With economy improving, Obama would beat Romney: poll (Reuters)

Reuters - bolstered by a stronger economic outlook and recent job growth - would win in a match-up against the two leading Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, a poll on Monday showed.

Wall Street dips as investors wait on Greece (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. stocks dipped on Monday as a delay by debt-ridden Greece in accepting the terms of a bailout gave investors little reason to buy equities after a five-week rally.

Stocks slip on Wall Street as Greek talks drag on (AP)

AP - Stocks are edging lower in midday trading Monday as talks drag on between Greek political leaders over a fresh austerity package required for the country to get more bailout loans.

Oil falls below $97 as Greece debt raises concerns (AP)

AP - Oil prices fell Monday as talks stalled on a Greek debt deal needed to avoid a disastrous default, raising concerns about the region's economy and future demand.

Fed should raise rates in 2013, Bullard says (Reuters)

Reuters - The Federal Reserve should start raising interest rates next year, a top Fed official said on Monday, arguing that even if rates stay near zero for many years, U.S. economic output will not bounce back to pre-recession levels.

Fidelity Nat'l to buy O'Charley's restaurant chain (AP)

AP - A title insurance and mortgage services company that already owns a stake in the Bakers Square restaurant chain is buying the restaurant operator O'Charley's Inc., the companies announced Monday.

Analysis: Euro zone strugglers lack innovative knack (Reuters)

Reuters - To get an idea of the economic mountain euro zone strugglers Greece and Portugal have to climb, consider this: per million inhabitants, they each filed fewer than eight applications with the European Patent Office in 2010.

Markets wary as Greek talks drag (AP)

AP - Markets were in a jittery mood on Monday as talks dragged on between Greek political leaders over a fresh austerity package that is required if the debt-ridden country is to get a crucial bailout package.

German industrial orders buoyed by global demand (AP)

AP - The German government says strong demand from outside the eurozone helped the country's industrial orders rise a stronger-than-expected 1.7 percent in December.

China growth could halve if Europe crisis worsens: IMF (Reuters)

Reuters - China's annual economic growth could be cut nearly in half this year if Europe's debt crisis tips the world economy into a recession, putting pressure on Beijing to unveil "significant" fiscal stimulus, the International Monetary Fund said.

Europe's debt rose to 82 percent of output at end-Q3 (Reuters)

Reuters - The European Union's total government debt rose slightly to 82.2 percent of economic output in the third quarter of 2011, the EU's statistics agency said on Monday, lower than the United States but still a burden that could take decades to pay down.

Analysis: Iran economy could limp along under sanctions (Reuters)

Reuters - Tightening international sanctions against Iran look set to shrink its economy, push up inflation and further erode its currency, but they may fail to deliver a knock-out blow that forces Tehran to compromise on its nuclear ambitions.

Bangladeshi Investors Badly Hit by the Stock-Market Crash (Time.com)

Time.com - The dramatic rise and swift fall of Bangladesh's stock market is a cautionary tale for emerging-market investors oblivious to the perils of hasty deregulation and rapid capital inflows

IMF warns Europe downturn could cut China growth (AP)

AP - A sharp downturn in Europe could cut China's economic growth rate nearly in half, the International Monetary Fund said Monday, adding to warnings about a possible severe global slowdown this year.

France, German leaders meet amid euro, Syria crises (Reuters)

Reuters - The French and German leaders meet on Monday in Paris for annual talks in which they will seek further economic coordination in the crisis-hit European Union and discuss the escalating violence in Syria.

Police clear DC Occupy site, protesters look to a new day (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. police officers cleared tents from an "Occupy" protest site in downtown Washington on Sunday, but demonstrators said even without the camp they would continue to fight for economic equality and other issues.

Merger fails, but D.Boerse CEO says allies a must (Reuters)

Reuters - D.Boerse CEO eyes new allies as NYSE deal crumbles Deutsche Boerse (DB1Gn.DE) does not believe it can survive in the long term without a new partner despite the collapse of its proposed $7.4 billion merger with NYSE Euronext , its chief executive told a German newspaper.

Obama says he deserves re-election, job's not done (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama says he deserves re-election, despite the nation's economic troubles.

Europe's shadow darkens outlook (Reuters)

Reuters - A renewed focus on Europe's banking and debt crisis may quickly sap the nascent optimism about global economic prospects that followed a remarkably solid U.S. January employment report.

With sparse data, focus returns to Europe (Reuters)

Reuters - Europe will again be at the center of investors' focus this week as the U.S. earnings season passes the halfway mark and there is little on the economic calendar to give the market direction.

With sparse data, focus returns to Europe (Reuters)

Reuters - Europe will again be at the center of investors' focus this week as the U.S. earnings season passes the halfway mark and there is little on the economic calendar to give the market direction.

Why small companies' stocks deserve a closer look (AP)

AP - Underperforming money managers are losing their most reliable scapegoat.

France says Greek PSI talks going "relatively well" (Reuters)

Reuters - France's finance minister said on Sunday talks were moving "relatively well" on the private sector portion of a Greek bailout, but discussions designed to bring its debt down to 120 pct of GDP level by 2020 were difficult.

Obama presses Congress to pass aid to homeowners (Reuters)

Reuters - President Barack Obama on Saturday pressed lawmakers to pass his proposal to provide up to $10 billion in aid to struggling homeowners, saying a failure to address the housing crisis would put the rest of the economy at risk.

Dealer group sees higher US auto sales and prices (AP)

AP - Car buyers will likely pay more for new and used cars this year as the economy improves.

Hiring surges in January; jobless rate at 8.3 pct. (AP)

AP - In a long-awaited surge of hiring, companies added 243,000 jobs in January — across the economy, up and down the pay scale and far more than just about anyone expected. Unemployment fell to 8.3 percent, the lowest in three years.

Obama pushes for veterans jobs programs (AP)

AP - In an effort to cut the unemployment rate among veterans, President Barack Obama is calling for a new conservation program that would put veterans to work rebuilding trails, roads and levees on public lands.

Nasdaq core profit tops expectations (Reuters)

Reuters - Nasdaq OMX Group Inc's core profit topped analysts' expectations for the fourth quarter, boosted by a rise in revenue from market data and technology, which helped offset a soft trading environment.

SEC names top federal auditor to accounting board (AP)

AP - Federal regulators have appointed a top government auditor as a member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which polices the accounting industry.

SEC reaches settlement with former Qwest CFO (AP)

AP - The Securities and Exchange Commission has reached a settlement with former Qwest Communications International Inc. Chief Financial Officer Robert Woodruff over its civil fraud lawsuit.

New York sues banks over electronic mortgage system (Reuters)

Reuters - New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Friday sued three major U.S. banks, accusing them of fraud for using an electronic mortgage database that resulted in deceptive and illegal practices.

Unemployment falls sharply in US, rises in Europe (AP)

AP - Unemployment falls sharply in US, rises in Europe

How the major stock indexes fared on Friday (AP)

AP - A drop in the unemployment rate to its lowest level in three years propelled stocks higher Friday. The Dow Jones industrial average closed at its highest level since May 2008, before the worst days of the financial crisis.

Analysis: Stock-picking makes a comeback as macro tides fade (Reuters)

Reuters - Stock-picking once again matters on Wall Street.

NY's Schneiderman sues banks in foreclosure effort (AP)

AP - New York's attorney general on Friday accused some of the nation's largest banks of deceit and fraud in using an electronic mortgage registry that he said puts homeowners at a disadvantage in foreclosures.

Goldman to face mortgage debt class-action lawsuit (Reuters)

Reuters - Goldman Sachs Group Inc was ordered by a federal judge to face a securities class-action lawsuit accusing it of defrauding investors about a 2006 offering of securities backed by risky mortgage loans from a now-defunct lender.

If Japan Is Our Worst-Case Scenario, We're All Right (The Motley Fool)

The Motley Fool - In 1991, former MIT dean Lester Thurow wrote that "If one looks at the last 20 years, Japan would have to be considered the betting favorite to win the economy honors of owning the 21st century."

Nervous markets eye U.S. jobs report, Greece (Reuters)

Reuters - Caution ahead of U.S. jobs numbers kept a lid on gains for stock markets on Friday after an optimistic start to the year that has added more than 7 percent to global company values.

Analysis: Obstacles high for more mortgage prosecutions (Reuters)

Reuters - Despite the determination of President Obama to take Wall Street to court for the financial crisis, prosecutors face an uphill struggle to win more convictions like the two they scored on Wednesday against former Credit Suisse Group AG mortgage traders.

Rate on 30-year mortgage falls to record 3.87 pct. (AP)

AP - The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell this week to a record low, the ninth time that has happened in the last year. Even with the cheapest rates in history, the housing market remains depressed.