Room rates soften at Chicago's top hotels

Industry tracker Rubicon said average rates at luxury hotels in Chicago are down 11.7 percent compared to the same time last year, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.

Report: Canadian manufacturing trails U.S.

The CIBC World Markets report issued in Toronto quoted senior economist Benjamin Tal as saying much more is being produced with less labor in the United States.

Economic Outlook: Scuttling Greece

The overall worry is that debt in Greece will undermine the euro, which is shared by 16 countries, which ties industrial success in Germany to a poor year for tourism in Athens. As Greece or Spain or Ireland flounders, so goes the currency used in France, Finland and Italy.

Crude oil prices steady Friday

The dollar index, measuring the greenback against a basket of currencies, was down 0.14 percent early. Oil prices, meanwhile, have found a new holding pattern, hovering near $79 since mid-February.

Crude oil prices back under $79

The U.S. Energy Information Administration said crude inventories increased by 3 million barrels in the week ending Feb. 19. At the same time, comparing four-week rolling averages, the EIA said distillate fuel demand had fallen 6.8 percent compared with the same period a year ago.

Spain may test EU's currency

After Greece, which the European Commission is pushing to reduce its debt, Spain, Ireland and Portugal could also face pressure to lower their debt ratios, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

Former Madoff executive arrested

Bonventre, formerly Madoff's operations director, was arrested on eight counts based on suspicions that he helped Madoff conceal what is considered the largest Ponzi scheme in history. Madoff, who pleaded guilty to 11 counts of fraud in March, is serving a 150-year prison sentence.

Grain futures close lower Thursday

Corn was off 3 to off 3 1/4; soybeans were off 12 to off 14, wheat was off 10 to off 10 1/2 and oats were off 1 to off 2 1/4.

Greece, labor, weigh on markets

The New York Times reported investors are making bets that make it harder for Greece to dig out of a debt problem that is weakening the euro.

Analysts: Banks have Greece on a treadmill

Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and other financial firms helped sponsor Markit Group of London, which created iTraxx SovX Western Europe, an index that tracks credit default swaps that serve as insurance against defaults, The New York Times reported Thursday.

Former Madoff executive arrested

Bonventre, formerly Madoff's operations director, was arrested on eight counts based on suspicions that he helped Madoff conceal what is considered the largest Ponzi scheme in history. Madoff, who pleaded guilty to 11 counts of fraud in March, is serving a 150-year prison sentence.

Spain may test EU's currency

After Greece, which the European Commission is pushing to reduce its debt, Spain, Ireland and Portugal could also face pressure to lower their debt ratios, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.