Financial Market News

The central bank has been gradually reducing, or tapering, its monthly bond purchases since January.

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in June indicates that growth in economic activity rebounded in the second quarter.

U.S. stocks crept higher following news that the economy surged ahead in the spring.

Wall Street is waiting on key economic data releases Wednesday and the numbers could have a major impact on trading trends.

World markets were mostly higher Wednesday ahead of U.S. economic data while cheery earnings from major Japanese companies such as Honda Motor Co.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 42.33 points, or 0.27 percent, from Tuesday to 15,660.40.

The kiwi fell as low as 84.90 US cents overnight and was trading at 84.96 cents at 8am in Wellington, from 85.15 cents at 5pm yesterday.

The summer doldrums appear to be officially here. Stocks didn't do much Tuesday -- a day after the market was mostly spinning its wheels.

Here are the issues at stake: In 1998, Argentina fell into recession and faced crushing payments on its international debt.

Earnings reports and corporate news drove trading in individual stocks. Major indexes in Europe and Asia closed with slight gains.

Major stock indexes turned mixed in midday trading as investors waited for a series of key economic reports from the U.S. and China later in the week.

The summer doldrums appear to be officially here. Stocks didn't do much in early trading Tuesday -- a day after the market was mostly spinning its wheels.

The doctor who performed the autopsy on an Arizona death-row inmate whose execution was prolonged says the intravenous lines were placed correctly.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan's Nikkei 225 added 0.6 percent to 15,618.07. South Korea's Kospi posted its highest close since August 2011, rising 0.6 percent to 2,061.97.

Asian shares touched fresh three-year highs on Tuesday as investors in the region drew encouragement from a rally in Chinese markets, though caution was widespread given the torrent of U.S. economic news still to come this week, Reuters said.

Trader Glenn Kessler works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Monday, July 28, 2014.

A drop in energy stocks helped push the Toronto stock market slightly lower Monday as traders brace for a heavy slate of earnings reports this week, particularly from the resource sector.

Consistently, one of the more popular stocks people enter into their stock options watchlist at Stock Options Channel is Exxon Mobil Corp. .

The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all fell slightly in afternoon trading. Investors are probably focused more on the deluge of economic reports coming later this week: a read on gross domestic product for the second quarter, a meeting from the Federal Reserve's policy committee and the July jobs report.

Investors are so hungry for yield in the bond market that they're giving rich college grads money to help pay off their student loans.