Wall Street managed to stabilize itself in early trading Monday although investors remained nervous about nagging mortgage default concerns and tumbling stock markets abroad. The major indexes fluctuated in a narrow range as investors tried to size up where the market was headed. Concerns about losses over soured subprime loans — loans to customers with poor credit ratings — were one of the many factors behind Wall Street's selloff last week. Those worries were rekindled Monday when HSBC Holdings PLC, Europe's largest bank, said its 2006 earnings rose 5 percent but that it suffered $10.6 billion on losses on bad loans from its U.S. subprime mortgage operations. Meanwhile, a rising yen added to concerns about an erosion in the yen carry trade, which refers to the process of borrowing yen to acquire assets with greater yields in other currencies. A slowdown could hurt liquidity worldwide. By Monday morning, the U.S. dollar fell to about 115.9 yen, ... http://www.cbsnews.com censor News |
Editor - 08:02:00 03-05-07 |
UK charges less than half of terrorism detainees |
More than half of all those arrested in Britain under anti-terrorism legislation since the September 11 2001 attacks have been released without any charge, official government figures showed on Monday. No details were given of the ethnic background of those arrested; but some Muslim groups argue they have come under more pressure since July 2005 bombings on London's transport system by four British Islamists which left 52 people dead.Senior police officers have said that they often have to carry out operations earlier than they would like, leading to some innocent people being arrested.Home Office data revealed that 1,126 people had been held under security laws between the 9/11 attacks and the end of 2006, with another 40 detained as part of anti-terrorism operations. Of these, 652 were released without charge.... http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070305/ts_nm/britain_terrorism_dc
full News |
Editor - 07:59:00 03-05-07 |
Relationship Gone Bad Leaves 3 Dead Police: Man Shoots Former Girlfriend, Man Before Killing Himself Outside Her NJ Home |
A man fatally shot his former girlfriend and her new boyfriend in her townhouse bedroom before committing suicide outside, police said. Police found Debra Smaniotto, 43, and Bruce Bertoldi, 47, dead inside the master bedroom of her two-story townhouse Sunday night, said Kenneth Tomaso, chief of detectives for the Cumberland County prosecutor's office. The man believed to be the shooter, Edgar Carrasquillo, 45, was found dead outside near his truck, police said. Smaniotto and Carrasquillo were romantically involved in the past, police said. "All three parties were in some kind of romantic relationship. It may have been a relation that had ended," police Lt. Tom Ulrich said. ... http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2924154
full News |
Editor - 07:58:00 03-05-07 |
China fury at Chen's Taiwan call |
China has hit out at Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian after he made a strongly pro-independence speech on Sunday. Mr Chen said Taiwan should pursue independence, write a new constitution and change its official name from "Republic of China" to Taiwan. China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said anyone wanting to split Taiwan from the mainland was a "criminal". The row came as China opened its annual session of parliament and announced a hike in defence spending. Mr Chen, in a speech to a pro-independence group on Sunday, said: "Taiwan should be independent". "Taiwan is a country whose sovereignty lies outside the People's Republic of China," he added, referring to China by its formal name. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6418561.stm
full News |
Editor - 07:54:00 03-05-07 |
More civilians die in Afghanistan |
Nine Afghan civilians have been killed in a bombing raid in Kapisa province, Afghan officials say. US forces have confirmed carrying out an air strike in the area but say they have no accurate casualty information. The news comes shortly after US forces were accused of killing 10 civilians during a shoot out on Sunday in Nangarhar province. Journalists say US troops confiscated their photos and video footage of the aftermath of the violence. The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul says the international mission to Afghanistan is to help the government and the people. But heavy fighting and suicide attacks have led to the death of thousands of innocent people over the past year. President Karzai has been critical of the international forces in the past, saying they should do more to prevent civilian casualties. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6418459.stm
full News |
Editor - 07:52:00 03-05-07 |
Lawmakers investigate Walter Reed problems Committee to quiz top officials; Schumer fears it's ‘tip of the iceberg’ |
As several House committees prepared to delve into the scandal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, outraged lawmakers vowed quick action and called for an independent commission to examine poor conditions for soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s national security panel, headed by Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., scheduled a hearing at the hospital’s auditorium Monday morning. The list of Army officials, hospital staff and patients invited to speak includes the medical center’s previous commander, Maj. Gen. George Weightman. The defense subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee also scheduled a hearing on Walter Reed for Monday. In a letter Sunday to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., asked for an independent commission, possibly headed by former Secretary of State Colin Powell, to investigate all post-combat medical facilities and recommend changes.... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17466102/
full News |
Editor - 07:50:00 03-05-07 |
|
post The Good, The Bad and The Ugly |
|