WELLS FARGO

The federal budget and unemployment were tied as top investor concerns, a poll showed, when asked to rate potential factors affecting the investment climate.

The Oracle of Omaha chats live with CNBC

Financial penalties extracted from large banks over their mortgage servicing practices may be used for loan modifications, a top Obama administration official said on Monday.

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Novavax, Sonus Networks, SodaStream International, Akorn, and A123 Systems. The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Central European Distribution, YRC Worldwide, Avago Technologies, Exterran Partners, and Partner Communications.

The top after-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Novavax, Sonus Networks, SuperGen, Global Defense Technology & Systems, and SuperMedia. The top after-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: YRC Worldwide, Hickory Tech, Smith Micro Software, Exterran Partners, and VIVUS.

Corrects spelling of head of consumer banking's last name, paragraph 6

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Friday are: Salesforce.com, Sandridge Energy, Boeing, Walt Disney, F5 Networks, Wells Fargo, Carnival Corp and First Solar.

U.S. regulators' efforts to settle with banks over improper mortgage foreclosures are being hampered by infighting among the groups involved in the talks, and a settlement may take a while, according to sources familiar with the matter.

New York's chief judge has taken steps to provide homeowners facing foreclosure legal representation free of charge.

The proposed deal between the New York Stock Exchange Euronext and Deutsche Börse AG that would create the world's largest financial exchange has apparently run into some controversy with New York Senator Charles Schumer's unintended revelations on post-merger management authority.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Friday are: Big Lots, Tyco International, Tesoro, Ford Motor, Oracle, Expedia, Cephalon, Dean Foods and Kraft Foods.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Wednesday are: Walt Disney, Jds Uniphase, PPL Corp, Ingersoll-Rand, Motorola Solutions, Wells Fargo, Time Warner and Google.

RBC Capital Markets said banks with strongest capital and increased profitability are expected to get green light on dividends. The Federal Reserve is expected to approve dividend increases.

The companies whose shares are moving in early session on Tuesday are: Boyd Gaming, Synchronoss Technologies, Select Medical Holdings, athenahealth, Centene, Avon Products, Steris Corp., Halliburton and Blackbaud.

The U.S. manufacturing sector grew at its fastest pace in nearly seven years in January, and prices paid jumped more than expected in the latest sign the economic recovery is gaining traction.

US stocks traded mixed in early trade on Wednesday, following mixed earnings from financial heavyweights Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo and a government report showed that U.S. housing starts fell more than expected in December.

The companies that reported earnings before the markets open on Wednesday are: Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bancorp, State Street, Northern Trust, Bank of New York Mellon and Hudson City Bancorp.

The companies which are expected to see active trade on Wednesday are Apple, Goldman Sachs, eBay, IBM, Cree, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bancorp and Xilinx.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a flat opening on Wednesday ahead of quarterly earnings from top investment bank Goldman Sachs and key housing data due to be released before market opens.

U.S. bank stocks are flying high, and this week's earnings could give investors more reason to be optimistic about the sector.

An improving global economy, solid corporate earnings and even easing fears about euro zone debt have been more than enough to rationalise the rising hunger for riskier assets now prevalent on financial markets.