TOP STORIES
US JOBLESS CLAIMS DROP, PRODUCER PRICES RISE
Initial U.S. jobless claims drop by 14,000 to a seasonally
adjusted 351,000 in the week ended March 10, while the February
producer price index rises by seasonally adjusted 0.4% due to
higher gasoline prices.
US DENIES REPORT OF OIL-RESERVES RELEASE
The Obama administration hasn't reached an agreement with the
U.K. to release crude oil from its emergency reserves and a report
suggesting otherwise was inaccurate, White House spokesman Jay
Carney says.
CISCO TO BUY NDS GROUP IN $4B DEAL
Cisco Systems plans to buy UK video software maker NDS Group for
$4 billion, plus an additional $1 billion in debt, a purchase the
technology giant says reflects its increased strategic focus on
video.
APPLE SHARES TOUCH $600 LEVEL FOR FIRST TIME
Apple shares briefly rise above $600, the latest milestone in
their meteoric climb. Expectations for the company's smartphone and
tablet sales have some analysts predicting the stock could hit the
$700 mark.
US STOCKS GET A BOOST FROM FIRM DATA
Stocks turn higher after firm readings on the jobs market and
manufacturing activity provide investors with more upbeat signals
on the U.S. economy. DJIA, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite all
seeing small gains.
SENATORS URGE MF GLOBAL TRUSTEE TO DROP BONUS PLAN
A Senate committee probing the collapse of MF Global sends a
letter asking Louis Freeh, the trustee overseeing the failed
financial firm, to abandon a plan to pay bonuses to former top MF
Global executives.
AMR CEO SEES RISKS FROM LENGTHY CHAPTER 11
American Airlines parent AMR Corp. believes it can emerge from
bankruptcy court protection by the end of the year, CEO Tom Horton
says in an interview, but cautions that a long stay in Chapter 11
poses risks.
OIL CUTS LOSSES AS US DENIES RELEASE FROM RESERVES
Crude oil futures trim losses after a U.S. official calls
inaccurate a report that the U.S. would soon release oil from its
emergency stockpile. Nymex April crude oil trades 52c lower at
$104.91 a barrel.
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES TO SELL UNITS TO HELP FUND GOODRICH BUY
United Technologies plans to put a handful of businesses up for
sale, including its Rocketdyne rocket-engine business, to help fund
its roughly $16 billion deal to buy aircraft-components maker
Goodrich.
SEC CRACKS DOWN ON PRE-IPO TRADING
The Securities and Exchange Commission brings charges against
two money managers, alleging they misled and overcharged investors
on funds formed to buy shares of Facebook, Twitter and other
social-media companies.
SEC-CITI MORTGAGE-BOND TRIAL DELAYED
Federal appeals court raises concerns about lower court's
decision last year to reject a $285 million civil settlement
between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Citigroup,
delaying a civil fraud trial expected to begin in July.
======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES =======
BIG PICTURE
Increase In Rates Won't Trip Up Recovery
The years of market turmoil and economic uncertainty pushed
investors into the safe-harbor arms of Treasurys. Now, more
confidence in the recovery, along with less concern about the
euro-zone debt crisis, are easing risk aversion, writes Kathleen
Madigan.
GETTING PERSONAL
The Genealogy Of Active ETF Managers
Murray Coleman writes that while most actively managed stock
exchange-traded funds are still too new to judge, investors might
uncover some promising clues by tracing a fund's genealogy.
============ U.S. MARKETS ACTION ===========
DJIA up 32.02 points to 13226.12
NASDAQ up 5.98 points to 3046.71
S&P 500 up 5.58 points to 1399.86
10-year T-note 97 18/32 at 2.2753 yield
NYMEX Crude down $0.06 at $105.37/bbl
Dollar/Euro up 0.0712 at 1.31032