International Headline News

Date: Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 8:02 PM
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 28 February, 2010

MASSIVE QUAKE JOLTS CHILE; TSUNAMI WARNING ISSUED
• 214 confirmed dead; number expected to rise• Chilean Pres.
Bachelet to address nation• Hawaii 'dodged a bullet' on
tsunami• Obama: We stand ready to help Chile.

> CLINTON ON LATIN AMERICAN TOUR
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit five Latin
American nations next week, seeking to foster relationships with
some new leaders and cement ties with others.

> U.N. BACKS ISRAEL-GAZA WAR PROBE
The United Nations' General Assembly on Friday passed an Arab
League-backed resolution calling on Israeli and Palestinian
leaders to further investigate alleged war crimes during the
Israel-Gaza war.

> ISRAEL: NUCLEAR IRAN DANGER TO STABILITY
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Friday that Iran's
nuclear program poses a danger that extends beyond Israel. "It
is a challenge for the whole world," he said.

> U.S. MILITARY OKS ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA
U.S. military personnel are officially allowed to tweet.

> MARIE OSMOND'S TEENAGE SON DIES
Marie Osmond's 18-year-old son, Michael Blosil, has died, a
family spokesman said Saturday.

> BRIDGE SNUBS TERRY AS CHELSEA CRASH
Manchester City upset nine-man Chelsea 4-2 on Saturday in an
emotion-charged match that began with the visitors' defender
Wayne Bridge refusing to shake the hand of the Premier League
leaders' captain John Terry.

> MILLER MISSES OUT IN RECORD MEDAL BID
The United States' bid to earn a record 37th medal of the 2010
Winter Olympics faltered on Saturday as skiing hopes Bode Miller
and Ted Ligety failed to make it past the first round of the
men's slalom.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> LLOYDS LOSSES NARROW TO $9.6B
Lloyds Banking Group has reported a £6.3bn ($9.6bn) underlying
pre-tax loss for 2009, a slight improvement on the £6.7bn
deficit recorded a year earlier.

> GOLDMAN ROLE IN GREEK CRISIS PROBED
The US central bank is looking into Goldman Sachs's role in
arranging contentious derivatives trades for Greece, which
helped the country to massage its public finances, Ben Bernanke,
chairman of the Federal Reserve, revealed on Thursday.

> GOOGLE ON THE DEFENSIVE IN EUROPE
Google on Thursday mounted a renewed defence of the way it ranks
search results, as fresh questions emerged about its practice of
sometimes manually intervening to override its automated ranking
system.

Tsunami unleashed by Chilean earthquake reaches Hawaii: reports

Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:45:28 -0500

Tsunami unleashed by Chilean earthquake reaches Hawaii: reports
02/27/2010 05:43:18 PM EDT

Breaking News

Date: Saturday, February 27, 2010

Death toll from 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile rises to 122 and
could climb higher, says President-elect Pinera.

International Headline News

Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:03:05 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 27 February, 2010

> TOP ISRAELI OFFICIAL: NO 'STABLE WORLD ORDER' WITH NUCLEAR IRAN
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Friday that Iran's
nuclear program poses a danger that extends beyond Israel. "It
is a challenge for the whole world," he said.

> 7.0 QUAKE STRIKES OFF JAPAN
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Ryukyu Islands early
Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

> KILLER WHALES SHOWS RESUMING
The whale involved in the death of a trainer will remain an
active member of the team, and killer whale shows will resume
Saturday, company president Jim Atchison says.

> COURT SEIZES $1.4B FROM THAKSIN
Thailand's supreme court seizes more than one billion dollars
from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after finding he
boosted his wealth by abusing his power.

> 17 KILLED IN KABUL SUICIDE BLASTS
Deadly blasts targeting foreigners in the Afghan capital on
Friday killed at least 17 people and wounded others.

> 11 HELD IN ITALY OVER ALLEGED PKK LINKS
At least 11 people were detained in Italy on suspicion of having
terrorism ties to the outlawed PKK group, authorities said
Friday.

> 26 DEAD IN TIMBUKTU MOSQUE STAMPEDE
Twenty-six people, at least half of them children, were killed
in a stampede near a mosque in Timbuktu, Mali, according to a
journalist who witnessed the incident.

> SEVERE STORM CUTS POWER IN NEW YORK
A major winter storm will continue to wallop the Northeast on
Friday, a day after heavy snow closed schools, roads and caused
dangerous conditions.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> LLOYDS LOSSES NARROW TO $9.6B
Lloyds Banking Group has reported a £6.3bn ($9.6bn) underlying
pre-tax loss for 2009, a slight improvement on the £6.7bn
deficit recorded a year earlier.

> GOLDMAN ROLE IN GREEK CRISIS PROBED
The US central bank is looking into Goldman Sachs's role in
arranging contentious derivatives trades for Greece, which
helped the country to massage its public finances, Ben Bernanke,
chairman of the Federal Reserve, revealed on Thursday.

> GOOGLE ON THE DEFENSIVE IN EUROPE
Google on Thursday mounted a renewed defence of the way it ranks
search results, as fresh questions emerged about its practice of
sometimes manually intervening to override its automated ranking
system.

Market, Friday, 02/26/2010

Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:47:49 -0500

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10325.26 up 4.23 | S & P : 1104.49 up 1.56
|
| NASDAQ: 2238.26 up 4.04 | Bond (10Y): 3.59%, 100.25
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks: Mixed day, tough week
Investors consider AIG's big quarterly loss, a worse-than-expected
housing report and a better-than-expected GDP report.

Breaking News

Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:05:07 -0500

USGS says 7.0-magnitude quake struck offshore near Okinawa region of Japan.

Stocks close higher, but are down for the week, snapping a two-week winning streak. Dow, Nasdaq, S&P all inch up.

Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:04:03 -0500

Stocks close higher, but are down for the week, snapping a two-week
winning streak. Dow, Nasdaq, S&P all inch up.

'Wicked nor'easter' slams Northeast

Date: Friday, February 26, 2010

'WICKED NOR'EASTER' SLAMS NORTHEAST
A severe snowstorm is disrupting air traffic and morning commutes
across the northeast Friday, the third big storm this month in the
region.

GERMANY MAY BUY GREEK BONDS THROUGH KFW: REPORT
Purchase would be part of Europe-wide plan to prop up Greece with as
much as 25 billion euros if necessary.

EURO TARNISHED, BUT RIVALS DON'T SHINE
The euro is damaged goods, laid low by a debt crisis that has revealed the
shortcomings of European economic and monetary union, economists say.
But besides the Japanese yen, there's not much else as a liquid
alternative to the U.S. dollar.

U.S. IN 1930S SUGGESTS BLUEPRINT FOR HEALING EURO
The near-collapse of the dollar in 1933, and its subsequent recovery,
can offer a blueprint for recovery should it happen that the euro
breaks up.

U.S. STOCKS EDGE HIGHER; DOLLAR, CONSUMER IN FOCUS
U.S. stocks manage modest gains Monday as a flurry of morning data
pointed towards some signs of economic strength but lingering weakness
in consumer spending and housing.

January existing home sales fall 7.2% mainly due to lull between homebuyer tax credit expirations.

Date: Friday, February 26, 2010

January existing home sales fall 7.2% mainly due to lull between
homebuyer tax credit expirations.

Wall Street opens mixed after worse-than-expected quarterly loss from AIG. Dow, S&P 500 slightly higher; Nasdaq heads lower.

Date: Friday, February 26, 2010

Wall Street opens mixed after worse-than-expected quarterly loss from
AIG. Dow, S&P 500 slightly higher; Nasdaq heads lower.

U.S. economy grew 5.9% in the fourth quarter -- slightly more than originally reported, government says.

Date: Friday, February 26, 2010

U.S. economy grew 5.9% in the fourth quarter -- slightly more than
originally reported, government says.

International Headline News

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 26 February, 2010

> U.S. CONSULATE 'ATTACKER' DIES IN STRIKE
A militant wanted in connection with an attack on a U.S.
consulate in Pakistan four years ago was killed in a missile
strike in the country's tribal region, a Pakistani intelligence
official said.

> AFGHAN FLAG RAISED OVER TALIBAN ENCLAVE
Authorities raise the Afghan flag over the battle-scarred
enclave of Marjah, a ceremony symbolizing the presence of
government forces in the Taliban stronghold.

> INJURIES, DROWNING KILLED WHALE TRAINER
A trainer dies after an incident involving a killer whale at
SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. Police say it was an accident, but
witnesses say the whale attacked.

> SUSPECTS FACE MORE CHARGES IN NY 'PLOT'
Two suspects in an alleged plot to detonate explosives in New
York's subway system face additional charges, federal
prosecutors said Thursday.

> AUSTRALIA WARNS ISRAEL OVER DUBAI KILLING
Australia warned Israel Thursday of a possible diplomatic rift
if Israel condoned the use of fraudulent Australian passports in
the killing of a Hamas leader.

> ACTOR'S BODY FOUND IN VANCOUVER PARK
Actor Andrew Koenig, missing since Feb. 14, was found dead in
Vancouver, British Colombia, Thursday, a source close to the
family said.

> VENEZUELA DISPUTES ABUSE REPORT
Venezuela's top human rights official on Thursday disputed
findings of a report issued by an Organization of American
States commission, and accused the panel of unfairly distorting
statistics to show a pattern of political repression and abuses
by the government.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~
> RBS BOOST AS LOSSES FALL TO £3.6B
Royal Bank of Scotland on Thursday said its loan impairments
appeared to have peaked as it reported a smaller-than-expected
£3.6bn pro forma net loss for 2009

> TOYOTA CHIEF VOWS TO REGAIN TRUST
The president of Toyota said he takes full responsibility for
safety issues in the company's cars and vowed to regain the
trust of customers in his first interview after appearing on
Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

Perhaps the highlight of the head of Toyota's trip to Washington
happened not on Capitol Hill, but when speaking before U.S.
Toyota dealers at the National Press Club after giving hours of
testimony before U.S. legislators.

Market,Thursday, 02/25/2010

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    Dow   : 10321.03 down 53.13      | S & P     : 1102.93 down 2.31
|
|    NASDAQ: 2234.22 down 1.68        | Bond (10Y): 3.63%, 99.94
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks lose big early, then cut losses
Wall Street came back from deep losses as worries about Greece's debt
crisis and the day's economic news ease up. Dollar turns lower versus
euro. Bond prices rally.

Dow finishes down 52 points after comeback from 188-point drop

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010

Dow finishes down 52 points after comeback from 188-point drop
02/25/2010 04:06:01 PM EDT

U.S. stocks fall on concerns over jobs, Greece

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010

U.S. STOCKS FAll ON CONERNS OVER JOBS, GREECE
U.S. stocks drop sharply at Thursday's after a jump in jobless claims cast
doubt over the economic recovery, and concerns deepen over the
stability of euro zone debt.

DURABLE GOODS ORDERS SURGE 3% ON AIRPLANES

Orders for U.S-made durable goods soar 3% in January to a seasonally
adjusted $175.7 billion on higher bookings for civilian airplanes, the
Commerce Department estimates.

WEEKLY JOBLESS CLAIMS JUMP 22,000 TO 496,000
The number of people filing first-time enemployment claims rises by
22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 496,000 in the latest week, Labor
Department data show.

TREASURYS ADVANCE AFTER JOBLESS CLAIMS JUMP
Treasury prices add to gains as jobless-claims data show an unexpected
increase, pushing yields on 10-year notes to the lowest in more than two weeks.

30-YEAR FIXED-RATE MORTGAGES RISE TO ABOVE 5%
For the first time in three weeks, rates on 30-year
fixed-rate mortgages rose to above 5%, according to Freddie Mac's
weekly survey of conforming mortgage rates.

Stocks sink at the open following a dismal report on jobless claims and heightened worries over Greece. Dow plunges 135 points.

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010

Stocks sink at the open following a dismal report on jobless claims
and heightened worries over Greece. Dow plunges 135 points.

Crude oil falls on Greece fears, mixed U.S. data

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010

Crude-oil futures trade below $79 a barrel, pressured by jitters tied
to Greece's debt, as market players also digest a mixed bag of U.S.
economic data.

Weekly U.S. jobless claims rise -- sixth increase in 2010's first eight weeks

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010

Weekly U.S. jobless claims rise -- sixth increase in 2010's first eight weeks
02/25/2010 08:34:00 AM EDT

First-time weekly jobless claims surge to 496,000 and have increased by more than 10% in the past two weeks, U.S. says.

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010

First-time weekly jobless claims surge to 496,000 and have increased
by more than 10% in the past two weeks, U.S. says.

International Headline News

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 25 February, 2010

> TOYODA TEARS UP AFTER CONGRESSIONAL HEARING
Toyota President Akio Toyoda tears up and pauses for composure
as he thanks the audience for their support following his
testimony before U.S. lawmakers.

> CONTRACTORS IN AFGHANISTAN SCRUTINIZED
Several key U.S. senators on Wednesday tore into private
contractors working in Afghanistan for the company formerly
known as Blackwater, accusing them of flouting regulations and
endangering the U.S. mission.

> KILLER WHALE KILLS SEA WORLD TRAINER
A killer whale has killed a trainer at Sea World, a spokeswoman
for the Orlando, Florida, attraction said Wednesday.

> 15 NEW SUSPECTS IN DUBAI MURDER PLOT
Dubai police name 15 new suspects in the murder of a top Hamas
official who was attacked by an alleged Israeli hit squad in a
Dubai hotel room in January.

> CUBAN DISSIDENTS 'KEPT FROM FUNERAL'
More than 20 Cuban dissidents were detained Wednesday when they
tried to attend the funeral and several memorials for a
political prisoner who died Tuesday after a prolonged hunger
strike, human rights activists said.

> REPORT: HAMAS SON WORKED FOR ISRAEL
The son of a Hamas official worked for Israeli intelligence and
was the Jewish state's "most valuable source in the militant
organization's leadership," a news report said Wednesday.

> CLASHES AS GREEK WORKERS STRIKE
Protesters clashed with police in central Athens Wednesday as
thousands of transport workers went on strike against severe
austerity measures the government says are needed to tackle the
country's crippling budget deficit.

> UK 'SORRY' FOR FORCED CHILD MIGRATION
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will apologize on behalf of
the UK government Wednesday over a controversial child migration
policy which saw thousands of children separated from their
families and sent to Australia and other Commonwealth countries.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> WHAT GREECE TELLS US ABOUT EUROPE
The size and scale of the protests in Greece are hard to ignore.
Athenians filled Constitution Square in the heart of the capital
protesting the austerity measures being put forward by the
Government of George Papandreou. This is his first major test on
the ground since taking office last autumn.

> GOOGLE IN BRUSSELS ANTITRUST INQUIRY
The European Commission has launched a preliminary antitrust
investigation into Google's search engine and its
search-advertising service.

> LABOR DISPUTES ROLL ACROSS EUROPE
French air traffic controllerswent on strike Tuesday as labor
unrest continued to roll across Europe despite the suspension of
a strike by Lufthansa pilots after just one day.

Markets, Wednesday, 02/24/2010

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    Dow   : 10374.16 up 91.75        | S & P     : 1105.24 up 10.64
|
|    NASDAQ: 2235.90 up 22.46      | Bond (10Y): 3.69%, 99.44
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks surge on renewed optimism
Investors breathe a sigh of relief after the Fed chairman again
pledges to keep rates low.The weak dollar is also in play.

Stocks rally on Fed chief's pledge to keep interest rates low. Dow ends up 89 points; Nasdaq, S&P gain 1% each.

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Stocks rally on Fed chief's pledge to keep interest rates low. Dow
ends up 91.75 points; Nasdaq, S&P gain 1% each.

Three Toyota suppliers raided by Detroit office of FBI: reports

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Three Toyota suppliers raided by Detroit office of FBI: reports
02/24/2010 01:48:37 PM EDT

Rally on Wall Street gains steam after Senate OKs $15 billion job creation bill. Dow rises more than 100 points.

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Rally on Wall Street gains steam after Senate OKs $15 billion job
creation bill. Dow rises more than 100 points.

Sustained recovery still in question: Bernanke

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

SUSTAINED RECOVERY STILL IN QUESTION: BERNANKE
The U.S. economic recovery is still not yet on a sustainable path, and
near-zero interest rates are still needed, Federal Reserve Board
Chairman Ben Bernanke tells lawmakers.

TOYOTA PRESIDENT NEXT TO FEEL HEAT FROM CONGRESS
Lawmakers on Wednesday take aim at Toyota's President Akio Toyoda, a
day after they lambasted the automaker's top U.S.
executive for the company's conduct during its rampant safety problems.

AHEAD OF HEARINGS, TOYOTA CHIEF VOWS TO DO BETTER
Facing U.S. Congressional hearings focused on his company's safety
record, Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda admits his company
can do better.

TOYOTA COMING TO GRIPS WITH SAFETY ISSUES: EXEC
The company's top U.S. executive faces Congress after lawmakers,
consumers and analysts spend much of the day slamming the automaker
for neglect leading up to its recall crisis.

SAFER TOYOTAS -- AT WHAT COST?
Public wrath is on display this week in Washington as lawmakers rake
Toyota over the coals for its cool response to
fatal flaws in its cars. But the hearings expose issues that go far
beyond the troubled car maker.

Fed chief Bernanke: U.S. economic recovery not yet self-sustaining

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Fed chief Bernanke: U.S. economic recovery not yet self-sustaining
02/24/2010 10:02:29 AM EDT

New home sales in January tumble 11.2% to an annual rate of 309,000, Census Bureau reports.

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

New home sales in January tumble 11.2% to an annual rate of 309,000,
Census Bureau reports.

Gold sheds $10 an ounce; oil drifts lower

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

2/24/2010 8:28:00 AM ET
Crude-oil futures drift lower Wednesday as energy traders give short
shrift to bullish inventories data, while gold futures shed more than
$10 an ounce.

U.S. stocks rise Wednesday as market awaits testimony from Ben Bernanke, Akio Toyoda

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

BULLETIN: U.S. stocks rise Wednesday as market awaits testimony from
Ben Bernanke, Akio Toyoda
02/24/2010 09:48:38 AM EDT

International Headline News

Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 24 February, 2010

> REPORTS: SUDAN PEACE DEAL SIGNED
Sudan has signed a framework peace accord with rebels from the
nation's volatile Darfur region, state media reported.

> TOYOTA WOES 'ELECTRONIC'
Toyota "must think differently when investigating complaints,"
the head of U.S. operations says in prepared remarks. James
Lentz addresses a congressional panel today.

> LABOR PROTESTS SPREAD ACROSS EUROPE
Labor unrest unfolds across Europe with French air traffic
controllers and oil workers, British Airways cabin crew and
unions across Spain all embroiled in disputes.

> CHENEY SUFFERS MILD HEART ATTACK
Former Vice President Dick Cheney was "feeling good" a day after
being hospitalized with chest pains, a source who spoke to
Cheney said Tuesday.

> NEIGHBORS BACK ARGENTINA ON FALKLANDS
A number of Latin American countries have rushed to offer their
support to Argentina in its long-running territorial dispute
with Britain over the Falkland Islands.

> NEW UK PASSPORT SUSPECTS IN DUBAI 'HIT'
Two more suspects in the killing of a Hamas leader in Dubai,
both carrying British passports, have been identified, police
said Tuesday.

> 50 HOMES BURIED IN INDONESIA LANDSLIDES
About 30 homes were buried in massive landslides Tuesday in
Indonesia as torrential rain drenched the area.

> SOURCES: PRESIDENTS 'TRADE OBSCENITIES

A shouting match involving the presidents of Veneuela and
Colombia is the latest rumble in months of tension between the
two South American nations.
--------------------------------------------
BUSINESS

> LUFTHANSA RESUMES HALF ITS FLIGHTS
Lufthansa airline will fly a bit over half of its normal flight
schedule Tuesday, a day after pilots suspended their strike.

> COMMERZBANK HIT BY $6.2B LOSS
Commerzbank lost €4.5 billion ($6.2 billion) in 2009 as the
cost of overhauling the acquired Dresdner Bank and a steep rise
in loan-loss provisions took their toll on Germany's
second-largest bank.

> EMI STUDIOS DECLARED NATIONAL LANDMARK
The iconic Abbey Road Studios made famous by the Beatles are
being declared a national historic landmark, British Culture
Minister Margaret Hodge announced Tuesday.

Markets,Tuesday, 02/23/2010

Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2010

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    Dow   : 10282.41 down 100.97     | S & P     : 1094.60 down 13.41      |
|    NASDAQ: 2213.44 down 28.59     | Bond (10Y): 3.68%, 99.47
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks hit as confidence slips
Wall Street slides after retail earnings and reports on home prices
and consumer confidence fail to reassure concerned investors.

Dow tumbles 100 points Tuesday after a key measure of consumer confidence plunges. Nasdaq, S&P 500 both dip over 1.2%.

Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:04:04 -0500

Dow tumbles 100 points Tuesday after a key measure of consumer
confidence plunges. Nasdaq, S&P 500 both dip over 1.2%.

Breaking news: Cheney suffered mild heart attack

Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:27:14 -0600

Tests on former vice president Dick Cheney showed 'evidence of a mild
heart attack,' Cheney assistant Peter Long said in a statement. Cheney
has had a history of heart problems since his first heart attack at
age 37. Cheney was resting comfortably and his doctors were evaluating
the situation, Long said.

Dow industrials down more than 100 points to intraday low; U.S. dollar advancing

Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:55:32 -0500

Dow industrials down more than 100 points to intraday low; U.S. dollar advancing
02/23/2010 12:52:31 PM EDT

U.S. stocks drop after confidence gauge plummets

Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:01:04 -0500

U.S. STOCKS DROP AFTER CONFIDENCE GAUGE PLUMMETS
U.S. stocks tumble Tuesday after a measure of consumer confidence fell
by much more than expected in February, raising concerns about the
outlook for consumer spending.

TREASURYS JUMP MOST IN 2 WEEKS AS CONFIDENCE FALLS
Treasury prices rise and yields retreat, as U.S. consimer confidence
fell far more than anticipated. Still to come is the government's
auction of 2-year notes.

DOLLAR GAINS AS U.S., GERMAN CONFIDENCE SINK
The U.S. dollar was higher versus most major rivals Tuesday, gaining
ground as a drop in German business confidence and consumer sentiment
in the U.S. increased concerns about the durability of the global
economic recovery.

U.S. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE SINKS IN FEBRUARY
Consumer confidence falls sharply in February as Americans turn more
pessimistic about job prospects and the U.S. economy.

FDIC: NUMBER OF TROUBLED BANKS RISES TO 702
Driven in part by growing problems with commercial real estate loans,
the number of distressed banks in the U.S. reaches 702, the highest
level in sixteen years, says the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Consumer confidence tumbles in February as Americans grow more pessimistic about job outlook, Conference Board says.

Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:03:04 -0500

Consumer confidence tumbles in February as Americans grow more
pessimistic about job outlook, Conference Board says.

Number of troubled U.S. banks is highest since 1992, FDIC says.

Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:17:04 -0500

Number of troubled U.S. banks is highest since 1992, FDIC says.

U.S. home prices down 0.2% in December: Case-Shiller

Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:12:16 -0500

U.S. home prices down 0.2% in December: Case-Shiller
02/23/2010 09:08:50 AM EDT

Energy: Oil back below $80 and gold slips

Date: 23 FEB 2010 13:25:04 GMT

A stronger dollar helped push down gold and crude oil futures on
Tuesday, with crude retreating back below the $80-a-barrel level.

International Headline News

Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:02:04 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 23 February, 2010

> NEW YORK TERROR SUSPECT PLEADS GUILTY
Najibullah Zazi, charged with conspiring to detonate explosives
in the United States, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to
detonate explosives in the United States.

> U.S. CHIEF: REGRET OVER AFGHAN STRIKE
The head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley
McChrystal, expresses regret after more than two dozen civilians
were killed in a NATO airstrike.

> LUFTHANSA PILOTS STRIKE CANCELLED
Both sides in a pilots strike against Lufthansa have agreed to
suspend the standoff -- which has canceled hundreds of flights
-- at midnight (6 p.m. Monday ET).

> BA CABIN CREWS VOTE TO STRIKE
Union members representing British Airlines cabin crews say they
have voted overwhelmingly Monday to strike, though no date was
announced.

> PORTUGAL MOURNS MADEIRA FLOOD VICTIMS
Portugal declared three days of national mourning Monday amid
fears the death toll from devastating floods and mudslides on
the island of Madeira could rise above 42.

> ERDOGAN: 40 HELD OVER ALLEGED COUP PLOT
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said more
than 40 people had been detained in a probe into an alleged coup
plot against Turkey's ruling political party.

> OBAMA UNVEILS HEALTH BILL
President Obama unveiled a $950 billion proposal for reforming
health care, promising it would reduce the deficit over 10 years
by $100 billion.

> EU BLASTS 'THEFT' OF CITIZENS' IDENTITIES
The European Union "strongly condemns" the use of doctored EU
passports in connection with the killing of a Hamas leader in
Dubai last month, a top foreign policy official said Monday.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> TOYOTA EXEC BOASTS OF RECALL SAVINGS
A Toyota executive boasted of saving $100 million by negotiating
a limited recall for Toyota Camry and Lexus ES cars over a
problem that could cause unintended acceleration.

> UK OIL RIG BEGINS DRILLING OFF FALKLANDS
A British oil rig is due to start drilling off the Falkland
Islands in a move likely to stoke further tensions between
Argentina and the UK over the disputed South Atlantic territory.

> EXPERTS CLOSE IN ON GOOGLE HACKERS
U.S. analysts believe they have identified the Chinese author of
the critical programming code used in the alleged
state-sponsored hacking attacks on Google and other western
companies, making it far harder for the Chinese government to
deny involvement.

Markets, Monday, 02/22/2010

Date: Feb 22, 2010 7:04 PM

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10383.38 down 18.97 | S & P : 1108.01 down 1.16 |
|
| NASDAQ: 2242.03 down 1.84 | Bond (10Y): 3.79%, 98.56
||--------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks end volatile session lower
Wall Street gives up afternoon gains to end with small losses. Lowe's
results, oil services merger and Obama health plan are all in focus.

Stocks end lower as investors take a breather from last week's big runup. Dow dips 19 points, Nasdaq and S&P ease 0.1%.

Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:11:04 -0500

Stocks end lower as investors take a breather from last week's big
runup. Dow dips 19 points, Nasdaq and S&P ease 0.1%.

Toyota reportedly touted savings from recall limit

Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:00:54 -0500

TOYOTA REPORTELDLY TOUTED SAVINGS FROM RECALL LIMIT
A U.S. congressional investigation into Toyota reportedly turns up
documents revealing that the auto maker saved more than $100 million
through negotiations with U.S. safety regulators that helped limit an
equipment recall in 2007.

LOWE'S POSTS FIRST PROFIT INCREASE SINCE MID 2007
U.S. home-improvement retailer Lowe's Cos. says its fiscal
fourth-quarter profit rose 27%,l but offered a cautious view of the
first quarter.

UPDATES, ADVISORIES AND SURPRISES
A roundup of the latest corporate earnings reports and what companies
are saying about future quarters.

MONDAY'S BIGGEST GAINING AND DECLINING STOCKS
MarketWatch's daily rundown of major gainers and decliners in the U.S.
stock market.

EUROPEAN SHARES STRUGGLE TO EXTEND RECENT GAINS
European shares are in a tight range on Monday, struggling to build on
a recent run of gains, with losses for drug makers weighing.

Breaking News

Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:06:08 -0500

British Airways cabin crew vote to strike in long-running dispute over
jobs and working conditions.

Energy: Energy stocks fall as Schlumberger weighs

Date: 22 FEB 2010 15:38:07 GMT

Energy stocks move lower in morning activity despite a big merger in
the oil service sector, as shares of Schlumberger fall sharply.

Stocks open higher, fueled by a merger deal announced by two oil drilling giants, and an upbeat profit report from Lowe's.

Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:34:06 -0500

Stocks open higher, fueled by a merger deal announced by two oil
drilling giants, and an upbeat profit report from Lowe's.

International Headline News

Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:01:09 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 22 February, 2010

> LUFTHANSA PILOTS BEGIN FOUR-DAY STRIKE
The pilots' union of Lufthansa began a strike Monday after a
last-ditch effort at negotiations over pay and job security
failed, an airline spokeswoman said.

> TOLL RISES AFTER MUDSLIDES IN PORTUGAL
The death toll from weekend flash flooding and mudslides on the
Portuguese island of Madeira has risen to at least 42 people,
the local civil protection agency has said.

> 'MILITANT LEADER' KILLED IN PHILIPPINES
Philippine marines killed six suspected militants Sunday in an
assault in the country's restive southwest, the military said.

> SUDAN TO SIGN DARFUR CEASE-FIRE DEAL
Sudan's government and Darfur rebels are set to sign a
cease-fire agreement within days, raising hopes of an end to a
conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands.

> MAN HURLS BOMB AT EGYPTIAN SYNAGOGUE
A man hurled a makeshift bomb at Egypt's main synagogue Sunday
morning, but no injuries or damage were reported.

> UAE VOWS TO CATCH HAMAS OFFICIAL KILLERS
The United Arab Emirates will bring the killers of a top Hamas
official to justice, the country's foreign minister said Sunday.

> UK PM DENIES 'VOLCANIC TEMPER' CLAIMS
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is denying allegations of
"abusive behavior" and "volcanic eruptions of foul temper" ahead
of the publication of a new book by a top British political
journalist.

> AFGHAN OFFENSIVE FACES STIFF RESISTANCE
Foreign and Afghan forces encountered stiff resistance Saturday
as their offensive in southern Afghanistan entered its second
week, and a civilian was mistakenly shot dead.

BUSINESS
----------------

> CASHING IN ON INTERNET CENSORSHIP
An growing number of software companies are capitalizing on an
unexpected business opportunity: Internet censorship.

> GUCCI TO CONTINUE MCQUEEN LABEL
The fashion brand created by Alexander McQueen is to survive
despite the designer's suicide last week, the label's majority
stakeholder Gucci Group has confirmed.

> LLOYD WEBBER WANTS ABBEY ROAD
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has expressed an interest in buying
London's famed Abbey Road Studios after music company EMIreportedly
put the building where the Beatles recorded most of
their albums up for sale.

Breaking News

Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:17:04 -0500

Lufthansa pilots begin four-day strike after negotiations over pay and
job security fail, airline spokeswoman says.

Celebration of the Year of the Tiger in Chinatown, NYC (2)

Celebration of the Year of the Tiger in Chinatown, NYC

Apolo Ohno becomes most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian

Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:27:38 -0600

VANCOUVER - Apolo Anton Ohno became America's most highly-decorated
Winter Olympian Saturday night with a bronze medal in the men's
1,000-meter short-track speedskating event at the Pacific Coliseum.
The medal was Ohno's seventh as an Olympian, breaking the record of
six held by speedskater Bonnie Blair.

International Headline News

Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:02:07 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 21 February, 2010

> DUTCH GOVERNMENT FALLS OVER AFGHAN RIFT
The future of around 2,000 Dutch soldiers in Afghanistan is in
doubt following the collapse of Prime Minister Jan Peter
Balkenende's coalition government.

> AFGHAN OFFENSIVE FACES STIFF RESISTANCE
Foreign and Afghan forces encountered stiff resistance Saturday
as their offensive in southern Afghanistan entered its second
week, and a civilian was mistakenly shot dead.

> 41 DEAD IN MOROCCO MINARET COLLAPSE
At least 41 people died when a centuries-old minaret collapsed
at a mosque in Morocco on Friday, the country's official news
agency reported on Saturday.

> AIRSTRIKES KILL 30 MILITANTS IN PAKISTAN
Thirty militants were killed in airstrikes targeting hideouts in
Pakistan's tribal region Saturday, the Pakistan army's spokesman
said.

> MAGIC AMMANN MAKES OLYMPIC HISTORY
Swiss ski-jumper Simon Ammann made history with his second gold
medal of the 2010 Winter Olympics on Saturday, while Andrea
Fischbacher denied downhill champion Lindsey Vonn a double in
women's alpine skiing speed events when she claimed a surprise
victory in the super-G.

> MUDSLIDE KILLS 30 ON PORTUGUESE ISLAND
At least 30 people have died in a mudslide on the Portuguese
island of Madeira, which was hit by heavy downpours overnight, a
government official said Saturday.

> TYMOSHENKO DROPS UKRAINE VOTE APPEAL
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has withdrawn her appeal to
contest the results of the Ukrainian presidential election held
earlier this month, her press office said Saturday.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> CASHING IN ON INTERNET CENSORSHIP
An growing number of software companies are capitalizing on an
unexpected business opportunity: Internet censorship.

> LUFTHANSA EYES OPTIONS TO HALT STRIKE
Lufthansa, Europe's largest airline by revenues, is considering
legal action to head off a four-day strike by its pilots
starting at midnight on Sunday.

> GUCCI TO CONTINUE MCQUEEN LABEL
The fashion brand created by Alexander McQueen is to survive
despite the designer's suicide last week, the label's majority
stakeholder Gucci Group has confirmed.