TOP STORIES 
 
BEIGE BOOK: HIRING AND CONSUMER SPENDING LOOK SOLID

The U.S. economy continued to expand across most of the country at the start of the year amid broad-based hiring and rising consumer spending, according the Fed's latest beige book survey of regional economic conditions..

 
U.S. STOCKS FALL AGAIN

U.S. stocks fell broadly for a second straight day after setting new highs on Monday. The Dow industrials slipped 106 points to 18097, the Nasdaq Composite shed 13 points to 4967 and the S&P 500 lost 9 points to 2099.

 
YELLEN FRETTED OVER WEAK RECOVERY IN 2009

Janet Yellen was doubtful in 2009 that an emerging U.S. economic recovery would be at all robust and argued regularly for the Fed to ramp up its efforts to boost growth, according to transcripts of 2009 policy meetings released by the central bank.

 
SILICON VALLEY WAGE SETTLEMENT GETS TENTATIVE OK

A judge in a closely watched court battle over alleged collusion on hiring among Silicon Valley technology giants gave preliminary approval to a $415 million settlement that will fund payouts to thousands of employees.

 
MCDONALD'S TO CURB SALES OF CHICKEN RAISED WITH ANTIBIOTICS

McDonald's said its U.S. restaurants will stop selling chicken raised with antibiotics that are important to human health, one of the biggest moves yet by a major food company to address growing concerns over antibiotic-resistant "super bugs."

 
ISM NON-MANUFACTURING INDEX EDGES UP

The ISM's non-manufacturing purchasing managers index came in at 56.9 in February, as the expansion in the U.S. non-manufacturing sector continued at a pace slightly better than expected last month.

 
PRIVATE BUSINESSES ADD 212K JOBS IN FEBRUARY

Private payrolls in the U.S. increased by 212,000 jobs in February, says the national employment report compiled by payroll processor ADP and forecasting firm Moody's Analytics.

 
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY RAISING AROUND 3B EUROS IN BOND SALE

Berkshire Hathaway expects to raise around 3 billion euros in its first euro-denominated bond sale as the company seeks out possible European acquisitions, said a person familiar with the company.

 
FDA APPROVES OPDIVO FOR LUNG CANCER

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it approved Bristol-Myers Squibb's drug Opdivo for lung cancer. The approval marks the first cancer immunotherapy drug approved for the disease, which is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.

 
GEORGE SAYS FED SHOULD RAISE RATES IN MIDDLE OF THE YEAR

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Esther George wants to see the central bank start raising short-term interest rates at some point over the summer, worrying that if Fed doesn't get moving soon future rate increases may have to be more aggressive.

 
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS BOOSTS CEO'S PAY 10%

Texas Instruments said Chief Executive Richard Templeton received total compensation valued at $15 million for 2014, up nearly 10% from the previous year. The increase came mainly in the form of option awards.

 
 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
The Wall Street Journal 
IRAN TALKS CLOSER ON ONE-YEAR NUCLEAR 'BREAKOUT' DEMAND

An understanding is said to be emerging between Iran and six major powers that a final nuclear deal between the two sides must be structured around a key Western demand--that Tehran stay at least a year away from amassing enough fuel for a nuclear weapon.

 
The Wall Street Journal 
NEGATIVE RATES TEST TECHNOLOGY AT EUROPEAN BANKS

From Sweden to Spain, banks, brokers and other financial firms are grappling with technical and legal glitches thrown up by negative rates, forcing them to redesign computer systems, tear up spreadsheets and redraft legal contracts.