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Global demand for U.S. stocks, bonds and other financial assets fell in January from a month earlier on declines in purchases of U.S. Treasury securities, according to the government’s international capital data.
Net buying of long-term equities, notes and bonds totaled $51.5 billion during January compared with net buying of $62.5 billion in December, according […]

The Missouri Public Service Commission will seek penalties against Laclede Gas Co. in circuit court after determining the state

Tokyo shares rallied Friday as investors cheered robust earnings and a major takeover in the steel sector.
The Nikkei 225 stock average rose 1.1 percent to 10,550.02, as much of the region took a break for the Lunar New Year holidays. Markets in Hong Kong, mainland China, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan were closed.
Nippon Steel […]

After a decade of multibillion-dollar losses, U.S. airlines appear likely to profit for years for a simple reason: They are flying less.
By grounding planes and eliminating flights, airlines have cut costs and pushed fares higher. As the global economy rebounds, travel demand is rising and planes are as full as they’ve been in decades.
Profit margins […]

Investors retreated from bond mutual funds last week at the highest level in two years, pulling out $8.62 billion in the week ended Dec. 15, the Investment Company Institute said Wednesday.
That’s the largest single-week pullback from bonds since the week ending Oct. 15, 2008, when investors took out $17.60 billion.
The trend is driven mostly by […]

The number of homeowners who owe more than their houses are worth fell for the third straight quarter this summer.
About 10.8 million households, or 22.5 percent of all mortgaged homes, were underwater in the July-September quarter, housing data firm CoreLogic said Monday. That’s down from 23 percent, or 11 million households, in the second quarter.
The […]

NASCAR says that it will use a 15% ethanol blend in its racing fuel, days after the government approved the mix.
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing said Saturday it is continuing its partnership with Sunoco for the use of "Sunoco Green E15," a fuel mix comprised of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline.
"With […]

Alabama Power Co. was named to an annual list of top utilities in economic development by Site Selection magazine.
The publication picked 10 winners for the distinction based on capital investment, job creation, capital investment per capita and jobs per 10,000 in population, as well as innovative programs and services, said a news release.
In 2009, said […]

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. was the latest company affected by the Gulf oil spill to see its ratings lowered by Moody’s Investors Service.
Some $13 billion in Anadarko rated debt securities were the subject of Moody’s decision to lower its rating from stable to negative.
In a statement, Moody’s said the decision reflects the considerable uncertainty associated with […]

It’s that time of year again: The weather is getting warmer, Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference is just around the corner, and rumors about the iPhone coming to Verizon are sprouting up.
Don’t believe it, Verizon fans. It’s unlikely that Steve Jobs will announce a Verizon tie-up when he gets on stage at the WWDC […]