U.S. stocks rally on tech profits to end with weekly gains

Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:06:08 (GMT)

U.S. stocks rally on tech profits to end with weekly gains

NEW YORK
U.S. stocks on Friday rallied to solid weekly gains after upbeat results
from Research In Motion Ltd. bolstered the technology sector and
financials drew strength on word Merrill Lynch & Co. might draw a large
investment from overseas.

SIV 'superfund' shelved for lack of interest, changing needs

A plan to relieve a major source of this year's credit crisis that was
backed by the U.S. government and three of the world's largest banks
has been shelved, partly because of a lack of interest in the project,
people familiar with the situation said.

Economic Report: Consumers outspend incomes in November; U.S. inflation
jumps

WASHINGTON
U.S. consumers spent more than they earned in November, driving the
personal savings rate negative for the first time in 15 months but
giving a much-needed boost to a sagging economy, the Commerce Department
reported Friday.

Circuit City stock plunges as losses widen

In a sign of continued struggle and market share loss, Circuit City
Stores Inc. posted a wider-than-expected third-quarter loss on Friday,
hit by lower sales and price cuts on flat-panel televisions.

Research In Motion shares close with big gains

Research In Motion shares surge more than 11% after the company reports
its earnings more than doubled in the third quarter, thanks to continued
strong demand for the BlackBerry.

Markets Friday, 12/21/2007

Friday, 12/21/2007

| Dow : 13450.65 up 205.01

| S & P : 1484.46 up 24.34

| NASDAQ: 2691.99 up 51.13

| Bond (10Y): 4.17%, 100.56

MARKETS:
Wall Street's happy holiday
Stocks end the week higher on Research In Motion's earnings and hints
that Merrill Lynch will receive a foreign capital investment.

Bulletin: U.S. stocks surge, driven by technology earnings; Dow industrials up more than 200 points

12/21/2007 3:05:38 PM

BULLETIN
U.S. stocks surge, driven by technology earnings; Dow industrials up
more than 200 points

A plan by banks intended to rescue off balance sheet investment funds decimated by the subprime meltdown looks doomed - sources say.

Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:27:47 -0500

A plan by banks intended to rescue off balance sheet investment funds
decimated by the subprime meltdown looks doomed - sources say.

U.S. stocks score strong gains on positive tech earnings

Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:01:11 (GMT)

U.S. stocks score strong gains on positive tech earnings

NEW YORK
U.S. stocks on Friday climbed for a second day as solid results from
Research In Motion Ltd. bolstered the technology sector and financials
were supported by word that Merrill Lynch & Co. might draw a large
investment from overseas.

Merrill Lynch may get $5 bln Temasek cash injection

HONG KONG
Merrill Lynch is bullish on Singapore.

The Fed: Fed to hold special auctions 'as long as necessary'

The Federal Reserve said Friday it will conduct biweekly auctions of
short-term funds for as long as necessary to alleviate a credit
squeeze.

Economic Report: Consumers outspend incomes in November; U.S. inflation
jumps

WASHINGTON
U.S. consumers spent more than they earned in November, driving the
personal savings rate negative for the first time in 15 months but
giving a much-needed boost to a sagging economy, the Commerce Department
reported Friday.

Circuit City stock plunges as losses widen
In a sign of continued struggle and market share loss, Circuit City
Stores Inc. posted a wider-than-expected third-quarter loss on Friday,
hit by lower sales and price cuts on flat-panel televisions.

Government reports personal spending in November rose higher than expected.

Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:37:47 -0500

Government reports personal spending in November rose higher than
expected.

Federal Reserve to lend $20 billion to banks at 4.67% as part of its continuing effort to fire up the credit markets.

Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:08:41 -0500

Federal Reserve to lend $20 billion to banks at 4.67% as part of its
continuing effort to fire up the credit markets.

Does Hillary Have The Man Power To Win?

Breaking News
December 20, 2007

Does Hillary Have The Man Power To Win?

As the world of politics fixates on the women's vote in this cycle,
there looms a question: What about the guys? The question for Hillary
Clinton is whether she can garner enough male support to win, the
Washington Post reports. 

Markets Thursday, 12/20/2007

Thursday, 12/20/2007

| Dow : 13245.64 up 38.37

| S & P : 1460.12 up 7.12

| NASDAQ: 2640.86 up 39.85

| Bond (10Y): 4.05%, 101.59

MARKETS:
Tech stocks lift markets
Major indexes close higher after another volatile day thanks to Oracle,
Research In Motion.

Research In Motion earnings surge as sales double

Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:06:13 (GMT)
Research In Motion earnings surge as sales double

Research In Motion Ltd. on Thursday saw earnings more than double for
its third fiscal quarter amid continued strong demand for the
company's BlackBerry line of smart-phone devices.

MarketWatch First Take: EPA, California square off for round two in
emissions fight

The Environmental Protection Agency's refusal to let California do
what it has done for decades, set stricter emission standards, has
outraged environmentalists and politicos who see the heavy hand of
Detroit in the decision.

Market Snapshot: Stocks end higher as Oracle profits override financial
woes

U.S. stocks finished higher on Thursday, as blow-out profits from
software-maker Oracle Corp. and hopes of more fireworks from Research In
Motion Ltd. after the close helped overcome continuing troubles in the
financial sector.

IPO Report: NetSuite rallies 36% after shaky start
NetSuite Inc.'s stock rose 36% Thursday after going on a rollercoaster
ride that marked its debut as a publicly traded company.

FedEx sputters with lower profit as fuel costs soar

FedEx shares came under selling pressure Thursday as second-quarter
earnings fell 6% because of higher fuel prices and a soft U.S. economy,
offset in part by continued strong growth overseas.

Stocks get Oracle boost but financial woes persist

Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:01:16 (GMT)

Stocks get Oracle boost but financial woes persist

U.S. stocks remain in positive territory but lose an early boost
provided by software-maker Oracle Corp.'s 35% profit rise, as bond
insurer MBIA Inc. reports a large exposure to risky debt and Bear
Stearns posts its first-ever quarterly loss.

Bear Stearns swings to loss; executive bonuses scotched

Bear Stearns Cos. posts its first-ever quarterly loss as the company's
mortgage-related write-down grew to $1.9 billion after credit markets
worsened last month.

Oracle shares surge as earnings rise 35%

SAN FRANCISCO
Oracle Corp. shares surged as much as 8% Thursday after the
business-software giant topped Wall Street's expectations with a 35%
gain in its second-quarter earnings.

IPO Report: NetSuite sees mixed debut in trading following IPO

SAN FRANCISCO
NetSuite Inc. was off to a mixed start Thursday morning as a publicly
traded company, as the software maker's shares went on a rollercoaster
ride shortly after the opening bell.

FedEx sputters with lower profit as fuel costs soar

NEW YORK
FedEx Corp.'s shares came under selling pressure Thursday, slipping as
the economic bellwether's second-quarter earnings fell 6% because of
higher fuel prices and a soft U.S. economy, offset in part by continued
strong growth overseas.

Markets Wednesday, 12/19/2007

Wednesday, 12/19/2007

| Dow : 13207.27 down 25.20

| S & P : 1453.00 down 1.98

| NASDAQ: 2601.01 up 4.98

| Bond (10Y): 4.02%, 101.78

MARKETS:
Mixed ending for stocks
Major indexes struggle for direction in a rocky session plagued by
credit concerns.

Oracle posts strong gains, alleviating investor concern

Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007
22:01:09 (GMT)

Oracle posts strong gains, alleviating investor concern

Business software maker Oracle Corp. on Wednesday posted a 35% gain in
second-quarter profit, topping Wall Street's expectations and
alleviating the concerns of investors looking at the company as a gauge
of the broader tech market's health.

U.S. stocks end mixed amid varying signals on credit front

U.S. stocks on Wednesday ended mixed after a volatile day that featured
mixed signals on the credit crisis, with a potential downgrade of bond
insurers dulling a mostly positive auction of funds to banks by the
Federal Reserve.

Capitol Report: Fed's failure to communicate adds risk to outlook

WASHINGTON
As the clouds of economic worry have moved over the nation since August,
the Federal Reserve under Ben Bernanke has fumbled badly in realizing
its objective to communicate clearly with the financial markets.

S&P warns it may cut AAA ratings of Ambac, MBIA and rivals

SAN FRANCISCO
Standard & Poor's may downgrade the AAA ratings of leading bond
insurers, including Ambac Financial and MBIA Inc., because of rising
delinquencies and foreclosures on subprime mortgages, the ratings agency
said Wednesday.

Morgan Stanley sets $5.7 bln in added write-downs; China buys in

BOSTON
Morgan Stanley said Wednesday it's writing down an additional $5.7
billion of mortgage-related assets, taking the total fourth-quarter loss
to nearly $10 billion in the latest sign that the credit crunch is
worsening.

U.S. stocks climb in wake of Fed auction results

Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007
17:01:13 (GMT)

U.S. stocks climb in wake of Fed auction results

U.S stocks on Wednesday opened mixed in tentative trading, with
investors awaiting results from the Federal Reserve's auction and
digesting word of more losses from investment bank Morgan Stanley, which
also drew a large investment from China.

Morgan Stanley sets $5.7 bln in added write-downs; China buys in

BOSTON
Morgan Stanley said Wednesday it's writing down an additional $5.7
billion of mortgage-related assets, taking the total fourth-quarter loss
to nearly $10 billion in the latest sign that the credit crunch is
worsening.

California fires caused up to $335 million in losses: Allstate

Insurance company Allstate Corp. said Tuesday that the wildfires that
blanketed southern California in October have resulted in more than
7,000 claims and up to $335 million in "catastrophe losses" to be
recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Week-to-week mortgage applications down 19.5%: MBA

CHICAGO
Applications filed for mortgages decreased a seasonally adjusted 19.5%
last week, reflecting a sharp drop in refinancing activity, the Mortgage
Bankers Association said Wednesday.

Palm shares fall to four-year low as sales keep falling

SAN FRANCISCO
Palm Inc. shares sank to their lowest level in nearly four years
Wednesday morning after the maker of smart phone devices swung to a net
loss for its second fiscal quarter and issued a disappointing forecast
for the current period.

Oil prices rise as crude supplies drop 7.6 million barrels, a much larger decline than expected.

Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 10:33:44 -0500

Oil prices rise as crude supplies drop 7.6 million barrels, a much
larger decline than expected.

The Fed lends $20 billion at 4.65 percent in first of 4 planned auctions to ease credit crunch; $61.6B offered.

Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 10:02:46 -0500

The Fed lends $20 billion at 4.65 percent in first of 4 planned auctions
to ease credit crunch; $61.6B offered.

Morgan Stanley takes $5.7 billion in mortgage-related writedowns in fourth quarter on top of $3.7B already announced.

Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:37:46 -0500

Morgan Stanley takes $5.7 billion in mortgage-related writedowns in
fourth quarter on top of $3.7B already announced.

Congress OKs Auto Fuel Economy Increase

Breaking News
December 18, 2007

Congress OKs Auto Fuel Economy Increase

Congress by a wide margin approved the first increase in automobile fuel
economy in 32 years, and President Bush plans to quickly sign the
legislation, accepting the mandates on the auto industry. 

Markets Tuesday, 12/18/2007

Tuesday, 12/18/2007

| Dow : 13232.47 up 65.27

| S & P : 1454.98 up 9.08

| NASDAQ: 2596.03 up 21.57

| Bond (10Y): 4.12%, 101.00

MARKETS:
Stocks muster gains
Wall Street closes higher in a choppy session as investors weigh
earnings from Goldman and Adobe amid worries about the economy.

Stocks inch higher Tuesday as investors grapple with good earnings from Goldman and ongoing economic jitters.

Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:00:05 -0500

Stocks inch higher Tuesday as investors grapple with good earnings from
Goldman and ongoing economic jitters.

stocks rebound after two sessions of losses

Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2007
22:01:13 (GMT)

U.S. stocks rebound after two sessions of losses

U.S. stocks bounced back from two sessions of heavy losses on Tuesday
after the European Central Bank moved to lend $500 billion to commercial
banks and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Best Buy Co. offered solid
quarterly results.
Highest-paid CEOs tally double-digit growth in pay, data show

NEW YORK
Chief executives running some of the world's largest publicly traded
companies racked up double-digit raises in 2007 with a median total pay
surpassing the $8.8 million mark, according to a new report from the
Corporate Library.

FCC votes to relax cross-ownership rules

The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to allow ownership of a
newspaper and a television station in the same market in the 20 largest
metropolitan areas in the U.S., which would ease a long-standing rule
prohibiting such ownership in any market.

Goldman Sachs profit rises 2%, once again outpacing expectations

Goldman Sachs said Tuesday that fourth-quarter net income rose 2% from a
year ago, with profit beating Wall Street estimates for the eighth
straight quarter, as investment-banking revenue rose sharply, offsetting
moderate growth in some other businesses.

Breaking: FCC Votes Down Media Cross-Ownership Ban

12/18/2007
Media Cross-Ownership Ban Falls

The Federal Communications Commission in a party-line, 3-2 vote, agreed
Tuesday to overturn a 32-year-old ban and allow broadcasters in the
nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper.

Turkish Troops Enter Northern Iraq

Breaking News
December 18, 2007
Turkish Troops Enter Northern Iraq

The Turkish army sent soldiers about 1.5 miles into northern Iraq in an
overnight operation, Kurdish officials said. Also, Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to the oil-rich region of
Kirkuk. 

Markets Monday, 12/17/2007

Monday, 12/17/2007

| Dow : 13167.20 down 172.65

| S & P : 1445.90 down 22.05

| NASDAQ: 2574.46 down 61.28

| Bond (10Y): 4.14%, 100.88

MARKETS:
Stocks knocked back
Wall Street wilts as investors worry about higher inflation, lower
economic growth.

U.S. stocks end at two-week ago lows as tech leads sell-off

Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007
22:06:06 (GMT)

U.S. stocks end at two-week ago lows as tech leads sell-off

NEW YORK
U.S. stocks on Monday fell to more than two-week lows, with technology
shares the most battered, as concerns over economic growth overshadowed
a fresh spate of merger deals.

Economic Report: Home builders' index steady at 22-year low

U.S. home builders remained extremely pessimistic in December, but at
least their mood didn't get any worse, according to a monthly survey
of builders' attitudes released Monday.

New mobile phones cool to touch, easy to type

WASHINGTON
Touch-sensitive screens, full keyboards and sliders are among the latest
trends in wireless phones for this holiday-shopping season.

Bond insurers rally after Moody's keeps triple-A ratings

Shares of bond insurer Ambac Financial jumped more than 20% on Monday as
investors breathed a sigh of relief after Moody's Investors Service
affirmed the company's triple-A rating with a stable outlook.

Darrell Delamaide's Political Capital: The Democrats' leadership
challenge -- Economic Insecurity

WASHINGTON
The Obama campaign is energized going into the holiday period prior to
the Iowa caucuses. They feel their candidate has the right kind of
momentum to come out on top, while Hillary Clinton, having reached her
peak earlier this year, is scrambling to keep her support.

Stocks slump with the Dow falling about 175 points as investors remain downbeat on the economy and mull inflation.

Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 4:02pm ET

Stocks slump with the Dow falling about 175 points as investors remain
downbeat on the economy and mull inflation.

Homebuilder confidence for December remained at its lowest point ever, for the third month in a row.

Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:02:01 -0500

Homebuilder confidence for December remained at its lowest point ever,
for the third month in a row.

U.S. stocks drop on Greenspan comments, subprime

Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:01 ET

U.S. stocks drop on Greenspan comments, subprime

NEW YORK
U.S. stocks on Monday extended losses into a second day as Moody's
Investors Services warned it could lower bond insurer credit ratings
because of subprime losses and Alan Greenspan warned of a possible U.S.
recession.

Trane deal to expand Ingersoll-Rand's climate-control footprint

NEW YORK
Ingersoll-Rand Co. said Monday it would acquire Trane Inc., a provider
of air-conditioning systems and services, in a $10.1 billion deal that
will further diversify the company's global-wide climate-control
businesses.

Economic Report: Current account deficit falls to 5.1% of GDP

WASHINGTON
The U.S. current account deficit narrowed in the third quarter to $178.5
billion, or 5.1% of gross domestic product, the Commerce Department said
Monday.

Plains Exploration selling assets to Oxy Pete, XTO Energy

NEW YORK
Plains Exploration & Production Co. on Monday announced the sale of
$1.75 billion in energy assets, a $1 billion stock-buyback program and
an increase in capital spending to nearly $1.2 billion for 2008.

FDA wants more info on Glaxo's cervical-cancer vaccine

LONDON
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants more information on
GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix cervical-cancer vaccine before clearing it
for sale, giving Merck & Co. more time before a rival comes to market.

News Alert! Death Penalty Abolished In N.J.

Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007
10:18:43 -0500

New Jersey Gov. John S. Corzine has signed a bill abolishing the death
penalty in the state.

Report: Saudi King Pardons Rape Victim

Breaking News
December 17, 2007

Report: Saudi King Pardons Rape Victim

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has pardoned a female rape victim who had
been sentenced to 200 lashes for being alone with a man at the time of
the attack who was not related to her, a Saudi newspaper reported. 

Markets December 17, 2007

Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007
13:41:08 (GMT)
Pre-open moves

A second day of dismay loomed as former Fed chief Greenspan warned of
rising prices and a cooling economy and Moody's said the ratings of four
leading bond insurers may be lowered.