| BUSINESS CHANGE NEWS |
Trade deficit shrinks as auto and oil imports drop
(AP)
 AP - The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in January, reflecting a big drop in imports of oil and foreign cars. American exports also fell, a potential blow to hopes that the economic recovery will be aided this year by U.S. sales abroad.
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Mortgage rates remain below 5 percent
(AP)
AP - Mortgage rates held below the 5 percent threshold for the second straight week, a report said Thursday, weeks before a government program that has been keeping rates low is scheduled to expire.
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Sarkozy, Merkel propose clampdown on speculators
(AP)
 AP - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Thursday for a clampdown on the type of speculative trading that exacerbated Greece's debt crisis and undermined the euro in recent weeks.
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Senate passes $149 billion for jobless aid
(Reuters)
Reuters - The Senate on Wednesday passed a $149 billion package of jobless aid and tax breaks, as Democrats continued efforts to lower the 9.7 percent unemployment rate before congressional elections in November.
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SEC chief economist leaving
(AP)
AP - The chief economist of the Securities and Exchange Commission, who is an expert on the financial instruments that figured largely in the 2008 crisis, is leaving his position for the private sector.
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| STOCKS NEWS |
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Nasdaq turns positive
(Reuters)
 Reuters - The Nasdaq turned positive and the Dow and S&P 500 pared losses on Thursday as big-cap technology shares rose, offsetting worries about money tightening in China.
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FTSE 100 opens lower
(AFP)
 AFP - Leading shares weakened on Thursday after unconvincing gains overnight on Wall Street as investors mulled the latest economic data and company news.
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European stock markets weaken
(AFP)
 AFP - Europe's main stock markets weakened Thursday after unconvincing gains overnight on Wall Street as investors mulled the latest economic data and company news.
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Summary Box: Stocks rise after inventories fall
(AP)
AP - GOOD NEWS, MODEST MOVES: The Dow Jones industrial average tacked on only 3 points Wednesday after the government said that inventories at wholesalers fell in January while sales rose. That suggests that demand is strengthening.
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How the major stock indexes fared on Wednesday
(AP)
AP - Scant buying lifted stocks for a second day Wednesday after the government reported a drop in companies' inventories. The Dow Jones industrials rose only 3 points as the market remained in a lull that began on Monday. Many investors stayed on the sidelines amid an absence of news that could influence trading.
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| BONDS NEWS |
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A bond portfolio for rising interest rates (Money)
Question: I m 65, retired and have about 50% of my portfolio in a bond index fund. I m thinking of switching to a short-term bond fund. Do you think that s a good idea? --Judy, Flowery Branch, Georgia
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| COMMODITIES NEWS |
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Natural gas stocks declined last week (AP)
Natural gas stockpiles fell last week, the government said Thursday, although they remained above the 5-year average. The Energy Department s Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report that natural gas inventories held in underground storage in the lower 48 states dropped by 111 billion cubic feet to about 1.63 trillion cubic feet for the week ended March 5.
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