FEDERAL RESERVE

Gold regained some ground Wednesday as jewellers in Asia snapped up the metal after prices dropped 2 percent in the previous session, but investors were cautious because of lingering fears about a possible Greek default.

If you expect the Federal Reserve to launch another round of bond buying to stimulate growth at its meeting next week, you're almost certain to be disappointed.

The economy likely recorded a third month of solid job gains in February, which could further reduce the chances of additional monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve.

Gold fell 2 percent in heavy volume on Tuesday after breaching a key support, as renewed concerns about Greece's debt triggered economic fears, while some analysts say the metal looks oversold and poised for a rebound.

Gold prices fell more than 1 percent in Europe on Tuesday, pushing through support at $1,690 an ounce, as jitters over whether private creditors will agree to a Greek bond swap deal and wider euro zone growth pressured the euro versus the dollar.

There continue to be multiple signs that the U.S. economy is expanding at a solid clip.

Only a dire situation would call for the Federal Reserve to buy more assets, and that is unlikely given the better-looking economic data, a top central bank official said on Monday.

Only a dire situation would call for the Federal Reserve to buy more assets, and that is unlikely given the better-looking economic data, a top central bank official said on Monday.

Decrying calls on Wall Street for further quantitative easing (QE3), Richard Fisher, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas called on the nation’s lawmakers to follow the fiscal examples set by Mexico and Texas in a speech Monday.

Only a dire situation would call for the Federal Reserve to buy more assets, and that is unlikely given the better-looking economic data, a top central bank official said on Monday.

A significant but largely unnoticed shift is underway in how big U.S. companies account for pensions on their books. The move to mark-to-market accounting could signal that corporate America is betting on rock-bottom interest rates and continued economic recovery through 2012 and into next year.

Gold prices slid below $1,700 an ounce in Europe on Monday as weaker-than-expected euro zone economic data lifted the dollar versus the euro, and as appetite for assets seen as higher risk, like stocks and commodities, suffered after China set its lowest annual growth target in eight years.

Rising liquidity on both sides of the Atlantic boosted global bond prices Friday but equities took a breather after climbing in recent months, in one case to a four-year high, on light volume.

Higher oil prices are affecting U.S. growth but are currently not a reason to think the economy will stall, a top Federal Reserve official said on Thursday.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and other top officials of the U.S. central bank on Thursday highlighted risks to the economic recovery despite recent signs of strength, but offered few hints that any additional monetary stimulus might be needed.

U.S. stocks advanced Thursday buoyed by a strong weekly jobless claims numbers and solid monthly sales from retailers. Meanwhile, European markets were lifted by a well-received Spanish auction and news that Greece is one step closer to winning a €130 billion ($173.15 billion) bailout.

The U.S. economy is strengthening, but its long-term sustainability is questionable, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Dennis Lockhart said Thursday .

Gold rose 1.5 percent on Thursday, rebounding above $1,700 an ounceas the previous session's 5 percent plunge induced investors to buy at lower prices on hopes the tumble was a healthy correction rather than the start of a bear market.

Below are highlights from the question and answer session of a Senate Banking Committee hearing with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifying on monetary policy and the U.S. economy.

U.S. 30-year fixed rate mortgage rates fell to 3.90 percent in the week ending March 1, down from 3.95 percent in the prior week, according to Freddie Mac.

Claims for jobless benefits came in at 351,000 for the third consecutive week and the four-week moving average continued to decline. However, economists point out that the economy needs to show more strength for the drop in the still-high jobless rate to be sustainable.