Money and Financial Lifestyle

The U.S. trade deficit rose in March for the first time since last July as the global recession cut sharply into sales of American exports. The politically sensitive deficit with China increased.

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Trade deficit widens in March to $27.6 billion (AP)

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)

Home prices fell in nearly nine out of every 10 U.S.

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Median home prices fell nationwide in 1Q (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)

Stocks fell on Tuesday as investors took profits in the technology and banking sectors while a drop in U.S. exports in March and multiple stock offerings from various companies dampened enthusiasm.

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Wall Street slides on profit taking (Reuters)

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)

Shares of drugmaker Pfizer Inc. jumped nearly 7 percent Tuesday after an analyst issued a report citing benefits of its planned acquisition of rival Wyeth and stating that those were “not yet reflected in the stock.”

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Pfizer shares jump after analyst backs Wyeth deal (AP)

For the first time in years, investors are actually feeling good about owning stocks and optimistic about the future prospects. The stress test results were viewed as downright bullish and the stock market is close to its recovery highs.

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11 ETFs You Should Not Own (ETFguide.com)

European stock markets and Wall Street futures took a breather Tuesday, trading little changed following the previous day’s retreats as investors awaited key U.S. consumer data later in the week.

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World markets steady as focus turns to US consumer (AP)