U.S. private sector job losses slow in December

The rate of job losses at U.S. private employers slowed in December, while planned layoffs at companies fell to the lowest in two years during the month, according to two reports released on Wednesday. Read Full Article here.

Unlimited credit for GSEs seen as backdoor bailout

At a hearing last fall, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told lawmakers that he and his team were working to put the $700 billion financial bailout fund out of its misery. But some in Washington now see a second, backdoor bailout in its place. Read Full Article here.

Mortgage demand near six-month low as rates jump

Demand for U.S. mortgages held last week near six-month lows as the highest long-term borrowing costs since August stifled refinancing, a Mortgage Bankers Association survey showed on Wednesday. Read Full Article here.

Senate panel nears agreement on role of Fed

As Congress moves to reform U.S. financial regulation, key senators are nearing bipartisan agreement on stripping the Federal Reserve of its authority to supervise banks, two people familiar with the matter said. Read Full Article here.

JAL shares fall on report govt agencies eye bankruptcy

Shares of Japan Airlines <9205.T> fell nearly 7 percent on Wednesday after a newspaper said the carrier's main creditor and the finance ministry support bankruptcy as a way to restructure the heavily indebted airline. Read Full Article here.

HP unveils new PCs

Hewlett-Packard Co is releasing a host of new laptops and netbooks as the technology giant looks to build on its recent momentum in the personal computer market. Read Full Article here.

EU visit starts in Greece, Stark says no bailout

EU officials arrived in Greece on Wednesday for an inspection visit, hours after ECB Executive Board member Juergen Stark was quoted as saying the bloc would not bail out Greece if its debt problem worsened. Read Full Article here.