Consumer sentiment stalls ahead of Black Friday

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Consumer sentiment weakened in November as the holiday shopping period was getting underway amid growing uncertainty over federal tax and spending programs next year, a survey released on Wednesday showed.The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's final reading on consumer sentiment came in at 82.7, a touch up from 82.6 in October but down from a preliminary reading of 84.9...

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Obama vows to press ahead on fiscal cliff solution

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says he'll press ahead with Congress to prevent across-the-board tax increases set to strike taxpayers Jan. 1 after House GOP leaders unexpectedly put off a vote on legislation calling for higher rates on million-dollar earners was abruptly scrapped Thursday evening.The measure "did not have sufficient support from our members to pass," House Speaker John Boehner,...

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NRA returns to public debate, to meet with media

WASHINGTON (AP) — One week after the mass shootings that killed 26 people at a Connecticut elementary school — 20 of them children — the nation's largest gun-rights lobby is returning to the spotlight as Congress prepares to consider tighter restrictions on firearms in the new year.The 4.3 million-member National Rifle Association largely disappeared from public debate after the shootings in Newtown,...

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Washington Saying Goodbye to Inouye at Memorial

Admirers will bid farewell to Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye at a memorial service before a final trip home to his native Hawaii.President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were to be among those offering tributes during the ceremony Friday at Washington National Cathedral, along with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki.Biden also spoke at...

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Soccer-Scottish Premier League fixtures

Dec 21 (Infostrada Sports) - Fixtures from the Scottish Premier League matches on FridayFriday, December 21 (GMT)St. Mirren v Motherwell (1945)Saturday, December 22 (GMT)Aberdeen v St. Johnstone (1500)Celtic v Ross County (1500)Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Dundee (1500)Sunday, December 23 (GMT)Kilmarnock v Hibernian (1500)Hearts v Dundee United (16...

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S.Africa's rand, bonds edge up ahead of data

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's rand firmed marginally on Tuesday ahead of a slew of domestic economic data but stayed within its recent trading range, awaiting further direction from global markets.The rand was trading at 8.6700 against the dollar at 0640 GMT from Tuesday's close of 8.6725."The data today will not have much impact on the rand. We will continue to look at international factors,"...

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Mexican president confident of key reforms in 2013

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Monday he is confident that reforms to shake up state oil giant Pemex and the country's tax regime, key planks of his drive to accelerate economic growth, will be approved in 2013.The youthful Pena Nieto took office on December 1 pledging to fire up the economy after years of underperformance, during which it fell behind its big...

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Italy's Berlusconi attacks "Germano-centric" Monti

ROME (Reuters) - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi accused the technocrat government of Mario Monti on Tuesday of pursuing economic policies dictated by Germany that had dragged Italy into recession.In remarks that point to a bitter election campaign fought over European issues, Berlusconi said Germany had taken advantage of the financial crisis to lower its own borrowing costs at the...

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Wal-Mart under fire in India, government signals probe

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's government said on Tuesday it was prepared to launch an inquiry into lobbying by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , buckling under an opposition campaign to discredit a flagship economic policy that allows foreign supermarkets to trade in Asia's third largest economy.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has pressed ahead with the policy despite fierce political opposition, arguing that...

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World stocks wane as US budget talks drag on

BANGKOK (AP) — World stock markets lost some steam Tuesday as efforts by U.S. leaders to reach a budget deal before the year's end appeared deadlocked and fears lingered that a leadership change in Italy could derail Europe's efforts to tackle its financial crisis.Markets in Asia appeared to take in stride news that HSBC, the British banking giant, will pay $1.9 billion to settle a money-laundering...

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