AP - The dollar rose to a 25-month high against the yen Tuesday amid expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise U.S. interest rates later in the day.

AP - The star actor may be about to depart, but his understudy at the Federal Reserve is expected to keep following the same script — gradually increasing interest rates to make sure inflation does not get out of control.

FT.com - Wall Street was seen to open flat on Thursday as investors awaited for outgoing Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan testimony in Congress later in the day while retail shares were expected to get a boost after companies reported strong October sales.

AFP - The Bush administration's highest priority for its remaining three years is to control US federal spending and bring down the budget deficit, US Treasury Secretary John Snow has said.

AFP - US Treasury Secretary John Snow has arrived in India ahead of four days of meetings with executives and officials to strengthen economic ties.

Reuters - Demand for new mortgage loans from major U.S. banks declined in recent months, while lending standards were little changed, a Federal Reserve survey of bank officers released on Monday found.

AP - U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow on Tuesday told India to further open its banking and insurance industry to foreign investors in order to build on a decade of high economic growth.

AP - The United States and India are making "excellent" progress in talks on economic cooperation, Treasury Secretary John Snow said Wednesday as he pressed India to further open its banking and insurance industry to foreign investment.

AFP - The euro fell further against the dollar as the market continued to focus on expectations of further increases of interest rates in the US and despite data showing that the US economy had racked up a record trade deficit in September.

AP - Trying to fix something that isn't broken has its risks, and that's raising concerns about a possible shift at the Federal Reserve over how it tackles inflation.

AP - The trade deficit surged to a record in September as oil imports hit an all-time high, driven up by hurricane-related shutdowns of Gulf Coast production.

AFP - Ben Bernanke, President George W. Bush's pick to succeed the all-powerful Alan Greenspan as Federal Reserve chairman, will appear before US senators Tuesday for a crucial confirmation hearing.

BusinessWeek Online - As the apparent incoming head of the Federal Reserve Board, Dr. Ben Bernanke has a tough act to follow. Alan Greenspan has been perhaps the most successful Fed chairman in history, with inflation remaining calm and only two mild recessions during his 18-year tenure.That means the incoming chairman will inherit a stable economy, with low inflation and solid growth. Yet the problems and imbalances he must handle are big. Here's a look at some of them.

AP - Ben Bernanke, who once thought himself an "academic lifer," is poised to take his biggest step yet away from the classroom and toward becoming the most influential economist in the world. President Bush's choice to head the Federal Reserve after Alan Greenspan retires goes before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday.

AP - Ben Bernanke used his Senate confirmation hearing to address doubts about his abilities to take over as chairman of the Federal Reserve from economic legend Alan Greenspan.

Reuters - The number of U.S. workers filing for initial jobless aid fell sharply last week, a government report showed on Thursday, pushing the claims total to its lowest point since April.

FT.com - After nominating Ben Bernanke as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, the White House has broadened its search beyond academic economists to fill the two empty seats on the Fed's board of governors.

Reuters - U.S. economic growth and inflation should cool a little next year as interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve begin to bite and the housing market comes off the boil, a Reuters poll shows.

AFP - US economic growth will remain on track through 2006 with minimal impact from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a survey of business economists showed.

FT.com - European stocks were expected to follow their US counterpart higher on Wednesday after minutes from the last Federal Reserve policy meeting suggested it may be approaching an end to rate increases.

The Motley Fool - Why does the stock market often tank when there's good economic news reported? Well, it's usually related to interest rates. Alan Greenspan and his buddies at the Federal Reserve set interest rates, trying to keep inflation at bay and promote a healthy economic environment. When positive economic news is released, such as lower unemployment figures, rising wages, or growing national productivity, the specter of possible inflation is raised. Economies growing too quickly can spur inflation, with too much currency in the marketplace leading to the weakening of the dollar and rising prices.

FT.com - The US Federal Reserve ruffled a few feathers this week by hinting it may be drawing near to a pause in its 18-month long monetary tightening cycle.

Reuters - U.S. chain store retail sales fell in the latest week, a retail report said on Tuesday.

USATODAY.com - Treasury Secretary John Snow praised China Tuesday for its initial moves toward a floating currency and rejected criticism that the Bush administration has been too soft on Beijing.