International Headline News

Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 20:02:08 -0500
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 06 March, 2010

> PIRATES SEIZED IN INDIAN OCEAN
Twenty-eight suspected pirates were taken into custody Friday by
the European Union Naval Force after a handful of failed attacks
on fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean, the EU mission said.

> U.S. MAY BACKTRACK ON 9/11 TRIAL
White House advisers are considering recommending against a
civilian trial for alleged 9/11 mastermind Khaled Sheikh
Mohammed, a senior administration official confirms.

> U.N. CHIEF PRAISES CHILEANS' COURAGE
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will meet with Chilean
President Michele Bachelet and her successor on Friday, to
reassure the earthquake-battered nation of the international
commitment to aid.

> UK PM: WAR IN IRAQ 'RIGHT DECISION'
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown tells the Iraq War Inquiry
Friday the decision to go to war in Iraq "was the right decision
and it was for the right reasons."

> TOP TALIBAN LEADER ARRESTED IN PAKISTAN
A top Taliban leader has been arrested in the southern Pakistani
port city of Karachi, a senior Pakistani military official said.

> STRONG EARTHQUAKE HITS OFF SUMATRA
A strong earthquake with magnitude 6.5 struck Friday night
southwest of Sumatra in Indonesia, the U.S. Geological Survey
said.

> PENTAGON SHOOTER DIES FROM INJURIES
A 36-year-old man shot by police after he opened fire on two
Pentagon police officers died early Friday from his injuries,
authorities said.

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

> TOYOTA CHIEF: WE MUST RESTART
The head of Toyota Motor Corp. told his employees on Friday that
the company must begin again if it is to regain its legacy of
quality that helped make it the world's largest automotive
company.

> ECONOMY TOPS CHINA'S AGENDA
China's parliament opens its annual session on Friday as
policy-makers seek answers to some Western sounding problems.

> CHINA TO COOL RISING DEFENSE SPENDING
China on Thursday announced a sharp slowdown in the growth of
its official defence budget, a move expected to help Beijing
argue that fears of the country as a military threat are
overstated.

Markets, Friday, 03/5/2010

Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:41:59 -0500

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10566.20 up 122.06 | S & P : 1138.69 up 15.72 |
| NASDAQ: 2326.35 up 34.04 | Bond (10Y): 3.68%, 99.50
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Nasdaq at 18-month high
Stocks surge, with the tech-fueled index closing at the highest point
since Sept. 2008 after government reports a smaller drop in payrolls
than had been forecast.

Wall Street ends a strong week with solid gains on better-than-expected jobs data. Dow gains 123 points, Nasdaq and S&P rise 1.4%.

Date: Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 4:14 PM

Wall Street ends a strong week with solid gains on
better-than-expected jobs data. Dow gains 123 points, Nasdaq and S&P
rise 1.4%.

Payrolls fall 36,000; jobless rate steady at 9.7%

Date: Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 12:00 PM

PAYROLLS FALL 36,000; JOBLESS RATE STEADY AT 9.7%
U.S. non-farm payrolls decline for the 25th time in the past 26 months, falling
by a shallower-than-forecast 36,000 in February to 129.5 million, according to
Labor Department estimates.

U.S. STOCK GAINS ACCELERATE, LED BY ENERGY
U.S. stocks rise Friday, with energy particularly strong, as the government's
report of fewer job losses in February than expected boosts sentiment.

TREASURYS DROP AFTER REPORT SHOWS FEWER JOBS LOST
Treasury prices fall on Friday, pushing short-term yields up by the most in
more than a month, after the Labor Department said the U.S. economy lost fewer
jobs than economists predicted.

OIL TOUCHES $82, FIRST TIME IN NEARLY TWO MONTHS
Crude-oil futures top $82 a barrel Friday for the first time in about seven
weeks, as a shallower drop in U.S. jobs buoyed hopes for higher energy demand.

Stocks soar out of the gate as investors react to better-than-expected employment news. Dow jumps 52 points.

Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:33:57 -0500

Stocks soar out of the gate as investors react to better-than-expected
employment news. Dow jumps 52 points.

Employers shed 36,000 jobs in February - better than expected. Unemployment rate held steady at 9.7%. Stock futures rally.

Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:33:33 -0500

Employers shed 36,000 jobs in February - better than expected.
Unemployment rate held steady at 9.7%. Stock futures rally.

International Headline News

Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 20:02:04 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 05 March, 2010

> BOMBS MAR EARLY VOTING IN IRAQ
A series of bomb attacks disrupted voting as the polls opened in
Iraq's national elections, leaving a total of 12 people dead and
another 47 wounded.

> CHILE PRESIDENT TOURS QUAKE DEVASTATION
More aftershocks rocked parts of Chile early Thursday, five days
after a massive earthquake that killed more than 800 people.

> 4 MEN GUILTY OF GERMAN TERROR PLOT
A German court finds four men guilty of plotting a terrorist
attack against Western targets that could have eclipsed the
deadly attacks on trains in London and Madrid.

> PASSENGER SHIPS STUCK IN SWEDISH ICE
Thirty to 40 ships -- including several passenger ships -- were
stuck Thursday in ice off the coast of Sweden, said a spokesman
for the Maritime Search and Rescue Center in Gothenburg, Sweden.

> SCORES DEAD IN TEMPLE STAMPEDE
At least 63 people died at a crowded temple in northern India
Thursday when a gate crashed to the ground, triggering a
stampede, police said.

> THOUSANDS AT JOB FAIR FOR FELONS
More than 3,000 people turned out in downtown Houston, Texas,
Wednesday for a job fair designed for convicted felons.

> KNOX JURY EXPLAINS KERCHER KILLING THEORY
Italian jurors believed American Amanda Knox played a role in
killing her British roommate, Meredith Kercher -- a case which
garnered intense interest on both sides of the Atlantic.

> YEMEN ARRESTS 11 TERROR SUSPECTS
Security forces have arrested 11 al Qaeda suspects in the Yemeni
capital, the nation's official news agency reported Thursday.

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

> CHINA TO COOL RISING DEFENCE SPENDING
China on Thursday announced a sharp slowdown in the growth of
its official defence budget, a move expected to help Beijing
argue that fears of the country as a military threat are
overstated.

> GREECE OUTLINES PLAN TO CUT $5B DEFICIT
Facing firm demands from the European Union and financial
markets to cut its deficit, Greece announces cost-cutting
measures that will save the debt-challenged country €4
billion, $5.44 billion, this year.

> GOOGLE ATTACK DRIVEN BY NOVICES?
The computer attack which led Google to threaten leaving China
and created a firestorm between Washington and Beijing appears
to have been deployed by amateurs, according to an analysis by a
U.S. technology firm.

Markets, Thursday, 03/4/2010

Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:39:17 -0500

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10444.14 up 47.38 | S & P : 1122.97 up 4.18 |
| NASDAQ: 2292.31 up 11.63 | Bond (10Y): 3.60%, 100.16
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Fear: 1 year later. Greed: 10 years gone.
The S&P 500 hit its bottom almost one year ago. Meanwhile, many tech
stocks are still trading significantly below their bubble prices from
2000.

Dow gains, turning positive for the year, with stocks lifted by improved retail sales and jobless claims data.

Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:43:42 -0500

Dow gains, turning positive for the year, with stocks lifted by
improved retail sales and jobless claims data.

Resurgent shoppers warm up Feb. sales, snow aside

Date: Thu, Mar 4, 2010 at 12:01 PM

RESURGENT SHOPPERS WARM UP FEB. SALES, SNOW ASIDE
While cold and snow sidelined some consumers, retailers' February sales results
paint a picture of resilient shoppers ready to deliver what would be a sixth
straight month of higher receipts.

INVESTORS LINE UP TO BUY GREEK BONDS
Greece's 10-year bond offering is heavily oversubscribed and has been closed,
signaling strong interest from investors only a day after the nation decided
to take additional austerity measures to lower its excessive fiscal deficit.

A SURE SIGN THE GREEK CRISIS IS OVER
Blame, in all its forms, is a lagging indicator. So when politicians and
regulators start assigning it, the storm is usually over, as it certainly is
now with the Greek debt crisis.

GREECE UNVEILS NEW AUSTERITY MEASURES
The Greek government has decided to take additional austerity measures to make
sure it meets its deficit-cutting pledge this year, following intense pressure
from the European Union and financial markets, according to media reports on
Wednesday.

HARD-HIT GREEK STOCKS MAY OFFER OPPORTUNITIES
As a debt crisis rattles confidence in Greece, few investors are rushing to put
money into local assets. For those who can stomach the risk, however,
interesting opportunities do exist.

Initial claims for unemployment insurance slide 29,000 to 469,000 in latest week, Labor Department says.

Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:09:35 -0500

Initial claims for unemployment insurance slide 29,000 to 469,000 in
latest week, Labor Department says.

Stocks open slightly higher after a drop in weekly jobless claims. Dow advances 32 points.

Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:09:01 -0500

Stocks open slightly higher after a drop in weekly jobless claims. Dow
advances 32 points.

Dow industrials up as much as 50 points as U.S. stocks post early gains

Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:11:15 -0500

Dow industrials up as much as 50 points as U.S. stocks post early gains
03/04/2010 10:08:27 AM EDT

International Headline News

Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 20:02:09 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 04 March, 201

> 6.4-MAGNITUDE QUAKE RATTLES SOUTHERN TAIWAN
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake rocked southern Taiwan Thursday
morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no
immediate reports of damage, injuries or deaths.

> AID FLOWS ACROSS QUAKE-DAMAGED CHILE
Aid and increased security were flowing into hard-hit areas of
Chile, but some residents complained that they still had not
received food or water since Saturday's massive earthquake
killed more than 800 people.

> OBAMA BACKS HEALTH CARE 'RECONCILIATION'
President Obama says it's time to bring the health care debate
to a close. "Now is the time to make a decision about how to
finally reform health care," he said.

> ISRAELI CALLS OFF RAID AFTER DETAILS POSTED
The Israel Defense Forces called off a raid after one of its
combat soldiers posted information about the operation,
including the time and place, on Facebook, the IDF said
Wednesday.

> IRAQ BOMBERS TARGET HOSPITAL
A suicide bomber ends a series of deadly attacks in Iraq by
detonating explosives in a hospital emergency ward where victims
of two earlier blasts were being treated.

> PILOTS KILLED AS PLANE CRASHES AT SHOW
An Indian naval plane taking part in an aerobatics display in
the city of Hyderabad crashes into a residential area, killing
both pilots and destroying a house.

> ARRESTS IN PLOT TO INFECT 13M COMPUTERS
Authorities have arrested three Spaniards suspected of infecting
13 million computers with a program that allowed them to steal
personal and financial data worldwide, Spain's Civil Guard said
Wednesday.

> CHILD DIRECTS PLANES AT JFK AIRPORT
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after an
air traffic controller at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport
brought his young child to work and allowed him to communicate
with planes, a source with knowledge of the investigation said.

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

> GREECE OUTLINES PLAN TO CUT $5B DEFICIT
Facing firm demands from the European Union and financial
markets to cut its deficit, Greece announces cost-cutting
measures that will save the debt-challenged country €4
billion, $5.44 billion, this year.

> COMMENT: UK'S FURTHER ERRORS ON ECONOMY
No one who has studied the markets for the last 80 years will be
remotely surprised that sterling has fallen by over eight
percent against the dollar since the turn of the year and
continues to lose ground against the euro.

> 'RED KNIGHTS' PLAN MAN UTD BID
A consortium of London-based businessmen is poised to make a
takeover bid for English Premier League champions Manchester
United.

Markets, Wednesday, 03/3/2010

Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:52:06 -0500

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10396.76 down 9.22 | S & P : 1118.79 up 0.48 |
| NASDAQ: 2280.68 down 0.11 | Bond (10Y): 3.61%, 100.03
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks struggle ahead of jobs reports
Wall Street gives up gains as investors pull back ahead of Thursday's
weekly jobless claims report and Friday's monthly non-farm payrolls
report.

Dow forfeits gains to close lower and end three-day win streak

Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:05:14 -0500

Dow forfeits gains to close lower and end three-day win streak
03/03/2010 04:02:36 PM EDT

Nine of Fed's 12 regional banks see economy improving: Beige Book

Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:04:49 -0500

Nine of Fed's 12 regional banks see economy improving: Beige Book
03/03/2010 02:03:05 PM EDT

Rep. Rangel gives up chairmanship of House Ways and Means Committee

Date: Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 9:06 AM

Rep. Rangel gives up chairmanship of House Ways and Means Committee
03/03/2010 09:03:15 AM EDT

Services sectors show best growth in two years

Date: Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 12:01 PM

SERVICES SECTORS SHOW BEST GROWTH IN TWO YEARS
The services sectors of the U.S. economy grow at the fastest pace in two years
in February, according to a survey of companies released by the Institute for
Supply Management.

GREEKS BRACE FOR CHANGE AS DEBT CRISIS BITES
While sporadic strikes may indicate otherwise, public opinion polls show that
most Greeks support the government's efforts to pull the country out of its
current financial predicament. "We're not Argentina," says one.

GREECE UNVEILS NEW AUSTERITY MEASURES
The Greek government has decided to take additional austerity measures to make
sure it meets its deficit-cutting pledge this year, following intense pressure
from the European Union and financial markets, according to media reports on
Wednesday.

MERKEL HOLDS KEY AS GREECE ADDS TO AUSTERITY PLAN
Credit markets responded positively Wednesday to the Greek government's promise
to implement another round of painful budget cuts, but Angela Merkel appears
poised to play the role of ultimate judge as European leaders scramble to
contain a destabilizing euro-zone debt crisis.

HARD-HIT GREEK STOCKS MAY OFFER OPPORTUNITIES
As a debt crisis rattles confidence in Greece, few investors are rushing to put
money into local assets. For those who can stomach the risk, however,
interesting opportunities do exist.

Stocks open higher on signs of improvement in the job market. Dow gains 20 points.

Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 09:32:07 -0500

Stocks open higher on signs of improvement in the job market. Dow
gains 20 points.

ADP private-sector payrolls drop 20,000 in February, fewest in two years

Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:19:09 -0500

ADP private-sector payrolls drop 20,000 in February, fewest in two years
03/03/2010 08:17:07 AM EDT

International Headline News

Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 20:02:04 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 03 March, 2010

> 'ISRAELI SPY' REVEALS HIS DOUBLE LIFE
The son of a founder of Palestinian militant group Hamas tells
CNN's Christiane Amanpour that he spied for Israel for 10 years,
passing information on to Israel's domestic security service.

> CHILE QUAKE TOLL EXPECTED TO INCREASE
Authorities in Chile say the tally likely will increase in
coming days as search-and-rescue crews dig into collapsed
buildings and discover more bodies.

> CLINTON PROMISES SOLIDARITY WITH CHILE
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has met with Chilean
President Michelle Bachelet three days after a massive
earthquake and pledged U.S. support.

> CRASH DRIVER CLAIMS 'TOYOTA DEFENSE'
A man serving eight years for vehicular homicide because of a
fatal crash involving his Toyota Camry is hoping for exoneration
amid concerns over unintended acceleration in some of Toyota's
vehicles.

> RWANDAN EX-LEADER'S WIFE ARRESTED
The widow of former Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, whose
assassination sparked the 1994 genocide, was arrested Tuesday in Paris
on a Rwandan warrant, French and Rwandan officials said.

> MORE THAN 100 DIE IN UGANDA LANDSLIDES
At least 106 bodies had been recovered Tuesday after massive
landslides wiped out several villages around Mount Elgon on the
Uganda-Kenya border, an army spokesman and local aid officials
said.

> SUPER-RICH FAN PLOTS MAN U TAKEOVER
A consortium of wealthy city businessmen is poised to make an
audacious takeover bid for English Premier League champions
Manchester United.

> 'MONSTER OF GRBAVICA' HELD IN SPAIN
Spanish police have arrested a man wanted for war crimes during
the Bosnian conflict from 1992 to 1995, the Interior Ministry
said in a statement Tuesday.

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

> BAE SYSTEMS TO PAY $400M FINE
British defense contractor BAE Systems has pleaded guilty in
Washington to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and was
ordered to pay a $400 million criminal fine, authorities
announced.

> JAPAN JOBLESS RATE BEATS EXPECTATIONS
Japan's unemployment rate fell below 5 per cent for the first
time in a year in January, according to data released on
Tuesday, as strong exports fed into a strengthening economic
recovery.

> CLINTON PUSHES FALKLANDS TALKS
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it is important for
Argentina and Britain to hold talks about the disputed Falkland
Islands, but she did not commit to mediating them.

Markets, Tuesday, 03/2/2010

Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:36:29 -0500

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10405.98 up 2.19 | S & P : 1118.31 up 2.60
|
| NASDAQ: 2280.79 up 7.22 | Bond (10Y): 3.60%, 100.13
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks cling to gains
Wall Street pares earlier gains, ending higher amid signs that Greece
will get debt under control, upbeat corporate news and auto sales.

U.S. stocks edge higher, closing with gains for third session

U.S. stocks edge higher, closing with gains for third session
03/02/2010 04:05:33 PM EDT

GM recalls 1.3 million compact cars

Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:01:02 -0500

GM RECALLS 1.3 MILLION COMPACT CARS
General Motors confirms it's recalling 1.3 million compact cars sold
in North America over the past five years due to problems with
power-steering functions.

EUROPEAN SHARES UP FOR THIRD STRAIGHT SESSION
European shares move higher after an uncertain start on Tuesday. Banks
in Ireland and Greece rise.

EXCHANGE RATE GIVES U.K. MORE OPTIONS: PIMCO CHIEF
The U.K. will probably find it easier to cope with its debt burden
than Greece and other euro-zone members, according to the head of bond
fund manager Pimco.

FSA CHAIRMAN WARNS NO QUICK-FIX FOR REGULATION
The U.K.'s top financial regulator warns law makers they won't find a
simple fix to the problems that caused the financial crisis.

AUSTRALIAN CENTRAL BANK HIKES POLICY RATE TO 4.0%
The Reserve Bank of Australia raises its policy rate by a quarter
point to 4.0%, as expected, marking the central banks' fourth rate
increase in five meetings after last month's surprise decision to
stand pat.

Stocks rise as investors see more signs of European economic stability. Dow gains 39 points.

Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 09:33:09 -0500

Stocks rise as investors see more signs of European economic
stability. Dow gains 39 points.

International Headline News

Date: Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 8:02 PM
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 02 March, 2010

> CLINTON PLANS CHILE VISIT TUESDAY
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton landed Monday in
Montevideo, Uruguay, the first stop in a six-nation Latin
American tour that will take her to quake-ravaged Chile on
Tuesday.

> 27TH DUBAI KILLING SUSPECT IDENTIFIED
Another person has been added to the list of suspects in the
January killing of a Hamas leader in a Dubai hotel, allegedly by
an Israeli hit squad, bringing the number of identified suspects
to 27, two sources told CNN on Monday.

> MEXICO DETAILS JOURNALIST'S DEATH
A Mexican journalist kidnapped in 2007 was cut into pieces and
burned in a barrel, the Tabasco state attorney general's office
said.

> KARADZIC GENOCIDE TRIAL RESUMES
The genocide trial of Radovan Karadzic resumed Monday after a
four-month postponement, with the former Bosnian Serb leader
presenting his opening statements.

> JUSTICES DISMISS GITMO UYGHURS' APPEAL
The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by native Chinese
Muslims who had asked to be released into the U.S. from American
military custody at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

> DOZENS KILLED AS STORM BATTERS EUROPE
Western Europe went into recovery mode Monday after winter storm
Xynthia battered at least six countries, knocking out power,
disrupting transportation and leaving at least 58 people dead,
authorities said.

> RUSSIAN PRES. ANGRY AT OLYMPIC FLOPS
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for the resignation of
the nation's top Olympic officials Monday after the country's
worst performance in a Winter Olympics in nearly a hundred
years.

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

> AIG, PRUDENTIAL NEAR $35B ASIA DEAL
American International Group Inc., majority owned by the U.S.
government after a massive bailout, is reported to be close to a
$35.5 billion deal to sell its Asian life insurance operations
to Britain's Prudential PLC.
.
> HSBC PROFITS FALL 24 PERCENT
HSBC, Britain's biggest bank, on Monday reported a 24 per cent
fall in pre-tax profit to $7.1bn for last year, as higher loan
impairment charges took the shine off a strong performance by
its investment banking arm and a narrowing of losses from its US
business.
.
> HEDGE FUNDS PROSPER FROM GREEK DEBT
Hedge funds have made large profits from Greek debt and
providing insurance to overexposed European banks, it emerged on
Sunday.

Markets, Monday, 03/1/2010

Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:52:01 -0500

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10403.79 up 78.53 | S & P : 1115.71 up 11.22
|
| NASDAQ: 2273.57 up 35.31 | Bond (10Y): 3.61%, 100.09
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Nasdaq, S&P turn positive for 2010
Dow gains 79 points as investors welcome AIG sale of Asian unit for
$35 billion and reports of a Greek bailout package.

Stocks close higher, fueled by AIG's $35 billion asset sale. Dow gains 77 points, Nasdaq & S&P turn positive for the year.

Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 16:04:03 -0500

Stocks close higher, fueled by AIG's $35 billion asset sale. Dow gains
77 points, Nasdaq & S&P turn positive for the year.

January real consumer spending rises 0.3%, at highest since May 2008

Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:35:48 -0500

January real consumer spending rises 0.3%, at highest since MayT 2008
03/01/2010 08:33:57 AM EDT

Manufacturing expansion slows in February, but employment shows improvement, purchasing managers' group says.

Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 10:07:04 -0500

Manufacturing expansion slows in February, but employment shows
improvement, purchasing managers' group says.

U.S. stocks bolstered by manufacturing, mergers

Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:01:15 -0500

U.S. STOCKS BOLSTERED BY MANUFACTURING MERGERS
The U.S. stock market trades higher on its first trading session of
March, buoyed by a weekend crop of mergers and acquisitions, plus
strength in manufacturing data and improvements in consumer spending.

ISM INDEX SHOWS SOFTER EXPANSION IN FACTORY SECTOR
The expansion at U.S. manufacturing firms softened in February but
remained very broad based, according to the Institute of Supply
Management's survey.

ISM INDEX SHOWS SOFTER EXPANSION IN FACTORY SECTOR
The expansion at U.S. manufacturing firms softened in February but
remained very broad based, according to the Institute of Supply
Management's survey.

CONSUMER SPENDING RISES 0.3% IN JANUARY
Real consumer spending increases a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in January
to the highest level since May 2008 in a further sign of a modest
economic recovery, the Commerce Department estimates.

JOBS MARKET CLOUDED BY STORMS IN FEBRUARY
Bad weather likely means disappointing data in report due out this week.

Stocks gain at Monday's open after AIG agrees to sell an Asian unit for $35.5 billion. Dow advances 33 points.

Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 09:31:07 -0500

Stocks gain at Monday's open after AIG agrees to sell an Asian unit
for $35.5 billion. Dow advances 33 points.

International Headline News

Date: Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 8:02 PM
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 01 March, 2010

> DEATH TOLL IN CHILE EARTHQUAKE PASSES 700
The death toll from the 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Chile has
risen to 708, the government says.

> OLYMPICS: CANADA CLAIMS FINAL GOLD
Canada reserved the best to last as its ice hockey heroes beat
arch-rivals the United States 3-2 with an overtime goal from
Sidney Crosby to claim the final gold of the Winter Olympics.

> STORM BATTERS EUROPE, AT LEAST 55 DEAD
A winter storm named "Xynthia" battered the western coast of
Europe Sunday, its high winds downing trees and power lines and
leaving as many as 23 people dead, authorities said.

> SPAIN: LEADING TERROR SUSPECT ARRESTED
Police arrested the suspected top leader of the Basque
separatist group ETA early Sunday along with two other senior
suspects from the outlawed armed group, Spain's Interior
Ministry said.

> HAMAS LEADER 'DRUGGED, SUFFOCATED'
The British Embassy in Israel plans to interview the British
nationals whose identities were stolen and passports used in a
plot to kill a Hamas leader.

> AL QAEDA GROUP IN KIDNAPPING CLAIM
Al Qaeda's north African wing has released a picture of an
Italian man whom it says it has kidnapped and has set a 25-day
deadline for the Italian government to meet its demands.

> ISRAEL'S BARAK CALLS FOR IRAN SANCTIONS
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak called Saturday for new
sanctions against Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions,
encouraging the financial pressure to continue "until it becomes
effective."

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

> REPORT: AIG NEAR $35B ASIA DEAL
American International Group Inc., majority owned by the U.S.
government after a massive bailout, is close to a $35.5 billion
deal to sell its Asian life insurance operations to Britain's
Prudential PLC.

> 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.

Breaking News

Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:45:07 -0500

Death toll from earthquake passes 700, president of Chile says.

Breaking News

Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:10:17 -0500

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cancels alert for all countries in region.