Trade deficit shrinks as auto and oil imports drop (AP)

AP - The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in January, reflecting a big drop in imports of oil and foreign cars. American exports also fell, a potential blow to hopes that the economic recovery will be aided this year by U.S. sales abroad.

Stocks trade flat on concern about China inflation (AP)

AP - Stocks traded in a tight range for a fourth day Thursday after China reported a sharp jump in inflation. Mixed U.S. economic news also held the market back.

Mortgage rates remain below 5 percent (AP)

AP - Mortgage rates held below the 5 percent threshold for the second straight week, a report said Thursday, weeks before a government program that has been keeping rates low is scheduled to expire.

China's February inflation accelerates (AP)

AP - China's inflation rose in February amid galloping growth and demand for scarce labor, increasing pressure on Beijing to ease off its stimulus while keeping a recovery going in the world's third-largest economy.

Senate passes $149 billion for jobless aid (Reuters)
Reuters - The Senate on Wednesday passed a $149 billion package of jobless aid and tax breaks, as Democrats continued efforts to lower the 9.7 percent unemployment rate before congressional elections in November.

Sarkozy, Merkel propose clampdown on speculators (AP)

AP - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Thursday for a clampdown on the type of speculative trading that exacerbated Greece's debt crisis and undermined the euro in recent weeks.

SEC chief economist leaving (AP)
AP - The chief economist of the Securities and Exchange Commission, who is an expert on the financial instruments that figured largely in the 2008 crisis, is leaving his position for the private sector.

US trade gap narrows on falling imports, exports (AFP)

AFP - The US trade deficit narrowed unexpectedly in January as imports and exports declined and overall volume fell for the first time in five months, the government reported Thursday.

Imax posts 4Q profit, reversing loss (AP)
AP - Giant-screen movie technology company Imax Corp. posted a fourth-quarter profit Thursday, reversing a year-ago loss on a sharp jump in its movie theater equipment sales and rentals.

Police clash with protesters as Greeks fight cuts (Reuters)

Reuters - Police clashed with stone-throwing youths in Athens on Thursday as tens of thousands protested draconian cutbacks aimed at pulling Greece out of a debt crisis shaking the euro zone.

Foreclosures drop for 2nd month in February: RealtyTrac (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. mortgage foreclosure filings dropped for a second straight month in February, and notched the smallest annual increase in four years as housing-rescue efforts contained activity, a report released on Thursday showed.

CFTC head scolds Wall Street for resisting reforms (Reuters)
Reuters - The head of the top U.S. futures regulator chided Wall Street on Thursday for resisting calls to make over-the-counter derivatives markets more transparent, arguing major reforms are required after the recent financial crisis.

Retail leaders group spent $850,000 lobbying in 4Q (AP)
AP - The Retail Industry Leaders Association spent $850,000 in the fourth quarter to lobby on a variety of issues from health care reform to consumer product safety, according to a recent disclosure report.

Foreclosure rates up by smallest amount in 4 years (AP)

AP - The foreclosure crisis isn't over, but the pace of growth may finally be slowing down.

Texas company, Kroger in legal fight (AP)
AP - A Dallas area company charges that Kroger Co. is ripping off its technology and methods in the grocery chain's popular gasoline discount rewards program.

Toyota troubles put spotlight on US safety agency (AP)

AP - Toyota's massive recalls are prompting Congress to reconsider whether the nation's auto safety agency has lived up to its mission of protecting motorists.

The Ambitions of Prudential's Tidjane Thiam (BusinessWeek)
BusinessWeek - According to insiders at Prudential Plc , Tidjane Thiam, the chief executive of the insurer which said last week that it was bidding $35.5bn (23.6bn) to buy AIG's Asian insurance business is a firm believer in emotion over analysis.