Finance news

• As investors dump utility stocks, US markets edge lower

  19-02-2015 23:24 via news.yahoo.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — A slide in shares of utility companies nudged the U.S. stock market lower Thursday.
  
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• U.S. urges all sides in Greek talks to compromise

  19-02-2015 23:11 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The United States on Thursday urged European leaders and Greece to all make concessions in testy negotiations over extending a loan agreement that is vital for Athens. Washington is worried that a breakdown in talks could affect an already weak global economy, and expects pressure will grow in the coming days. "It's going to require some compromise on all sides," a senior Treasury official said. Washington has sent this message to Greece as well as Germany, the official said.
  
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• Raymond James hires brokers in Chicago who managed $500 million

  19-02-2015 22:56
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Raymond James & Associates, Raymond James Financial Inc's broker-dealer, said Thursday it brought on a three-broker team that managed more than $500 million at their prior firm,...
  
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• U.S. muni bond funds post $59 million in inflows: Lipper

  19-02-2015 22:55
  (Reuters) - U.S. municipal bond funds reported $59 million of net inflows in the week ended Feb. 18, compared with $460.3 million in inflows in the previous week, according to data released by Lipper...
  
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• Dollar soars on Venezuela's new currency exchange

  19-02-2015 22:36 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The Venezuelan bolivar opened Thursday at 172 to the dollar on the first day of a government-sponsored exchange meant to compete with the black market. The leftist government of President Nicolas Maduro earlier this month partially liberalized the country's system of strict currency controls by allowing banks and brokerage houses to sell dollars at what the market will bear. The amount of dollars that can be bought on the new exchange is limited, however, and demand for the greenback was un
  
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• Wal-Mart and EOG Resources are big market movers

  19-02-2015 22:24 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), down $2.77 to $83.52 The retailer reported better-than-expected ...
  
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• Dow, S&P 500 slip as utility stocks weigh on market

  19-02-2015 22:19 via news.yahoo.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Most U.S. stock indexes are closing slightly lower as a slide in utility companies weighs on the market.
  
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• Dow, S&P 500 end down with energy, Wal-Mart; Nasdaq up

  19-02-2015 22:03 via news.yahoo.com
  
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and S&P 500 eased on Thursday following declines in energy shares and a disappointing outlook from Wal-Mart, while the Nasdaq hit another 15-year high as Priceline shares jumped.
  
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• U.S. Bank names Taskeen Pagany as private banker

  19-02-2015 21:26
  (Reuters) - U.S. Bank Wealth Management, a division of U.S. Bancorp, named Taskeen Pagany as a private banker.
  
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• Black women less likely to take breast cancer hormone therapy

  19-02-2015 20:49 via news.yahoo.com
  
  By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health) – Among early-stage breast cancer patients in the U.S., black women are less likely than white women to take their prescribed hormone medications, according to a new study that partly - but not entirely - blames economic disparities between races. Black women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than white women, but more likely to die from it, a disparity that emerged in the 1980s and has widened ever since, the authors note in the introduction.
  
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• IMF to approve new Ukraine bailout deal in coming weeks

  19-02-2015 20:21 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The International Monetary Fund expects to approve a new $17.5 billion bailout of crisis-hit Ukraine in the coming weeks, while a global aid plan remains in flux, a spokesman said Thursday. The IMF executive board will meet at the end of February or in early March to give the go-ahead on the proposed four-year loan program to Ukraine, said spokesman Gerry Rice. The IMF unveiled a preliminary agreement with Ukrainian authorities on February 12 for an expanded bailout in exchange for economic refo
  
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• U.S. sells 30-year TIPS to robust demand

  19-02-2015 20:16
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday sold $9 billion of 30-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities to heavy investor demand, resulting in the lowest yield on this debt...
  
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• Bank of Canada's Cote says no predetermined interest rate path

  19-02-2015 20:09 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The Bank of Canada has no predetermined path for interest rates and will make its next rate decision on March 4 on the basis of economic conditions at the time, Deputy Governor Agathe Cote said on Thursday. In a question-and-answer session after a speech, Cote also said the central bank was not concerned that big banks did not pass on the entirety of its Jan. 21 rate cut to their customers through the prime rate, saying what was important was the cumulative effect on financial pricing across the
  
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• Low volatility ETFs sound the same but bring different results

  19-02-2015 19:49
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors are flinging money at low-volatility exchange-traded funds at a record pace in hopes of protecting their portfolios from wild swings in equity markets, but they may not...
  
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• Dow, S&P 500 slip with energy, Wal-Mart; Nasdaq gains

  19-02-2015 19:35 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The Dow and S&P 500 indexes edged lower in afternoon trading on Thursday following further declines in energy shares and a disappointing outlook from Wal-Mart , while the Nasdaq gained. A drop in shares of Wal-Mart Stores weighed down the Dow after the company cut its sales outlook, citing the impact of a stronger dollar. On the upside, Priceline Group rallied 8.1 percent to $1,214.34 on its results. The stock was the largest percentage gainer on both the Nasdaq and S&P 500.
  
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• French government survives no-confidence vote

  19-02-2015 19:22 via news.yahoo.com
  
  By Emile Picy PARIS (Reuters) - France's Socialist government survived a parliament no-confidence vote called by opposition conservatives on Thursday after it resorted to a controversial decree to bypass broad opposition to a flagship economic reform bill. The challenge was made after Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Tuesday resorted to a little-used mechanism to push through a package of economically liberal reforms opposed by the left - a tactic widely denounced as anti-democratic. A no-con
  
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• UPDATE 1-French government survives no-confidence vote

  19-02-2015 19:17
  PARIS, Feb 19 (Reuters) - France's Socialist government survived a parliament no-confidence vote called by opposition conservatives on Thursday after it resorted to a controversial decree to bypass...
  
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• BlackBerry updates software, offers access to Android apps

  19-02-2015 19:04
  TORONTO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - BlackBerry rolled out a major software update on Thursday, allowing users of its entire suite of BlackBerry 10 devices such as the Z10, Q10 and Z30 to access Android...
  
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• Greek bonds could be accepted again if conditions meet - ECB's Weidmann

  19-02-2015 19:03
  FRANKFURT, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank could reinstate a special exception to accept Greek bonds as collateral in its standard lending operations, if Greece met the conditions...
  
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• UPDATE 1-U.S. House panel plans Feb 26 hearing on Puerto Rico Chap. 9 act -Pierluisi

  19-02-2015 18:58
  NEW YORK, Feb 19 (Reuters) - A U.S. House subcommittee is to hold a hearing on February 26 on a bill that seeks to modify U.S. bankruptcy code to allow Puerto Rico's public entities to file under...
  
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• ExxonMobil outlines Rotterdam upgrade plan

  19-02-2015 18:56
  LONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp plans to add high-quality lubricants production to its 190,000 barrel per day (bpd) Rotterdam refinery, the company said on Thursday.
  
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• WRAPUP 7-Germany holds up Greek bid for euro zone loan extension

  19-02-2015 18:51
  * Greek bailout deal due to expire on Feb. 28 (Recasts, adds Merkel-Tsipras phone call, Gabriel)
  
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• French government survives no-confidence vote - tally

  19-02-2015 18:50 via news.yahoo.com
  
  PARIS (Reuters) - France's Socialist government survived on Thursday a parliament no-confidence vote called by opposition conservatives after it this week resorted to a decree to bypass opposition to a flagship economic reform bill. Some 234 lawmakers voted in favor of the motion, according to the official vote tally, short of the 289 votes needed to secure an absolute majority in the lower house of parliament. A no-confidence vote has only succeeded once in France's 57-year-old Fifth Republic:
  
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• UPDATE 2-American Express card rules violated U.S. antitrust law - judge

  19-02-2015 18:49
  NEW YORK, Feb 19 (Reuters) - American Express Co violated U.S. antitrust law by prohibiting merchants from steering consumers to use credit cards that have lower processing costs, resulting in higher...
  
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• Bank of Canada says rate call to hinge on study of economy, risk

  19-02-2015 18:41 via news.yahoo.com
  
  By Randall Palmer and Allison Lampert MONT-TREMBLANT, Quebec (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada will base its March 4 interest rate decision on a careful examination of how the economy and the risks to it are evolving, deputy governor Agathe Cote said on Thursday. The central bank last month shocked markets by cutting interest rates, citing a threat to growth and its 2 percent inflation target. "On March 4 we will come to our next interest rate decision. Cote said the central bank had cut rates last
  
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• UPDATE 1-Bank of Canada says rate call to hinge on study of economy, risk

  19-02-2015 18:39
  MONT-TREMBLANT, Quebec, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada will base its March 4 interest rate decision on a careful examination of how the economy and the risks to it are evolving, deputy...
  
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• UPDATE 2-At least seven sickened by 'superbug' bacteria at Los Angeles hospital

  19-02-2015 18:39
  LOS ANGELES, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Seven patients at a California hospital were infected by a lethal, drug-resistant bacterial "superbug" that may have contributed to two deaths, and dozens more may...
  
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• German bourse edges toward start-up market for crowd-funded era

  19-02-2015 18:37
  FRANKFURT, Feb 19 (Reuters) - German stock market operator Deutsche Boerse is taking fresh steps to help start-up companies find potential investors, while stopping short of forming a full,...
  
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• GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks tread water on Greek uncertainty, oil slips

  19-02-2015 18:32
  * Nikkei touches 15-year highs, European shares at seven-year peak
  
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• Europe stock rally loses steam as Germany rejects Greek proposal

  19-02-2015 18:32
  PARIS, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Europe's stock rally lost steam on Thursday, with a benchmark index retreating from a seven-year high, after Germany rejected a new proposal from Athens for an extension of...
  
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• UPDATE 2-China has stopped intervening in FX market-U.S. official

  19-02-2015 18:30
  WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The Obama administration believes China basically stopped intervening in currency markets after a July agreement with Washington to minimize this activity, a top...
  
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• UPDATE 2-UK's Asda says rivals' use of discount vouchers unsustainable

  19-02-2015 18:30
  * Says 1 bln stg price cuts pledge could be exceeded (Recasts, adds detail, CEO comments)
  
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• BRIEF-Unifor comments on CN Rail contract talks, strike vote

  19-02-2015 18:29
  Feb 19 (Reuters) - Canadian National Railway Co : * Unifor says will not accept gov't inteference in cn rail contract
  
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• Free credit scores now abound, but mysteries linger

  19-02-2015 18:28
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - As a Citibank customer, I have been receiving my credit score on my statements since January. In February, my number went down five points, leaving me wondering: What did I do...
  
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• UPDATE 1-Oil hedges help Noble Energy beat fourth-quarter profit forecast

  19-02-2015 18:26
  HOUSTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Oil and gas producer Noble Energy Inc. posted fourth-quarter net income of $402 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, on Thursday, as a big gain on hedges helped it beat...
  
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• Greek, German leaders hold "constructive" phone conversation

  19-02-2015 18:26
  ATHENS, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a "constructive" phone conversation on Thursday, a Greek government official told Reuters.
  
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• U.S. House panel plans hearing on Puerto Rico Chap. 9 act on Feb. 26-Pierluisi

  19-02-2015 18:25
  NEW YORK, Feb 19 (Reuters) - A U.S. House subcommittee is to
  hold a hearing on February 26 on a bill that seeks to modify
  U.S. bankruptcy code to allow Puerto Rico's public entities to
  file under...
  
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• YOUR MONEY-Free credit scores now abound, but mysteries linger

  19-02-2015 18:24
  NEW YORK, Feb 19 (Reuters) - As a Citibank customer, I have been receiving my credit score on my statements since January. In February, my number went down five points, leaving me wondering: What did...
  
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• Dubai airline Emirates rejects Delta apology over 9/11 comments

  19-02-2015 18:24
  DUBAI/NEW YORK, Feb 19 (Reuters) - An increasingly bitter trade row between U.S. and Gulf airlines deepened on Thursday when Dubai's Emirates rejected a Delta Air Lines apology for remarks perceived...
  
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• Bank of Canada: rate decision to be based on close study of economy, risks

  19-02-2015 18:18 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The Bank of Canada will base its March 4 interest rate decision on a careful examination of how the economy and the risks to it are evolving, deputy governor Agathe Cote said on Thursday. The central bank last month shocked markets by cutting interest rates, citing a threat to growth and its 2 percent inflation target. "On March 4 we will come to our next interest rate decision. Cote said the central bank had cut rates last month in a bid to provide insurance against downside risks to inflation
  
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• Centrica slide pulls UK's FTSE from 15-year high

  19-02-2015 18:08
  * BAE Systems pares losses after results (Updates with closing prices)
  
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• Long-short equity funds had $7.3 billion outflows in January, largest since 2009

  19-02-2015 18:00
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hedge funds attracted a total of $1.19 billion in January, bringing the industry's assets under management to $3.033 trillion, even as long-short equity and credit strategy funds...
  
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• Ball Corp to buy British drinks can maker Rexam for $6.9 billion

  19-02-2015 17:56
  (Reuters) - U.S. drinks can maker Ball Corp agreed to buy British rival Rexam Plc in a sweetened 4.43 billion pounds ($6.9 billion) deal, creating an industry giant that can better manage capital...
  
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• UPDATE 3-Ball Corp to buy British drinks can maker Rexam for $6.9 bln

  19-02-2015 17:45
  * Ball to remain U.S. domiciled for tax (Adds Ball and analyst comments, context, updates shares)
  
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• Venezuelan supermarket owner fights state takeover

  19-02-2015 17:41 via news.yahoo.com
  
  By Corina Pons CARACAS (Reuters) - The U.S.-based owner of a supermarket chain taken over by Venezuela's socialist government hopes to recover his business despite accusations of hoarding goods to inflate shopping lines. State food company Pdval took temporary control of the 35-store "Dia Dia" (Day by Day) chain earlier this month as part of a crackdown by President Nicolas Maduro's administration on businessmen accused of fomenting an "economic war." The company�
  
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• Energy pressures Wall St, Priceline boosts Nasdaq

  19-02-2015 17:41 via news.yahoo.com
  
  By Ryan Vlastelica NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell modestly on Thursday with energy shares leading the drop amid a slump in oil prices, and investors remained cautious as uncertainty continued over the prospects of a debt deal with Greece. Losses were outsized in the Dow after Wal-Mart Stores cut its sales outlook, citing the impact of a stronger dollar. On the upside, Priceline Group rallied on its results, helping keep the Nasdaq slightly positive. Right now, the majority view is that oi
  
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• UPDATE 2-Canada police lay charges against SNC-Lavalin, stock drops

  19-02-2015 17:38
  TORONTO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Canadian police laid corruption charges against SNC-Lavalin Group Inc on Thursday, the first time the engineering company has been directly charged with alleged bribery as...
  
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• UPDATE 1-Priceline tops 4th-qtr estimates; revenue outlook below view

  19-02-2015 17:37
  Feb 19 (Reuters) - Priceline Group Inc reported quarterly profit that beat Wall Street expectations on Thursday but forecast first-quarter revenue below estimates due largely to foreign exchange...
  
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• Energy pressures Wall Street, Priceline boosts Nasdaq

  19-02-2015 17:37 via news.yahoo.com
  
  U.S. stocks fell modestly on Thursday with energy shares leading the drop amid a slump in oil prices, and investors remained cautious as uncertainty continued over the prospects of a debt deal with Greece. Losses were outsized in the Dow after Wal-Mart Stores cut its sales outlook, citing the impact of a stronger dollar.
  
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• Retail giant Walmart to raise wages for US staff 

  19-02-2015 17:33 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Global retail giant Walmart, which has faced criticism over low wages and skimpy benefits for years, announced Thursday it would raise wages for 500,000 workers in the US. The largest single employer in the United States said salaries for about 40 percent of its US staff would be lifted to at least $9 per hour in April, $1.75 above the federal minimum wage. President Barack Obama has also made the issue of low pay and a growing income gap across the country a key focus of his economic policy. La
  
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