MARKETS / FINANCE

The pace of economic recovery has reached escape velocity from the worst recession in decades, though the nation may not return to full employment until 2014, a top Federal Reserve researcher said on Friday.

The owners of the New York Mets were accused of reaping $300 million of fictitious profits from Bernard Madoff's record Ponzi scheme, a lawsuit by the trustee seeking money for Madoff's victims said.

Steven A. Cohen, whose hedge fund firm SAC Capital Advisors has drawn scrutiny in a federal insider trading probe, may be facing a more pressing problem: diminishing returns.

Public furor over bankers' pay seems to be abating in the United States but is still strong in Europe, which could give American banks an edge in recruiting staff around the world.

The owners of the New York Mets baseball team turned a blind eye to Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme and should give up roughly $300 million of fictitious profits tied to the now imprisoned swindler, a lawsuit charges.

Stocks ended higher on Friday and the S&P 500 posted its best week in nine as the market defied calls for a pullback.

Health insurer Aetna Inc forecast 2011 earnings at least 13 percent above Wall Street's target on Friday and dramatically increased its dividend to the highest in the industry, sending its shares up more than 10 percent.

Germany and France tried to win backing for a pact to strengthen the euro zone economy on Friday, but many other EU states were angered by what they saw as a 'fait accompli' and the measures contained in it.

The owners of the New York Mets were accused of reaping $300 million of fictitious profits from Bernard Madoff's record Ponzi scheme, a lawsuit by the trustee seeking money for Madoff's victims said.

Stocks were headed for their best week in nine on Friday as the market defied calls for a pullback despite signs of rotation into defensive and lagging sectors that could intensify in coming weeks.

Employment rose by a meager 36,000 jobs in January, far less than expected, as severe snow storms slammed large parts of the nation, but the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since April 2009.

Tighter budgets at the Securities and Exchange Commission could mean killing vital technology upgrades needed to catch swindlers, the agency's chief said on Friday in a blunt appeal for more funding.

Stocks were little changed on Friday after January's U.S. unemployment report showed the jobless rate fell to a 21-month low, but the number of newly created jobs barely grew.

Hedge fund manager Chris Shumway told investors on Friday that he is returning all of their money in a few weeks, becoming the latest prominent stock picker to essentially shut down his firm.

From Wall Street to the City of London, doughnuts are on the menu this bonus season.

Securities regulators are eyeing a spring target to unveil market structure reform proposals in the wake of the May 6 flash crash, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro said on Friday.

Canadian job growth surged past expectations in January, with the economy officially recouping all the jobs lost in the recession, underscoring that its recovery is on track even as the U.S. labor market struggles.

U.S. employment rose far less than expected in January, partly the result of severe snow storms that slammed large parts of the nation, but the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since April 2009.

Stocks slipped on Friday after a mixed payrolls report showed that while the U.S. unemployment rate dropped sharply last month, the number of new jobs barely grew.

U.S. employment rose by a meager 36,000 jobs in January, far less than expected, as severe snow storms slammed large parts of the nation, but the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since April 2009.

- A top government financial regulator said on Friday banks have taken only about half the hit they will experience from commercial real estate losses, and that while banks will remain under strain from commercial properties, no systemically important firms appear at risk.

Newmont Mining Corp (NEM.N) has agreed to buy Fronteer Gold Inc (FRG.TO) for C$2.3 billion ($2.3 billion), extending its presence in the western United States as bullion prices hover near record highs.

Employment rose far less than expected in January, partly the result of severe snow storms that slammed large parts of the nation, but the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since April 2009.

Dollar Gold and Silver Prices were little changed in London trade on Friday, unmoved by unexpectedly weak US jobs data near two- and 3-week highs respectively.

What's eating Jamie Dimon?At last week's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the JPMorgan Chase chief executive once again lambasted the media and politicians for portraying all bankers as greedy evil-doers.

Stocks traded flat on Friday as investors attempted to reconcile conflicting messages on the U.S. economy from the January jobs report.

U.S. stocks were poised for a slightly higher open on Friday as investors struggled to interpret mixed messages on the economy from the jobs report.

Employment rose by a meager 36,000 jobs in January, far less than expected, as severe snow storms slammed large parts of the nation, but the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since April 2009.

Thirty years after the first Internet addresses were created, the supply of addresses officially ran dry on Thursday.