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Housing starts add to recovery signs

Reuters: Business News — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:31 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A rebound in groundbreaking for homes in April suggested the housing market recovery was gaining some traction, even though permits for future building fell.

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Industrial output in April rises most in over a year

Reuters: Business News — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:17 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Industrial production posted its fastest growth in over a year in April, boosted by surging output at utilities and a rebound in manufacturing, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday.

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Apple readies iPhone with larger screen: sources

Reuters: Business News — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:03 +0000

TOKYO (Reuters) – Apple Inc plans to use a larger screen on the next-generation iPhone and has begun to place orders for the new displays from suppliers in South Korea and Japan, people familiar with the situation said on Wednesday.

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Wall Street edges higher at open

Reuters: Business News — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:42:26 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks rose on Wednesday with traders citing comments from German Chancellor Angela Merkel about keeping Greece in the euro zone as encouraging for markets.

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Mortgage refinancing applications jump; rates fall: MBA

Reuters: Business News — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:40:20 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Applications for U.S. home mortgages surged last week, driven by increased demand for refinancing as interest rates hit fresh lows, an industry group said on Wednesday.

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Housing starts rebound in April, permits fall

Reuters: Business News — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:31:54 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Housing starts rose more than expected in April, according to a government report on Wednesday that offered signs of a nascent housing recovery, even though permits for future building fell after touching a 3-1/2 year high the prior month.

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Stock futures bounce as traders cite Merkel

Reuters: Business News — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:24:44 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stock index futures rose on Wednesday after hitting three-month lows overnight as traders said comments from German Chancellor Angela Merkel about keeping Greece in the euro zone were encouraging markets.

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GE finance arm resumes dividend to parent

Reuters: Business News — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:23:16 +0000

(Reuters) – General Electric Co’s finance arm will resume paying a quarterly dividend to the parent company and make a special payout of $4.5 billion, paving the way for the largest U.S. conglomerate to increase its dividends and buybacks.

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Facebook boosts IPO size by 25 percent, could top $16 billion

Reuters: Business News — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:13:17 +0000

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Facebook Inc increased the size of its initial public offering by almost 25 percent, and could raise as much as $16 billion as strong investor demand for a share of the No.1 social network trumps debate about its long-term potential to make money.

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Stock futures flat as Greek crisis pressures equities

Reuters: Business News — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:04 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stock index futures were little changed on Wednesday as investors continued to worry about Greece’s political and financial crisis as the country prepares for its second election in just over a month.

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