ABC: EXCLUSIVE: Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke on the Economy

ABC News Radio

EXCLUSIVE: Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke on the Economy

(WASHINGTON) -- The U.S. economy is "stronger and more stable" than it was a year ago and the financial stress in Europe is easing, but many challenges remain including adding more jobs for the long-term unemployed and getting the housing market back on track, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said in an ABC News interview Tuesday.

[See the full transcript of Bernanke's exclusive interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer]

CNNMoney: Bernanke: Job gains present economic 'puzzle'

CNNMoney

Bernanke: Job gains present economic 'puzzle'
By Annalyn Censky @CNNMoney March 26, 2012: 10:51 AM ET

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) -- Stronger job growth has brought "good news" recently, but overall, it remains "out of sync" with the modest growth of the U.S. economy, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Monday.

Bloomberg: Pimco’s Gross Says Fed May ‘Hint’ at QE3 at April Meeting

Bloomberg

Pimco’s Gross Says Fed May ‘Hint’ at QE3 at April Meeting
By Wes Goodman - Mar 25, 2012 09:54 PM

Bill Gross, who runs the world’s biggest bond fund at Pacific Investment Management Co., said the Federal Reserve will probably signal it plans to arrange a third round of debt purchases when policy makers meet in April.

Bloomberg: Hedge Funds Make Wrong-Way Bets for a Fourth Week: Commodities

Bloomberg

Hedge Funds Make Wrong-Way Bets for a Fourth Week: Commodities
By Joe Richter - Mar 25, 2012 9:21 PM

Hedge funds wagered the wrong way on commodity prices for a fourth consecutive week, boosting bullish holdings just before reports showing a contraction in manufacturing from China to Europe drove prices lower.

Bloomberg: China Soft Landing May Be Hard for Commodity Exporters

Bloomberg

China Soft Landing May Be Hard for Commodity Exporters
By Bloomberg News - 2012.03.25 06:41 PM

The good news: China’s government will engineer a soft landing. The bad news: Even a soft landing is painful for industries that have become dependent on the world’s fastest-growing major economy as their main profit engine.

Bloomberg: Hedge Funds Capitulating Buy Most Stocks Since 2010

Bloomberg

Hedge Funds Capitulating Buy Most Stocks Since 2010
By Nikolaj Gammeltoft and Whitney Kisling - 2012.03.25 03:00 PM

Hedge funds trailing the Standard & Poor’s 500 (SPX) Index for the last five months are giving up on bearish bets and buying stocks at the fastest rate in two years.

Bloomberg: Bernanke Sees Need for Higher Household Spending to Fuel Growth

Bernanke Sees Need for Higher Household Spending to Fuel Growth
By Joshua Zumbrun - 2012.03.22 08:08 PM

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the U.S. economy is operating below its level prior to the financial crisis, and that increased household spending is needed to sustain the expansion.

Bloomberg: U.S. Outlook Optimism at Eight-Year High: Economy

Bloomberg

U.S. Outlook Optimism at Eight-Year High: Economy
By Alex Kowalski and Shobhana Chandra - 2012.03.22 12:11 PM

The number of Americans saying the U.S. economy is getting better rose in March to the highest level since 2004 as a decline in claims for unemployment benefits offered more evidence of a labor-market recovery.

USA Today: Analysis: More drilling hasn't lowered gasoline prices

USA TODAY

Mar 21, 2012
Analysis: More drilling hasn't lowered gasoline prices
By Michael Winter, USA TODAY

Analyzing 36 years of gasoline prices and U.S. oil production, the Associated Press finds no statistical correlation between how much is pumped out of the ground and how much is paid at the pump.

USA Today: Existing homes sales dip in February

USA Today

Existing homes sales dip in February

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. home sales are gradually coming back. A mild winter and a stronger job market have helped boost sales ahead of the crucial spring buying season.