U.S. stock gains accelerate as Europe fears ease

Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:00:59 -0500

U.S. STOCK GAINS ACCELERATE AS EUROPE FEARS EASE
U.S. stocks rise Tuesday as fears over sovereign-debt issues in Europe
waned, lifting commodities, while a report of manufacturing conditions
in the New York area showed a bigger-than-expected improvement.

LIBERALS CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR FINANCIAL TRADES TAX
As policymakers in the U.S. and Europe contemplate mechanisms to ward
off. another economic near-collapse, one idea is gaining traction
among liberals at the same time as it is infuriating conservatives: a
financial transactions tax.

FUND MANAGERS SHY AWAY FROM RISK, SURVEY SHOWS

Global fund managers move out of equities and into cash and bonds
during February as they lower their risk profiles, according to a
monthly survey from Bank of America's Merrill Lynch unit.

BARCLAYS SHARES JUMP ON PROFIT SURGE, OUTLOOK
Shares in Barclays jump nearly 10% as the bank reports a more than
tenfold rise in its fourth-quarter profit following the sale of its
Barclays Global. Investors arm, and as the U.K. bank said it's on pace
for a stronger year.

J.P. MORGAN BUYING RBS SEMPRA ASSETS FOR $1.7 BLN
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. says it will acquire the oil, metals and
European energy operations of RBS Sempra Commodities for around $1.7
billion in cash.