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Mark Brooks

TheAssocPress

Recent Articles by Mark Brooks

Dec 24, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Fiscal Cliff Deal Is Elusive, Lawmakers Say

President Barack Obama and Congress are on a short holiday break. Congress is expected to be back at work Thursday, and Obama will be back in the White House after a few days in Hawaii.

Dec 24, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Oil Prices Lower in Quiet Holiday Trading

Concerns over the political stalemate in Washington continue to be the focus of traders, with the price of U.S. benchmark oil down 24 cents to $88.42 a barrel in early trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Dec 24, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Anti-Tax Conservatives Say No to Tax-Increase Deal

In more than a dozen interviews with The Associated Press, activists said they would rather the nation fall off the cliff than agree to a compromise that includes tax increases for any Americans, no matter how high their income.

Dec 24, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Subdued Mood on the Last Holiday Shopping Weekend

Talk about more than just the usual job worries to cloud the mood: Confidence among U.S. consumers dipped to its lowest point in December since July amid rising economic worries, according to a monthly index released Friday.

Dec 21, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Obama Wants Quick Bill to Head Off Tax Increases

One day after House anti-tax rebels torpedoed Republican legislation because it would raise rates on million-dollar-earners, Obama said he still wants a bill that requires the well-to-do to pay more.

Dec 21, 2012 by Mark Brooks

IMF: French Economy Is Vulnerable to Downturn

The IMF's executive board said Friday that France has done some work fixing its long-term economic problems, but the country's companies are at a disadvantage when it comes to other European nations.

Dec 21, 2012 by Mark Brooks

S&P Downgrades Cyprus on Default Fears

The U.S. agency said Friday that the two-notch downgrade to CCC+ was due to a "considerable and rising" risk that the country, one of the 17 European Union countries that use the euro, may default.

Dec 21, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Dollar Rises on Budget Deal Worries

Traders tend to buy safer currencies, such as the dollar, when they are concerned about the economy.

Dec 21, 2012 by Mark Brooks

EU: Samsung May Have Violated Antitrust Rules

The Commission's preliminary view does not prejudge the final outcome of the investigation.

Dec 21, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Hostess Expects to Split Up Snack Cakes in Sale

Hostess Brands said in bankruptcy court Friday that it's narrowing down the bids it received for its brands and expects to sell off its snack cakes and bread brands to separate buyers.

Dec 21, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Italian Court Overturns Google Convictions

Google said it was "delighted" with the appellate ruling that cleared the executives and removed uncertainty in Italy over the Internet giant's business model.

Dec 21, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Boehner, White House Vow to Continue Fiscal Cliff Talks

The latest events leave little time for Obama and bruised lawmakers to prevent across-the-board tax increases and deep spending cuts from taking effect with the new year.

Dec 21, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Oil Drops as Fiscal Cliff Approaches

In morning trading benchmark crude for February delivery fell $1.54 to $88.59 per barrel in New York. It was as low as $87.96 at one point.

Dec 21, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Cliff Poses Tiny Dollar Gap, Wide Political Ravine

Ticking ever louder is the start of the new year, which by law will usher in hundreds of billions in tax increases and spending cuts -- the "fiscal cliff" -- unless leaders avert it by crafting a compromise deficit-cutting package that can get through the GOP-run House and Democratic-led Senate.

Dec 21, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Boehner on Averting Fiscal Cliff: "God Only Knows"

Boehner spoke to reporters Friday morning, hours after his rank-and-file Republicans handed him a bitter defeat

Dec 20, 2012 by Mark Brooks

House GOP Puts Off Vote on "Plan B"

In a brief statement, House Speaker John Boehner said the bill "did not have sufficient support from our members to pass."

Dec 20, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Silver Drops Nearly 5%, Natural Gas Gains

Silver lost $1.44 to $29.68 an ounce, a decline of 4.6 percent. Gold, copper, and other metals also fell.

Dec 20, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Labor Department Urges Talks Over Bahrain Labor Unrest

Washington has been urging Bahrain's Sunni monarchy to talk with protesters and has publicly condemned the violence and mass arrests following a general strike in March 2011, which included journalists, activists and trade union leaders.

Dec 20, 2012 by Mark Brooks

Measure of Future U.S. Growth Dips 0.2 Percent

It was the first decline in the index since a 0.4 percent fall in August.

Dec 20, 2012 by Mark Brooks

U.S. Mortgage Rates Rise; Still Near Record Lows

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on a 30-year loan increased to 3.37 percent from 3.32 percent last week.

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