Fed's Lacker sees no need for more easing for now (Reuters) US Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:15:25 GMT Reuters - A top Federal Reserve official said on Wednesday he does not see a rationale for more asset purchases if U.S. economic data continue to show the recovery is picking up steam.

Need for more Fed bond buys a "close call": Williams (Reuters) US Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:04:39 GMT Reuters - The U.S. central bank may yet need to buy more bonds to bolster the weak recovery, but better-than-expected jobs data makes it a "close call," a top Federal Reserve official said on Wednesday.

Biden, China's Xi discuss agenda for U.S. visit (Reuters) US Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:33:56 GMT Lobsang Sangay, right, Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, stands next to a portrait of the Dalai Lama as he speaks after a prayer session to remember Tibetans who have died in Tibet and as a show of solidarity for those living in Tibet, in Dharmsala, India, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2011. Chinese repression has lead to the self-immolations of nearly two dozen Tibetans and deadly clashes with Chinese authorities, the head of Tibet's government-in-exile said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

Mortgage applications jump on refi demand: MBA (Reuters) US Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:37:39 GMT Txera Alonso (L) and Juan Carlos Bezarra, volunteers from the pressure group Berri-Otxoak walk towards the town hall during a "Via Crucis" (Way Of The Cross) protest against unemployment, social services cuts and reduction in housing benefit, in the Spanish Basque town of Barakaldo February 6, 2012. The unemployment rate in Spain was last reported at 21.5 percent, a record 4.9 million people without jobs. The industrial costal town of Barakaldo has 18% unemployment and the benefits budget has been reduced by half in the last year, according to Berri-Otxoak. REUTERS/Vincent West (SPAIN - Tags: BUSINESS CIVIL UNREST EMPLOYMENT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

McDonald's January sales beat expectations (Reuters) US Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:08:39 GMT Reuters - McDonald's Corp reported a better-than-expected rise in January sales at established restaurants across the globe, as strength in the United States helped offset the impact of economic weakness in Europe.

Disney earnings beat despite shaky economy (Reuters) US Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:40:03 GMT Reuters - Walt Disney Co's quarterly revenue fell short of Wall Street's expectations after the movie studio put in a poor showing, but profit grew at a faster-than-expected 12 percent clip as media networks and theme parks held strong in an uncertain economy.

Chinese leaders promise pay hikes, more jobs (AP) US Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:44:58 GMT In this Monday, Feb. 6, 2012 photo, workers handle parts in an auto factory in Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong province. China's government promised Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012, to raise minimum wages by 13 percent a year through 2015 and to launch measures to generate 45 million new jobs. (AP Photo) CHINA OUT

13,000 is next Dow milestone, with record in sight (AP) US Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:10:34 GMT FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2012 file photo, trader Kevin Lodewick, right, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. A strong one-day rally — caused by a deal to lock down badly needed bailout money for Greece, perhaps, or another unexpectedly positive economic report, like Friday's unemployment numbers — could put it over the 13000 mark. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

German exports down sharply in Dec after strong year (Reuters) US Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:24:51 GMT Reuters - German exports fell at their fastest rate in nearly three years in December and imports unexpectedly dropped, adding to signs that the euro zone sovereign debt crisis hit the region's top economy hard in the fourth quarter.

German exports broke euro1 trillion mark in 2011 (AP) US Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:36:15 GMT FILE - The June 25, 2004 file photo shows engineer Michel Schmidt working in the turbine head in the assembly of wind generators in Aurich, northern Germany, plant of Enercon. German export increased by 11.4 percent in 2011 to euro 1,060.1 billion (US$ 1,406 billion) as the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported Wednesday, Feb 8, 2012 on the basis of provisional data. (AP Photo/Joerg Sarbach)