TOP STORIES 
 
FED FINDS 31 BANKS ADEQUATELY CAPITALIZED 

The largest U.S. banks are strong enough to keep lending during a severe recession, the Federal Reserve said, a sign that many banks will soon get permission to return profits to investors by raising dividends or buying back shares.

 
ECB RAISES ITS ECONOMIC FORECASTS FOR EUROZONE 
 

The European Central Bank significantly raised its economic forecasts for this year and next in a sign of confidence that Europe--one of the global economy's trouble spots in recent years--is gaining strength even before the bank launches stimulus package.

 
U.S. STOCKS RISE WITH FOCUS ON BANKS, JOBS 
 

U.S. stocks post modest gains, breaking a 2-day slide, as the market digests a QE update from ECB's Draghi and prepares for the monthly payrolls data tomorrow. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 38 points to 18135.

 
JOBLESS CLAIMS RISE TO HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE MAY 
 

The number of Americans seeking first-time unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level since May, but harsh winter weather may be to blame for the recent spike.

 
GAP POSTS SURPRISE FEBRUARY SALES DECLINE 
 

Gap posted a surprise drop in February same-store sales as its Gap Global and Banana Republic divisions both reported declines. Sales declined 4% while analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had projected a 1.4% increase.

 
DELTA AIR LINES JET SKIDS OFF RUNWAY AT LA GUARDIA 
 

A Delta Air Lines jet skidded off a runway and struck a fence shortly after it landed in New York's La Guardia Airport, leading authorities to shut down the airport and ground hundreds of flights.

 
COSTCO PROFIT BEATS FORECASTS 
 

Costco Wholesale reported a better-than-expected 29% rise in earnings, to $598 million, or $1.35 a share, in the February quarter, boosted by a tax benefit and lower fuel prices. Shares up 2%.

 
ABBVIE TO BUY PHARMACYCLICS IN $21 BILLION DEAL 
 

AbbVie said it will buy cancer biotech Pharmacyclics in a $21 billion deal that returns the drug company to deal-making after backing away from a big tax-lowering takeover last year.

 
CBRE TO BUY JOHNSON CONTROLS UNIT 
 

CBRE Group, the world's largest commercial real-estate services company, is said to be negotiating to buy the division of Johnson Controls Inc. that manages 1.8 billion square feet of corporate real estate globally.

 
CHINA ON LONG, SLOW ROAD TO REFORM 
 

A new Chinese policy plan that promotes a shift to an economy driven by consumers and entrepreneurial vigor also recognizes that the transition from state spending and smokestack industries is years away.

 
CAMERON WARNS WEST PREPARED TO INCREASE RUSSIAN SANCTIONS 
 

British Prime Minister David Cameron said the West needs a tough, long-term response to Russia over tensions in Ukraine, warning that he and other leaders were prepared to take sanctions "to a whole different level" if Moscow ramps up its aggression.

 
 
 
 
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Heard on the Street 
ECB DIGS IN FOR A LONG QE HAUL 
 

The European Central Bank on Monday will start buying government bonds as part of a $66.49 billion-a-month asset-purchase program. And quantitative easing will be with investors for a good while yet, writes Richard Barley.

 
WSJ Blog 
5 THINGS TO WATCH IN THE FEBRUARY JOBS REPORT 
 

February's jobs report will be a test for whether the labor market can continue its impressive growth streak even in the face of global turmoil and icy conditions in parts of the country.