News Headlines

Curbing derivatives might hurt, not help, Greece

Graphic shows monthly cost to insure $10 million in Greek bondsAP - Derivatives have become a dirty word.


Soaring China home prices thwart ordinary buyers

In this photo taken Thursday, March 4, 2010, a scavenger searches for metal material to sell at a demolished traditional houses where new apartment will be built in Shanghai, China. Prices for even modest apartments in Shanghai have soared, putting home purchases out of reach for white collar workers and professionals. Young Chinese are finding their aspirations thwarted by an overheated property market that is enriching already wealthy speculators, local officials and other Communist Party allies. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)AP - The luxury apartment buildings Yang Xuhua passes on her way to work are a daily reminder of her own frustrated efforts to buy a home. Prices for even modest apartments in Shanghai have soared, putting home purchases out of reach for white collar workers and professionals.


Car detectives crowd around Monday's runaway Prius

Driver James Sikes talks about his experiences in his Toyota Prius during a news conference held at Toyota of El Cajon Tuesday, March 9, 2010, in El Cajon, Calif. Sikes' 2008 Toyota Prius raced out of control on a San Diego freeway Monday. A California Highway Patrol officer helped him stop the car. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)AP - The government sent investigators Tuesday to examine a Prius that sped out of control on a California freeway, and Toyota said it wanted to interview the driver as the besieged automaker dealt with a high-profile new headache that raised questions about the safety of its beloved hybrid.


Asia markets little changed as China exports surge

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday, March 9, 2010.(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)AP - Asian stock markets were little changed Wednesday even as surging Chinese exports pointed to a pickup in global trade.


Kan. mulling new soda tax, raising other levies

AP - Kansas would impose a new tax on soda — a penny for every teaspoon of sugar — under a proposal that a key legislator outlined Tuesday while lawmakers considered raising taxes to erase a projected budget shortfall.

Oil hovers above $81 amid mixed US inventory data

In this image released by Nord Stream on Tuesday March 9, 2010 shows the wheel of a 18th or 19th century sailing ship seen in the waters of the Baltic Sea. A dozen centuries-old shipwrecks some of them unusually well-preserved have been found in the Baltic sea by a gas company building an underwater pipeline between Russia and Germany, Swedish experts said Tuesday. The oldest wreck probably dates back to medieval times and could be up to 800 years old, while the others are likely from the 17th to 19th centuries, said Peter Norman, of Sweden's National Heritage Board. (AP Photo/Nord Stream, Ho)AP - Oil prices hovered above $81 a barrel Wednesday in Asia after a report showed mixed evidence about U.S. crude demand.


A look at global economic developments

AP - A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world Tuesday:

IRS eases rules on tax settlements

AP - As tax day approaches, the Internal Revenue Service is giving agents more flexibility to work with taxpayers who have seen their incomes drop during the recession.

ICF International's 4Q net ticks higher

AP - ICF International Inc.'s quarterly profit ticked higher as the company benefited from a lower tax rate and higher revenue from its consulting and technology services.

'IMF' for Europe a distracting sideshow: experts (AFP)

A man looks at a poster showing the Slovak edition of the euro. Talk of a European version of the International Monetary Fund to rescue errant EU states is little more than a distracting sideshow, analysts and a key central banker say.(AFP/File/Samuel Kubani)AFP - Talk of a European version of the International Monetary Fund to rescue errant EU states is little more than a distracting sideshow, analysts and a key central banker say.


One Congressman's Solution for Boosting Small Businesses Loans (The Motley Fool)

The Motley Fool - The first Friday of every month brings the all-important employment report. February's numbers were better than anticipated. The United States lost only 36,000 jobs, versus the 68,000 that experts expected. This compares with 651,000 jobs lost in February 2009. Still, the unemployment rate held steady at 9.7%, with the unofficial rate stuck around a whopping 16%.

EU urges US to join in action against speculators

AP - European officials urged the U.S. to join in a crackdown on speculators who bet against Europe's currency union, warning they might ban some credit default swaps — opaque financial instruments blamed for worsening the world financial crisis.

Dollar General sues rival chain over colors

AP - Dollar General Corp. has filed a federal lawsuit against rival discount chain Fred's Inc., claiming the smaller company is using its trademark yellow and black colors.

Commercial delinquency lower than other mortgages

AP - Commercial mortgages were among the best-performing loans and leases held by banks and thrifts in the fourth quarter of last year, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Tuesday.