U.S. Top News Early Edition: Congress reaches payroll tax-cut deal

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	02/16/2012
Good Morning LATEST NEWS Congress reaches payroll tax-cut deal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans, set to expire at the end of this month, would be extended through December under a bipartisan deal announced early on Thursday by U.S. congressional leaders. | Full Article Jobless claims drop to near 4-year low February 16, 2012 09:16 AM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week to a near four-year low, suggesting the labor market recovery was gaining steam. | Full Article Moody's may downgrade 17 banks, including UBS, Morgan Stanley February 16, 2012 09:20 AM ET (Reuters) - Moody's warned on Thursday it may cut the credit ratings of 17 global and 114 European financial institutions in another sign the impact of the euro zone government debt crisis is spreading throughout the global financial system. | Full Article Greece battles mistrust to target bailout deal February 16, 2012 09:35 AM ET ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece expressed hope it was within days of finally securing a 130-billion-euro EU/IMF bailout to ease its debt crisis but markets reacted skeptically on Thursday as acrimony grew between Athens and euro zone partners led by Germany. | Full Article Former executives, bankers arrested over Olympus fraud February 16, 2012 07:34 AM ET TOKYO (Reuters) - Four months after one of Japan's biggest corporate scandals, police and prosecutors on Thursday arrested seven men, including the former president of Olympus Corp and ex-bankers, over their role in a $1.7 billion accounting fraud at the medical equipment and camera maker. | Full Article BUSINESS NEWS Wall Street opens flat as data offsets Moody's warning February 16, 2012 09:36 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks opened little changed on Thursday as concerns about a possible downgrade of global banks by Moody's were offset by upbeat U.S. data on the labor and housing sectors. | Full Article GM reports weaker- than-expected quarterly profit February 16, 2012 09:25 AM ET DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co posted a weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter profit as disappointing performance overseas offset strong results in North America. | Full Article Bernanke says recovery slow but small banks climbing back February 16, 2012 09:37 AM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The weak economic recovery has made it harder for banks to make money from loans but the financial conditions of smaller institutions appear to be solidifying, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday. | Full Article Oldest Swiss private bank is newest U.S. target February 16, 2012 09:18 AM ET ST. GALLEN, Switzerland (Reuters) - On the morning of January 27, employees at the St. Gallen headquarters of Wegelin, Switzerland's oldest private bank, were told to expect an important announcement from Konrad Hummler, Wegelin's leading partner. Other Wegelin branches across Switzerland, also alerted, tuned in to the company-wide address system. | Full Article Nestle cautious on 2012 as it seeks new growth February 16, 2012 06:53 AM ET VEVEY, Switzerland (Reuters) - Nestle echoed the cautious outlook for 2012 of other global food makers on Thursday as it said it was banking on new markets and products to put it ahead of the field after it posted forecast-beating 2011 sales growth. | Full Article HEALTH NEWS Stemming the tide of overtreatment in U.S. healthcare How secure are labs handling world's deadliest pathogens? One in 10 U.S. kids have alcoholic parent - study Doctors scour drug supplies after fake Avastin found In prostate cancer, other death risks may be higher RELATED VIDEO Amateur video of explosions, gunfire in Syrian border town Israeli aircraft bomb Gaza Children killed in West Bank bus crash A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today. Your daily briefing on the latest tech developments from around the world from Reuters expert tech correspondents. Register Today. The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day.. Register Today. » MORE NEWSLETTERS ODDLY ENOUGH Mattel to issue William and Kate dolls for royal anniversary Full Article Tightrope walker to attempt first crossing of Niagara Falls Partners main source of happiness around the globe: poll "Malachy" the Pekingese wins prestigious U.S. dog show Afghan govt asks for headscarves, less make-up on TV - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend