TOP STORIES 
 
U.S. STOCKS END SHARPLY LOWER AS GDP GROWTH SLOWS 

U.S. stocks fell, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 posting their biggest monthly losses in a year. The DJIA fell 252 points to 17165.

 
U.S. OIL PRICES SURGE 8% 
 

U.S. oil prices surged more than 8% as traders jettisoned bearish bets against the market after data showed a steep drop in the number of rigs drilling for oil in the country--a sign the wave of crude may be starting to ebb.

 
U.S. GDP GROWTH SLOWS TO 2.6% 
 

Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.6% annual rate in the fourth quarter. The economy grew 5% in the third quarter and 4.6% in the second quarter after contracting in the first three months of the year.

 
CHEVRON HELPED BY REFINING, ASSET SALES 
 

Chevron posted its lowest quarterly profit in five years and said it would trim its ambitious spending plans as the collapse in oil prices erased billions of dollars in cash flow.

 
DISH SURPRISE WINNER IN WIRELESS SPECTRUM AUCTION 
 

AT&T topped all bidders in the government's record setting auction of wireless licenses. But Dish Network that may have pulled off the biggest coup.

 
IBM CEO ROMETTY TO GET $3.6 MILLION BONUS 
 

IBM said Chief Executive Virginia Rometty will receive a $3.6 million bonus for her performance in 2014, despite annual declines in profit and revenue at the computing giant.

 
SHAKE SHACK SURGES IN MARKET DEBUT 
 

Shares of Shake Shack, a restaurant chain known for its burgers and crinkle-cut fries, more than doubled in their market debut, indicating the appetite that investors have in so-called fast-casual restaurants.

 
BANK OF RUSSIA CUTS INTEREST RATES 
 

Russia's central bank surprised financial markets with a two-point cut in its key interest rate, sending the ruble lower even as the bank said the currency was showing signs of stabilization.

 
FED OFFICIALS: WHY WEAK INFLATION UNLIKELY TO DETER RATE HIKES 
 

Two central bankers explained why they both foresee a likely rise in rates despite an inflation environment that seemingly argues against such a move.

 
ALIBABA CLAIMS 'VINDICATION' AFTER SAIC'S STATEMENT ON COOPERATION 
 

Alibaba claimed vindication in a dispute with a Chinese government agency over alleged sales of fakes and other misdeeds on its sales platforms, after agency officials said the two sides would work together to stamp out counterfeit goods.

 
MONSANTO HOLDERS OK NONBINDING PROXY-ACCESS PROPOSAL 
 

Monsanto shareholders rejected a stockholder proposal urging the separation of the chairman and the chief-executive roles, but approved a nonbinding proposal requesting "proxy access" adoption.

 
 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
Politics 
ROMNEY WON'T RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2016 
 

Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, will not pursue another campaign for the White House. The former Massachusetts governor announced his decision on a conference call.

 
Earnings Preview 
OIL CRASH WILL TEST EXXON'S METTLE 
 

With less cash flow from lower oil prices, Exxon Mobil could defer spending on projects that look less lucrative, as peers Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell have done.