 | S&P 500 Rises for Fourth Week as Fed's Rate Pledge Offsets Growth Report The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose for a fourth week, the longest streak since October, as the Federal Reserve's plans to keep interest rates low through at least late 2014 offset slower-than-forecast economic growth. The S&P 500 trimmed its gain in the last two days of the week, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average erased its advance, after reports on new ... |
 | Canadian Currency Strengthens for a Third Week as Commodities Climb on Fed Canada's dollar strengthened for a third week against its U.S. counterpart, its longest winning streak in three months, as commodities gained after the Federal Reserve pledged to extend its freeze on U.S. interest rates. The currency appreciated past parity with the greenback on Jan. 26 for the first time since November after Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke sai ... |
 | Wall Street Week Ahead: Quest for the golden cross NEW YORK (Reuters) - January has turned out strong for equities with just two trading days to go. If you're afraid to miss the ride, there's still time to jump in. You just might want to wear a neck brace. The new year lured buyers into growth-related sectors, the ones that were more beaten down last year. The economy is getting better, but not dramatically. ... |
 | Default Swaps in U.S. Fall for Third Week to Lowest Since August A benchmark gauge of U.S. company credit risk declined for a third week, reaching the lowest level since August, amid optimism Greece was making progress in debt- restructuring talks with bondholders. The Markit CDX North America Investment Grade Index, which investors use to hedge against losses on corporate debt or to speculate on creditworthiness, decreas ... |
| U.S. Cattle Inventory Drops to Lowest Since 1952 on Drought U.S. cattle inventories fell to the lowest in 60 years after a drought in the South scorched pastures, prompting ranchers to shrink herds. As of Jan. 1, beef and dairy farmers held 90.77 million head of cattle, down 2.1 percent from a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said today in a report. That's the fewest since 1952. Ten analysts in a Bloo ... | |
| Asian Stocks Advance for Sixth Week as Fed Pledges to Maintain Low Rates Asian stocks rose for a sixth week, with the regional benchmark posting its longest winning streak since 2010, as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke pledged to keep interest rates near zero until 2014 and India eased curbs on lending. Li & Fung Ltd. (494), a supplier of toys and clothes to Wal-Mart Stores Inc., advanced 7 percent in Hong Kong. Samsung ... | |
| World stocks dip as U.S. GDP falls short NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stocks fell on Friday on news the U.S. economy grew more slowly than expected in the last quarter of 2011, while the euro rose on hopes of an imminent deal on Greece's debt that could help avert a disorderly default. The United States, the world's biggest economy, grew at an annualized 2.8 percent pace late last year, the fastest q ... | |
| Euro hits 6-1/2-week high versus dollar NEW YORK (Reuters) - The euro rose to a 6-1/2-week high against the dollar on Friday as optimism that Greece will avoid a messy default had investors scrambling to cover short positions, but the currencies' upside could be contained if conditions in the region remain weak. Data indicating a bumpy road ahead for the U.S. economy and a downgrade of five euro z ... | |
| Fitch Cuts Italian, Spanish Ratings Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg Half-price sale at a store in Milan on Jan. 19, 2012. Half-price sale at a store in Milan on Jan. 19, 2012. Photographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Spain, Italy, Belgium, Cyprus and Slovenia had their debt ratings cut by Fitch Ratings, while Ireland had its ratings affirmed. Julie Hyman reports on Bl ... | |
| Default Swaps in U.S. Decline for Third Week to Reach Lowest Since August A benchmark gauge of U.S. company credit risk declined for a third week, reaching the lowest level since August, amid optimism Greece was making progress in debt- restructuring talks with bondholders. The Markit CDX North America Investment Grade Index, which investors use to hedge against losses on corporate debt or to speculate on creditworthiness, decreas ... | |
| U.S. Stocks Fall as American Economy Grows Less Than Forecast Tim Boyle/Bloomberg Traders on the floor of the CME Group's Chicago Board of Trade on Jan. 25, 2012. Traders on the floor of the CME Group's Chicago Board of Trade on Jan. 25, 2012. Photographer: Tim Boyle/Bloomberg Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Paul Hickey, co-founder of Bespoke Investment Group, talks about the prospects for financial stocks and the stock market. ... | |