ECONOMY & MARKETS

Malachy, winner of the Best-in-Show honor at the 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show -- and owner David Fitzpatrick, right -- ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.

U.S. Equity Market May Strain to Hold Nine-Month Highs

If the coming earnings from U.S. retailers are as unimpressive as the rest of the profit season has been, Wall Street could face a tough time justifying a stock market at nine-month highs. All things considered, strategists believe the market could face resistance in a push higher.

Growth in Jobs Will Rise This Year: White House Report

Workers build a new house in Alexandria, Virginia February 16, 2012.
U.S. job creation will accelerate a bit this year as a moderate economic recovery continues, the White House said on Friday, but it faces a key risk from the debt crisis in Europe -- and President Barack Obama's annual economic report warned that the road ahead could still be bumpy.

Global Economic Outlook Improves a Bit: IHS

Can the Economy Improve in 2012?
While threats that could pull down global economy are never far away, recent data depict a brightening outlook according to IHS, a global business and economic information provider.
To match Special Report SEC/INVESTIGATIONS

U.S. SEC Broadens Its Probe of Exchange-Traded Funds

Prompted by a delay in a big trade of a popular exchange-traded fund, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is taking a closer look at a possible connection between high-frequency traders and hedge funds jumping in and out of ETFs, among other areas, according to a person familiar with the matter.
More news
stock market

Leading Economic Indicators Rise for Fourth Straight Month

The index of U.S. leading economic indicators rose 0.4 percent in January, extending its upward trend for a fourth month. Friday's data points to continued growth in the U.S. economy, supported by an increase in the average workweek and improving financial indicators.
General Electric

Weekly U.S. Economic Snapshot: How Are We Doing?

Bit by tiny bit, the economy is improving. The progress might at times seem too small or slow to be evident, but it is unmistakably occurring. People may not feel things are good yet, but they are beginning to feel the worse is subsiding, Gary Thayer, chief macro strategist at Wells Fargo Advisors, said.
World of Warcraft

Video Game Publishers Move Unevenly Into Digital

Like other entertainment sectors, video games rely more and more on digital revenue as retail sales continue to decline, but publishers face plenty of fresh challenges in the rapidly changing industry.
Copenhagen. Source: flickr.com/seier

OECD to Northern Europe: Raise Your Property Taxes!

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development released a report Tuesday calling on Germany to raise its property taxes dramatically. The group has also called on Denmark, Norway, and the U.K. to do the same.
The Cobra Nav One 5000 portable mobile navigation system is displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Unveiled event in Las Vegas, Nevada January 5, 2008.

Distracted Driving: The Dept. of Transportation's Attempt to Curb a 'Dangerous and Deadly Habit'

The United States Department of Transportation on Thursday released the first potential federal guidelines that entice automakers to reduce potential distractions for drivers in cars. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the voluntary guidelines would be enforced in areas of in-car electronics, entertainment communications and navigation systems that are not necessary for a vehicle's operation.
Four month-old Vishakha, who weighs less than 5 pounds, is carried into a clinic in central India

India's Economic Growth Leaves Starving Children Behind

India's economy, a paragon of development, has more than tripled over the past 20 years, fueling a growing middle class that has helped turn the world's largest democracy into an engine of the world economy and raised millions out of poverty. It is behind only China, in terms of population. But there is one shocking statistic India's economic miracle has not been able to improve: the number of children that are severely malnourished.
Bank of America

U.S. Stocks Gain After Jobs, Housing Reports

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.76 percent to 12,884.75 by early afternoon trading, while the Nasdaq rose 1.01 percent to 2,945.17. The S&P 500 rose 0.83 percent to 1,354.37.
IBTimes Logo

Investment Ideas 2012: a Case for REITs [CHARTS]

The U.S. economy is growing modestly at best, yields on bonds are low and the economic outlook outside the U.S. is uncertain. For the year 2012 and beyond, one fitting investment idea could be real estate investment trusts (REITs), according to PNC Investment and Wealth Management.
United Auto Workers union member Carrie Attwood uses an ergonomic-arm to install a front seat in a Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle at General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant in Hamtramck

GM Posts Record Profit, Two Years After Bankruptcy and Near Collapse

General Motors Co. posted a record profit in 2011, adding to the dramatic turnaround for 103-year-old United States automaker just two years after filing for bankruptcy and nearly collapsing. The news sent stock of the company up more than 6 percent to $26.50 at midday.
Bond Market

Bond Market Update: Rally in Corporates Disguises Churning, Convoluted Dynamic

A current rally in the sprawling $7.74 trillion field for corporate bonds, which are issued as debt by major American corporations, belies a great churning occurring just beneath the market's surface. Recently, Richard Prager, who heads the bond strategy desk at the world's largest asset management firm, put it succinctly: "Houston, we got a problem."
BP

BP Gets Nod for Another Deepwater Gas Project in China

China's ministry of commerce has approved a project that allows the British oil giant to have a presence in block 43/11, a gas field in the South China Sea, the China Daily reported quoting Chen Liming, head of BP China.
Moodys

Moody's Warns of Downgrading 17 Global Banks

Moody's warned on Thursday it may cut the credit ratings of 17 global and 114 European financial institutions in another sign the impact of the eurozone government debt crisis is spreading throughout the global financial system.

Pages

IBT Spotlight

We Help Businesses Find B2B Service Providers They Can Trust.