Bonds

Asian stocks fluctuated Friday as investors looked for direction before a key U.S. jobs report later in the day while Japan's market edged higher after the yen fell to a six-year low.

Global stock markets were lackluster Thursday after Wall Street fell and as investors looked ahead to a European Central Bank meeting and U.S. economic data.

Investors appear to be putting their money on the likelihood of more stimulus measures from the European Central Bank to keep the eurozone's shaky recovery from stalling.

Below is the statement the Fed released Wednesday after its policy meeting: Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in June indicates that growth in economic activity rebounded in the second quarter.

While Janet Yellen spooked Wall Street by talking about a 2015 rate hike, history shows stocks can continue to rise in the face of higher interest rates. 

After initially rising, the 10-year Treasury yield is now trading slightly below where it was before news of the Fed's decision to taper bond purchases.

Japan's central bank unleashed a $1.4 trillion, open-ended asset program Thursday as Tokyo looks to jumpstart the economy after decades of stagnation. 

Are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac relapsing with lenient lending initiatives?

Don't expect much from your bond mutual fund next year.

The threat of rising interest rates is raising real fears about real-estate mutual funds.

Oh, right.

Big banks reportedly run into resistance with efforts to water down a Volcker Rule provision impacting a $300 billion U.S. loan market.

The $1.7 trillion overnight lending market that seized up during the 2008 financial crisis remains a systemic risk today.

China continues to display an appetite for U.S. government debt, expanding its holdings of Treasurys to a record of $1.317 trillion in November.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday said he's proposing that the state issue $87 million in bonds to help Lockheed Martin land a defense contract for its south Arkansas facility.

Greece goes to the polls Sunday with voters given a tough choice over how to handle the country's debt after six years of recession badly weakened its economy.

The handful of Asian stock markets open for trading on the last day of 2014 mostly rose modestly, led by China which is nearing a 52 percent gain for the year.

Greece's finance ministry says the economy is on track to emerge from a six-year recession this year and grow by 2.9 percent in 2015, though unemployment in the bailed-out country is likely to remain high.

Montana has refinanced building bonds issued in 2005 and 2007 in a move that will save the state $1.64 million in interest.

Puerto Rico's governor has signed the U.S. territory's first balanced budget in more than a decade amid an economic slump that has concerned U.S. investors.