BEN BERNANKE

Crude oil broke through the $80 a barrel ceiling repeatedly during the week but kept falling back as hedge funds placed big bets on the Euro's decline. The fiscal drama in Greece held global markets hostage much of the week as worries about the impact of the Greek crisis on the euro outweighed comments from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke about continued low interest rates in the U.S., pushing the euro down against the dollar and damping crude prices.

Two top Fed officials on Friday offered divergent signals on interest rates, with one arguing they should remain near zero for at least six months and another wishing to raise them sooner rather than later.

In the last trading session of February, the stock market drifted higher for close with a modest gain as investors digested a revision of the fourth quarter U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report.

A top Federal Reserve official said on Friday an erratic recovery dictates low rates for at least six months, while prominent economists said unsettled U.S. financial conditions are more of a drag on the economy than generally believed.

Securities regulators said on Thursday they are examining the potential abuses and destabilizing effects of credit default swaps, a financial instrument that can be used to speculate on an issuer's credit worthiness.

The White House said on Thursday it was still committed to banning risky trading by banks under the so-called Volcker Rule, after Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke appeared to pour cold water on the idea.

The White House said on Thursday it was still committed to banning risky trading by banks under the so-called Volcker Rule, after Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke appeared to pour cold water on the idea.

The Australian Dollar opens lower today at 0.8860. During the domestic session on Thursday the unit hit a high of 0.8950 after the announcement of a 5.5 per cent advance in local fourth quarter capital expenditure.

Stocks recovered most of their losses but ended lower on Thursday after weak employment and durable goods data added to recent worries about the strength of the economic recovery.

U.S. stocks recovered most of their losses but ended lower on Thursday after weak employment and durable goods data added to recent worries about the strength of the economic recovery.

Stocks recovered most of their losses but ended lower on Thursday after weak employment and durable goods data added to recent worries about the strength of the economic recovery.

Demand for a wide range of U.S. manufactured goods unexpectedly fell in January, while new applications for jobless benefits rose again last week, the latest data to suggest a step back in the economy's recovery.

U.S. regulators are probing how Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs helped debt-stricken Greece arrange derivatives deals that critics say were used to disguise the size of its budget deficits.

Greece woes returned to the headlines Thursday as reports of massive protests troubled investors and the threat of an S&P downgrade loomed. However, by the afternoon session, sentiments rebounded as U.S. stock pared losses.

Demand for a wide range of U.S. manufactured goods unexpectedly fell in January, while new applications for jobless benefits rose again last week, the latest data to suggest a step back in the economy's recovery.

Oil fell more than 3 percent on Thursday to $77 a barrel, dragged lower by concerns over the outlook for the European economy and about the pace of U.S. recovery after a surprise jump in U.S. unemployment.

The Federal Reserve is examining the role that Wall Street firms including Goldman Sachs played in helping Greece arrange credit default swaps, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday.

Wall St was set for a lower open on Thursday after rating agencies said they may downgrade Greece's sovereign debt, reigniting worries over possible defaults in the euro zone, and an increase in jobless claims fueled concerns about the U.S. economy.

Optimism over Fed Chairman Bernanke's comments on Wednesday faded as global markets sputtered over unsettled Greece woes.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Thursday after rating agencies said they may downgrade Greece's sovereign debt, reigniting concerns over possible defaults in the euro zone.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Thursday after rating agencies said they may downgrade Greece's sovereign debt, reigniting concerns over possible defaults in the euro zone that have dogged markets recently.