Futures jump 3% to trade near $73 a barrel, after a report that U.S. crude inventories fell more than expected last week. See full story.
Energy stocks up on bullish oil supply data
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - Energy stocks rose early Wednesday on a set of surprisingly bullish weekly U.S. oil supply numbers and ahead of an announcement on interest rates from the Federal Open Market Committee. See full story.
Ben Bernanke named Time's person of year
Time magazine names Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke its person of the year for 2009, saying the weak economy could have been far worse if not for the mild-mannered academic. See full story.
Time picks a winner with Bernanke
Time made the right choice when it picked Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke as Person of the Year, writes Jon Friedman. See full story.
Fed starts last policy meeting of year
Federal Reserve policy makers gather Tuesday afternoon for a two-day closed-door meeting, and economists expect the central bank will end the year on a steady note in order not to roil the skittish financial markets. See full story.
MARKETWATCH COMMENTARY
After recent optimistic comments about an upcoming rebound in technology initial public offerings by several Silicon Valley venture capitalists and investment bankers, I decided to see if the reality lived up to the hype -- and hope. See full story.
MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE
At U.S. workplaces, the holidays just aren't what they used to be. Companies are scaling back on holiday parties, if they're having one at all, and the annual holiday bonus -- a Christmas tradition for some workers -- is no longer so traditional.
