TIMOTHY GEITHNER

At the end of the high-level strategic talks between the U.S. and China, both countries have vowed to improve relations and to prevent human rights from becoming a major diplomatic stumbling block.

Amid mutual political and economic pressures, the U.S. and China are pushing each other to change economic and trade policies seen by each side as being disadvantageous to trade and economic growth.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Thursday that China should allow its currency to increase in value against the dollar to support the reforms in the country's financial system.

As the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue talks are set to begin, it looks as if one issue has already been taken off the list of disagreements looming over this year's discussions.

As U.S. and Chinese leaders are set to meet in Beijing on May 3-4, a year of troubles and differences will be prominent in their minds.

A senior US diplomat arrived in Beijing Sunday ahead of schedule as the reports of US protection to escaped Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng triggered tension between both the countries.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner are not planning to postpone their visit to China next week because of the reported American protection of a Chinese civil-rights activist who recently escaped house arrest, a State Department official said Saturday.

China's central bank expanded the yuan's reference rate against the dollar to another record high on Friday, in a nod to calls from the U.S. to loosen growth restrictions on the currency's value.

Social Security and Medicare programs are sliding closer to insolvency, the federal government warned Monday. The Social Security trust fund will be unable under current trends to fulfill its obligations in 2033, three years earlier than projected last year

Global finance chiefs pressed Europe in weekend talks to quickly put in place the economic reforms needed to finally extinguish its debt crisis now that newly increased financial buffers have bought some precious time.

Australia, Singapore, South Korea and the UK have agreed to contribute a combined $41 billion to the International Monetary Fund reserve to boost a global firewall against Europe's debt crisis.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner pressed India’s Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday for reassurance that New Delhi welcomes foreign capital and remains committed to boosting bilateral trade and investment, following concerns connected to India's newly proposed retrospective tax measures.

The International Monetary Fund said Wednesday it has received pledges worth $320 billion to boost a global firewall against Europe's debt crisis.

The government will face a major test on whether it has the capacity to govern when it faces big tax and budget decisions at the end of the year, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Wednesday.

The United States is far behind on reforming the country's housing finance system, where the government's mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provide funding for the bulk of U.S. home loans, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Wednesday.

Stocks were set to take a breather on Tuesday after the S&P 500 climbed to a 4-year high and ahead of factory orders data and minutes of the latest Federal Reserve meeting.

Stock index futures fell on Tuesday after the S&P 500 climbed to a 4-year high in the previous session as investors awaited factory orders data and minutes of the latest Federal Reserve meeting.

The United States stepped up lobbying on Thursday for its pick to retain the top job at the World Bank as emerging markets pushed their view that the time has come for rich nations to share leadership of key institutions.

The perception, driven by bonds' performance, that the euro's success would continue unabated was shattered beginning in October 2009, when Greece’s 10-year yields soared to 10.3 percent. Today, U.S. policymakers may be making the same mistake in failing to recognize threats of a coming financial crisis.

Kim, 52, will be the first physician to head the bank and the second U.S. nominee to have been born abroad. He has served as Dartmouth College's president since 2009.

The Treasury Department said on Monday it made a $25 billion profit on sales of mortgage-backed securities acquired during the financial crisis, part of its ongoing efforts to wind down taxpayer-financed bailout programs.