Passage of stimulus eyed before weekend recess

Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:01:38 -0500
Passage of stimulus eyed before weekend recess

U.S. lawmakers are scrambling to pass the $789 economic stimulus bill
before this weekend, with a vote in the House possible on Thursday.

MORTGAGES: FIXED MORTGAGE RATES DROP FURTHER: FREDDIE MAC

Average interest for a fixed-rate mortgage drops further, encouraging
refinancing, according to Freddie Mac.

COCA-COLA PROFIT DOWN ON CHARGES, BUT VOLUME RISES

Coca-Cola earnings per share fall 17% in the fourth quarter, but
overseas. business boosts results.

VIACOM'S QUARTERLY NET TUMBLES 69%, HURT BY LOWER AD REVENUE

Viacom's fourth-quarter profit tumbles 69%, hurt by weakness in
advertising sales at MTV and the media conglomerate's other cable
channels, financial results show.

HEDGE FUNDS: INDUSTRY WAS STILL DOGGED BY INVESTOR REDEMPTIONS IN JANUARY

Investor redemptions again dog the hedge fund industry in January, but
withdrawals slowed from the levels seen in November and December,
reports HedgeFund.net.