Sick Puppies Walk To Hospital, Wait In Lobby
WATCH: JFK Intern Discusses Sordid Details Of Affair
Trade deficit widens to $48.8 billion in December
WASHINGTON (AP) — Monthly U.S. exports to Europe grew in December, a hopeful sign after a steep decline the previous month. But, some economists remain concerned that the region's debt crisis will still weigh on the U.S. economy this year. The Commerce Department said Friday that the overall trade deficit widened to $48.8 billion in December because imports grew at a faster pace than exports. It was the largest imbalance since June.
Stocks slide at the open as Greek deal is held up
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are opening lower after Greece's bailout deal was put on hold, a day after it seemed that the country had pacified its creditors. The Dow Jones industrial average is down 110 points to 12,781 shortly after the opening bell Friday.
Greek coalition party to oppose austerity measures
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The leader of a small partner in Greece's coalition government said Friday his party would vote against the latest round of austerity measures required for a massive new bailout deal — despite having backed the measures a day earlier. George Karatzaferis, leader of the rightist LAOS party, said Friday that he would now vote against the government proposal expected to come to parliament late Sunday.
Spain approves crucial labor market reforms
MADRID (AP) — Spain's new conservative government approved sweeping labor market reforms on Friday as part of a drive to retool a sick economy and solve Europe's worst unemployment nightmare. The decree gives companies hiring incentives such as cheaper severance packages and offers tax breaks for taking on young people. It does away with severance arrangements in which some workers got up to 45 days of pay per year worked, and lowered this to 33 days in most cases for new contracts, although the change is not retroactive.
Greek deal uncertainty slams global markets
LONDON (AP) — Stock markets and the euro fell sharply Friday after Greece's crucial bailout was put on hold by its partners in the 17-nation eurozone and the leader of a small partner in the country's coalition government said he would vote against the demanded austerity measures. Just a day earlier, the feeling surrounding Greece was very different. Following weeks of discussions, the Greek government appeared to have done enough to pacify creditors.
Turbo-traders take Bank of America for a ride
NEW YORK (AP) — On a normal day, 4 billion shares of stock change hands on the New York Stock Exchange. One in 10 belongs to a single company. It's not McDonald's or IBM, both of which have been on a tear. It's Bank of America — bailed out by the government three years ago, reviled for being part of the mortgage frenzy that helped wreck the economy and selling for not much more than an ATM fee.
China trade falls amid weak demand, holiday
BEIJING (AP) — China's trade suffered its biggest decline in January since the 2008 crisis — a new sign of weak global demand and a slowing domestic economy. Exports fell 0.5 percent from a year earlier to $149.9 billion, while imports were down 15 percent at $122.7 billion, customs data showed Friday. China's politically sensitive global trade surplus tripled compared with a year earlier to $27.3 billion.
NYSE Euronext profit down on blocked merger costs
PARIS (AP) — NYSE Euronext on Friday said costs related to its collapsed merger with German stock market Deutsche Boerse caused a slump in fourth quarter earnings. The company, which owns the main exchanges in New York and Paris among others, reported net income of $110 million, or $0.43 per share, for the three months ended Dec. 31. That compares with $135 million, or $0.51 per share, in the same quarter the previous year.
GM gets environmental OK for new China plant
SHANGHAI (AP) — General Motors Co. has won approval from environmental authorities in central China for a new $1.1 billion assembly plant, though the company says it has not yet decided on the plan. The go-ahead by the Hubei Environmental Protection Bureau, seen Friday in a notice posted on its website, is just one approval among many that would be required for such a large project.
France's Total gets oil price profit boost
PARIS (AP) — French oil company Total SA forecast higher production this year while revealing Friday that higher oil prices helped it post a 12.8 percent rise in fourth quarter profits despite a drop in output. France's largest company by market value reported fourth quarter profit of (EURO)2.29 billion ($3.0 billion) from (EURO)2.03 billion the year before.That took the full-year profit up to (EURO)12.3 billion, 16 percent higher from (EURO)10.5 billion in 2010.
