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The more data market-watchers have seen on the U.S. economy, the less they like what they've seen. Specifically, predictions on what the government might report as the rate of GDP growth in the second-quarter of 2012 have plummeted in the past few weeks, as economists adjust their models to one disappointing data release after another.

U.S. companies have been finding it much easier to deliver earnings beats, or profits that are higher than expected, as analysts on Wall Street continue to trim their forecasts for earnings growth. However, they might have also come to realize that beating earnings expectations alone is not enough to help their stock prices.

Philips Electronics, PhotoMedex, Deutsche Bank, Banco Santander, Morgan Stanley, United States Steel Corp, Bank of America Corp, Ford Motor and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Monday.

Investors seem to be disregarding the parade better-than-expected profit figures from major financial institutions this earnings season, instead using top-of-the-line revenue and return on equity numbers to guide their investment decisions.

The golden age of being a banker is so far in the past. After a brutal year of massive layoffs in the global financial industry last year, the axe is starting to fall again.

Mellanox Technologies, Asset Acceptance Capital, Bank of America, Infosys, Credit Suisse Group, Pluristem Therapeutics, Yum! Brands, Deutsche Bank and Perrigo Co are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Thursday.

Bank of America's second-quarter earnings reversed a year-earlier loss and beat analyst expectations on higher mortgage income, improved credit quality and the absence of good will impairment charges.

Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC), the troubled financial behemoth that teetered just above the abyss during the last few weeks of 2011 and has since made somewhat of a recovery, is expected to swing to profit when it reports quarterly financial results Wednesday morning.

Gold experts have further cut back price forecasts for the metal this year after a sluggish first half, a quarterly Reuters poll showed on Monday, while gains in the dollar and a dearth of physical demand are likely to clip any attempted return to last September's record high for the rest of the year.

Taking inspiration from global regulatory investigations into the interest rate manipulation, the U.S. is now building strong evidence of criminal wrongdoings against big banks and individuals ensnared in the heart of the scam.

The chief executive of New York-based Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) had a surprisingly confident outlook for his bank's future business prospects during a conference call with analysts Monday.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Friday were Saks Inc, MasterCard, EXCO Resources, Visa and Yanzhou Coal Mining. The top after-market NYSE losers were New York & Co, Omega Healthcare Investors, Bonanza Creek Energy, VimpelCom and Accuride Corp.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's complain database has been live for six weeks, Here's who ranks best and worst among the big credit card issuers.

China's growth rate slowed for a sixth successive quarter to its slackest pace in more than three years, highlighting the need for more policy vigilance from Beijing even as signs emerge that action taken so far is beginning to stabilise the economy.

It's going to be very, very dovish.

General Growth Properties (NYSE: GGP), the second-largest public U.S. mall landlord, is living up to its name once again. After exiting bankruptcy in 2010, the Chicago-based company's shares hit a new all-time high of $18.49 on Friday.

Former Barclays boss Bob Diamond testified Wednesday before the British Parliament's Treasury Select Committee denying that anyone in the British government instructed the bank to manipulate the rate that determines the cost of trillions of dollars worth of loans and derivatives traded worldwide every day.

The U.S. labor market has lost a step since spring and the trend of lackluster job growth will likely continue into June.

Fushi Copperweld, Bank of America, Banco Santander, Caterpillar, Citigroup, Research In Motion, Nike and Infosys Ltd are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Friday.

In the 1950s, a consumer who wanted to buy eyeglasses borrowed $40 from the bank. Fast-forward to 2012: how about using your digital wallet to buy those glasses with your mobile phone? Maybe later this year.

Thursday's downgrade contained a veiled threat that pointed at politicians in Germany, the United Kingdom, France and the United States and plainly stated, Stop talking about making the banks responsible for their own follies -- or else.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded 15 global financial institutions Thursday, including five of the largest U.S. banks, nine major European banks and the Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE: RY), a move that could tighten borrowing and require the companies to post billions of additional collateral.

Bank of America directors have reached a definitive settlement of litigation by shareholders, who accused the bank of overpaying for Merrill Lynch, a federal judge said.

A Detroit man has withdrawn over $1.5 million dollars from various ATM's after Bank of America made a mistake with his account, and has since gambled the money away.

Biosante Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tesla Motors Inc., Barclays PLC, Bank of America Corp., Adobe Systems Inc., Michael Kors Holdings Ltd and Procter & Gamble Co. are among the companies whose shares moved in pre-market trading Wednesday.

The prolonged crisis in the euro zone, coupled with signs that the U.S. economic recovery is faltering, have led to speculation that the Federal Reserve will provide more monetary stimulus, most likely through extending its Operation Twist program, at the June two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting, which concludes on Wednesday June 20.

This week's data releases highlight Wednesday's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement, which will likely present a dovish tone. However, those who are expecting for the announcement of renewed asset purchases will likely be disappointed.

Are U.S. technology companies fast-growing enterprises or are they banks? In a time when banks are enduring federal ?stress tests? of their ability to withstand a crisis, the tech sector seems to be rolling in money.

U.S. investors are getting back into real estate, but their efforts are being complicated by the uncertain housing market.