(Adds Breakingviews link, updates share price)By Sweta Singh and Elizabeth DiltsJan 17 (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp's quarterly profit was nearly chopped in half by tax-related charges but the lender's management promised the new U.S. tax system would eventually benefit shareholders. The tax overhaul, signed by U.S. President Donald Trump late in December, is taking a chunk out of Wall Street...Read More

Stocks made up for yesterday's losses during today's trading, with the Dow touching a fresh record high to mark its first close above 26,000.The blue-chip index skyrocketed more than 300 points by the closing bell, marking its best session since late November. A big day for Boeing (BA) stock helped the Dow higher, overshadowing a negative earnings reaction for Goldman Sachs (GS). A rally in tech...Read More

* Tech shares lead Wall St higher but Goldman, Bank of America lag* Dollar higher in choppy session* Oil edges up ahead of inventory data (Updates with U.S. market close, oil settlement prices)By Chuck MikolajczakNEW YORK, Jan 17 (Reuters) - World shares advanced on Wednesday to touch a record as Wall Street rallied on a rebound in technology shares while economic reports supported the dollar and...Read More

SANTIAGO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Output at BHP Billiton PLC's Escondida mine in Chile, the largest copper mine in the world, fell 7.8 percent in 2017 compared to the prior year due to a prolonged strike, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.The decline to 903,000 tonnes came despite the start of operations at a new wing.BHP said production in the second half of the year grew 29 percent to 583,...Read More

Jan 18 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set to rise on Thursday, taking their cue from Wall Street which climbed on higher earnings expectations.Investors' expectations for higher earnings lifted U.S. stocks across sectors on Wednesday, with the main Wall Street indexes all rising about one percent. Australian share price index futures rose 0.2 percent, or 9 points to 5,969, a 46.8-point discount...Read More

(Kitco News)- Selling pressure in gold picked up late in Wednesday’strading session as the U.S. dollar found some new momentum and equities see itsbest day in more than a month.Within a 30-minute period, more than 2 million ounceswere sold, pushing Comex gold futures prices to session lows. However, themarket continues to hold critical support levels, according to some analysts.February Gol...Read More

(Kitco News) - Selling pressure in gold picked up late in Wednesday’s trading session as the U.S. dollar found some new momentum and equities see its best day in more than a month.Within a 30-minute period, more than 2 million ounces were sold, pushing Comex gold futures prices to session lows. However, the market continues to hold critical support levels, according to some analysts.Februar...Read More

Jan 18 (Reuters) - Stock MarketsNet ChngStock MarketsNet ChngS&P/ASX 200** 6,015.8-32.8 NZX 50**8,297.67 47.13DJIA**26,115.65322.79NIKKEI**23,868.34-83.47Nasdaq**7,298.27974.594FTSE**7,725.43 -30.50S&P 500** 2,802.56 26.14 Hang Seng** 31,983.4178.66SPI 200 Fut 5,972.012.0STI** 3,541.91 -8.30SSEC**3,445.3578 8.76KOSPI** 2,515.43 -6.31---------------------------------------------------------...Read More

TORONTO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index ended higher on Wednesday, with banks among the most influential gainers as the Bank of Canada hiked interest rates while gold miners weighed as prices for the precious metal fell.The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index unofficially closed up 27.82 points, or 0.17 percent, at 16,326.70. Eight of its 10 main sectors gained. (Rep...Read More

Clinigen Group PLC (LON:CLIN) chief executive Shaun Chilton discusses the group's half year trading update with Proactive's Andrew Scott.Chilton says they're well positioned for another year of growth with trading at the halfway stage in line with expectations.Revenues were up 28% year-on-year, although the figure was distorted by what are called 'pass through costs' associated with the unlicensed...Read More

Earnings season kicks into high gear next week, with several high-profile names set to release fourth-quarter results. While Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) will represent its fellow FAANG stocks, several blue-chip companies will take turns in the limelight -- including embattled General Electric Company (NYSE:GE). Meanwhile, the economic calendar starts heating up mid-week, with all eyes on Friday's...Read More

NEW YORK, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Foreigners bought long-term U.S. securities for a fifth consecutive month in November, data from the U.S. Treasury Department showed on Wednesday.Offshore investors purchased $57.5 billion in long-term U.S assets after buying $26.2 billion in October. Including shorter-dated securities, overseas investors amassed $33.8 billion in November after buying $152.9 billion th...Read More

NEW YORK, Jan 17 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks jumped on Wednesday and the Dow closed above 26,000 for the first time as investors' expectations for higher earnings lifted stocks across sectors.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 322.79 points, or 1.25 percent, to 26,115.65, the S&P 500 gained 26.14 points, or 0.94 percent, to 2,802.56 and the Nasdaq Composite added 74.59 points, or 1.03 percent,...Read More

ALL TIMES IN EST/GMT -------------------------------------------------------0830/1330: The Labor Department issues weekly Jobless Claims.0830/1330: The Commerce Department issues Housing Starts for December.1000/1500: Freddie Mac issues weekly U.S. mortgage rates.1030/1530: The EIA issues weekly U.S. underground natural gas stocks.1100/1600: The Energy Information Administration issues weekly petr...Read More

MILAN, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank's Chief Supervisor Daniele Nouy was "inflexible" at a meeting with Italian lenders on Wednesday where topics such as bad loans were discussed, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.Italian banks piled up soured loans in a deep recession and are struggling to get rid of them as a clogged judicial system hampers recoveries and sal...Read More

* ECB officials raise concerns about surging common currency* Dollar finds respite but outlook remains grim* Cryptocurrency rout accelerates on clampdown worries* Canadian dollar weakens briefly as BOC rings cautious tone (Updates to late U.S. market action)By Richard LeongNEW YORK, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The euro fell on Wednesday, pulling back from a three-year high above $1.23 as some European Cent...Read More

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Major Canadian banks on Wednesday raised their prime lending rates, a benchmark for a wide range of consumer and commercial loans, after the country's central bank raised interest rates for the third time in seven months.Bank of Canada increased interest rates to 1.25 percent as job growth and firmer inflation outweighed the cloud of NAFTA uncertainty. Banks including Toronto-Do...Read More

(Refiles to add Moonves first name, title in 3rd paragraph)By Jessica ToonkelJan 17 (Reuters) - Shari Redstone has discussed adding new directors to the board of CBS Corp as she renews her push to merge the company with Viacom Inc , The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.CBS and Viacom are both controlled by ailing Sumner Redstone, 94, and his daughter Shari, through their privately owned mov...Read More

Getty ImagesSeveral districts noted in the Beige Book there was an elevated demand for construction labor. The Fed's verdict: The Federal Reserve said the pace of growth continues to be "modest to moderate" in its latest snapshot of the economy known as the Beige Book. The report covers late November to Jan. 8. Most districts reported "on-going labor market tightness and challenges finding qualif...Read More

It's another breakout session for stocks today, with the Dow up around 290 points at last check, and fresh of a new record high. Among individual equities moving higher with the broad market are electric car concern Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) and data storage platform Pure Storage Inc (NYSE:PSTG), though pay-TV operator DISH Network Corp (NASDAQ:DISH) is sitting out the day's rally. Here's a closer l...Read More