UNITED STATES

The Federal Reserve's unprecedented dose of stimulus to the economy during the recent financial crisis complicates the task of pulling back when the time is right, top central bank officials said on Friday.

AT&T Inc said on Friday it would record a $1 billion non-cash charge for the current quarter related to the new U.S. health care reform law, as lawmakers called on the company and three other large employers to testify about expected cost hikes.

Nearly 30 bankers from more than a dozen financial companies have been named by the federal government as suspected co-conspirators in a broad investigation into pricing of certain municipal derivatives, according to court documents.

AT&T Inc said on Friday it would record a $1 billion non-cash charge for the current quarter related to the new U.S. health care reform law signed by President Barack Obama this week.

The U.S. economy grew at a slightly less brisk pace in the fourth quarter than previously estimated and the momentum is expected to slow this year as a boost from inventories fades.

The days of Federal subsidies may be gone at Sallie Mae following the Congressional approval to an overhaul of the college student loan program, but it does end the legislative uncertainty at the largest U.S. student loan provider.

Nearly 30 bankers from more than a dozen financial companies have been named by the federal government as suspected co-conspirators in a broad investigation into pricing of certain municipal derivatives, according to court documents.

Proposed reforms for the financial system should reduce the extent of risk-taking by the biggest U.S. banks and may bolster their ratings, Fitch Ratings said on Friday.

Federal and state laws world wide prohibit potential employers from asking certain questions that are not directly related to the job they are hiring for.

Top mobile phone maker Nokia has agreed to buy privately-held U.S. mobile browser firm Novarra to improve Web surfing on a wide range of its low-end and mid-range phones.

(Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday formally signed and sent to President Barack Obama the final installment of landmark healthcare overhaul legislation.

RadioShack Corp is exploring alternatives including a share buyback or a possible sale of the company that could net more than $3 billion, the New York Post said, citing sources close to the situation.

Stocks advanced on Friday as a standby aid package announced by euro zone leaders eased worries about Greece's debt problems and U.S. consumer sentiment data signaled the recovery was intact.

The controversy surrounding safety issues at Toyota Motor Corp has not changed the way it is market testing the new plug-in version of its Prius Hybrid, the director of Toyota Canada said on Thursday.

U.S. carmaker Ford Motor Co looks set to sign the deal to sell its Swedish Volvo unit to China's Geely on Sunday, in what would be the largest-ever purchase of a foreign automaker by a Chinese counterpart.

The crumbling empire of American International Group Inc is helping to pave Wall Street with gold.

The Obama administration on Friday announced a $14 billion effort to try to stem a rising tide of home foreclosures by giving lenders incentives to erase some mortgage debt and slash mortgage payments for the unemployed.

Oil lost all its gains to trade around $80.50 after data showed the U.S. economy grew less briskly than expected last quarter and a plan to give Greece a safety net failed to quell concerns any recovery was fragile.

News Corp will charge readers for online versions of its UK Times and Sunday Times newspapers from June, becoming the first media firm to test consumers' appetite to pay for mass-market news online.

Wall Street was poised to open higher on Friday after euro zone leaders agreed to create a safety net to help debt-burdened Greece, while investors awaited data on consumer sentiment.

After a sideways range in the morning between 1.3283 and 1.3347 the cross-pair broke out into the direction of „northern regions, but nothing more. This was not a trading day as I expected before.Alltogether the cross-pair recovered of its blessures. Supported by political announcements of financial help for Greece of the EU. In the evening EURUSD reached about 1.3280.