Whatever happened to task force on oil speculation?

When oil and gasoline prices soared last April, President Barack Obama announced to fanfare that the Department of Justice would lead a task force designed to root out manipulation of the oil market and gouging of consumers at the gas pump.

Since then the group has met only a handful of times and has never reported to the public. | 03/01/12 19:30:00 By - Kevin G. Hall

Profits up, revenue down as banks lumber along

U.S. banks ended 2011 on a roll, a government regulator reported Tuesday, with profits up sharply from a year earlier and over the entire year. | 02/28/12 16:51:00 By - Kevin G. Hall

Federal judge weighs whether to let regulators rein in oil speculators

A federal judge on Monday refused to halt efforts by a key regulator to limit excessive speculation in the trading of oil contracts — which is driving up oil and gasoline prices — but hinted that he might soon rule in favor of Wall Street and let speculation go unchecked. | 02/27/12 18:45:11 By - Kevin G. Hall

Obama proposes cutting corporate tax rate, ending breaks

The Obama administration unveiled Wednesday its framework for overhauling the corporate tax code, offering an election-year proposal that would pay for a sharp reduction in the broad rate — from 35 percent to 28 percent — by taking away tax breaks enjoyed by the energy sector and big corporations. | 02/22/12 17:28:00 By - Kevin G. Hall

Once again, speculators behind sharply rising oil and gasoline prices

U.S. demand for oil and refined products - including gasoline - is down sharply from last year, so much that United States has actually become a net exporter of gasoline, unable to consume all that it makes. Yet oil and gasoline prices are surging. | 02/21/12 17:38:00 By - Kevin G. Hall

Sizing up China's next leader no easy task, WikiLeaks cables show

During his visit to the United States this week, China's heir apparent, Xi Jinping, appeared personable to American audiences and resolute to audiences back home | 02/16/12 18:58:00 By - Kevin G. Hall

Santorum's plan to help manufacturers leaves questions unanswered

Thanks in part to his pro-manufacturing message, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum's poll numbers are soaring in the blue-collar states of Michigan and Ohio, which soon hold GOP presidential primaries. | 02/16/12 16:46:00 By - Kevin G. Hall

Business groups yawn at Obama budget's tax incentives

President Barack Obama's budget proposes a number of initiatives to boost job creation and incentives for U.S. manufacturers to bring their overseas business back home. The business community, however, is yawning at the pitch | 02/14/12 17:50:00 By - Kevin G. Hall

Obama's budget would shrink annual deficits, but national debt still explodes

President Barack Obama's proposed federal budget would shrink annual deficits over 10 years, but it would fall far short of taming the nation's exploding federal debt. | 02/13/12 19:05:00 By - Kevin G. Hall

Manufacturing rebounds, but is it a renaissance?

Don't tell Michael W. McLanahan that manufacturing in the United States is dead. His family-owned, privately held company has made mineral processing and farm equipment since its founding way back in 1835 — and is enjoying a boom. | 02/12/12 14:24:00 By - Kevin G. Hall

After Hu, what? Pivotal visit for likely Chinese successor Xi

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrives in the United States on Monday for a high-profile visit where he'll be feted as if he were the president of China — the post he's expected to take next year. | 02/12/12 13:59:00 By - Kevin G. Hall

Obama hails bank settlement; broader impact unclear

State and federal regulators announced on Thursday a settlement worth at least $25 billion with Bank of America and four other large banks, ending several years of litigation over alleged foreclosure abuses. The deal offers some help to struggling homeowners, but experts view it more as a moral victory with limited impact on the broader housing market. | 02/09/12 19:02:00 By - Franco Ordonez and Kevin G. Hall

U.S. imposes new sanctions on Iran, turning up the heat

The Obama administration announced tough new targeted sanctions Monday against the Central Bank of Iran, ratcheting up economic pain on Tehran in a move intended to drive it into new international negotiations over its nuclear program, but one that could prove a trigger point for conflict. | 02/06/12 18:03:00 By - Kevin G. Hall

January jobs report sizzles, shows a strong start for 2012

Friday's surprisingly strong January jobs report prompted hope that the economy's recovery is finally kicking into high gear. Employers added a better than expected 243,000 non-farm payroll jobs in January and the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent. | 02/03/12 08:39:20 By - Kevin G. Hall

Employment gains aren't attracting believers yet

Employment statistics and the jobless rate have improved over the past several months. These usually point to a rebounding economy, but there's still considerable doubt over just what these numbers really mean. | 02/02/12 16:58:00 By - Kevin G. Hall