Daily Investor Briefing: Wall Street closes out strong year on...

	Click to View in Browser 12/31/2014 Wall Street closes out strong year on down note NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday, but closed out a third straight year of double-digit gains for the S&P 500, as crude oil prices continued their descent. Oil ends on a low after halving in 2014 as OPEC stands aside NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Friday to a 5-1/2-year low and ended with their second-biggest annual decline ever, down by half since June under pressure from a global glut of crude. Ambac sues Bank of America over Countrywide mortgage bonds NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ambac Assurance Corp sued Bank of America Corp to recoup hundreds of millions of dollars of losses from insuring roughly $1.68 billion of securities backed at least in part by risky mortgages from the bank's Countrywide Home Loans unit. U.S. jobless claims rise, but labor market still firming WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits rose more than expected last week, but the trend remained consistent with sustained strength in the labor market. Fed forecasting tool calls for immediate rate hike, Plosser says (Reuters) - A forecasting tool developed by the Federal Reserve recommends that U.S. interest rates should be hiked immediately to keep pace with the improving economy, according to a paper by the soon-to-retire Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser. Boeing appears to hit 111 of 787 deliveries for 2014, tops target NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co appears to have delivered 111 of its 787 Dreamliners in 2014, topping its forecast of 110, after the company said on Wednesday it had delivered Etihad Airways' first 787-9 jet. U.S. pending home sales rise modestly in November WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Contracts to buy previously owned U.S. homes rose only modestly in November, pointing to a still-sluggish housing market despite several months of stronger economic growth and hiring. After 2014's party, investors in U.S. stock market may face a hangover (Reuters) - Revelers ringing in the new year this week need to watch out for the next day's hangover. Investors may experience a similar feeling early in 2015 after a two-year run that has propelled U.S. stocks up by nearly 50 percent. U.S. opening of oil export tap widens battle for global market WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Obama administration has opened a new front in the global battle for oil market share, effectively clearing the way for the shipment of as much as a million barrels per day of ultra-light U.S. crude to the rest of the world. Anemic growth warrants easy monetary policy: IMF's Lagarde ROME (Reuters) - Accommodative monetary policy will remain necessary for as long as global growth remains weak, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said in a newspaper article published on Wednesday. Related Video Investing overseas worth risk in 2015-Wells Fargo's Jacobsen Markets offer mixed cocktail at year end Related News Ambac sues Bank of America over Countrywide mortgage bonds U.S. bonds set for more modest year after banner 2014 A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. 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 - 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