Wall St ends flat as quarter, jobs deferral eyed

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks little changed on Thursday Were, The Final Day of the quarter, as jobless claims Fell less than expected goal didn't change Optimism about Friday's U.S. payrolls report for March.

The decline in claims to 388.000 last week for Unemployment Benefits WAS less than expected, "still signaled to The Drop In The labor-market improvement.

The data aussi Followed Encouraging ADP year deferral on private-sector jobs and preceded Friday's Employment Report from the government.

"In The Claims are going right direction, and That Gives us Hope that we'll see a good number tomorrow emploi," Said Jerry Harris, president of asset management at Sterne Agee in Birmingham, Alabama.

The week has been "marked-by sacrifice part of the Year's Lowest volumes as traders opt to ride the quarter's gainers Amid Global Risks.The S & P 500 Is Up 5.6 Percent In The Quarter, is based Wednesday's close.

"Today Will Be Quiet As People Have Already ESTABLISHED Their positions in preparation for a postponement That Is Expected To Be positive tomorrow," Harris said.

The Dow Jones industrial average (. DJI) up 4.84 WAS points, or 0 no teletrack payday loan.04 percent, at 12,355.45. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (. SPX) WAS down 0.75 point, or 0.06 percent, at 1,327.51. The Nasdaq Composite Index (. IXIC) WAS up 0.98 point, or 0.04 percent, at 2,777.77.

The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago index Said icts of Midwest business activity Fell in March to 70.6 from 71.2 in February.The WAS data near economists' expectations and stocks reacted little.

David Sokol, the Man Widely seen as the Leading Successor to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway to head up (BRKa.N) (BRKb.N), has Resigned after buying shares in chemical company Lubrizol Corp. (LZ.N) Before pushing Buffett to Acquire it.

In one year CNBC interview, Sokol Said He Did Nothing Wrong in buying the Share.

Berkshire's Class B shares Fell 1.8 percent to $ 83.90.

The unit of Macau Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS.N) Said It Is Being POURSUITES By The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Regulatory Commission for Alleged violations. Shares Fell 4.9 percent to $ 41.41.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)

Wall St ends flat as quarter, jobs deferral eyed

Hot News: Wall St gains strength is technical, Home Depot Leads Dow

Libyan Rebels Aim to Revive Oil Exports

HOUSTON - After Seizing control of critical oil fields and terminals in eastern Libya Over the weekend, Libyan rebels are now Trying to sell oil in International Markets, raising Potentially Hundreds of millions of dollars to buy Weapons and supplies.

Oil Industry Officials, echoing claims made by a rebel leader, Said Monday That Believed optometrist Qatar HAD Agreed to buy oil and Offered by The Rebels Planned to ship it in tankers leased.

The Qatari Government has not commented on The Oil dirty, but on Monday, Qatar Became The First Arab Country to Formally Recognize The Legitimacy Of The rebels have Representatives of Libya. In addition, The Recent Advances By The military rebels Were Made possible by allied air support as well as "critical Logistical Commitments from Qatar.

"There clearly" Appears to Be Some coordination and money CAN buy you a lot, "Said Michael A.Levi, Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment At The Council on Foreign Relations. "My guess is this Will Be More Than conflict Consequential pour la pour la Oil Market."

Over the Last Few Days, The Rebels Have Seized With SEVERAL important oil towns facilities optometrist Said Would enable Them to Produce and export crude. Although There Is concerned thats the rebel advance to PROVE May Be Fleeting, oil traders Responded to Their victories by pushing down The Price of world oil MOST benchmarks, Albeit modestly.

On Monday, The Price Of The benchmark United States crude oil, West Texas Intermediate, Fell by $ 1.48 a barrel, or 1.4 percent, to $ 103.92. The benchmark 7.3 percent IS Higher Than It Was A month ago, and 30 percent Higher Than a year ago.

Although The Libyan Government faces Global Economic sanctions and asset freezes, an Official at the Treasury Department Said thats the United States seek to block Would not oil sales by The Rebels If They Could PROVE the money Was Not Going to Any Libyan Government Authority, The National The golden oil company Qaddafi family.

"Everything owned by or Controlled By The Government of Libya IS subject to penalties," Said The official, Who spoke condition of anonymity On The Because no official determination HAD Been Made About the Proposed dirty oil. "Anything leur Is Not Governed by U.S. sanctions."

According To news reports, The Rebels Claimed THEY Would Be Able to Produce up to 130.000 barrels of crude a day, less Than a Tenth of What Exported Libya turmoil erupted last month Before.

Purpose THEY aussi Have access to millions of barrels Stored in coastal oil terminals, Which Have Been Effectively closed to tanker traffic "during the conflict. The rebels now control all five eastern oil export terminals, Including Es Sider, Ras Lanuf and Zueitina, Roughly Two-Thirds Of The country's export capacity and a Majority of icts Production and Refining Capacity, According To A Research Note by the Eurasia Group, consultancy firm ceramic flat iron.

Francois Gauthier, Algeria The country manager for The Italian energy company Enel Estimated That There Could Be as Many as Two Million Barrels of Oil Stored in just one rebel-controlled oil port, Tobruk, That Could Be Exported quickly. At year Estimated sale price of $ 100 a barrel, Selling the oil in Tobruk "could raise as Much as $ 200 million, although The Rebels Would Probably Have to Share the funds With Western Oil Companies That Own The co-leases on the Field.

"It's a lot of cash, to It Will not solve all of Their Problems Over the long run," Mr. Gauthier said.

Libyan oil is Valued IS particularly World Markets Because It Is high quality, little Needs Refining am and is particularly well suited for European Markets diesel.

With allied planes and naval Vessels Patrolling the area, Col.. Muammar el-Qaddafi powerless to stop Could Be tankers from sailing Into and out of Tobruk and Other rebel-held ports. However, forces loyal to Colonel Qaddafi could "sabotage" still critical pumping equipment Needed to transport oil from the field to The Port.

The rebels Already Have Their Own Oil Company, Agoco, Which Is based in rebel-held Benghazi and broke away from the national oil company The Main Early in the conflict. Agoco controls fields That represents 40 percent of the Country's 1.6 million barrels a day of oil output and Operate terminal and refinery year in Tobruk.

Aside from a few "refinery storage tanks, little of Libya's oil infrastructure has been" Damaged In The fighting so far. The pumps, hoses, metering, docks and storage tanks At The ports are intact, & the oil fields are pumped to Be Ready by local Oil Workers, According to oil experts.

"It's only a matter of flipping switches," Said Michael C. Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research, a consultancy firm.

Details Of The dealings Between The rebels & the Qataris Remain unclear, to SEVERAL Oil Industry Experts Said The Qataris gold The United Nations could "place" any money from Libyan oil sales in year escrow fund That Would Later Reimbursement Italian, French, Spanish and American oil companies That Have Investment in the Libyan oil fields. Those companies include Eni, Repsol, Total and Occidental Petroleum.

"The companies 'attitude May Be' Do not worry, we'll settle up Later," Said Mr. Lynch, Who Has Broad Experience in International Oil Market. "This is a good way to get companies pour la On The rebels' good side."

Libyan Rebels Aim to Revive Oil Exports

Trichet Persists in Expecting to Raise Benchmark Rate Europe's

FRANKFURT - Jean-Claude Trichet, The President Of The European Central Bank, Stood by His prediction of Higher Interest Rates for the euro zone is Monday despite The recent calamity in Japan.

Appearing Before the European Parliament's economics committee, Mr Trichet Referred to "The Tragic Developments in Japan With The lamentable loss of human lives" and "their potential overall Economic and Financial Implications," Said to "In The Euro Area Inflation Is On The Rise ".

He Went there to Say That He Had "nothing to add" to comments he made in February, he signaled When thats the bank's governing council WAS Likely to Raise the benchmark interest rate from a record low of 1 percent next month When It Meets.

There Is Still Plenty of Time for Mr. Trichet to revise history view Before the April 7 meeting policy.Aim for now, he and Other membres du conseil governing are not showing "any sign of softening Their view.

"I think If The ECB Were to see thats the Macroeconomic Implications of Japan Were Such an optometrist could Would Seriously Into Question the European outlook, Then They Might Reconsider harcèlement decision," Nick Matthews, senior European economist at the Royal Bank of Scotland wrote in an e-mail portable hair dryer. "Aim at this stage They Do not APPEAR to Be backing away from it."

Mr. Trichet Said The bank WAS Determined to Prevent Increase in Prices for oil and Other commodities pushing up from the Price That WAGES gold companies charge Their Customers.

"Such effects Would Give Rise to broad-based inflationary pressure may over-the medium term," Mr. Trichet said.

Critics Of The European Central Bank say a rate Increase Unnecessary When inflation IS IS Primarily the Results importé High Price for Oil, Rather Than from domestic pressures.

"Rising Oil Prices Raise the risk of a misguided ECB misses inflation Against an Increase That does not exist," Carl Weinberg, chief economist at The High Frequency Economics in Valhalla, NY, wrote in a note.

Mr. Trichet's stance reinforced by WAS Other membres du conseil governing Monday, Including Mario Draghi, The Governor Of The Bank of Italy and a candidate to replace Mr. Leading Trichet When historical term expires at the End of October.

Trichet Persists in Expecting to Raise Benchmark Rate Europe's

Hot News: Buffett says Japan IS buying Opportunity: reports

SEC sues IBM over Alleged snippets

SAN FRANCISCO - IBM Corp.. has Agreed to pay $ 10 million to settle allegations it bribed South Korean That and Chinese Government Official for More than a decade to win contracts.

The Securities and Exchange Commission accusé The Technology Company of making Roughly half That Amount in favor From The Behavior.

Managers at an IBM Subsidiary and joint venture Allegedly Paid $ 207,000 in snatches to South Korean Officials from 1998 to 2003. From 2004 Until 2009, More than 100 IBM employed in China Provided improper overseas trips, gifts for entertainment and Other Officials, The Alleged SEC payday loan lenders.

The SEC Said Lack of internal controls Allowed IBM managers to use local business partners and travel agencies as conduits for scraps In Those countries.

IBM stock rose $ 1.18, or 0.8 percent, to $ 155.36.

SEC sues IBM over Alleged snippets

Pair Charged With Threatening Alaska Federal Judge

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Alaska couple Have Been indicted charges of conspiring to one murder a federal judge, family history and year Internal Revenue Service employee Because They Were upset over tax rulings Against Them.

The indictment Thursday Against Signed Lonnie and Karen Vernon of Salcher, aussi de possession charges conspiracy grenades and gun silencers.

Lonnie Vernon, 55, Charged With aussi IS illegal possession of a machine gun and a Firearm Equipped With A silencer.

Two Other Alaskans - citizen militia leader Francis Schaeffer Cox, of Fairbanks, and Coleman Barney, of North Pole - are charged aussi With Lonnie Vernon in a federal indictment alleging Separate The Three conspired de possession unregistered grenades and silencers. I'm his indictment, Cox IS aussi charged With Possession Of An illegal machine gun and silencer.

Karen Loeffler, the U.S.attorney in Alaska, murder conspiracy Said The indictment supersedes federal indictment charging Year Earlier 55-year-old Lonnie Vernon With Threatening to kill U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline and a family member.

Loeffler Called a late afternoon news conference Thursday to announce The Indictments, But The documents and more details about The allegations sept immediately available.

If Convicted of Murder The Federal conspiracy charge, The Vernons face life in prison Would.

Vernon aussi IS charged in State Court for conspiring With His wife, Cox, Barney and Michael Anderson to kill a state judge and Other Public Officials, Including state troopers. Grand Jury Indictments are Expected next week.

J. Haden, a federal public defender Representing Lonnie Vernon, Did Not Immediately return call from The Associated Press after business hours.Cox's attorney, Robert John, Said He Had not heard about The Federal indictment.

"There's nothing for me to say Until I've Seen the indictment," he Told The AP.

The Vernons Have Been In A Fight for Federal Court over Nearly Two Years Income taxes, penalties and interest of More Than $ 165,000 That's The Government says THEY owe.Federal tax attorneys Filed links on Their home in Salcher, in Richardson Highway 40 miles south community of Fairbanks, and in July 2009 Sweden to foreclose and sell The Property is it to Reduce the tax obligation.

The Vernon overseen Beistline HAD 'tax box.

The original federal indictment released last week Said Lonnie Vernon last month to murder Beistline Threatened and was in retaliation for family member's Beistline tax rulings In The Box personal humidifier.

Cox Is A founder of Second Amendment Task Force, a gun rights group Organized That has several "open-carry" days, and He Is Leader Of The Peacekeepers Alaska Militia, Which contender That All Individuals are sovereign Citizens and thats the Government has no Authority over 'em.

In March 2010, He Was Charged With Weapons misdemeanor misconduct. Represented Cox himself "at a pretrial Hearing in December, When He denied thats the short Alaska Was a Legitimate Judiciary system.Said He Would not he expects Another short Hearing Until The system short Explained autorité icts over HIM. A Few Days Later, accompagné by militia members, he Tried to Serve paperwork was District Court Judge exposant thats the short lacked jurisdiction.

A Warrant Issued for His Arrest WAS When he failed to APPEAR for trial Feb. 14. Cox Later Told The AP he skipped The Trial That Because The judge barred "any reference to Cox's Position on the validity of the Law.

Prosecutors Said Cox HAD multiple command staff meetings With The Militia Of The Peacekeepers - Including The Vernon and Barney - in the Week Leading Up to His trial date.

A 17-page state last week released plainte accusé Cox and The Four Others of conspiring to kill sincere Oct. 1 gold kidnap state Officials. Said the Five Year investigator compiled rentals of Their Victims' homes, Took photos of at least one and Acquired Weapons.Cox and Barney Were Charged With Felony Weapons alleging misconduct THEY Possessed year automatic assault rifle, military-issue grenades and black powder pineapple grenades.

Other Weapons In The arsenal included a tripod-mounted, belt-fed .50-caliber gun, a tripod-mounted .30-caliber machine gun, a grenade launcher, rifles and pistols Dozens of, and Thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Their targets, According to investigators, included Superior Court Judge Michael McConahy and at least Two troopers.

An investigator Said WAS Cox Recorded Advocating a "241" retaliation plan, Which Stood for "two-for-one" - killing or kidnapping Two State Officials For Every member of group history Killed That Was Arrested gold.

Pair Charged With Threatening Alaska Federal Judge

Summary Box: Wholesale Prices Rise Last Month

WHOLESALE PRICES JUMP: Higher Gas Costs and The Sharpest Rise in Food Prices in Nearly 40 years drove up wholesale prices in February by 6.1 percent. That's the Largest Gain Since June 2009. Most of the Food Price Increase due to harsh winter WAS weather in southern SEVERAL states.

INCREASE CONTINUES: Still, economists expect MOST Food Prices to Keep Rising For the rest of this year, followings Sharp Increase in The Cost of corn, soybeans, and Other Agricultural Commodities Since last summer air conditioner.

Spending LESS: The increaser Could Cut Into Consumer Spending and Economic Growth limit this year.

Summary Box: Wholesale Prices Rise Last Month

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Five steps to transitioning to a great retirement

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Before you choose That college ...

Today's personal-finance news from MarketWatch includes Two Stories Focusing On The Beginning and The End of Our Working Lives. Ruth Mantell In Her column notes recent College Graduates That facings are particularly tough competition in the job market, and she outlines key steps to help grads Increase Their odds of getting a job. Thesis include getting internships, going on for a graduate degree and using social media.

At The Other End of the spectrum, Robert Powell writes about The Best Ways to transition from long-term care retirement by Taking Into Five Steps That Will Help Understand Their withdrawn goals, wants and resources.

- Anne Stanley, managing editor, personal finance

RETIREMENT Five steps to transitioning to a great retirement

Research Suggests That MOST Americans do not want to withdraw to a life of just hitting a tiny white ball around well-manicured lawn has. Instead, They Want to Do Something after they "retired" from Their Primary Care. Trouble is, Many Americans do not know how to go about it. Read more: Five Steps to transitioning to a great retirement.

THE JOB MARKET Job-hunting tips for new college grads

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When Apple's newest laptops icts Introduced last month, The company bragged about Faster processors, dazzling graphics, new connectivity and a Better camera.All These Improvements purpose - to a series of computers That Was Already by MOST accounts pretty good - left Some Critics With A Pointed Question: Who Needs All That Really? Read more: When does it pay to trade up your technology?

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As college acceptance letters start to roll in, parents Willie Soon Have A Better Idea of ​​Their Children's Educational Options for the Year Ahead. Read more: Before you choose That college ...

ECONOMY & POLITICS Fed May we try to talk tough inflation

The Federal Open Market Committee, STC Düring one-day meeting Tuesday, IS Expected to channel inner Clint Eastwood icts and Insist That It Has the Necessary Means to handle whatever throw at it Energy Markets, analysts said home kerosene heaters. Read more: Fed May we try to talk tough inflation.

INVESTING Remembering The First Time

You never forget your first - investment, That Is. For Many Financial Professionals, That first foray Into stocks, mutual funds or Any Other type of investment Is What shaped Their View on the markets and Inspired Them to enter the Field. Read more: Remembering the first time.

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St. Joe Battle Shows Why fund managers arent CEOs

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CONTINUING COVERAGE: Slide show JAPAN: Japan's nuclear crisis Intensifying

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The Bank of Japan injected a total of 15 trillion yen ($ 183 billion) Into the Financial System in a move to shore up Markets As The Nikkei 225 Suffered icts worst one-day performance in Two Years in the first full trading day sincere last week's Devastating earthquake. Read more: Bank of Japan injected $ 183 Into one billion economy.

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Personal Finance Daily: Best Ways to start and end your career

Oil falls on Japan quake

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil Prices Fell On Friday after a massive earthquake shook Japan, shutting Refineries and Other industrial facilities in the World's Third-largest oil consumer and triggering at Broad sell-off in commodities.

Muted protests in Saudi Arabia Contributed To The sell-off by investors spooked by Who HAD Been plans for "day of rage" demonstrations in the World's top oil export. Have funds bailed out of Oil Market For the past SEVERAL days after lifting Their positions had to record high as of Tuesday.

U.S. heating oil and gasoline future Held Up Better Than crude, Receiving support from expectations That Japan Will require more fuel imports the after the quake and Tsunami Affected about a fifth of STI capacity.

Brent crude futures for April delivery Fell $ 1.59 to settle at $ 113.84 a barrel, 1.8 percent is Losing the Week, The first loss in seven weeks and sincere Biggest November.

U.S.crude futures for April delivery Fell $ 1.54 to settle at $ 101.16 a barrel, off a low of $ 99.01. It Fell 12.3 Percent On The Week, icts first weekly loss in oven. Trading volume Was Light, however, has about 670.000 lots, Nearly A Third Of The average below-the past month.

The U.S. front-month heating oil crack spread, or profit margin Refining, rose $ 1.21 to $ 26.39 a barrel at 4:45 pmIS, while gasoline crack spread The rose 67 cents to $ 24.79.

"From an oil pricing perspective, The situation in Japan IS Likely to result in negative impact it has crude oil and a positive Prices for Refined Products," Said Dominick Chirichella, senior partner at the Energy Management Institute in New York.

Japan WAS hit by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake, The Largest sincere comments Began In The late 19th century.

Top Japanese refiner Nippon Oil JX & Energy Corp. (JXHLY.PK) halted operations at Three Plants and Fire Engulfed a storage tank at a unit of Cosmo Oil Co (5007 inferred heaters.T).

MIDDLE EAST PROTEST

The Japanese quake triggered across-the-board selling in commodities funds have piled Who HAD Into Markets That Were at near record highs Took gold profits in the Face of Uncertainty.

Speculator 'net-long positions in U.S.future crude rose to a record high in the Week to March 8, The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Said In A Report on Friday.

Traders pared positions are signs aussi That a security Clampdown in Saudi Arabia's capital Kept A lid was Planned protest, unrest and demonstrations Even As Continued to rumble in nearby Kuwait, Bahrain and Yemen.

Continued fighting in OPEC-member Libya. Rebels repelled a counter-offensive by leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces, goal decision being to foreign Powers to impose a no-fly zone to stop Further attacks. Most analysts now Have Written off "any chance of a quick return of Libyan production.

CHINA, U.S. ECONOMIC DATA

Even With The focus on Japan, the Middle East and North Africa, brokers and analysts Said Oil Prices Felt pressure from Chinese news That inflation topped expectations in February, triggering more Possibly Monetary Tightening dampen oil demand That Could in the World's No.2 oil consumer.

Rising Gasoline Prices Pushed to U.S. consumer sentiment icts Lowest level in five months in early March, a Thomson Reuters / University of Michigan survey showed.

A Separate Reports That showed U.S. retail sales posted Their Largest Gain in Four Months in February.

(Additional reporting by Gene Ramos and Janet McGurty in New York, Ikuko Kurahone in London and Alejandro Barbajosa in Singapore, Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)

Oil falls on Japan quake

Saudi Oil pares Losses as worries heighten protest

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil recouped icts Most Of Deep Loss in late trade Thursday after it reports of police firing Protesters were revived in Saudi Arabia Fears of Further unrest in the World's top export.

Prices tumbled HAD Early in the day after a Spanish credit rating revived worries over euro zone credit, Driving the dollar even higher.

That Took precedence over Further violence in Libya, Which Traders Fear Is Set for Prolonged Conflict That May do long-lasting damage icts oil infrastructure.

Downbeat economic data from China and the United States weighed on Price.Purpose This Was overshadowed by news of stun grenades Being Used to disperse a crowd in Saudi Arabia's oil-producing Eastern Province just one day before activists plan year unprecedented "Day of Rage" protest.

One police witness Told Reuters Lobbedez percussion bombs to disperse a crowd of about 200 people Belonging To The kingdom's Shiite Minority.

"The news report That Were Protesters fired upon by police in Saudi Arabia has crude Pulled Up From The lows," Said Phil Flynn, analyst at PFGBest Research in Chicago.

In London, April Brent crude ICE Settled down 51 cents at $ 115.43 a barrel, up Nearly $ 2 from the Day's low. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for April delivery U.S. Settled down $ 1.68 at $ 102.70.

Brent crude's premium Against U.S. widened for a second day to $ 12.73 at The Close, one from $ 11.56 Wednesday.The premium hit a record $ 17 last week Above, goal HAD contracted sharply over-the past week as traders Took profits.

Traders now Will Closely watch for "any one Disturbances Friday after calls for unprecedented mass protests billed as a" Day of Rage "against Saudi Arabia's absolute monarchy.

Protests are Planned aussi In Other Gulf Countries Such as Yemen, Kuwait and Bahrain on Friday, after the Day's Religious Prayers stone outdoor fireplaces. Inspired by Upheaval in Tunisia and Egypt.

LIBYA MAY TURN TIDE

In Libya, momentum Appeared to turn Against the Rebels, WHO HAD hoped to load up the Coast and Into the capital Tripoli.Instead state television Said Government forces cleared HAD The oil port of Ras Lanuf of "armed gangs".

Saif al-Islam leader Muammar Gaddafi's Most prominent sound, Said SI Libya Preparing full-scale military action to crush a rebellion and surrender Will not Intervene Even If Western Power In The Conflict.

Purpose rebel soldiers denied The Eastern oil town HAD fallen to pro-Gaddafi Troop.A local oil company based in Benghazi, Where Have rebels set up a National Council working to oust Libyan Gaddafi, Said It Was making arrangements to market oil Directly to foreign buyers.

With oil production running at less Than Two-Thirds icts norm, exports halted Essentially oil facilities and reports of Being Hit In The violent few "traders expecting a quick recovery Were in output From The OPEC member.

CHINA DATA SPURS GROWTH WORRE

Oil Prices Were aussi exacts data pressured by China, the world's second Largest Oil import Unexpectedly The Largest trade deficit posted in Seven Years at $ 7.3 trillion, stirring Global Economic Growth worries economists Even Though Said The sudden drop Likely WAS temporary.

China's crude oil Purpose imports rose to The Third Highest Level on Record Daily Basis we have ramped up operations Refiners despite a lull lull in demand "during the holidays.

New U.S.jobless claims rose last week & the country's trade deficit widened in January, Weighing Further on U.S. crude.

(Additional reporting by Robert Gibbons in New York, Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)

Saudi Oil pares Losses as worries heighten protest

Brent push to $ 114 have actually persistent Libya

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose over $ 1 on Wednesday to trade at over $ 114 a barrel as Intensified fighting in Libya, and it saw OPEC Said No Need To hold an NSC meeting to ease supply Fears.

Brent crude oil futures for April Were up 69 cents to $ 113.75 a barrel at 1030 GMT, after pushing to year intraday high of $ 114.39 followings News That heavy fighting in Libya HAD Forced shut down of The One Of Biggest icts Refineries.

The refinery Zawiyah est la plus grande provider of gasoline in Libya, and has a total capacity of 120.000 barrels per day.

The market rallied after year aussi OPEC delegate Said The group saw Has No Need this year to hold emergency meeting to Chat icts raising oil output.

Leading OPEC producer Saudi Arabia pumping more oil Already IS - up to 9 million barrels per day (bpd).

"It's a fear trade," Said Michael Hewson, year analyst at CMC Markets."It's about the fear of contention Escalating unrest - There Is some concerns about how The Saudi Day of Rage will go on Friday.

He Said That Was Not Necessarily The supply issue, It Was The Perception That if more unrest in the Middle East spread, it could "affect Saudi Arabia, gold icts Ability to raise supply if The Need Arises.

U.S. crude down 10 cents at WAS $ 104.92 as high inventoried key delivery point at Cushing, Oklahoma were weighed prices.It Had Reached Earlier year intraday high of $ 105.19.

Christopher Bellew, oil trader at year Bache Commodities in London, Said The Continuing Prolonged perception of disorder in Libya WAS aussi Driving the rally in Brent paydayloans.

"As the outlook for Western intervention looks less Likely - Which Would Bring to a quick conclusion Things - then we are looking at a Prolonged Struggle," he said.

"Gaddafi Might Defeat Opponents gradually history, or history Opponents Might end up going underground, fighting a guerrilla campaign Which Might INVOLVE blowing up pipelines' em to try to hurt Economically Gaddafi," he said.

Libyan tanks and Their Warplane Intensified Offensive Against Rebels on Tuesday Aiming to Recover Lost Territory, while World Power has regarded no-fly zone over-the-country.

Speaking on Television, Muammar Gaddafi Said That "the Libyan people" would take up arms Against Western Power If They Tried to enforce a no-fly zone.

The Pentagon Said thats the United States WAS Still Looking at a range of military options is Libya. Libyan oil trade has been "Virtually paralyzed as banks decline to clear payments in dollars due to U.S. sanctions.

U.S. crude climbed inventoried a larger-than-expected 3.8 million barrels in the Week to March 4, the American Petroleum Institute (API) Said on Tuesday, ahead of EIA statistics are due Wednesday at 1530 GMT.

(Additional reporting by Alejandro Barbajosa, editing by William Hardy)

Brent push to $ 114 have actually persistent Libya

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Greece slams Rating Agencies after Moody's cut

LONDON - Greece has Launched Against Credit Ratings Agencies tirade Monday after Moody's Downgraded icts Further below grade debt junk status, warning The bailed-out euro Country Might Have to restructure icts massive debts.

The agency Said It Is Lowering STC rating by Three notches to B1 from Ba1 and Warned It May cut again if The Government's Commitment to icts austerity program Wanes international gold Benefactors Become less Willing to support it - Greece WAS saved from bankruptcy last May after Accepting a euro110 billion ($ 154 billion) bailout from Partners in the U.S. & the International Monetary Fund.

The Greek Government's quick response and WAS critical.Moody's downgrade Said It Was "Completely Unjustified" and "does not Reflect year objective and balanced assessment Of The conditions Greece IS Presently facing."

"Ultimately, Moody's downgrading of Greece's debt Reveals More about the misaligned incentives & the Lack of accountability of credit rating Agencies Than The state genuine gold prospects of the Greek economy," it said.

That warning as well as "The Government's Economics Program May Not Intended The drop in yield debt and return to Growth, Moody's Noted The considerable difficulties in raising revenues has Greece payday loans.It Highlighted The Risk of more onerous conditions When The current bailout package ends in 2013.

"MoreOver, The Risk of a post-2013 Might Lead Restructuring the Greek Authorities and Investors to Participate in a voluntary exchange distressed Before That Time," Moody's Investor Services said.

The Greek Finance Ministry queried The timing And The Nature Of The multinotch downgrade, Describing Them as "incomprehensible."

Added That it Fails to Moody's analysis Properly take Into account the "upside impact" on the economy from The Government's fiscal consolidation and structural Reform Program.

"Having Completely Missed the build-up of risk That Led To The Global Financial Crisis in 2008, The Rating Agencies Are Now Competing With Each Other To Be The First to Identify Risks That Will Lead to the next crisis," it Added.

Moody's hand rivals, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings, spleen Greece's Slightly Higher at BB + though S & P has Recently Warned That It May Lower icts view soon.

____

Nicholas Paphitis in Athens Contributed to this story.

Greece slams Rating Agencies after Moody's cut

Arab unrest "could double oil price: minister

LONDON (AFP) - The price of a barrel of crude could "double If The unrest in the Arab world deteriorates, oil trader Turned British international development minister Alan Duncan Warned Saturday.

Duncan, Who has 30 years' business experience In The Gulf Told The Times newspaper thats the price of a barrel of crude "could top $ 200 (£ 123), well above-the-record high of $ 147 (£ 90) Reached in July 2008.

If Extremists Used The instability in the Arab world to bomb oil tankers, pipelines or Saudi reserves, prices could "Even hit $ 250 (£ 154) a barrel, Duncan said.

Said the Times analysts fear could "trigger Such highs Another recession in Britain.

"Saying I've been in Government for Two months ... $ 200 is if this is The Cards goes wrong, if anyone IS reckless and fomenting unrest. All I'm Predicting Is Danger," Said Duncan.

"It Could Be very serious.If crude oil doubles, you're going to Have a very serious spike (in petrol prices). Try living without it for a week. "

The British Government Is Under Pressure Over The Price at The Pump, With 63 Percent Of The cost going to the Exchequer.

If The Worst Happened, current prices of £ 1 cash advance.30 ($ 2.10, 1.50 euros) per liter at The Pump "could look like a luxury," Said Duncan, warning of £ 4 a liter.

"A Twittered-up generation now has massive power. All Arab countries are moving on. Purpose They Are All Different," he said.

"The Powers are shifting but you can not do it overnight. We Are Asking Them To Do At The flick of a switch What We Took centuries to do.

"The Majority Of These rulers are not Dictators. These Are Countries With Their own history and culture.Who are we to read? We must treat thesis Countries with Respect. "

The People Who want to go all unelected leaders should remember Iran, Duncan said.

"It did not work With The Shah, We Must Pray it works in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

"At the moment This Is secular, Economic and Demographic goal if it goes wrong you see Islamic fundamentalism Will Becoming the only vehicle for People's Grievances," he warned.

Arab unrest "could double oil price: minister

New Round of Stress Tests for European Banks

PARIS - The European banking regulator Wednesday Said That It Would start a new health check Of The region's banks and Friday we publish Would The results in June. It aussi Announced The Appointment of first chief icts.

The Test Will Be Conducted one has "broad number" of European banks and "will take SEVERAL months to run," the European Banking Authority, or EBA, Said in a statement.

Such stress tests, Measuring Banks' Ability to Withstand Economic shocks, Have Been Carried Out Twice After the Financial Crisis Struck goal failed to win investor confidence. Since The Last Round, published in July, balance sheet Further Have Problems emerged, notably at Spanish and Irish lenders.

The tests this year Will Be Run Against Two hypothetical scenarios économique: a "baseline" and an "enemy" Macroeconomic scenario to Assess The solvency of The Banks Involved.The opposite scenario, designed by The European Central Bank, Will Incorporate a "significant deviation From The baseline forecasts and country-specific shocks are real estate Prices, Interest Rates and sovereign debt prices.

The banking authority "Said It Would Provide Banks With Detail of the scenarios by The End of this week, after Which There Will Be a Period of feedback. The regulator plans to publish in full scenario The Macroeconomics, ALONGSIDE the Sample of Banks Involved, on March 18. Then it Expects to Provide more details On The Principles of the Methodology in April.

The regulator Said It Was Still discussing with Government "Remedial Measures That backstop member states Will put in place to address" any Weaknesses thats the May reveal stress test. "

European Officials are eager to Avoid Mishaps That Were Made in the exercise last year.The French economy minister Christine Lagarde Recently Said: "We Need to Improve Overall The Credibility Of The Process, And That includes communication range, scope, a combination of bottom-up, top-down quality control."

In parallel, European Supervisors are Conducting What are Known as liquidity tests.

Detailed examinations are testing thesis of a bank's liquid assets, Which Are the reserves of readily available assets and cash That Can Be Used to Pay Off at a Given Time Liabilities.

But The results published Will not Be Because Of Their sensitivity And The Fact That They Are Extremely Difficult to interpret. Theys changes from day to day and are hard to Harmonize Given the Range of accounting standards and balance sheet structures Across the region bad credit unsecured personal loans.

"It's impossible to Go Public With this data," Said a European regulator, Who Was not permitted to speak Publicly."There Would Be Too Much Information for speculator."

The statement Thursday did "not how whether The stress test results assessed is gold Would Be Audited by an external body, year after That has-been debated by European policy makers. Such auditor Year Could Be a private firm public entity gold Like the Bank for International Settlements.

In A Separate operation, the International Monetary Fund this year IS What It calls Conducting Financial Sector Assessment Programs in SEVERAL European economies, Germany and Britain Including. Thesis aussi Will Provide A detailed analysis of The Health of a country's banks. And this month, Federal Reserve plans to let U.S. banks know how THEY DID ITS MOST recent one round of stress tests. The Fed Gave The Bank One Economic scenario - a recession - to test Against Their Book.

Regardless cette Heightened global activity, There Are Still Concerns Among Observers That Broad Complex and Potentially Damaging trading activities Might increasingly migrate away from traditional banks, have steps up regulation, Toward What Is Called the Shadow Banking System, a loose term for gold operations FIRMS That specialize in offshore trading and Often exploiter.

The European Banking Authority Said That a Hungarian regulator, Adam Farkas, HAD ITS Been selected as first executive director. He Will Be in charge of the day-to-day operations and Will Remain in Office for Five Years, With The Possibility of one renewal.

Mr. Farkas Recently Served as chairman Of The Hungarian Financial Supervisory Authority and senior positions has Held at private banks, the National Bank of Hungary & the Budapest Stock Exchange. The appointment Needs to be confirmed by The European Parliament.

The Authority WAS Formed at the Start of this year in Response to the crisis year and in Attempt to Harmonize The Layer of bank supervision in the European Union. Its Board of Supervisors, The main decision-making body, including 27 voting members, one from EACH U.S. gold country.

The Authority has a aussi ESTABLISHED banking group stakeholder That Will Meet Annually oven times to COMMUNICATE WITH lenders. Internally, it has five Committees and one panel to support ITS work.

New Round of Stress Tests for European Banks

Indications: Stock Futures Rise; ISM data, Bernanke in focus

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - U.S. stocks rose further on Thursday, as worries about unrest in the Middle politique East eased, while data from China aussi cmd attention and Markets Awaited comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 32 points to 12.246, while the Standard & for Those Poor's 500 index 4.70 points to 1,330.80 Added.

For the Nasdaq 100 Futures Index Gained 9.50 points to 2,360.25.

Obama, Ban Ki-moon Chat Libya

President Obama puts With United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the White House to Discuss How to End the bloodshed in Libya.

Wall Street ended February on a High note Monday, helped by upbeat personal-Income Data and deal activity.

The Dow Industrials rose 2.8% in February, The Third straight monthly gain for the blue-chip barometer. The S & P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indexes ended aussi High on Monday and for all of February.

"We are starting to see less sensitivity to Ongoing Geopolitical Risks Associated with North Africa and the Middle East, and this, in conjunction With The desire to continue to buy U.S. equities is" any form of a dip, has helped to fuel buying The Latest Risk "Said Joel Kruger, strategist at Forex Capital Markets, in emailed comments.

Global Dow

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Global economic data Were aussi commanding attention on Tuesday, starting with Chinese manufacturing activity, showed a softening Which in February, According To Two surveys. See China Factory activity Losing momentum

"Additionally and ironically, The Latest, soft PMI data out of China has aussi helped risk appetite, With Some Interpreting The Weaker data as a potential [sign] That the People's Bank of China Will Be less aggressive With Their Monetary Tightening," Said Kruger .

At 10 am Eastern time, U.S. ISM manufacturing data for February are "scheduled for release, as well as" construction Spending for January. Auto sales data for February are due as well.

Economists polled by MarketWatch are forecasting year ISM reading of 61% Compared to 60 business card templates.8% in January.

"Indeed, after yesterday's strong Chicago (PMI) number, economists o Have Their forecast upped to 62, Which Would Be The Strongest reading sincere December 1983," Said Jim Reid, strategist With Deutsche Bank in a note to investors. The ISM manufacturing figure if I'm his horns high, That Would coincides With An S & P 500 level of around 1,400, he said.

"The current gap Between 1.327 and 1.400 Likely Reflect the Risk May Be thats the ISM near icts peak in this cycle and aussi thats the recent oil spike Will mean lower Readings In The months ahead," he said.

Also at 10 am Eastern time, top U.S. central banker Bernanke Will Deliver The Fed's semiannual Monetary Policy Report to Congress.

April crude oil rose 80 cents to future $ 97.77 a barrel in electronic trading is Globex. Crude Prices Have Stabilized Somewhat after Saudi Arabia Pledged to make up for "any shortfall in Libyan production.

Stocks in focus for Tuesday include Apple Inc.. , Which Is Expected to unveil latest icts iPad device is Wednesday in San Francisco, According to a Wall Street Journal report.

Shares of Sonus Networks Inc.. jumped in premarket trading 26% of the after the company released a strong Yearly revenue forecast late Monday.

Shares of AutoZone Inc.. edged up in premarket after The Company The Reported second-quarter earnings per share of $ 3.34 and same-store sales Said rose 7.1%. Quarterly revenue rose 10.3% to $ 1.7 trillion.

Shares of General Mills Inc.. Could Be aussi media in focus after a postponement Said The company IS Among Those Leading the bidding for a half-interest in yoghurt maker Yoplait. Nestle SA WAS aussi named as a Leading Company In The Process, According to Bloomberg News has deferral That Familiar With The persons Cited process.

Shares of JP Morgan Chase & Co.Could come in for investor scrutiny as well, after the Dow component has in Estimated Regulatory filing late Monday That legal Losses Could Total $ 4.5 up to one billion more Than current reserves.

In Europe, markets CEDED Earlier gains to trade flat Essentially, while Asian Markets Generally Higher HAD finished overnight.

Among Other commodities, gold for April delivery rose $ 10 to $ 1419.90 annually ounce.

Indications: Stock Futures Rise; ISM data, Bernanke in focus

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