Payrolls, quake, ISM may steer stocks (Reuters)
Reuters – Payrolls could give the U.S. stock market some direction this week as investors comb through the key report on one of the economy’s weakest areas
Summary Box: Investors await employment report (AP)
AP – ADDED SIGNIFICANCE: Investors will look to the monthly jobs report for clearer signs on the direction of the economy after a string of mixed economic data and ongoing concerns about Europe.
Jobs report critical after mixed economic data (AP)
AP – Investors are seeking direction. Friday’s report on employment could give them exactly what they want.
Prudential’s $35 billion bid for AIA depends on Asian markets (Reuters)
Reuters – Prudential’s bid to buy American International Group’s Asian life unit is a bet against Asian stock markets as falling share prices across the region would make the alternative of listing the business in Hong Kong less attractive.
All eyes on the job market
A wave of disappointing economic reports has revived fears that the recovery is unsustainable, upping the ante for this week’s batch of economic news, including the big February jobs report Friday.
Berkshire net rises (Reuters)
Reuters – Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc said fourth-quarter profit surged, helped by improved results from derivatives bets tied to global stock markets, though operating profit fell 40 percent as the weakened economy weighed on several businesses.
Paper gains drive Berkshire’s profit skyward (AP)
AP – Berkshire Hathaway Inc. delivered a fourth-quarter profit more than 25 times higher than the previous year thanks largely to an unrealized $1 billion gain on derivative contracts and investments.
Payrolls, ISM may steer stocks (Reuters)
Reuters – Payrolls could give the U.S.
Fannie Mae seeks $15.3B in gov’t aid after 4Q loss (AP)
AP – Fannie Mae needs another $15 billion in federal assistance, bringing its total to more than $75 billion. And worse, the mortgage finance company warned its losses will continue this year.
James River Coal 4th-quarter loss narrows (AP)
AP – Coal mining company James River Coal Co. said Friday that its fourth-quarter loss narrowed, but the company said its results were hurt by lower rates of production at its mines.