• Three Fannie Mae execs out, shares rally earlier
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fannie Mae , the biggest U.S. mortgage finance company, on Wednesday announced a shake-up of top executives, including the exit of its chief financial officer, in an effort to better implement a plan to preserve capital and cut losses.

  

  

  
• Fed's Lockhart urges patience amid strained markets
  ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve must be "very vigilant" amid strained financial markets while exercising patience over interest rates as it waits for inflation to ease, a top Fed policy-maker said on Wednesday.

  

  

  
• Man accused in extortion scheme blames Blackstone
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - A man accused of trying to extort millions of dollars from his son-in-law, an executive of the Blackstone Group LP, on Wednesday blamed the private equity firm for his "malicious" arrest and charges.

  

  

  
• Strong data, financials drive stocks higher
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Wednesday as surprisingly strong data on durable goods orders soothed some concern about the sluggish economy while Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac led a rally in financial shares.

  

  

  
• U.S. seeks delay of civil case vs. Bear managers
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. federal prosecutors asked securities regulators to delay a civil case against two former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers while they hold grand jury hearings in building a criminal case against the pair.

  

  

  

Coverage includes breaking news, market reports, newsmaker interviews and key company profiles.

• Japan nuclear accident impact
  July 31 - Japan's killer earthquake left its biggest nuclear power company facing financial losses, supply questions, and demands for greater safety.
• Asia up as US fears ease
  July 31 - Asian stocks rose on Tuesday after a rebound on Wall Street, with the focus on earnings as credit fears eased.
• Transformers hit Japan
  Jul. 23 - The movie "Transformers" comes to Tokyo this week, a homecoming of sorts for the toy-robot film that earned over $260 million in three weeks in North America.
• Zoellick heads to Asia
  Jul. 26 - Newly appointed World Bank President Robert Zoellick will travel to Asia next week.
• Market's bumpy ride continues
  Jul. 30 - European markets experienced a up and down start to the week on Monday, while HSBC's results surprised.