BARACK OBAMA

Asian shares rose on Wednesday as indications of progress on a U.S. budget-reduction deal boosted investor confidence while encouraging quarterly numbers from Apple Inc and International Business Machines Corp helped Asia's beaten-down tech sector gain for a second day.

Asian shares rose on Wednesday as indications of progress on a U.S. budget-reduction deal boosted investor confidence while encouraging quarterly numbers from Apple Inc and International Business Machines Corp helped Asia's beaten-down tech sector gain for a second day.

President Obama Tuesday indicated his support for a new deficit-reduction plan that is gaining momentum in the U.S. Senate, calling it a very significant step and one that is broadly consistent with the significant reduction he seeks in the nation's budget deficit. If approved by Congress, the deal would avert a U.S. Government default.

The Gang of Six senators have decided to band together once more, saying Tuesday that the bipartisan group has reached an agreement to trim more than $4 trillion off the deficit over the coming decade.

A wave of Wisconsin recall elections beginning Tuesday will be closely watched as a gauge of the political climate and as a potential bellwether for 2012.

It's been said that Congress never fails to underachieve and exasperate, and that's been the case with the debt talks, so far. The House GOP is currently wasting time with a balanced-budget bill that has almost no chance of becoming law, and the best Senate Democrats can offer is a minimal deficit reduction package.

Stocks rose about 1 percent on Tuesday as a strong quarterly report from IBM and a surge in housing starts sparked investor optimism a day after a selloff.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Tuesday after a strong quarterly report from IBM and a surge in housing starts, sparking investor optimism a day after a selloff.

Stock index futures rose on Tuesday as IBM rallied after its quarterly results, though indexes were slightly off their early highs following a weak report from Goldman Sachs.

Stock index futures rose on Tuesday, indicating a rebound from a selloff in the previous session as strong results from IBM encouraged investors worried about macroeconomic uncertainties.

Senator Mitch McConnell's plan to avert an imminent U.S. debt default could lead to a day of reckoning for his Republicans as they weigh the prospect of fiscal disaster against the demands of Tea Party activists.

A U.S. Government default must be avoided by Washington lawmakers at all costs, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers underscored, as it would trigger a financial panic worse than that precipitated by the collapse of Lehman Brothers in late 2008.

NASA's Dawn, locked in orbit around Vesta, has sent back the first ever close-up image of the asteroid (photos below).

Stocks dropped on Monday as bank shares bore the brunt of investor frustration over governments' inability to solve debt crises in the United States and Europe.

Stocks dropped on Monday as bank shares bore the brunt of investor frustration over governments' inability to solve debt crises in the United States and Europe.

President Barack Obama's march to $1 billion in campaign cash continues, as a combination of small donations and effort by fundraising heavyweights garnered the president $46 million in the second quarter.

Stock index futures were lower on Monday as the deadline for a U.S. debt deal neared with no resolution in sight and investors continued to fret over ongoing fiscal problems in Europe.

What's next for Warren and the agency she was instrumental in creating?

Stock index futures slumped on Monday with no deal in sight on raising the U.S. debt ceiling and investors still fretting over ongoing fiscal problems in Europe.

Mandela has been receiving a lot positive messages and best wishes from all over the world. But his birthday is inspiring an international day of community service.

Stock index futures slumped on Monday with no deal in sight on raising the U.S. debt ceiling and investors still fretting over ongoing fiscal problems in Europe.