U.S. stocks close higher on relief over bond-insurer ratings

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:06:03 (GMT)
U.S. stocks close higher on relief over bond-insurer

U.S. stocks are spurred by news that Standard & Poor's reaffirmed the
credit ratings of two key bond insurers whose shaky financial outlook
has been at the center of investor anxiety in recent months.

S&P backs bond insurers' AAA ratings, sparking rally
MBIA Inc. and Ambac Financial shares spur a broader market rally, after
Standard & Poor's took positive rating actions on their bond-insurance
businesses.

Apple has fewer legs for growth, analyst says
The Mac might just be about to become even more important for Apple
Inc.'s future growth plans.

Google is winner in Microsoft-Yahoo stalemate: analysts

As the stalemate over Microsoft's bid to buy Yahoo enters its third
week, some analysts are already pointing to a winner in the impasse:
Google.

Take-Two investors betting on higher bid from EA

SAN FRANCISCO
Shares of Take-Two Interactive Software soared Monday as investors bet
that an unsolicited $2 billion takeover bid from rival Electronic Arts
Inc. will be increased, despite the fact that the offer has already been
rejected.