Finance news

• Tight supplies drive CME live cattle to 6th straight yearly gain

  31-12-2014 23:58
  CHICAGO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures posted their sixth consecutive yearly gain, closing out 2014 up 23.2 percent bolstered by the smallest herd in 63 years...
  
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• Wall Street ponders next year after big gains in 2014

  31-12-2014 23:16 via news.yahoo.com
  
  In 2014, the broad-based S&P 500 gained 210.54 points (11.39 percent) to 2,058.90, easily outpacing forecasts that the index would gain only about six percent for the year. With the gains from 2014, the Dow has now risen six years in a row and the S&P 500 has lodged three successive years of double-digit gains, which is unusual, though not unprecedented. Key worries for US investors in 2015 include weak growth in Europe and emerging economies, the hit from sharply lower oil prices to Rus
  
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• Chinese stocks and dollar were stars, oil big loser in 2014

  31-12-2014 23:01 via news.yahoo.com
  
  By Rodrigo Campos NEW YORK (Reuters) - China and the United States headed the list of 2014 top-performing equity markets among larger economies while crude oil prices closed in the red to cap a massive yearly slump. The U.S. dollar on Wednesday added slightly to gains that have made it the year's star major currency. On Wall Street, stocks fell on Wednesday but the S&P 500 closed 2014 near its record high. The index hit records in more than 50 sessions throughout the year. ...
  
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• Lithuania joins euro as tensions with neighbouring Russia rise

  31-12-2014 23:00
  * Central bank chief stresses geopolitical considerations
  
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• GLOBAL MARKETS-Chinese stocks and dollar were stars, oil big loser in 2014

  31-12-2014 22:59
  * Oil remains under pressure after halving in value (Updates to U.S. market close)
  
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• Republicans to push ahead on new math for U.S. taxes, budget

  31-12-2014 22:39
  WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - As Republicans assume control of the entire U.S. Congress in the new year, they are expected to push a controversial change to use more macroeconomic projections in...
  
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• Cincinnati reaches deal on pension reform

  31-12-2014 22:32
  Dec 31 (Reuters) - Cincinnati struck a deal with labor unions late on Tuesday to reform the city's troubled $2.4 billion pension system and eliminate an $862 million funding gap over the next 30...
  
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• UPDATE 1-Bank of Portugal says 17 institutions interested in Novo Banco

  31-12-2014 22:26
  LISBON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The Bank of Portugal said on Wednesday that 17 institutions have expressed interest in the sale of Novo Banco, the bank created after the collapse of Banco Espirito Santo...
  
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• Sector-by-sector breakdown of 2014's market moves

  31-12-2014 22:20 via news.yahoo.com
  
  It was another great year for the stock market in 2014, but as is often the case the gains were not evenly distributed across industries. Many investors just wanted to play it safe with high-yielding, ...
  
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• S&P 500 index ends 2014 with a gain of 11 percent

  31-12-2014 22:12 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The U.S. stock market had another solid year. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 11.4 percent for 2014. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 7 percent and the Nasdaq composite rose 13 percent. On Wednesday ...
  
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• North Dakota's Bakken Club evicted; says oil drop not a factor

  31-12-2014 22:09
  WILLISTON, N.D., Dec 31 (Reuters) - An exclusive private club in the heart of North Dakota's oil country has been evicted amid a spat with its landlord over building maintenance and unpaid rent, but...
  
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• Wall Street closes out strong year on down note

  31-12-2014 22:06 via news.yahoo.com
  
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday, but closed out a third straight year of double-digit gains for the S&P 500, as crude oil prices continued their descent.
  
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• UPDATE 1-N.Y. mortgage lender settles U.S. civil fraud lawsuit

  31-12-2014 21:52
  NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A New York mortgage company has agreed to a $36 million judgment and its former president will pay $300,000 to resolve civil claims that they defrauded the federal...
  
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• SAFT ON WEALTH-Drink, don't hold, fine wine

  31-12-2014 21:29
  Dec 31 (Reuters) - If you have a bottle of fine wine you are holding as an investment, you probably ought to open it tonight.
  
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• UPDATE 1-Bad weather hinders search for victims in AirAsia crash

  31-12-2014 21:15
  PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Rescue planes and helicopters sat grounded near the coast of the Indonesian island of Borneo on Wednesday as bad weather hampered the search for victims...
  
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• Economy struggles as Rousseff begins 2nd term

  31-12-2014 21:15 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Brasília (AFP) - Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff will be sworn in for her second term Thursday before thousands of cheering supporters, but any moment of triumph will surely be short lived. The ongoing probe investigation into a huge network of corruption at Petrobras, the state oil firm she used to chair, has tainted many of her allies and weakened her as she turns to the economy. Rousseff won October's hard-fought election thanks to voters reliant on the extensive social welfare p
  
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• Argentina to start 2015 with lapdogs, dollar reserves flying high

  31-12-2014 21:12 via news.yahoo.com
  
  By Hugh Bronstein BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's dollar reserves and the country's notoriously spoiled lapdogs will both be flying high as 2015 gets underway, according to President Cristina Fernandez, even if the economy remains a mess. The two-term leader focused her year end statement on her Toy Poodle, Lolita, and the fact that recent government efforts to reverse a decline in reserves had worked. On the president's Facebook page [http://tinyurl. ...
  
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• New year could resolve Argentine debt debacle, or not

  31-12-2014 21:10 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The fine print Argentina blames for failed negotiations with disgruntled creditors expires Thursday, theoretically clearing the way for a deal to lift the country out of default -- if the two sides want it. The RUFO clause is part of Argentina's 2005 and 2010 debt restructuring agreements, hard-fought deals the South American country reached with creditors who agreed to take steep losses on their bonds after it defaulted on $100 billion in debt during its 2001 economic crisis. According to
  
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• REFILE-Argentina to start 2015 with lapdogs, dollar reserves flying high

  31-12-2014 21:09
  BUENOS AIRES, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Argentina's dollar reserves and the country's notoriously spoiled lapdogs will both be flying high as 2015 gets underway, according to President Cristina Fernandez,...
  
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• Fed forecasting tool calls for immediate rate hike, Plosser says

  31-12-2014 21:08 via news.yahoo.com
  
  By Jonathan Spicer (Reuters) - A forecasting tool developed by the Federal Reserve recommends that U.S. interest rates should be hiked immediately to keep pace with the improving economy, according to a paper by the soon-to-retire Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser. Plosser, among the minority of hawkish monetary policymakers, co-published research showing the Fed-developed model calls for rates to jump from near zero to 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014, and to rise to 1.1 perce
  
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• Italy president says will step down soon

  31-12-2014 20:47
  ROME, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said on Wednesday he planned to step down soon, leaving Prime Minister Matteo Renzi facing his most difficult political challenge since...
  
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• GLOBAL MARKETS-For 2014, Chinese stocks and dollar were stars, oil big loser

  31-12-2014 20:46
  * Dollar index on track for best year since at least 2005
  
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• U.S. bonds set for more modest year after banner 2014

  31-12-2014 20:31
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. bond market could enjoy a solid 2015, but don't expect a repeat of the spectacular run that some fixed-income sectors enjoyed this year, investors said on Wednesday.
  
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• Wall Street edges lower as oil decline continues

  31-12-2014 20:23 via news.yahoo.com
  
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were little changed on Wednesday, putting major indexes on track to close out 2014 just off record levels, as crude oil prices continued their descent.
  
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• UPDATE 1-Ambac sues Bank of America over Countrywide mortgage bonds

  31-12-2014 20:12
  NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Ambac Assurance Corp sued Bank of America Corp to recoup hundreds of millions of dollars of losses from insuring roughly $1.68 billion of securities backed at least in...
  
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• N.Y. mortgage lender settles U.S. civil fraud lawsuit

  31-12-2014 20:08
  NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A New York mortgage company has agreed to a $36 million judgment and its former president will pay $300,000 to resolve civil claims that they defrauded the federal...
  
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• TREASURIES-Treasuries post best year since 2011, even as U.S. economy improved

  31-12-2014 20:02
  (Updates prices) * U.S. bond prices gain after Chicago PMI disappoints * Treasuries have highest returns in three years * Long bonds post 27 percent annual return * Treasury market closes early...
  
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• Peru central bank tightens rules for derivatives, dollar deposits

  31-12-2014 19:43
  LIMA, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Peru's central bank unveiled tighter rules for currency derivatives and created new reserve requirements for deposits in foreign currencies on Wednesday, part of a bid to...
  
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• Sony expands on-demand, theatrical release of 'The Interview' movie

  31-12-2014 19:39
  LOS ANGELES, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Sony Pictures Entertainment said on Wednesday it added more viewing options for its comedy "The Interview," reaching deals to sell the film on demand through U.S. pay...
  
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• CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-U.S. Fed releases more data on reverse repos operations

  31-12-2014 19:29
  NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday began publishing more information on its operations on overnight and term reverse repurchase agreements, which it has said would use...
  
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• U.S. platinum futures close 2014 down 11.8 pct, 2nd year lower

  31-12-2014 19:24
  NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The spot U.S. January platinum futures contract settled down 0.8 percent at $1,208.90 per ounce on Wednesday, and closed 2014 down 11.8 percent versus the end of 2013.
  
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• U.S. palladium futures end 2014 up 11.2 pct, 3rd year higher

  31-12-2014 19:20
  NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The most-active U.S. March palladium futures contract settled down 0.7 percent at $798.40 per ounce on Wednesday, but finished 2014 up 11.2 percent versus the end of 2013.
  
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• CANADA FX DEBT-Loonie firms on the day but sees worst year since 2008

  31-12-2014 19:11
  * Canadian dollar at C$1.1601 or 86.20 U.S. cents * Bond prices higher across the maturity curve (Adds details, quotes, updates prices) By Leah Schnurr OTTAWA, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar...
  
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• Ex-science chief sues Revlon over safety issues, anti-Jewish bias

  31-12-2014 19:09
  NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A former Revlon Inc chief scientific officer has sued the cosmetics company, claiming he was fired after raising safety concerns that its chief executive did not want to...
  
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• U.S. Fed releases more data on reverse repos operations

  31-12-2014 19:05
  NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday began publishing more information on its operations on overnight and term reverse repurchase agreements, which it has said would use...
  
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• U.S.-based bond funds post $3 bln outflows in latest week - ICI

  31-12-2014 18:53
  By Sam Forgione NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Investors in U.S.-based mutual funds pulled $3 billion out of bond funds in the five-day period from Dec. 18-22 on profit-taking after...
  
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• Utilities stocks rose most in the S&P 500 in 2014

  31-12-2014 18:36 via news.yahoo.com
  
  It was another great year for the stock market in 2014, but as is often the case the gains were not evenly distributed across industries. Many investors just wanted to play it safe with high-yielding, ...
  
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• Twist ending: U.S. municipal bond sales in 2014 to surpass 2013

  31-12-2014 18:34
  WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Sales of new U.S. municipal bonds in 2014 will exceed 2013's total, Thomson Reuters data showed on Wednesday, a twist ending to a year that began with shrinking...
  
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• Growth pauses for U.S. public pension fund investments

  31-12-2014 18:25
  WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The breakneck growth of U.S. public pension assets paused in the third quarter of the year, due to falling earnings, U.S. Census data released on Wednesday showed.
  
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• REFILE-CORRECTED-Effort to kill California's ban on plastic grocery bags moves forward

  31-12-2014 18:22
  SACRAMENTO, Calif., Dec 30 (Reuters) - An effort to kill California's first-in-the-nation state ban on single-use plastic grocery bags advanced this week after bag makers spent several million...
  
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• TSX set for 7% gain in 2014, Dow up 8.7%

  31-12-2014 17:55 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The Toronto stock market is set to wrap up the year with a seven per cent gain, lagging the Dow Jones industrial index, which is up 8.7 per cent in 2014.
  
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• TSX set for 7% gain in 2014, Dow up 7.9%

  31-12-2014 17:55 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The Toronto stock market is set to wrap up the year with a seven per cent gain, lagging the Dow Jones industrial index, which is up 7.9 per cent in 2014.
  
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• TSX closes up 7.4% on year, Dow up 7.5%

  31-12-2014 17:55 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The Toronto stock market wrapped up the year with a 7.4 per cent gain, almost equivalent to the Dow Jones industrial index, which is up 7.5 per cent in 2014.
  
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• US STOCKS-Wall St edges up in 2014's last day; energy down again

  31-12-2014 17:53
  * Indexes up: Dow 0.2 pct, S&P 0.1 pct, Nasdaq 0.4 pct (Updates to midday trading)
  
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• GLOBAL MARKETS-Chinese stocks, dollar, the stars of 2014

  31-12-2014 17:42
  * Oil remains under pressure after halving in value (Updates prices, changes dateline from previous LONDON)
  
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• Verso Paper needs divestitures for NewPage deal

  31-12-2014 17:38
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Verso Paper Corp will have to divest paper mills in Maine and Wisconsin in order to complete its acquisition of NewPage Holdings, the U.S. Justice Department said.
  
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• Ambac sues Bank of America over Countrywide mortgage bonds

  31-12-2014 17:37
  NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Ambac Assurance Corp sued Bank of America Corp to recoup hundreds of millions of dollars of losses from insuring roughly $1.68 billion of securities backed at least in...
  
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• UPDATE 1-Verso Paper needs divestitures for NewPage deal

  31-12-2014 17:35
  WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Verso Paper Corp will have to divest paper mills in Maine and Wisconsin in order to complete its acquisition of NewPage Holdings, the U.S. Justice Department said.
  
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• UPDATE 1-U.S. crude stocks decline, Cushing glut grows -EIA

  31-12-2014 17:33
  By Jessica Resnick-Ault U.S. crude stocks fell more than expected last week as refineries hiked output, data from the Energy Information Administration showed on Wednesday, but inventories at the oil...
  
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• Southwest Airlines rose most in S&P 500 in 2014

  31-12-2014 17:22 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The plunging price of oil helped create 2014's biggest winners and losers on the stock market. The price of U.S. crude lost half its value in the second half of the year. That made life good for major ...
  
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