 | Yen hits 7-month low vs dollar on rate differentials NEW YORK (Reuters) - The yen tumbled to its lowest level against the dollar in over seven months on Wednesday, weighed by recent monetary easing in Japan, a rise in oil prices and interest rate differentials. The euro was little changed against the greenback as market participants weighed the implications of Greece's bailout deal and the ramifications of a e ... |
 | Gold eases on euro zone worries as optimism fades NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Gold eased on Wednesday, declining after Tuesday's rally as a rise in the dollar, worries over a euro zone recession and doubts over the bailout of Greece prompted investors to take profits. Platinum prices rose nearly 2 percent to a five-month high due to supply concerns driven by a labor dispute in South Africa, the world's top ... |
 | Treasuries Remain Higher as Five-Year Note Auction Yield Trails Forecast Treasuries rose for the first time in four days on speculation Europe's rescue package for Greece won't resolve the region's debt crisis and as the U.S. sold $35 billion of five-year notes. The notes drew a yield of 0.900 percent, compared with a forecast of 0.901 percent in a Bloomberg News survey of seven of the Federal Reserve's primary dealers. The bid-t ... |
 | Romney Proposes Lower Corporate, Individual Tax Rates Hours Before Debate Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images Republican presidential hopefuls Rick Santorum, left, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul during a deabte at the University of South Florida in Tampa on Jan. 23, 2012. Republican presidential hopefuls Rick Santorum, left, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul during a deabte at the University of South Florida in Tampa o ... |
| Goldman Hedge-Fund Group Chief Retires Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s (GS) hedge fund industry group chief, C. Howard Wietschner, is retiring after 18 years at the securities firm. The departure of Wietschner, who was named partner a decade ago, was disclosed in a memo today to employees, a copy of which was obtained by Bloomberg News. Wietschner, 44, joined New York-based Goldman Sachs in 1994 in th ... | |
| Mental-Health Cuts by U.S. States Risk Boosting Health Costs U.S. states looking to balance budgets by cutting mental-health facilities and Medicaid payments risk increasing health-care costs by pushing psychiatric patients into emergency rooms. States trimmed 9.5 percent, or more than $1.6 billion, from their mental-health spending from fiscal 2009 to 2012, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The co ... | |
| S&P fails to break key level; euro zone data weighs NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday with the S&P 500 stalled near a 10-month-old high after weak data on Europe's business activity raised concerns about a recession. The S&P has been unable to convincingly pierce the 1,360 level, a high hit last May and a key resistance point that could spark further gains, if broken. The benchmark index is u ... | |
| Bonds up on Greece worry; auctions limit gains NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury debt prices rose mildly on Wednesday, their safe-haven allure bolstered by concerns Greece might not be able to avert a disastrous default despite a second financial bailout. Gains were limited, however, as investors balked at higher prices during a week when the Treasury is selling $99 billion of notes. Investors typically ... | |
| Growth concerns hit stocks, oil at 9-month high NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stocks edged lower on Wednesday after data showing the euro zone may be sliding back toward recession and signs the region's crisis may be hitting China's giant economy. Brent crude oil prices climbed to nine-month highs as worries that Iran might interrupt supply outweighed concerns about the health of the global economy. The 130 ... | |
| Obama Campaign Prepares for Political Fallout From Rising Gasoline Prices Mike Siegel/Pool/The Seattle Times/AP President Barack Obama embraces June McKiernan at a Boeing 787 factory on Feb. 17, 2012 in Everett, Washington. President Barack Obama embraces June McKiernan at a Boeing 787 factory on Feb. 17, 2012 in Everett, Washington. Photographer: Mike Siegel/Pool/The Seattle Times/AP President Barack Obama will try to head off th ... | |
| Barclays, JPMorgan Complete $1 Billion Loan to Help California Pay Bills California (STOCA1) sold $1 billion of short- term notes to Barclays Plc and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) to pay bills after the most populous U.S. state's tax collections trailed budgeted amounts, according to the treasurer's office. The two banks will earn 0.20 percent interest on the so- called revenue-anticipation notes, Treasurer Bill Lockyer said in a st ... | |