Long-term interest rates will creep higher as the economy gradually gains strength. The wild card is Washington, where talks are under way to avert tax increases and government spending cuts scheduled to start in January.

The money manager's job is supposed to be straightforward: Take people's cash and put it to work. The more money that comes in, the bigger the manager's paycheck.

If Washington allows tax cuts to expire at the end of the year, taxes on dividends will nearly triple for the highest-paid Americans, leading to a possible collapse of the products.

The Dow Jones industrial average surged 286 points Wednesday, its best day this year.

U.S. stocks are opening higher after retailers reported better February sales and applications for unemployment benefits hit a four-year low.

Signs of growth in the U.S. economy combined with an unexpected interest rate cut in Europe to send the Dow Jones industrial average up more than 100 points for the second day in a row.

Stock indexes rose Wednesday after a steep two-day drop as international leaders scrambled to save a week-old plan to prevent a financial crisis in Europe. Strong corporate earnings and a bump up in hiring by private companies also helped turn markets around.

A wave of selling swept Wall Street and stock markets around the world Tuesday after the prime minister of Greece said he would let its people vote on an unpopular European plan to rescue the Greek economy.