Business News & Financial News - The Wall Street Journal

The U.S. and Afghan governments have begun secret three-way talks with the Taliban, Afghan President Hamid Karzai told The Wall Street Journal, disclosing an important breakthrough in efforts to end the 10-year war.

Excerpts From WSJ Interview With Karzai

GM Posts Record Annual Profit

GM reported a record profit for 2011, but its fourth quarter earnings fell 8% from a year ago as losses in Europe and South America weighed on results.

Interactive: Track Earnings Benefits Cut for Staff

Combative Top Democrat Gains Clout

Debbie Wasserman Schultz deploys a style of rhetoric that rouses populist passion and earns cheers among many Democrats—but that critics, including some within the president's own party, say is too divisive.

Photos: A Day in Her Life

Santorum Paid Tax Rate of About 28%

Santorum to Face Romney Ad Blitz

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Business & Finance

Greek Officials: Bailout Talks on Track

Greek government officials said talks for its second financial bailout are on track, and disputed suggestions that its aid package would be delayed until after the country's April elections.

Optimism for Accord Grows Crisis Blog: Nerves Fray Spanish GDP Shrank in Fourth Quarter Spain Has Strong Bond Auction

U.S. Stocks Open Higher

U.S. stocks gained after positive news from the labor and housing markets deflected concern about Greece's debt.

More From MarketBeat

Moody's Puts BofA, Goldman on Review

Moody's Investors Service placed the ratings of Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman and three others on review for possible downgrade.

European Banks on Review

Unemployment Claims Drop

New jobless claims fell last week to the lowest level in nearly four years. Separately, home building was up and wholesale prices rose only modestly.

Crude-Oil Futures Diverge

Oil futures diverged, as worries about Iranian supplies kept European crude prices elevated, while mounting inventories kept U.S. oil prices under pressure.

Oil Rise Imperils Budding Recovery

Tokyo Makes Arrests in Olympus Scandal

New Fine in Greenlight Case

Euro Dips Below $1.30 vs. Dollar

Insider-Trading Bill Clouds Legality of Tips

Fakes Infiltrate Injectable Drugs

Discovery Profit Jumps

Smucker Cuts Outlook

Technology

Apple Brings iPhone, iPad Features to Mac

CEO Tim Cook said the next version of Apple's Macintosh OS, due in late summer, would incorporate features from the software that powers Apple's hit mobile devices.

Behind Apple's Mountain Lion

Amazon Pulls iPad From China Site

A Tablet for the Jotter

What's This Pinterest Website?

U.S.

Congress Reaches Payroll-Tax Deal

Lawmakers late Wednesday finalized an agreement to extend the payroll-tax cut until year-end and renew expiring jobless benefits.

Interracial Marriages Increase

Xi Reunites With Friends in Iowa

Agency Aims to Help Pregnant Workers

World

Iran Cites Nuclear Gains, Offers Talks

Iran announced advancements in nuclear fuel production while also offering to return to negotiations about the program, as Tehran comes under growing pressure to dial back its ambitions.

Thais Say Plot Targeted Israelis Video: Iran Ready to Talk

Gunmen Free 118 From Nigeria Prison

Mexico Military Probed Over Abuse

Honduras Prison Fire Kills Hundreds

Editors' Picks

The Delivery Guy Who Saw Jeremy Lin Coming

Ari Emanuel Hosts a Brain Spa for His Agents

Tissue Rolls to Paper Mill's Rescue

Video

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Fashion

Rebecca Minkoff's Family Fashion Business

Fashion

Rebecca Minkoff's Family Fashion Business

In Video Center»

All Things Digital

Augmented Reality Actually Becoming a Reality

In Video Center»

World

Cracking Into China's Film Market

In Video Center»

Wall Street

Money-Fund Plan Gets Cold Shoulder

A "30-day" rule in the Securities and Exchange Commission's plan to shore up the money-market mutual fund industry has some investors worrying about the "liquidity" of their money.

Sports

Jeremy Lin's Rise Lifts Profile of Former Foes

A sports phenomenon dubbed Linsanity is reflecting sudden glory on Ivy League basketball players who played college ball against the Knicks' surprise star Jeremy Lin.

Jason Gay: Delivery Guy Who Saw Lin Coming The DNA of a Phenomenon | Video Another Career Night for Lin

Drug Bust Hits TCU Football Program

A 'Stain' for TCU Football

Emirates Plays the U.S. Open

Travel

How Dreamy Is the Boeing Dreamliner?

We take the Boeing 787 'Dreamliner' on a test ride as the aircraft celebrates its three-month anniversary in service.

Video: Is Boeing 787 Really a Dreamliner? Podcast: 'Dreamliner' vs. Hype

Business

Barrick Gold Posts Flat Earnings

Barrick Gold reported flat earnings despite a nearly 26% rise in revenue on higher gold production and prices.

AT&T Hunts Spectrum

AMR Posts Big Loss

Tech

Cisco Appeals Skype Ruling

Cisco said it is appealing the European Commission's approval of Microsoft's $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype, even though the deal closed months ago.

Falcone's Plan B: Swapping Airwaves

Bill Is a Boon for Wireless

Markets

Here's Why Defensive Stocks Should Make a Comeback

The 2012 plot for stocks has been well documented: last year's losers have been this year's winners and vice versa. Here's why defensive-minded stocks should make a comeback this year.

Spain Feels the Pain of Rising Debt

Fed Takes Lead on Repo Revamp

Personal Finance

5 Little-Known Tax Deductions

Bischoff: It's possible to write off some expenses that were paid for by someone else.

U.S.

Oil Rise Imperils Budding Recovery

Rising gasoline prices are threatening to stall the U.S. economic recovery just as it appears to be gaining momentum.

Fed Divided on More Action

Death-Penalty Racial Law Is Tested

World

Sarkozy Launches His Bid for New Term

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is trailing in public opinion polls, formally launched his re-election bid Wednesday evening.

IOC: Won't Drop Dow as Sponsor

World Bank Chief to Step Down

Management

GM Cuts Benefits for Salaried Staff

General Motors is freezing the pay of its 26,000 U.S. salaried employees and will eliminate its traditional pension contribution for those salaried workers who still receive them.

Fannie Counsel Is Internal CEO Candidate

Japan Airlines to Spend $6 Billion on New Aircraft

Health

Sanofi Unit Recalls One Lot of Leukemia Drug

Sanofi's Genzyme unit recalled one batch of leukemia drug Fludara due to concerns about its sterility.

Vital Signs

Pharmacies Swept Into Drug Wars

Life & Culture

Next Fall, There Will Be Oxblood

Even as trendspotters complained that designers weren't taking enough risks at New York Fashion Week, some early trends—leather clothing, long gloves, fur accessories and new colors—emerged on the runways.

Somehow Managing to Stick Around

How Israeli Spies Pulled It Off

Opinion

Henninger: What Would Clint Eastwood Do?

Regarding the nation's purpose, Clint Eastwood and Barack Obama couldn't be further apart.

Scott Gottlieb: Meet the ObamaCare Mandate Committee

Mitt Romney: How I'll Respond to China's Rising Power

New York

After Funder Is Indicted, Liu to Speak

Comptroller John Liu will attempt to re-establish his place as a credible force in New York City's political world with a speech, but some say he may face significant hurdles to winning re-election, let alone becoming mayor.

Teacher Alleged to Send Class Cards to Prisoner

Smoking Ban Makes Riders the Enforcers

Sports

The DNA of a Phenomenon

Why is Jeremy Lin so popular? Let us count the ways.

Another Career Night for Lin

Don't Forget the Other Guys

Careers

They Never Miss a Day of Work

It may be hard to believe in an era of floods, flu epidemics and flexible schedules, but some people haven't missed a day of work in decades.

Where's the Boss? Trapped in a Meeting

To Be a Better Boss, Spend Time in the Trenches

Real Estate

River Views in Jacksonville

This four-bedroom home overlooking the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Fla., has marble floors, a boat dock and a swimming pool. —Ana Rivas

Lowest-Income Renters Left Behind in Housing Crisis

Taste for Subprime Bonds Returns

Small Business

Handbag Designer Helped Out of a Clutch

Rebecca Minkoff, founder of a handbag maker Rebecca Minkoff LLC of New York and her brother Uri Minkoff discuss how they built their brand and what they're doing to expand it and more.

Israelis Tap In to Silicon Valley

Plug My Business and I'll Plug Yours

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MARKET NEWS

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U.S. Stocks Open Higher

Euro Dips Below $1.30 vs. Dollar

Treasurys Lose Ground After Economic News

Crude-Oil Futures Diverge

Market Data Center

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How to Read this Chart

High Current price, up from close Price at prior day's close Current price, down from close Low

Wonder Land

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What Would Clint Eastwood Do?

Daniel Henninger: Regarding the nation's purpose, Clint Eastwood and Barack Obama couldn't be further apart.

Mitt Romney: How I'll Respond to China's Rising Power

The character of the Chinese government—one that marries aspects of the free market with suppression of freedom—shouldn't become the norm.

Obama and Other People's Money

Karl Rove: What sets this president apart is how eager he is to fund his schemes outside the normal appropriations process.

Meet the ObamaCare Mandate Committee

Scott Gottlieb: Think the contraception decision was bad? Wait until bureaucrats start telling your insurer which cancer screenings to cover.

Is Boeing 787 Really a Dreamliner?

3:19

Linsania Leftovers

5:07

Bringing the Right Recipe to Style Blogging

5:07

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Read Emailed Video Commented

The Delivery Guy Who Saw Jeremy Lin Coming

Dow's Tumble Is Worst in 2012

More Doctors 'Fire' Vaccine Refusers

Porsche's First Stab at the New 911

Oil Rise Imperils Budding Recovery

On WSJ Blogs

Washington Wire

Payroll Tax-Cut Deal Hits Snag

Washington Wire

Michigan Gov. Snyder to Endorse Romney

Washington Wire

Sebelius Didn't Consult Bishops on Contraception Deal

Washington Wire

Comments Flood In on Volcker Rule

Scene Asia

What a Chef Eats on the Flight

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Day in the Life of DNC Chairwoman

Since taking the helm of the Democratic National Committee in Spring 2011, Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has traveled from state to state, hammering home her party's message and working to energize President Barack Obama's base. See a day in her life.

North Korea Celebrates Kim Jong Il's Birthday (Without Him)

North Korea's propaganda machine is giving the late dictator's birthday an even bigger buildup than when he was alive. Feb. 16 even has a new name: Day of the Shining Star.

Reuters

Photos of the Day: Feb. 15

In today's pictures, an Italian lawmaker takes her daughter to work, a woman sorts chili peppers in India, a Florida girl gets gussied up for a beauty pageant, and more.

An Amway Rock Star

You wouldn't know it by looking at her, but Holly Chen—a 68-year-old grandmother who grew up in a poor fishing village where even rice porridge was a luxury—is one of the most prolific salespeople on Earth.

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