Regulators target life insurance fraud

Insurance agents in Florida, Ohio, Minnesota and California have been arrested or had their professional licenses revoked with the most common type of fraud being exaggerating the wealth of an elderly client to take out an expensive life insurance policy, then selling the policy to an investor with a handsome kickback to the client, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

U.S. stock markets open mixed

In midmorning trading, the Dow Jones industrial average lost 9.90 points, down 0.09 percent, to 10,432.51. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 2.23 points, 0.2 percent, to 1,110.97. The Nasdaq composite index rose 0.15 percent, 3.46 points, to 2,292.55.

U.S. home prices rose in April

Home prices over 12 months, April to April, fell 1.5 percent with the U.S. House Price Index 12.8 percent below its peak of April 2007, the agency said.

Crude oil prices slip overnight

The euro dropped to $1.229 Tuesday morning from Monday's $1.2318, reflecting continued uncertainty over government debt in Europe.

Economic Outlook: Happy hour

Caterpillar Inc. stocks rose more than 3 percent early Monday, but the company's day reflected the fate of someone arriving late at a party. By close of trading, Caterpillar stock was up a more sober 0.33 percent, with China, the party's host, warning world leaders they were running out of pretzels and beer.

Japan expects surplus by 2020

Separately, the government forecast the economy to grow faster in fiscal 2010 for a gross domestic product rate of 2.6 percent, up from a 1.4 percent forecast in December.

Economy, change doom Calif. TV store chain

Ken Crane's Home Entertainment, established 62 years ago in Hawthorne, expanded at one point to include 10 locations but was down to six stores when owners decided to go out of business, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday. The stores began liquidating their inventory during the weekend.

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How to get out of a dead-end career

You may be anxious about getting a promotion or seeking a new job when so many employers are downsizing. Education may be the key to overcoming these obstacles.

Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico in rum battle

At issue is whether U.S. tax dollars can be used by the Virgin Islands to convince a Captain Morgan rum distillery to move there from its present Puerto Rico location, The Washington Post reported Monday.

Oil prices settle after early rise

China said Saturday it would allow some flexibility in the renminbi.

Grain futures mixed Monday

Corn was off 5 3/4 to off 6, soybeans were up 2 1/4 to up 8 1/2, wheat was off 1 3/4 to up 1/4 and oats were up 1 1/2 to up 5 1/4.