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 Whats going on (Yahoo News)
BUSINESS CHANGE NEWS
Authorities: Prius seen near Border Patrol vehicle (AP)

FILE - In this Tuesday, March 9, 2010 file photo, driver James Sikes talks about his experiences in his Toyota Prius during a news conference held at Toyota of El Cajon in El Cajon, Calif. A law firm for the driver who says his Toyota Prius sped out of control in California doesn't plan to sue the Japanese automaker. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File)AP - A California Highway Patrol report released Wednesday says an officer responding to a report of a runaway Toyota Prius arrived to find a Border Patrol agent near the driver with lights flashing.


More than 100 complaints lodged over fixed Toyotas (AP)

FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2010 file photo, the Toyota logo is seen on a car at a dealership in Nashville, Tenn. An analysis by The Associated Press finds that the U.S. government has received more than 100 complaints from drivers who say their recalled Toyotas are still accelerating on their own even after receiving the automaker's fix. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)AP - Complaints of sudden acceleration in Toyotas repaired under recalls have nearly doubled in the past two weeks, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data.


Kraft to cut salt in its North American foods (AP)
AP - Kraft Foods Inc. said Wednesday that it will cut the salt in its products that are sold in North America by an average of 10 percent over the next two years to appeal to health-conscious consumers.
EPA: More pets injured by flea and tick products (AP)

In this photo taken Aug. 25, 2009, Australian shepherds Baxter, foreground, and Kanga pose for a photo near Elkins, W.Va. The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday March 17, 2010, as it outlined plans to make the products safer, it will develop stricter testing and evaluation requirements for flea and tick treatments that are applied to pets' skin. The agency also will begin reviewing labels to determine which ones need to say more clearly how to use the products.  (AP Photo/Sharon Theimer)AP - Products intended to treat cats and dogs for fleas and ticks kill hundreds of pets each year and injure tens of thousands, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday as it outlined plans to make the products safer.


Convicted embezzler given tax break, then arrested (AP)

This undated photo provided by the Michigan Department of Corrections shows Richard A. Short. Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan confirmed that RASCO CEO Richard A. Short was arrested Wednesday, March 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Michigan Department of Corrections)AP - A convicted embezzler who snagged a $9.1 million business tax credit from the state of Michigan was arrested Wednesday on a parole violation, a day after he appeared on stage with Gov. Jennifer Granholm as she announced the credits.


Computer programmers indicted in NY Madoff fraud (AP)
AP - Two former employees accused of helping fraudulent Wall Street financier Bernard Madoff (MAY'-dawf) program an old computer to generate false records have been indicted.
TSX adds to gains as miners, oils rise (Reuters)
Reuters - Toronto's main stock index rose to another 17-month high on Wednesday morning, boosted by firmness in commodity prices as the U.S. Federal Reserve's renewed pledge to keep interest rates low for an extended period drew investors to riskier assets.
US hails debt cancellation for Afghanistan (AFP)

An Afghan boys sells some fruits to a customer as a US Marine (R) of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, drinks some soda nearby on patrol in a bazaar area in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. The United States Wednesday welcomed a decision by Paris Club creditors to cancel Afghanistan's debt owed to members as "a crucial step" toward economic sustainability.(AFP/Mauricio Lima)AFP - The United States Wednesday welcomed a decision by Paris Club creditors to cancel Afghanistan's debt owed to members as "a crucial step" toward economic sustainability.



STOCKS NEWS
Nikkei slips from 2-month high, property shares fall (Reuters)

The share price indicator for Macquarie Group is seen in red on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) board in central Sydney February 9, 2010. REUTERS/Daniel MunozReuters - Japan's Nikkei average edged lower on Thursday, slipping from a two-month high hit the previous day, as recent gainers including Canon and real estate shares such as Mitsui Fudosan retreated.


SEC boss: Agency examining companies (AP)

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Mary Schapiro testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 17, 2010, before the House Appropriation subcommittee hearing on the fiscal 2011 budget request for the SEC. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)AP - The head of the Securities and Exchange Commission confirmed Wednesday that the agency is investigating several companies' actions in the run-up to the financial crisis of 2008.


Summary Box: Stocks rise on hopes for low rates (AP)
AP - THE DOW CATCHES UP: The Dow Jones industrial average joined the Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Nasdaq composite index in reaching new highs for 2010. The indexes are at their best levels in about 18 months.
Stocks climb after Fed pledges to hold rates low (AP)

Im this March 16, 2010 photo, traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York. Stock prices rose Wednesday, March 17, after U.S. and Japanese central banks reaffirmed plans to keep interest rates low in an effort to drive economic growth. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)AP - The stock market has a new formula for success: a slow and steady trek higher.


How the major stock indexes fared on Wednesday (AP)
AP - The Dow Jones industrial average rose Wednesday to close at a new high for 2010.
Dow hits 17-month high on energy, financials (Reuters)

The Lehman Brothers booth on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, is shown in this September 16, 2008 file photo. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/FilesReuters - Stocks gained on Wednesday, pushing the Dow to a 17-month high, after a benign February inflation reading supported the Federal Reserve's renewed pledge of low interest rates.


Blockbuster shares plunge on bankruptcy warning (AFP)

A Blockbuster video rental store. Blockbuster shares plunged nearly 30 percent on Wednesday after the heavily indebted movie rental chain said it may be forced to declare bankruptcy.(AFP/File/Robert Sullivan)AFP - Blockbuster shares plunged nearly 30 percent on Wednesday after the heavily indebted movie rental chain said it may be forced to declare bankruptcy.


A look at global economic developments (AP)
AP - A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world Wednesday:

BONDS NEWS
JGB futures fall to 2-mth low on BOJ, upbeat data (at Reuters)
Japanese government bond futures fell to a two-month low on Thursday a day after the Bank of Japan relaxed monetary policy in a split vote that suggested it could be unlikely to continue easing in the months ahead.
Summary Box: Interest rates steady in bond market (AP)
RESERVED AFTER THE FED: Interest rates barely moved in the bond market after the U.S. and Japanese central banks reaffirmed plans to keep interest rates low.
Interest rates barely move in bond market (AP)
Interest rates barely moved in the bond market Wednesday after the U.S. and Japanese central banks reaffirmed plans to keep interest rates low.
How and When Can I Redeem My U.S. Savings Bond? (Fox Business)
There are two types of savings bonds: Series I bonds and Series EE bonds.
UPDATE - Sallie Mae sells $1.5 bln bond issue-IFR (at Reuters)
Student lender SLM Corp , known as Sallie Mae, on Wednesday sold $1.5 billion in debt, testing demand in the unsecured bond market as appetite for risk grows.
TREASURIES-Longer-dated prices rise in low inflation scenario (at Reuters)
* PPI index posts biggest monthly drop in seven months * 2Y-10Y part of yield curve flattest since end-2009 * Trade volume thin, prices within recent ranges
Bond Report: Long-term Treasurys up for fourth day (at MarketWatch)
Treasurys make slight gains as long-term yields are pressured for a fourth straight session, in the wake of the Fed s decision to stand pat on interest rates.
UPDATE - Sallie Mae launches $1.5 bln bond issue-IFR (at Reuters)
Student lender SLM Corp , known as Sallie Mae, on Wednesday launched a $1.5 billion debt sale, testing demand in the unsecured bond market as appetite for risk grows.

COMMODITIES NEWS
Sugar makes fragile gains after sharp falls (at Financial Times)
The sugar market remained under pressure on Wednesday, but after further sharp falls early in the session prices staged a fightback.
Summary Box: Grains rise on concern of wet spring (AP)
GRAIN PRICES: Wheat, corn and soybean prices rose amid speculation that wet, cooler weather could slow spring planting across much of the country.
Energy Stocks: Energy stocks extend gains on firmer oil prices (at MarketWatch)
Energy stocks notch solid gains Wednesday as crude oil prices firmed on supply data and OPEC s decison to leave unchanged its current production quotas.
NYMEX-Crude ends up on EIA fuel data, soft dollar (at Reuters)
Bloomberg Energy Fight: Coal KOs Solar (at TheStreet.com)
Coal stocks come out on top of solar in a new report from Bloomberg, adding to the negative sentiment surrounding renewable energy stocks.
Today in Commodities: Luck of the Irish (at Seeking Alpha)
Futures Movers: Oil gains 1.5% as Fed pledge keeps dollar weak (at MarketWatch)
Crude futures finish on a 1.5% gain, helped by a weaker dollar a day after the Federal Reserve reassures markets that it would keep rates very low for an extended period.
Metals Stocks: Gold rises as Fed, BOJ keep easy money flowing (at MarketWatch)
Gold futures edge higher as the dollar remains under pressure in the aftermath of the Federal Reserve s latest pledge to maintain U.S. interest rates at exceptionally low levels.

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

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