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Markets

Retail Sales Post Strong Gain
U.S. retail sales posted a 0.3% gain in February from a month earlier despite falling car demand amid trouble at Toyota and fierce blizzards that crippled the East Coast for days.
Examiner: Lehman Torpedoed Lehman
A federal judge released a scathing report on Lehman's collapse that raps executives, auditor Ernst & Young and banks for lapses that sparked bankruptcy.
U.S. Stock Futures Surge on Retail Sales
U.S.consumers spent more in February than analysts expected, despite fierce snowstorms. That sign of economic health boosted stock futures.
Retail Sales Dent Treasurys
Treasury prices fell after U.S. retail sales unexpectedly rose last month, lifting optimism on the economic outlook and denting the allure of low-risk government debt.
Gold Prices Follow Euro Higher
Spot-gold prices are higher as a rebound in the euro attracts investors back to the precious metal.
Dollar Falls; Franc Gains Strength
The euro was mostly higher in Europe despite speculation about Chinese interest rates, as concerns about Greece's debt problems abated. The euro slipped against the franc, testing the SNB's resolve to intervene.
Euro-Zone Data Boost Stocks
European stocks were higher, supported by better-than-expected euro-zone industrial production figures and strength in the banking sector.
Signs of Life in U.K. IPO Market
Young fashion brand SuperGroup and interactive whiteboard maker Promethean priced IPOs in London, deals that valued both companies at around £400 million each.
Oil Pushed Up by Weak Dollar
Crude prices built on Thursday's settlement, the highest in two months.
KKR Begins U.S.-Listing Process
KKR made its initial filing with the SEC as the private-equity giant moves ahead with plans to have its units listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
UBS Lobbies for Swiss-U.S. Deal
UBS has stepped up its lobbying efforts for a U.S.-Swiss tax deal over confidential bank data, urging parliamentary representatives to vote for the passage of the deal.
Asian Shares End Mixed
Asian shares ended mixed, with Japanese exporter stocks helping the market extend gains, while Chinese stocks declined on concerns more policy tightening measures may be forthcoming.
Yara Won't Raise Bid for Terra
Norway's Yara International said it won't raise its $4.1 billion bid for U.S. fertilizer producer Terra Industries, which was trumped last week by an offer from CF Industries Holdings.
IEA Raises Oil-Demand Forecast
The International Energy Agency said it expects world oil demand in 2010 to resume trend growth seen earlier this decade, as economic activity advances in the second half of the year.
Japan Wants a Weaker Yen
PM Hatoyama says countries should "politically cooperate on the world stage" to push the currency lower.
Australian Regulator Delays AXA Bids
Australia's competition regulator Friday postponed its decision on competing multibillion-dollar bids for wealth-management and insurance company AXA Asia Pacific Holdings.