NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are higher in afternoon trading on Wall Street, despite mixed earnings reports from General Motors, Proctor & Gamble and other companies. The Nasdaq composite has been trading above its record close of 5,048.62 in March 2000.
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are pushing trade legislation toward committee approval, despite demands from Democrats for stronger labor and environmental standards as well as a ban on currency manipulation by Asian nations. With the GOP in the majority, there is no doubt the “fast track” bill will clear the Ways and Means Committee. It would let the president reach trade agreements that Congress could approve or reject, but not change. A nearly identical measure passed the Senate Finance Committee last night.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a bill encouraging private companies to share information about cyberattacks with federal authorities. It offers protection from liability for companies that share information and follow certain procedures. The legislation will be merged with a related one the House passed yesterday and sent to the Senate, where similar legislation has bipartisan support.
DETROIT (AP) — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling 58,833 older cars and SUVs with manual transmissions. The recall covers 2006 Jeep Liberty and Wrangler SUVs and Dodge Viper cars produced between Feb. 15, 2005, and Sept. 14, 2006. Of those, 43,874 were sold in the U.S. The rest were sold in Canada, Mexico and overseas. FCA says a switch wire can break and cause the vehicles not to start.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Government scientists say more than a dozen regions in the country have experienced a rise in man-made earthquakes in recent years. A report released today found that 17 areas in eight states have seen small quakes triggered by oil and gas drilling. They include parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. The U.S. Geological Survey says most of the shaking is caused by the oil and gas industry injecting wastewater deep underground, which can activate dormant faults.