Yahoo! News: Business News

• Obama details plans to boost exports, create jobs (AP)
  

  AP - President Barack Obama sought Thursday to put some detail behind his lofty drive to double U.S. exports over the next five years, calling the effort imperative to putting people back to work. But doubts remain about how many net jobs his trade agenda will create — and how he will get it done.

  
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• Slowly, Americans are regaining their lost wealth (AP)
  

  AP - Americans are recovering their shrunken wealth — gradually. Household net worth rose last quarter, mainly because the healing economy boosted stock portfolios. But the gain was slight. And it was less than in the previous two quarters.

  
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• Gov't may seek more authority on vehicle safety (AP)
  

  AP - Government vehicle safety regulators may seek greater authority to investigate defects in cars and trucks following Toyota's recall of more than 8 million vehicles for safety problems.

  
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• Stocks climb for 3rd day as financial shares rise (AP)
  

  AP - The stock market is up for a third day after a rally in financial shares helped offset concerns about rising inflation in China.

  
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• Former aide to US Rep. Shays pleads guilty (AP)
  AP - The ex-campaign manager for former U.S. Rep. Chris Shays pleaded guilty Thursday to tax evasion and to taking more than $250,000 in campaign money for car repairs, limousine rides, baseball tickets, furniture and other personal uses.More >>>
  
  
• 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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• A look at global economic developments (AP)
  AP - A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world Wednesday:More >>>
  
  
• Summary Box: Jobless claims drop for second week (AP)
  AP - JOBLESS CLAIMS DROP: New claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to a seasonally adjusted 462,000, nearly matching analysts' estimates. It was the second straight drop.More >>>
  
  
• Kratos reports 4Q profit (AP)
  AP - Defense contractor Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. reported a fourth-quarter profit Thursday.More >>>
  
  
• Greece hit by strikes, clashes over austerity plan (AP)
  

  AP - Clashes between riot police and rock-throwing, masked youths broke out during a demonstration Thursday in central Athens by tens of thousands of striking workers protesting austerity measures that the Greek government has said it has no choice but to implement.

  
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• Fannie Mae to offer $6b in notes (AP)
  AP - Fannie Mae on Thursday said it will offer $6 billion of new 3-year notes due May 7, 2013.More >>>
  
  
• CFTC head scolds Wall Street for resisting reforms (Reuters)
  Reuters - The head of the top U.S. futures regulator chided Wall Street on Thursday for resisting calls to make over-the-counter derivatives markets more transparent, arguing major reforms are required after the recent financial crisis.More >>>
  
  
• Kroger declares quarterly dividend of 9.5 cents (AP)
  AP - The Kroger Co., the country's largest grocery retailer, on Thursday declared a quarterly dividend of 9.5 cents per share payable June 1 to shareholders of record as of May 14.More >>>
  
  
• Gov't official warns on home down payment hikes (AP)
  AP - The head of the Federal Housing Administration is warning that boosting the minimum down payment borrowers must provide to qualify for home loans backed by the agency could threaten the housing market.More >>>
  
  
• Oil prices mixed in holding pattern (AFP)
  

  AFP - Oil prices traded narrowly mixed Thursday as the market weighed prospects for global economic recovery ahead of an OPEC meeting next week.

  
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• Toyota incentives drive March U.S. sales up sharply (Reuters)
  Reuters - Sales incentives, including zero-percent financing offers, have boosted Toyota Motor Corp's (7203.T) U.S. sales by nearly 50 percent in early March, an industry tracking service and dealers said on Thursday.More >>>
  
  
• The Ambitions of Prudential's Tidjane Thiam (BusinessWeek)
  BusinessWeek - According to insiders at Prudential Plc , Tidjane Thiam, the chief executive of the insurer which said last week that it was bidding $35.5bn (23.6bn) to buy AIG's Asian insurance business is a firm believer in emotion over analysis.More >>>