hits a new 15-year high versus the U.S. dollar.

TREASURYS GAIN AHEAD OF 10-YEAR AUCTION
Yields on 2-year Treasury notes get pushed to an all-time low,
underscoring investors' appetite for U.S. debt in the face of a more
dour economic outlook by the Federal Reserve. Data showing a wide U.S.
trade deficit reinforce the attractiveness of Treasurys as well. Bond
traders look to the impending $24 billion auction of 10-year notes.

ETFS THAT SHORT TREASURYS SUFFER BIG LOSSES
Betting against Treasury bonds was supposed to be the no-brainer
strategy for 2010. Instead, shorting government debt has brought steep
losses so far this year, due to surging bond prices as investors seek
safety on worries stocks could be hit by deflationary headwinds.

GOLD PRICES EDGE ABOVE $1,200 AN OUNCE
Gold prices rise as the U.S. trade deficit widens to a record 21-month
high in June, rekindling fears that the economic recovery is
faltering.

International Headlines

Date: Aug 11, 2010 5:02 AM
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 GMT -- 11 August, 2010

> RWANDANS AWAIT FINAL RESULTS WITH INCUMBENT FAVORED
Final results in Rwanda's second presidential election since the
1994 genocide are expected, with Paul Kagame favored to return
to power.

> MILITARY CHIEF TO FACE FLOTILLA INQUIRY
The head of Israel's military is expected to testify Wednesday
on the third day of the nation's inquiry into the mid-sea
interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla that left nine
people dead.

> VENEZUELA, COLOMBIA RENEW TIES
President Hugo Chavez and President Juan Manuel Santos have
re-established diplomatic relations between their countries
after meeting in Santa Marta, Colombia.

> POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE RATTLES VANUATU
A strong earthquake struck the island nation of Vanuatu on
Wednesday, the U. S. Geological Survey said.

> SUICIDE BOMBERS HIT KABUL GUEST HOUSE
Two suicide bombers attacked a guesthouse in central Kabul
Tuesday, killing three people, said Afghanistan's Interior
Ministry.

> GROUPS WORRY OVER WIKILEAKS POSTINGS
Several humanitarian organizations have reached out to WikiLeaks
to warn that the leaked documents it posts on its site could
endanger the lives of civilians whose names appear in them,
according to an e-mail exchange that apparently was leaked.

> HEATWAVE HITS RUSSIAN GROWTH FORECAST
Russia has begun counting the economic toll of the worst
heatwave since records began as economists warned that the
wildfires and disastrous summer harvest could wipe as much as 1
per cent off the country's economic growth.

> U.S. SENATOR AMONG PLANE CRASH VICTIMS
Ex-Sen. Ted Stevens' family won't confirm reports he was on a
plane that crashed in Alaska. A colleague says Ex-NASA chief
Sean O'Keefe was on the plane.

~~~~~~~~~~~
BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> NO EVIDENCE OF TOYOTA THROTTLE FAULTS
A preliminary US government investigation has found no evidence
of defects in Toyota's electronic throttle control systems,
pointing instead to driver error as the main cause of accidents
blamed on unintended acceleration.

> CHINA BANKS TOLD TO ACCOUNT FOR LOANS
Chinese banks have been ordered to account for around Rmb2,300bn
($340bn) in off-balance sheet loans in a move that could put
some lenders under serious stress and require another large
round of capital-raising.

> FEDERAL RESERVE: RECOVERY LOSING STEAM
The U.S. economic recovery is weakening, the Federal Reserve
warned at the conclusion of its meeting Tuesday, its most
bearish outlook in more than a year

Markets, Tuesday, 08/10/2010

Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:31:07 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,644.25 down 54.50 | S & P : 1,121.06 down 6.73 |
| NASDAQ: 2,277.17 down 28.52 | Bond (10Y): 2.78% down 0.041
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks recoup losses after Fed
Stocks pare losses after the Fed says recovery is weakening. Central
bank will not shrink its balance sheet to help keep the economy on
solid ground.

House approves $26 billion in aid for states to prevent teacher layoffs and bolster Medicaid.

Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:31:04 -0400

House approves $26 billion in aid for states to prevent teacher
layoffs and bolster Medicaid.

Fed acts to stimulate economy through debt repurchases, maintains rates near zero percent.

Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Fed acts to stimulate economy through debt repurchases, maintains
rates near zero percent.

Fed holds rates at record low; bank to reinvest proceeds of mortgage-backed securities

Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Fed holds rates at record low; bank to reinvest proceeds of
mortgage-backed securities
08/10/2010 02:18:35 PM EDT

Breaking News - Sen. Ted Stevens dies in Alaska plane crash

Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010

JUNEAU, Alaska - A spokesman for the family of Ted Stevens says the
former senator has died in a plane crash in Alaska. Mitch Rose tells
The Associated Press that the family had been notified that the
86-year-old Stevens was among those killed.

Unusual uncertainty clouds Fed meeting

Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010

UNUSUAL UNCERTAINTY CLOUDS FED MEETING
Federal Reserve officials kick off their one-day meeting, as
economists offer predictions about what steps they might take in
response to the recent downshift in economic growth.

TUI TRAVEL LEADS DECLINERS IN WEAK FTSE INDEX
Travel stocks and house builders fall in British trading, amid signs
that the environment is getting tougher for firms closely leveraged to
consumer spending.

BANK OF JAPAN STANDS PAT ON RATES, OUTLOOK
The Bank of Japan votes unanimously to leave its policy interest rate
unchanged, as widely expected, while also keeping its economic outlook
steady and announcing no new major monetary easing moves.

NONFARM PRODUCTIVITY DROPS 0.9% IN SECOND QUARTER
The data mark the first decline after five quarters of strong
productivity growth. But figures also hint at the need for employers
to begin bringing on new hires.

THE JOBLESS RECOVERY WON'T GO FURTHER WITHOUT JOBS
A drop in productivity shows that American workers are stretched to the limit.

Breaking News

Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 01:59:04 -0400

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Pacific island nation of
Vanuatu, the U.S. Geological Survey says.

U.S. nonfarm productivity gauge turns negative in second quarter

Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:34:27 -0400

U.S. nonfarm productivity gauge turns negative in second quarter
08/10/2010 08:32:32 AM EDT

Markets, Monday, 08/9/2010

Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 17:31:04 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Dow : 10,698.75 up 45.19 | S & P : 1,127.79 up 6.15
|
|NASDAQ: 2,305.69 up 17.22 | Bond (10Y): 2.82% down 0.002
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks hold gains ahead of Fed
Investors remain focused on outlook for economic recovery. World
markets end mixed.

U.S. stocks rise as market awaits Fed

Date: Aug 9, 2010 12:00 PM

U.S. STOCKS RISE AS MARKET AWAITS FED
U.S. stocks edged up slightly Monday as investors grew tentatively hopeful that a recent spate of disappointing economic data could prompt more stimulus measures from the Federal Reserve. 

THE RISE AND FALL OF MARK HURD
Mark Hurd was a little-known executive from Ohio when he was tapped to lead Hewlett-Packard five years ago, after one of the most turbulent periods in the Silicon Valley icon's history.  See full story.

H-P'S HURD RESIGNS AFTER SEXUAL-HARRASSMENT PROBE
Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Mark Hurd resigns following an investigation of a claim of sexual harassment against him and the company by a former contractor. 

H-P'S HURD MAY HAVE HAD TOO MUCH POWER

It seems Pattie Dunn was right. The former Hewlett-Packard chairman preached strict corporate governance, but her words went unheeded amid a corporate spying scandal. Now with the sudden resignation of H-P CEO Mark Hurd, her words are coming back to haunt the company. 

BIG SHOCKER FOR H-P AS MARK HURD STEPS DOWN
Hewlett-Packard Co. sought to soothe investors after CEO Mark Hurd's shocking and abrupt resignation Friday, but that'll be a hard sell. 

Breaking News

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2010 22:07:03 -0400
Subject: CNN Breaking News

At least 65 people reported killed Sunday from overnight landslides in
northwest China, according to state-run media.

Markets, Friday, 08/6/2010

Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 17:31:04 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,653.56 down 21.42 | S & P : 1,121.64 down 4.17 |
| NASDAQ: 2,288.47 down 4.59 | Bond (10Y): 2.82% down 0.091
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks end lower as job concerns weigh
Investors remain cautious as fresh weakness in the job market adds to
worries about the slowing economic recovery.

Treasury yields touch new lows after payrolls

Date: Friday, August 6, 2010

Treasury yields touch new lows after payrolls
A weak report on the U.S. labor market raises expectations that the
Federal Reserve may take steps next week toward using monetary policy
to support the economy.

U.S. STOCKS DROP ON DISAPPOINTING JOBS REPORT
U.S. stocks slide Friday as Wall Street shows its disappointment over
the government's July jobs numbers.

GOLD FUTURES JUMP 1% TO TOP $1,200 AN OUNCE
Gold jumps more than $12 in late morning activity, recapturing the
$1,200 mark and then some as investors worry about the U.S. employment
picture and the dollar continues a steep decline.

CRUDE DECLINES AFTER U.S. JOBS DATA DISAPPOINT
Oil prices fall after data show a smaller-than-expected increase in
private nonfarm payrolls in July, reigniting worries about the U.S.
economy and its impact on energy demand.

GERMAN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION SEES UNEXPECTED SLIP
The 0.6% decline reported for June industrial production isn't likely
to have put a major dent in Germany's second-quarter economic growth,
economists say.

Economy lost 131,000 jobs in July, due to decline in census jobs, U.S. says. Private-sector increases 71,000. Unemployment rate 9.5%.

Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 08:32:06 -0400

Economy lost 131,000 jobs in July, due to decline in census jobs, U.S.
says. Private-sector increases 71,000. Unemployment rate 9.5%.

Breaking News: Unemployment rate unchanged at 9.5 percent

Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 06:38:31 -0600

Private U.S. employers added 71,000 jobs in July; unemployment rate
unchanged at 9.5 percent.

Markets, Thursday, 08/5/2010

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 17:31:03 -0400
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,674.98 down 5.45. | S & P : 1,125.81 down 1.43
|
|NASDAQ: 2,293.06 down 10.51 | Bond (10Y): 2.92% down 0.037
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks end lower as jobs report looms
Investors turn cautious ahead of Friday's jobs report. Weekly jobless
claims rise to highest level in 3 months.

Senate confirms Elena Kagan as 112th Supreme Court justice.

Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:44:55 -0600

Senate confirms Elena Kagan as 112th Supreme Court justice.

For the first time in decades, Social Security in 2010 and 2011 will pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes, U.S. says.

ODate: Thursday, August 5, 2010

For the first time in decades, Social Security in 2010 and 2011 will
pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes, U.S. says.

Number of Americans filing for initial unemployment claims climbs 19,000 to 479,000 in latest week.

Date: Thursday, August 5, 2010

Number of Americans filing for initial unemployment claims climbs
19,000 to 479,000 in latest week.

Markets, Wednesday, 08/4/2010

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 17:31:03 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,680.43 up 44.05 | S & P : 1,127.24 up 6.78
|
| NASDAQ: 2,303.57 up 20.05 | Bond (10Y): 2.95% up 0.038
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks edge up as jobs picture comes into focus
Investors welcome better-than-expected jobs and service sector data,
but the tone is cautious ahead of the all-important U.S. jobs report
due later this week.

Energy: BP's grand milestone in the Gulf

Date: 4 AUG 2010 20:19:05 GMT

One-hundred and seven days after bursting on the scene, BP's runaway
well off Louisiana finally has been pronounced dead, stuffed with
heavy drilling mud.

Could the government create a backdoor stimulus?

Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:00:49 -0400

Could the government create a backdoor stimulus?
An idea that could create a massive refinance wave -- and a back-door
stimulus program to boost consumer spending -- is generating debate
among investment bank analysts in New York and in Washington policy
circles.

UPDATES, ADVISORIES AND SURPRISES
A roundup of the latest corporate earnings reports and what companies
are saying about future quarters.

TIME WARNER PROFIT UP 7% ON AD SALES, BOX OFFICE
Quarterly profit rises on improved advertising sales at its
cable-television networks and box-office proceeds from "Clash of the
Titans" and "Sex and the City 2."

TIME WARNER: SO FAR, SO GOOD
It seems hard to believe that Time Warner Inc. is one of the most
boring media giants around.

AOL LOSES $1.1 BILLION ON RESTRUCTURING COSTS
The New York-based Web service firm's quarterly loss includes a
goodwill impairment charge of $1.4 billion.

ISM's U.S. services-sector gauge strengthens in July; stocks react positively

Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:07:35 -0400

ISM's U.S. services-sector gauge strengthens in July; stocks react positively
08/04/2010 10:05:48 AM EDT

Private sector payrolls rise by 42,000 in July, payroll processor ADP says; increase is less than economists expect

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 08:18:07 -0400

Private sector payrolls rise by 42,000 in July, payroll processor ADP
says; increase is less than economists expect

Breaking news: BP says 'desired outcome' reached in 'static kill'

Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2010 02:25:27 -0600

BP says it has reached the "desired outcome" in a procedure in which
it pumped mud down the throat of the blown-out well that is leaking in
the Gulf of Mexico.

Markets, Tuesday, 08/3/2010

Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 17:31:04 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,636.38 down 38.00 | S & P : 1,120.46 down 5.40
|
| NASDAQ: 2,283.52 down 11.84 | Bond (10Y): 2.91% down 0.049
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks finish with a pullback
Investors pause a day after a big rally. Mixed earnings reports and
flat consumer spending, income data weigh on the market.

Savings rate at highest level in a year

Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:00:57 -0400

SAVING RATE AT HIGHEST LEVEL IN A YEAR
The June incomes and spending report comes in slightly weaker than
economists had expected. Savings on the upswing. See full story.

TWO-YEAR TREASURY YIELDS FALL TO RECORD LOW
Treasury prices rose on Tuesday, pushing yields on 2-year notes to a
record low, after a published report saying the Federal Reserve may
buy more debt.

GM SALES SEE BIG REBOUND IN JULY
General Motors says combined July sales for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and
Cadillac jumped 25%.

BMW'S QUARTERLY PROFIT SURGES ON STRONG SALES
Second-quarter profit at German car maker BMW surges and beats analyst
estimates, as the global economic recovery stimulates customers'
appetite for luxury cars.

LAWSUIT ALLEGES TOYOTA KNEW OF ACCELERATION ISSUES
A federal lawsuit reportedly alleges Toyota Motor Corp. knew its
vehicles with electronic throttles were more likely to experience
sudden acceleration that those without the system.

Personal income and spending unchanged in June; government says, weaker than economists' forecasts.

Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 08:33:04 -0400

Personal income and spending unchanged in June; government says,
weaker than economists' forecasts.

Markets, Monday, 08/2/2010

Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 17:31:04 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,674.38 up 208.44 | S & P : 1,125.86 up 24.26
|
| NASDAQ: 2,295.36 up 40.66 | Bond (10Y): 2.96% up 0.056
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
What worry? Stocks roar
Wall Street rallies on strong earnings from European banks and upbeat
reports on U.S. manufacturing, construction spending.

U.S. stocks rally as Bernanke speaks on economy

Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:00:54 -0400

U.S. STOCKS RALLY AS BERNANKE SPEAKS ON ECONOMY

U.S. stocks surge as better-than-expected construction spending and
manufacturing data add to mounting optimism over encouraging European
bank earnings.

BERNANKE SAYS STATES SHOULD BUILD BIGGER BUFFERS
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Monday called for states to
build up larger rainy-day funds as he said consumer spending is set to
sustain the economic recovery.

GEITHNER: BANK REFORM CAN'T MOVE AT 'GLACIAL' PACE
Bank and securities regulators need to move quickly to write rules
based on sweeping bank reform legislation approved in the wake of the
financial crisis, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says in remarks
expected to be delivered later Monday.

AUGUST IS A GOOD MONTH FOR STOCKS
August over the past century has been one of the better months of the
calendar for the stock market, while September has been the worst.

ISM gauge shows U.S. factory-sector expansion but at 2010's slowest pace

Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:18:15 -0400

ISM gauge shows U.S. factory-sector expansion but at 2010's slowest pace
08/02/2010 10:16:24 AM EDT

Manufacturing activity expands at slower pace in July, according to purchasing managers' index. Figure tops forecasts.

Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 10:06:03 -0400

Manufacturing activity expands at slower pace in July, according to
purchasing managers' index. Figure tops forecasts.

International Headlines

Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 05:02:05 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 GMT -- 02 August, 2010

> BP GEARS UP FOR 'STATIC KILL' EFFORT TO PLUG OIL WELL
Efforts to permanently seal the ruptured oil well in the Gulf of
Mexico with mud and cement could begin as early as Monday night,
according to BP officials.

> SPACE STATION MAY NEED SPACEWALK FIXES
Crew members on the International Space Station may need to
conduct spacewalks this week to fix the station's cooling
system, NASA has said.

> PAKISTAN: FLOOD DEATHS TOP 1,100
The devastating floods in Pakistan have killed more than 1,100
people, officials say. Another 30,000 people were stranded
trying to escape rushing floodwaters.

> MORE THAN 100 DEAD IN CHINA FLOODING
Flooding and landslides in northeastern China left have more
than 100 people dead or missing, the state-run Xinhua news
agency reported Sunday, citing provincial officials.

> CUBA TO ALLOW MORE PRIVATE ENTERPRISE
Cuban President Raul Castro said Sunday that his government
would allow more private businesses and make it easier for those
businesses to hire workers, as the socialist economy struggles
to get back on its feet and shed up to one million redundant
state jobs.

> IRAQ, U.S. OFFER CONFLICTING DEATH TOLL
The U.S. disputes Iraqi figures that indicated July was the
deadliest month for civilians there since May 2008, saying the
actual numbers are less than half reported.

> ISRAEL URGES ABBAS TO RESTART TALKS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday to restart peace
talks with Israel saying he hopes Abbas "will accede not only to
my call, but to that of many in the international community."

> REPORT: BP USED EXCESSIVE DISPERSANTS
Documents released by a congressional subcommittee indicate that
Coast Guard officials allowed BP to use excessive amounts of
chemical dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> IS CHINA SECOND-LARGEST ECONOMY?
A senior Beijing official's reference to China as the "world's
second-largest economy" has sparked excited speculation that it
may have already reached a long-looming milestone by surpassing
Japan.

> STRIKES, ASH WIDEN QUARTERLY BA LOSS
British Airways on Friday announced a pre-tax loss of 164
million pounds ($256.5 million) for the three months ending June
30.

> SPAIN UNEMPLOYMENT OVER 20%
Spain's unemployment rate rose to 20.09 percent for the second
quarter of 2010, up from 20.05 percent from the previous
quarter, Spain's National Statistics Institute said Friday.

China's manufacturing sees first contraction since March 2009, HSBC survey shows

Date: Sun, 01 Aug 2010 22:47:08 -0400

China's manufacturing sees first contraction since March 2009, HSBC survey shows
08/01/2010 10:45:26 PM EDT