Obama urged to make economy a bigger, bolder topic
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Five months into President Barack Obama's second term, allies and former top aides worry that his overarching goal of economic opportunity has been diminished, partly drowned out by controversies seized upon by Republicans in an effort to weaken him....

J.C. Penney, Stage Stores, ViaSat are big movers
NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Friday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market:...

News Summary: Stocks gain for fourth straight week
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT: Positive reports on leading economic indicators and consumer confidence gave the stock market a boost on Friday, helping stocks to their fourth consecutive week of gains....

GM stock rises above $33 for first time in 2 years
DETROIT (AP) -- 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....

How the Dow Jones industrial average fared Friday
Encouraging news about the U.S. economy pushed stock prices higher on Wall Street Friday. A gauge of future economic activity rose more than analysts had expected, as did a measure of consumer confidence, adding to evidence that the economy is steadily recovering. The Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor's 500 index ended higher for a fourth straight week....

Stocks rise on hopeful signs for the US economy
NEW YORK (AP) -- Encouraging news about the U.S. economy is extending the stock market's rally....

Gold prices sink for seventh day, near April low
Gold prices fell for a seventh day in a row on Friday, drawn down by a stronger U.S. dollar and better economic news....

Mexico cuts growth outlook from 3.5 to 3.1 percent
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- 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....

Oil rises above $96 on encouraging economic news
NEW YORK (AP) -- The price of oil rose to $96 a barrel on Friday on hopes that a steady recovery in the U.S. economy could boost fuel use....