Stock Learning

House Democratic leaders Thursday abandoned a long struggle to strike a compromise on abortion in their ranks, gambling that they can secure the support for President Barack Obama's sweeping health care legislation with showdown votes looming as early as next week.

Total money market mutual fund assets fell by $36.22 billion to $3.090 trillion for the week, the Investment Company Institute said Thursday.

Oil prices hovered above $82 a barrel Friday in Asia as investors mulled whether extending a monthlong rally is justified amid evidence of weak U.S. crude demand.

Asian stock markets were mixed Friday as investors held out for additional clues to the strength of economic recovery. Most markets were little changed, a recent pattern that analysts say reflects uncertainty surrounding the U.S. rebound, China's policies and debt troubles in Europe.

President Barack Obama is planning to nominate Janet Yellen, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, to take over as vice chairman of central bank in Washington, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Government vehicle safety regulators may seek greater authority to investigate defects in cars and trucks and are weighing a range of new safety requirements in response to Toyota's recall of more than 8 million vehicles over brake and acceleration problems.

Americans are recovering their shrunken wealth -- gradually. Household net worth rose last quarter, mainly because the healing economy boosted stock portfolios. But the gain was slight.