AP - Here are the 20 most economically stressed counties with populations of at least 25,000 and their January 2010 Stress scores, according to The Associated Press Economic Stress Index:

AP - Sales of previously owned homes are likely to have fallen for the third straight month in February as bad weather and a shaky economy outweighed the government's attempt to prop up the market.

AP - The Dutch economic affairs minister has accused the U.S. government of being the most important hindrance to global trade talks, the so-called Doha round of negotiations which have dragged on for almost a decade.

Reuters - Central bankers should base policy on simple rules related to inflation and economic growth and not rely on hazy measures of economic slack in order to stay ahead of the curve, a senior U.S. Federal Reserve official said on Tuesday.

AFP - US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Tuesday said moves to 'fundamentally' reform government-backed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would have to wait for 'a time of greater market stability.'

Reuters - Sales of previously owned U.S. homes fell less than expected in February, according to a trade group report on Tuesday that underscored the fragile nature of the housing market's recovery.

AP - Kroger Co.'s CEOs says the grocer has more weapons than price in its arsenal in the fight for recession-pinched shoppers.

Reuters - Better regulation is needed to dissuade financial market players from taking excessive risks after the 'too big to fail problem' undermined discipline, a senior Federal Reserve official said on Tuesday.

AP - Finland's economy will grow 1.6 percent this year, the country's central bank said Tuesday, revising up a previous forecast for no growth until 2011.

AFP - US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Tuesday said moves to 'fundamentally' reform government-backed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would have to wait for 'a time of greater market stability.'

Reuters - Sales of previously owned homes fell slightly in February, according to a trade group report on Tuesday that underscored the fragile nature of the housing market's recovery.

AP - Edward Mueller, the chairman and CEO of Qwest Communications International Inc., was awarded compensation valued at nearly $12 million in 2009, a 5 percent increase from the previous year according to an Associated Press analysis of a regulatory filing.

AP - Hershey Co. CEO David J. West got a pay package that crept up by nearly 3 percent to $6.4 million during a strong year for the nation's second-largest candymaker.

Reuters - Pakistan has given a wish list to Washington ahead of high-level meetings, asking for pilotless drones and helicopters as well as talks on nuclear cooperation, said U.S. and Pakistani officials on Tuesday.

Reuters - Microfinance institutions should work to convince the poor to put their meager savings in bank deposits rather than under the mattress, so banks can become more profitable and make more loans, experts say.

Reuters - The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development is considering coming up with a code of conduct for banks on how they help clients with taxes, a senior official said on Wednesday.