Money and Financial Lifestyle

Investors were hard-pressed Tuesday to find a reason to extend Wall Street’s two-month rally. Stocks mostly fell as investors shifted into defensive corners of the market, driving up shares of drugmakers like Pfizer Inc

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Investors hunt defensive stocks as rally stalls (AP)

Ford Motor Co. shares dropped almost 9 percent Tuesday morning, a day after disclosing a public offering of 300 million shares of common stock that will help it fund its health care trust for retired autoworkers and their families.

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Ford shares sink on share offering (AP)

Citigroup Inc said on Tuesday that the committee overseeing its use of $45 billion of taxpayer money had approved the use of nearly all of that sum to make loans.

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Citigroup: $45 billion TARP money goes toward loans (Reuters)

A bankruptcy judge says GMAC can become Chrysler’s preferred lender. Pending the completion of certain documentation, U.S. Judge Arthur Gonzales on Tuesday approved the deal between Auburn Hills, Mich.-based Chrysler LLC and GMAC Financial Services.

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Judge OKs deal to make GMAC top Chrysler lender (AP)

Several large U.S. banks undertook big capital-raising efforts on Tuesday, hoping to satisfy regulators who want to see bigger cushions against a deep recession, or proof they have enough of a buffer already.

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BofA and other U.S. banks scramble for capital (Reuters)

General Electric Co plans to invest $100 million in a factory to build high-tech batteries for heavy equipment, which it believes could be a $1 billion business over the next decade.

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GE sees $1 billion potential in advanced batteries (Reuters)

Improved credit markets have brought stabilization to the economy but it is still not clear when growth will resume, General Electric Co Chief Executive Jeff Immelt said on Tuesday.

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GE CEO says economy stabilized, growth a question (Reuters)

Coal stocks rallied on news of Alpha Natural Resources’ planned acquisition of Foundation Coal Holdings.

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Merger News Powers Coal Index (Indie Research)

NEW YORK—-Citi announced today that it will lend up to $5 billion to state and local governments, municipal agencies, universities and non-profit hospitals to fund projects that will help create jobs and spur economic growth.

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Citi Announces New $5 Billion Municipal Lending Program Backed by TARP Capital (Business Wire)

Wall Street is set for a mostly higher open Tuesday, looking to bounce back and extend its recent two-month rally. Stock futures moved higher.

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Wall Street set for mostly higher opening (AP)