ECONOMY & MARKETS

Economists also sorted through a batch of data that painted a mixed picture on the overall health of the U.S. economy.

U.S. consumers unexpectedly spent less at retailers last month despite a steep drop in gasoline prices across America.

The Bank of Korea's monetary policy committee cut its base rate by 25 basis points to a record low of 1.75 percent.

New Jersey and New York lawmakers announced a sweeping Hurricane Sandy insurance claims review, as a top FEMA flood insurance official resigned.

L.L. Bean CEO Chris McCormick says the company will triple the amount of stores it operates.

The Federal Reserve raised objections to two foreign-based banks in annual exams; Bank of America gets a re-do.

Measures that set a floor on pay for state construction projects are on Republicans' chopping block.

Employees in New York City's financial industry pulled in nearly $30 billion in bonuses last year, the third straight year of growth.

Beijing will soon unveil guidelines for restructuring and merging tens of thousands of state-owned enterprises.

Assembly lawmakers endorsed a more ambitious wage increase than Gov. Andrew Cuomo had proposed.

The maker of the iPhone and other tech gadgets has replaced department stores as the main driver to American shopping malls.

Sluggish factory activity reinforces expectations that China's economic growth will slow to a quarter-century low this year.

Labor conditions have improved in Bangladesh's garment industry, according to a report.

The International Franchise Association says Seattle's wage increase discriminates against franchises.

As ordinary investments lose their steam, hedge funds are getting in their gambits.

Diversity has become a hot topic among tech as many companies have drawn criticism for being largely white and male.

Clean energy job creation last year was down 40 percent from 2013, in part because of expiring tax credits.

The United Steelworkers union and Shell are back at the bargaining table this week.

A property market downturn and widespread factory overcapacity are compounded by an uncertain global outlook and soft commodity prices.

Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos threatened to flood Europe with migrants and jihadists if the eurozone ended its bailout program.

The new left-wing Greek government has tried the patience of its EU peers.

A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report finds many consumers can't join class-action lawsuits.

While the economy lost 7.8 million jobs during the Great Recession, the working-age population continued to grow.

The IMF's bailout program for Ukraine assumes Kiev will be able to get $15.4 billion from talks with its creditors, according to four sources familiar with the IMF's documents, said an exclusive Reuters report.

The Pacific Ocean phenomenon could result in brief bouts of rain for bone-dry California and set up 2015 to be one of the warmest years on record.

Rural hospitals waste billions of Medicare dollars, billing the federal government for services that can be found more cheaply elsewhere.

On Sunday, a state Senate committee considered a plan that has backing from the House and the governor.

Legal weed in 2014 became a $2.7 billion industry, a 74 percent jump from 2013, making it the fastest growing U.S. industry.

A coal mine tragedy comes as the state considers repealing mining safety regulations.