Buybacks are a big factor behind stock market boom

It's the narcissist rally.

Hits and misses in Facebook's history

Facebook made its debut on the stock market a year ago on May 18 in one of the largest IPOs in history and the biggest for any Internet company.

Bernanke forecasts gains from computer technology

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says pessimists forecasting that the economy will not reap sizable benefits from the computer revolution are likely to be proven wrong.

Bank of Montreal ordered to fix oversight lapses

Federal regulators are ordering the Bank of Montreal to take steps to correct lapses in oversight that could allow the bank to be used for money laundering.

Pew survey questions Gen X, baby boomer savings

A research report by the Pew Charitable Trusts says younger baby boomers and Generation Xers face an uncertain retirement because of reduced savings, high levels of debt, and losses during the Great Recession.

GM stock rises above $33 for first time in 2 years

Shares of General Motors reached an important milestone on Friday, closing above their initial public offering price of $33 for the first time in more than two years.

Stocks rise on hopeful signs for the US economy

Encouraging news about the U.S. economy is extending the stock market's rally.

Bill clears House for wider SEC economic analyses

Legislation cleared the House on Friday that would place stricter requirements on the federal agency overseeing Wall Street to assess the costs and benefits of its regulations before they are issued.

Groups divided on Bangladesh safety overhauls

The nation's largest retail industry organization fired back Friday, outlining reasons why a legally binding global pact to make Bangladesh clothing factories safer would expose merchants to undue legal exposure. The move came as U.S. retailers face increasing pressure from a large coalition of religious groups and investors to work together to develop a plan.

Transocean shareholders oust chairman

Transocean Ltd. shareholders have voted out the oil drilling company's chairman and backed one of Carl Icahn's director nominees.

Cyprus drops limits on 8 more foreign banks

Cyprus on Friday got rid of limits on money transfers and withdrawals for international clients of another eight foreign banks doing business in the debt-laden country.

Business events scheduled for the coming week

TUESDAY, May 21

Mexico cuts growth outlook from 3.5 to 3.1 percent

The Mexican government says it has cut its economic growth forecast for 2013 from 3.5 percent to 3.1 after exports stagnated and first-quarter GDP figures came in weak.

US state unemployment rates in April, at a glance

Marketo jumps in 1st day trading on Nasdaq

Shares of Marketo, a provider of cloud-based marketing software, leaped in their trading debut on Friday.

US rig count is unchanged at 1,769

Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. remains unchanged this week, at 1,769.

Italian Cabinet passes first economic measures

Italy's new cross-party government has adopted its first measures to help the economy. They include suspending a tax on primary residences and allocating funds to extend a short-term layoff scheme.

Unemployment falls in 40 US states, rises in 3

Solid hiring helped lower unemployment rates in 40 U.S. states last month, the most since November. The declines show the job market is improving throughout most of the country.

Falling yen to make Japan's goods more affordable

Attention, bargain-hunters around the world: Japanese goods _ from cars to televisions _ are going on sale.

Bloomberg appoints ex-IBM CEO as privacy adviser

Bloomberg LP, the financial news and information service, on Friday said it has appointed Samuel Palmisano, the former CEO of IBM, as an independent adviser on its privacy and data standards.