Ben Bernanke

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke goes before Congress on Wednesday to deliver testimony on the U.S. economy that financial markets will scour for clues on where interest rates are heading.

U.S. producer prices rose a steeper-than-expected 0.5 percent last month as food prices jumped, the government said on Tuesday, leading markets to boost bets for another Federal Reserve interest rate hike.

U.S. stock futures rose on Wednesday, suggesting a higher open on Wall Street before the start of the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting, with energy shares set to lead the way.

If bulls have their way next week, U.S. stocks could extend the rebound that has some on Wall Street hoping the worst is over after a month-long sell-off.

Asian markets rallied for a second day Friday, recovering from a plunge Tuesday that sent stocks in the region to their lowest levels in months.

U.S. inflation developments bear watching, but the impact of high energy costs on other prices has been limited and the economy will adjust over time, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke declared on Thursday.

Federal Reserve officials kept up their tough talk on inflation on Monday, bolstering expectations in financial markets that another rate increase is on the way at the Fed's policy meeting later this month.

U.S. Treasuries were down slightly on Monday, ahead of a series of Federal Reserve speakers this session and before this week's inflation data, which could shed insight on the likelihood of a June rate hike.

U.S. stock market futures were drifting Wednesday on concerns the hangover from Federal Reserve's Chairman Ben Bernanke's hawkish interest-rate comments may linger, with seemingly little else on the economic or corporate news front to capture markets' attention.

U.S. investors will watch next week to see if the latest employment numbers temper inflation expectations, without sharply dimming the outlook for corporate profit growth, giving stocks a chance to bounce back from May's sharp sell-off.

Federal Reserve policymakers sit down on Wednesday to decide on what might be the last increase in interest rates for some time, but they will also discuss how to leave their options open in the statement that accompanies the move.

U.S. stocks rose on Thursday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the Fed may pause in its 22-month campaign of raising borrowing costs, lifting shares of interest-rate sensitive companies such as banks and utilities.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday said for the first time the central bank could at some point pause its 22-month interest-rate rising campaign to allow time to divine the economy's path.

U.S. stock futures fell Thursday as China's central bank lifted interest rates and on caution ahead of testimony from the chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Corporate earnings news will likely determine the course of the stock market next week as investors scan profit outlooks for enough strength to propel the Dow industrials the few hundred more points the index needs for a record high.