The Other Side of Life 24/7: Daily Investor Briefing: S&P 500 ends at record, now positive...

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Daily Investor Briefing: S&P 500 ends at record, now positive...

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02/27/2014

Reuters Election 2012 Daily round-up of the day's top news from the campaign trail, the White House and all the politics in between

S&P 500 ends at record, now positive for 2014

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 closed at a record on Thursday and ended in positive territory for the year after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said harsh weather seems to be to behind the recent softness in U.S. economic data.

Weather seems to blame for U.S. slowdown, Fed's Yellen says

(Reuters) - Unusually harsh winter weather appears to be behind recent signs of weakness in the U.S. economy, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said on Thursday, suggesting the central bank was poised to press forward in ratcheting back its stimulus.

U.S. core capital goods order up, but worries linger

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods excluding transportation and a gauge of business spending unexpectedly rose in January, offering hopeful signs for factory activity which has slowed in recent months.

Credit Suisse CEO faces call for U.S. testimony apology

ZURICH (Reuters) - A group representing Swiss bank employees demanded an apology from Credit Suisse boss Brady Dougan on Thursday after he said the practice of helping Americans conceal their wealth was the work of a few dishonest employees.

No clarity from economists on clarity of BoE's new policy: Reuters poll

LONDON (Reuters) - The Bank of England's revamped forward guidance has split economists in a Reuters poll as to whether it has improved clarity about where British interest rates are headed.

Japan says any bitcoin regulation should be international

TOKYO (Reuters) - Any regulation of the bitcoin crypto-currency should involve international cooperation to avoid loopholes, Japanese vice finance minister Jiro Aichi said on Thursday.

EBay founder rejects Icahn's call for PayPal spinoff

(Reuters) - EBay Inc founder and Chairman Pierre Omidyar rejected investor Carl Icahn's call to separate the company's fast-growing PayPal payments unit, saying the businesses were better off together.

Foreign exchange dents Gap profit forecast for new fiscal year

(Reuters) - Gap Inc on Thursday reported a higher-than-expected holiday quarter profit, helped by January sales gains, but the fashion company said it expected unfavorable currency exchange rates will hit its full-year profit.

U.S. safety regulators probe GM recall linked to 13 deaths

DETROIT (Reuters) - U.S. safety regulators have opened an investigation into whether General Motors Co reacted fast enough in its recall of more than 1.6 million cars over an ignition-switch defect linked to 13 deaths in crashes.

Bright prospects? China's rooftop solar goal looks too ambitious

(Reuters) - Beijing's goal of tripling solar power from small-scale operations such as rooftop panels looks overly ambitious, risking disappointment for investors who have bid up shares in Chinese solar panel makers in the past year.