Bonds

In business since the 1960s, Karim al-Aboudi's family has seen Iraq's economy boom with oil wealth and bust through wars and the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, but today marks the worst downturn he's seen in decades.

U.S. stocks are rising in midday trading Monday as China's currency steadied and Greece's bailout cleared another big hurdle.

Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills were mixed in Monday's auction with rates on six-month bills unchanged, while rates on three-month bills dropped to the lowest level in two weeks.

Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury securities rebounded in June following two straight months of declines.

Global stock markets are steady on Thursday as the decline in China's currency slowed and the country's central bank eased fears of more steep drops.

Federal regulators say brokerage firm Edward Jones has agreed to pay more than $20 million to settle claims that it overcharged customers in new municipal bond sales.

Another drop in China's currency sent global stocks lower on Wednesday as the move raised worries about weakness in the world's second-largest economy.

The U.S. government ran a much larger budget deficit in July than a year ago.

U.S. stocks opened lower on Tuesday, led by declines in energy and materials stocks as commodities prices dropped.

Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills rose in Monday's auction with rates on six-month bills climbing to the highest level in more than four years.

Kansas reported Friday that it collected slightly less in taxes this month than expected, and officials attributed the $3.7 million shortfall largely to a national softness in consumer spending affecting sales tax revenues.

Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell for a second straight week, with the key 30-year rate slipping below 4 percent.

Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills rose in Monday's auction to the highest levels this year.

Greece's radical left-led government emerged bloodied but alive early Thursday from a key vote in parliament, which overwhelmingly approved new creditor-demanded reforms despite a revolt among hardliners in the main coalition partner.

U.S. stocks were mostly lower in early trading Tuesday following weak results from IBM, United Technologies and other big companies.

Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills rose in Monday's auction with rates on three-month and six-month bills reaching their highest levels since March.

Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury securities fell in May for a second straight month even though China, the largest foreign owner of Treasury debt, boosted its holdings.

Italy's public debt has risen to a new record of 2.2 trillion euros ($2.4 trillion), up by 23.4 billion euros in May.

The U.S. government ran a budget surplus in June, leaving the budget deficit so far this year running under last year's level.

Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills were mixed in Monday's auction with rates on three-month bills unchanged while rates on six-month bills rose to the highest point in two weeks.