(Reuters) - All three major stock indexes turned positive at mid-morning on Friday, erasing losses after a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stopped short of signaling more action to boost growth. The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dipped 3.03 points, or 0.03 percent, at 11,146.79. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 2.13 points, or 0.18 percent, at 1,161.40. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC added 25.99 points, or 1.07 percent, at 2,445.62.

• Read more

(Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday stopped short of signaling further action to boost the U.S. recovery, but said it was critical for the economy's health to reduce unemployment. Bernanke said the central bank had marked down its outlook for U.S. economic growth and made clear the policy focus was still on spurring a stronger recovery, but he did not provide any fresh details on steps the Fed could take.

• Read more

(Reuters) - The U.S. economy grew slower than previously thought in the second quarter as business inventories and exports were less robust, a government report showed on Friday, although consumer spending was revised up. Gross domestic product expanded at an annual rate of 1 percent the Commerce Department said, a downward revision of its prior estimate of 1.3 percent. It also said after-tax corporate profits rose at the fastest pace in a year.

• Read more

(Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment sank in August as consumers lost confidence in lawmakers' ability to stave off the threat of another recession, a survey released on Friday showed. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index edged up from its mid-August level but was still consistent with recession-era lows. The index has only been lower in three other surveys, which were taken in April and May 1980 and November 2008.

• Read more

(Reuters) - Vice President Joe Biden said on Friday the U.S. economy needed more stimulus to get it moving, putting in a plug for government intervention shortly before the White House unveils new proposals to boost job growth. At the end of a trip to Asia, Biden said a final decision had not been made on whether Washington would sell Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan and noted Beijing knew America viewed its one-child policy as "abhorrent."

• Read more

(Reuters) - As far as investors can see, the outlook for Apple's shares remains as bright as an iPad screen despite the resignation of Steve Jobs, the company's legendary co-founder, as chief executive. But many investors worry that the outlook for the medium- to long-term has become very cloudy.

• Read more

(Reuters) - China has ordered banks to include their margin deposits in required reserves at the central bank to mop up excessive liquidity, banking sources said on Friday, the latest move in Beijing's campaign to rein in worrisome inflation. Commercial banks will be required to include margin deposits paid by their clients to secure the issuance of banker's acceptance, letters of guarantee and letters of credit in their required reserves.

• Read more

(Reuters) - Financial market pressure on the euro zone eased a little this week as Italy's borrowing costs fell and bank shares stabilized. But the bloc risks fresh market attacks, perhaps as soon as in the next few weeks, as it tries to implement promised steps to address its debt crisis. As euro zone officials struggle to finalize details of an agreement struck by their leaders at a July 21 summit -- a deal which was intended to draw a line under the crisis -- many investors are already demanding more radical solutions.

• Read more

(Reuters) - Stocks fell about 1 percent on Thursday on weakness in industrial and technology shares, but Berkshire Hathaway's investment in Bank of America lifted the beaten down financial sector. Apple Inc (AAPL.O) fell 2 percent to $368.75 a day after co-founder Steve Jobs resigned as chief executive, keeping the Nasdaq negative. Apple is also one of the biggest S&P 500 components.

• Read more

(Reuters) - Shares in Apple Inc were marked lower by investors on Thursday as the company faced a future without its founder and visionary Steve Jobs at the helm. Jobs resigned as CEO on Wednesday and passed the reins to his right-hand man Tim Cook, saying he could no longer fulfill his duties, but making no mention of the poor health that has forced him to take a back seat this year.

• Read more