Factory production in the United States unexpectedly declined in January by the most since May 2009, with severe winter weather likely playing a role in holding back the economy.
Less than two months into 2014, global investors pulled more money out of emerging-market stock and bond funds than the total amount they withdrew last year.
U.S. stocks rose to send benchmark indexes to their best gains this year, as claims for unemployment benefits fell and earnings from Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) to Akamai Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: AKAM) topped estimates.
Harmony Gold Mining Co. (NYSE: HMY) suffered a share-price drop of more than 5 percent Wednesday after announcing that nine of its employees are unaccounted after an underground fire.
American Electric Power (AEP) is a stock that investors may want to consider today because it offers an attactive 4.1 percent dividend yield and has been showing momentum by rising close to 8 percent so far this year when the market in general has fallen.
Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers a dividend yield of 2.4%, has fallen in price more than 8% so far this year and later this month will pay a dividend to shareholders of record today.