Home sales down in January

The figure clashed with the consensus forecast for home sales. Economists had predicted sales would rise 3.8 percent. December's annual rate was revised to 348,000.

Crude oil supplies rise in week

The energy agency said crude inventories increased from 334.5 million barrels to 337.5 million during the week and remain above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year.

Paris airports disrupted by strike

The strike was scheduled for five days and would result in cancellation of about half the flights in and out of Orly airport and about 25 percent of flights at Charles de Gaulle/Roissy airport, Radio France Internationale reported Wednesday.

In tough times, happy hours flourish

This is what you have to do to get business, Malcolm Knapp, an industry consultant, told USA Today.

Bernanke says funds rate will remain low

It is a phrase the Fed has used frequently since December 2008, when the central bank lowered its bank-to-bank lending rate to historic lows of zero to 0.25 percent. Recently, however, there has been a more dramatic need for reassurance, after the Fed made a surprise move Thursday by raising interest rates on a discount loan program to prompt banks to lean more on private sources of capital.

Senate approves $15 billion jobs bill

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., voted against the bill that would, among other measures, give employers an immediate break on Social Security taxes for new hires through the rest of the year.

Markets head higher

Bernanke's semi-annual testimony before the House Committee on Financial Services is expected to reveal more details of the Fed's strategy for retreating from the extraordinary support provided during the recession.

Bernanke says funds rate will remain low

It is a phrase the Fed has used frequently since December 2008, when the central bank lowered its bank-to-bank lending rate to historic lows of zero to 0.25 percent. Recently, however, there has been a more dramatic need for reassurance, after the Fed made a surprise move Thursday by raising interest rates on a discount loan program to prompt banks to lean more on private sources of capital.

Paris airports disrupted by strike

The strike was scheduled for five days and would result in cancellation of about half the flights in and out of Orly airport and about 25 percent of flights at Charles de Gaulle/Roissy airport, Radio France Internationale reported Wednesday.

In tough times, happy hours flourish

This is what you have to do to get business, Malcolm Knapp, an industry consultant, told USA Today.

Mortgage activity fell in week

The Market Composite Index fell 8.5 percent in the week, while the Refinancing Index fell 8.9 percent, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Paris airports disrupted by strike

The strike was scheduled for five days and would result in cancellation of about half the flights in and out of Orly airport and about 25 percent of flights at Charles de Gaulle/Roissy airport, Radio France Internationale reported Wednesday.