USATODAY.com - Despite posting gains the past three months, stocks enter the second half of the year in the red and face a murky outlook amid fears the Federal Reserve might not stop raising interest rates as early as Wall Street thought.

AFP - The dollar remained firm in quiet trade, with US markets closed for the Independence Day holiday, as it continued the positive trend seen towards the end of last week.

AFP - The US service sector revved up in June, in a strong sign for a major component of the economy, the Institute for Supply Management said, while highlighting concerns about rising energy costs.

AP - The number of new people signing up for unemployment benefits rose last week mostly reflecting layoffs related to temporary shutdowns at auto plants as well as school closings.

AP - The unemployment rate dipped in June to its lowest level in nearly four years as employers expanded payrolls modestly, a sign that the nation's job market is plugging — not powering — ahead. Wall Street rallied. The latest employment snapshot from the Labor Department on Friday supported the view of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and his colleagues that the economy is in good shape and the labor market is gradually improving despite high energy prices.

FT.com - Ben Bernanke presented an upbeat economic outlook on Tuesday in his first speech as chairman of George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers, pointing to a 'healthy and sustainable' expansion and stable core inflation.

AFP - The US economy got a double-dose of good news with consumers resuming a shopping binge and inflation staying tame in June, Commerce Department figures showed.

AP - Consumer confidence over the past month slid to a two-year low, and economists say terrorism fears rekindled by the London bombings probably played a large role in the decline.

AP - Ben Bernanke says he's ready to give the White House his two cents on who may replace him on the Federal Reserve.

AFP - The dollar made strong gains against the euro and the yen after upbeat comments on the US economy from Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, and on the eve of his testimony to Congress, analysts said.

FT.com - Global fund managers expect the benchmark US interest rates to rise to 4 per cent before the Federal Reserve will stop tightening monetary policy, a Merrill Lynch (NYSE:MER) poll showed on Tuesday.

AP - The dollar continued to fall Thursday in Asian trading after earlier remarks from the U.S. Federal Reserve chairman failed to spark fresh optimism about the U.S. economy.

BusinessWeek Online - hina is keeping its options wide open with its murkily worded announcement July 21 that it's no longer rigidly pegging its currency to the dollar. The People's Bank of China seems to have learned from Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan that if you're sufficiently vague in your public statements, nobody can ever accuse you of changing your mind.

Reuters - Economist and author Todd Buchholz, an adviser to President Bush during the 2004 presidential campaign, is being considered by the White House for a seat on the Federal Reserve Board, sources close to the administration said.

Reuters - U.S. consumer confidence slipped in July from three-year highs reached in June as consumers took a more mixed view of their job prospects, a report said on Tuesday.

AFP - The US economy is enjoying a sizzling summer, new data showed with both manufacturing and housing posting red-hot performances that economists said could boost growth overall.

FT.com - US Treasury bond prices fell and yields rose after durable goods orders beat market expectations, adding to investors' confidence that the Federal Reserve will continue to raise interest rates.

Reuters - Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher said on Friday China's growing role in the global economy presents challenges to the United States, but the U.S. economy has time to adjust.