To close tax loopholes, Obama would open new ones (AP)

AP - Cutting corporate tax rates and deleting loopholes is just what most economists prescribe for the tangled U.S. tax code.

AP - The Associated Press-GfK Poll on President Obama and the economy was conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications from Feb. 16-20. It is based on landline and cellphone telephone interviews with a nationally representative random sample of 1,000 adults. Interviews were conducted with 700 respondents on landline telephones and 300 on cellular phones.

Poll: Obama benefiting from improving economy (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is reaping political benefits from the country's brighter economic mood. A new poll shows that Republicans and Democrats alike are increasingly saying the nation is heading in the right direction and most independents now approve the way he's addressing the nation's post-recession period.

More U.S. kids living in high-poverty areas: study (Reuters)

Reuters - Years of economic setbacks have taken their toll on the nation's youngest residents, with another 1.6 million children living in high-poverty neighborhoods, according to one study that shows nearly 8 million children residing in poor areas in 2010.

Analysis: Can U.S. economy withstand gasoline price curse? (Reuters)

Reuters - Could history repeat itself? That is a question uppermost in the minds of many Americans as they warily watch gasoline prices at the pump rise week after week.

Asia stocks fall amid Greek debt deal doubts (AP)

AP - Asian stock markets were mostly lower Thursday as investors fretted over the details of a deal to save Greece from financial collapse and preserve its place among nations that use the euro. Japan bucked the trend as the yen weakened, boosting exporter shares.

Romney proposes 28 percent top income tax rate (Reuters)

Reuters - Republican Mitt Romney revised his proposal for overhauling the U.S. tax code on Wednesday, calling for all individual tax rates to be cut by 20 percent while declining to offer specifics on how to make up the lost revenue from lower rates.

SEC files fraud charges against 2 Chinese execs (AP)

AP - Federal regulators have filed civil fraud charges against the chairman and the former CEO of a Chinese company, accusing them of duping people to invest in a coal company that was an empty shell.

California Republicans back Democrat governor on pensions (Reuters)

Reuters - Republican lawmakers in California on Wednesday fully embraced Governor Jerry Brown's plan for overhauling public pensions and pressed his fellow Democrats, who control the state legislature, to back it as well.

How the major stock indexes fared on Wednesday (AP)

AP - U.S. stocks fell Wednesday as some investors fretted over details of Greece's debt deal reached this week. The day before, the Dow Jones industrial average hit 13,000 for the first time in nearly four years.

Stocks lower a day after Dow's blip above 13,000 (AP)

AP - A day after Dow 13,000, investors took a break.

Burned before, Fed officials cautious on rebound (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. central bank officials have good reason to be skeptical about the strength of the economy: excessive optimism has caught them flat-footed before.

Banks sink on European economic worry (Reuters)

Reuters - Banks led stocks lower on Wednesday as the S&P 500 stalled near a 10-month-high after signs of weak European business activity rekindled concerns about a recession overseas.

Summary Box: Stocks fall a day after big mark (AP)

AP - CLIMB, INTERRUPTED: Stocks fell for the first time in four trading sessions and one day after the Dow Jones industrial average passed 13,000 for the first time in nearly four years.

Home resales at 1-1/2 year-high, supply falls (Reuters)

Reuters - Home resales rose to a 1-1/2-year high in January, pushing the supply of properties on the market to the lowest level in almost seven years in a hopeful sign for the housing sector.

Dollar rises to 7-month high against Japanese yen (AP)

AP - The dollar rose to a seven-month high against the Japanese yen, a week after the Bank of Japan announced a surprise increase of its economic stimulus program.

'Occupy' to hold national conference in Philly (AP)

AP - A group of protesters affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement plans to elect 876 "delegates" from around the country and hold a national "general assembly" in Philadelphia over the Fourth of July as part of ongoing protests over corporate excess and economic inequality.

Summary Box: Bank of England split on stimulus (AP)

AP - STIMULATING DISCUSSION: Minutes of their last meeting showed Bank of England rate-setters were divided about injecting another 50 billion pounds ($79 billion) into the economy. Two members argued for a bigger stimulus.

JPMorgan, Citi, BofA sued for $949 million by Sealink (Reuters)

Reuters - JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp. and more than a half dozen other major banks are being hit with a new lawsuit over $949 million in residential mortgage-backed securities.

Private jet shipments slip, but improvement seen (Reuters)

Reuters - Worldwide shipments of business jets and other private aircraft fell again last year, but billings rose modestly in a sign of improvement in a tough economy.

Consumer-finance watchdog probes overdraft fees (AP)

AP - The government's new consumer-watchdog agency is launching a probe into costly overdraft fees charged by big banks.

Euro zone teetering on brink of recession (Reuters)

Reuters - The euro zone economy is in danger of tipping into recession, with the services sector shrinking this month along with manufacturing, tempering a wave of optimism after a new bailout deal for Greece struck this week.

U.S. mortgage applications sagged last week: MBA (Reuters)

Reuters - Applications for U.S. home mortgages tumbled last week as demand for loan refinancing sagged, an industry group said on Wednesday.

U.S. mortgage applications sagged last week: MBA (Reuters)

Reuters - Applications for U.S. home mortgages tumbled last week as demand for loan refinancing sagged, an industry group said on Wednesday.

European budget cuts and debt burdens, at a glance (AP)

AP - European budget cuts and debt burdens, at a glance

In Europe, spending cuts fail to ease debt burdens (AP)

AP - Europe has endured the pain of layoffs, wage cuts and tax increases designed to bring government debt under control.

Bank of England panel split on size of stimulus (AP)

AP - Bank of England rate-setters were divided this month on the vote to inject another 50 billion pounds ($79 billion) into the British economy, with two members arguing that a bigger stimulus was needed, minutes to their last meeting showed Wednesday.

U.S. proposes to reduce top corporate tax rate: report (Reuters)

Reuters - The Obama administration will propose slashing the top income tax rate for corporations to 28 percent from the current 35 percent, as part of a corporate tax reform plan that is set to be announced on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal said.

Fannie, Freddie need to tighten legal expenses: regulator (Reuters)

Reuters - A government watchdog on Wednesday said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's regulator needs to curtail the rising cost of their legal expenses since there is no end in sight to the widening taxpayer tab keeping the two firms afloat.

U.S. consumer agency to examine bank overdraft fees (Reuters)

Reuters - The new U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is weighing a crackdown on checking account overdraft fees charged by banks, saying the charges can "inflict serious economic harm" on consumers.

Watchdog: Limit Fannie, Freddie legal fees more (AP)

AP - The U.S. government regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must do a better job limiting legal expenses paid by the two mortgage giants to their former executives facing lawsuits, a new watchdog report says.

Pace of new credit card accounts picks up in 2011 (AP)

AP - More people opened new credit card accounts last year, as the banking industry began to loosen standards it tightened during the recession.

Rates drop at weekly Treasury auction (AP)

AP - Interest rates on three-month and six-month Treasury bills dropped in Tuesday's auction after rising the previous week.

Colorado woman must turn over computer password (AP)

AP - Sophisticated encryption software has become so readily available and so effective, it's surpassed the federal government's ability to seize computers and gather evidence in criminal cases.

Regulator outlines new plan for Fannie, Freddie (Reuters)

Reuters - The regulator of housing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Tuesday outlined a new strategic plan for the two government-controlled firms, stepping into a void left by congressional inaction.

I Was Told There Would Be No Math (The Motley Fool)

The Motley Fool - In a 2009 NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, 8 in 10 Americans said they were concerned about the federal deficit and growing national debt.

Gov't seeks smaller role for Fannie, Freddie (AP)

AP - The government regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has submitted a plan to Congress that would shrink the mortgage giants' role in the housing market.

Euro steady but cautious after Greek deal (Reuters)

Reuters - The euro steadied after an initial jump and European stocks were lower after the agreement of a second bailout deal for Greece removed the threat of a disorderly bond default but left markets unconvinced it could avoid further turmoil.

Banks to gulp half a trillion euros from ECB (Reuters)

Reuters - The European Central Bank will lend nearly half a trillion euros to banks at rock-bottom rates next week through its three-year refinancing operation, despite signs institutions already have adequate liquidity, Reuters polls showed on Monday.

Bank of China moves closer to LME membership (Reuters)

Reuters - Bank of China International (BOCI) is on track to become the first Chinese member of the London Metals Exchange - giving the bourse a boost while it is considering possible takeover bids - following authorization by the UK financial regulator.