(Reuters) - Wall Street stocks rose on Thursday, with the Dow rebounding from its sharpest loss of the year, but gains were limited despite signs of an improving U.S. economy. Data showed unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week to a near four-year low, suggesting the labor market was finally strengthening.

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(Reuters) - The number of Americans filing for new jobless benefits fell to a near four-year low last week and factory activity in the Mid-Atlantic area grew in February, more evidence of sustained momentum in the economy. The economic outlook was brightened further by other data on Thursday showing builders breaking more ground on new residential projects in January, pointing to signs of life in the distressed housing market.

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(Reuters) - Moody's warned on Thursday it may cut the credit ratings of 17 global and 114 European financial institutions in another sign the impact of the euro zone government debt crisis is spreading throughout the global financial system. It was reviewing the long-term ratings and standalone credit assessments of a range of banks, Moody's added. Markets were unaffected by the Moody's announcement.

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(Reuters) - General Motors Co posted a weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter profit on disappointing performance in Europe and South America, but its pension shortfall was smaller than some analysts had feared. The U.S. automaker made far more money in its home market than Wall Street expected -- the North American unit's adjusted earnings almost doubled, to $1.5 billion -- and its shares rose 4.25 percent in morning trading.

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(Reuters) - The weak economic recovery has made it harder for banks to make money from loans but the financial conditions of smaller institutions appear to be solidifying, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday. "Despite some recent signs of improvement, the recovery has been frustratingly slow, constraining opportunities for profitable lending," Bernanke told a banking conference.

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(Reuters) - The S&P 500 index retreated from near a seven-month high Tuesday after weaker-than-expected January U.S. retail sales data curbed investors' appetite for risky assets. U.S. retail sales rose less than expected in January as consumers cut back on car purchases and shopped less online.

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(Reuters) - Business inventories rose 0.4 percent in December, reinforcing the view that fourth-quarter economic growth received a big boost from companies restocking their shelves. The Commerce Department said on Tuesday that inventories climbed to $1.56 trillion in December.

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(Reuters) - Rating agency Moody's warned it may cut the triple-A ratings of France, Britain and Austria and it downgraded six other European nations including Italy, Spain and Portugal, citing growing risks from Europe's debt crisis. Moody's move was less aggressive than rival agency Standard & Poor's, but its action puts London's prized top credit rating in jeopardy for the first time.

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(Reuters) - Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (KORS.N) reported higher quarterly results, helped by strong demand for its namesake luxury brand, sending shares of the designer apparel and accessory company up 23 percent. The company, named after its founder Michael Kors who is one of the judges on the long-running TV fashion show "Project Runway," also said it expects a fourth-quarter profit of 10 cents to 12 cents a share.

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(Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warned on Tuesday that Europe's debt problems along with the slowdown in other major economies present "potential impediments" to U.S. growth. "While the economy is regaining strength, we still face significant economic challenges," Geithner said in prepared remarks to the Senate Finance Committee.

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