U.S. stocks close mainly down as financial sector still trouble

Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:04:39 -0400
U.S. stocks close mainly down as financial sector still trouble

U.S. stocks sharply pare losses as crude plunges below $140 a barrel and
as some embattled financial shares rally, with Lehman Brothers Holdings
Inc. and Washington Mutual Inc. among those climbing.

SEC to limit shorting of Fannie, Freddie, brokers

The Securities and Exchange Commission announces that it will try to
limit so-called "naked" short selling of shares in Fannie Mae, Freddie
Mac and big brokerage firms.

The Fed: Fed uneasy about inflation, growth, Bernanke says

Federal Reserve officials have dialed up their concens about the
potential for runaway prices and about the downside risks to growth,
says Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.

McCain, Obama spar over war strategy

Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain face off over their war strategies,
with each supporting a stronger force in Afghanistan but disagreeing on
whether to maintain a presence in Iraq.

Lehman bidders thin on the ground, analysts say

After a drastic slide in shares of Lehman Bros. Holdings, speculation
about clients leaving and a reported search for new strategic options,
now would be a good time to acquire the struggling brokerage firm,
analysts say.