It News: Jonathan Frid remembered by Johnny Depp; ‘Catchin...

It News:
Jonathan Frid remembered by Johnny Depp; ‘Catchin...: Jonathan Frid remembered by Johnny Depp; ‘Catching Fire’ has a director    Jonathan Frid, from "Dark Shadows.” (AP/ABC) Johnny Depp has...

Jonathan Frid remembered by Johnny Depp; ‘Catching Fire’ has a director 
 


Jonathan Frid, from "Dark Shadows.” (AP/ABC) Johnny Depp has released a statement full of kind words for Jonathan Frid , the actor who played Barnabas Collins on the soap opera “Dark Shadows” and died last Friday. Depp plays the character in Tim Burton’s film adaptation, which hits theaters this May.


“Jonathan Frid was the reason I used to run home from school to watch ‘Dark Shadows,’” Depp said in a statement. “When I had the honor to finally meet him, as he so generously passed the torch of Barnabas to me, he was as elegant and magical as I had always imagined.  My deepest condolences to his family and friends. The world has lost a true original.”

By Sarah Anne Hughes

Erdogan warns Iraqi PM against stirring sectarian, ethnic tensions 


(Reuters) - Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused his Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki on Thursday of fanning tensions between Iraq's Shi'ites, Sunnis and Kurds through his "self-centered" ways and behavior toward coalition partners.


Erdogan made the blunt comments after a meeting in Istanbul with Masoud Barzani, the president of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, who has cultivated strong relations with Ankara.


"The developments in Iraq are not good signs, especially the current prime minister's behavior towards his coalition partners," Erdogan told a news conference, according to the Hurriyet newspaper website.


"His self-centered ways... are seriously disturbing Shi'ite groups, Barzani and Iraqi groups," Erdogan said, adding that he had discussed these issues with the Iraqi Kurdish leader.


Maliki, a Shi'ite, heads a fragile coalition along with Sunni Muslims and Kurds.


During his visit to Istanbul, Barzani had also been expected to meet fugitive Iraqi deputy president Tareq al-Hashemi, who has been accused of running Sunni death squads. The meeting could not be confirmed.


Sectarian tensions flared in Iraq after Maliki's government ordered Hashemi's arrest in December, renewing fears of a return to the bloodletting of 2006-2007.


Erdogan was speaking before leaving for Doha for talks with Qatari leaders that will focus on the crisis in Syria. Turkey is worried that the violence in Syria and growing tensions in Iraq could lead to a wider conflict between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims in the region.


Maliki's government warned Erdogan against interfering in Iraq's internal affairs after he made similar remarks in January.


Erdogan also said he had discussed with Barzani the long running separatist insurgency being waged by the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in southeast Turkey. PKK fighters operate from bases in northern Iraq, but Barzani assured Erdogan that his government shared Erodgan's desire for an end to the conflict.


"They were particularly disturbed by this issue and it's not possible for them to approve of the terrorist organization," Erdogan said.


Iraq is Turkey's second largest trading partner after Germany, with trade reaching $12 billion last year, more than half of which was with the Kurdistan region.


(Reporting by Seltem Iyigun; writing by Simon Cameron-Moore; Editing by Myra MacDonald)

 Pentagon: America will be ready if needed in Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. military leaders clearly expressed reluctance about using American might to stop the unending violence in Syria, insisting that diplomacy remains the best option to force President Bashar Assad to end the brutal crackdown on his own people.
Testifying before Congress, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlined the steps the United States and other countries are taking to pressure the Assad regime after 13 months of bloodshed that has left more than 9,000 dead, according to the United Nations, and displaced tens of thousands. The steps range from tough sanctions to shared intelligence to $25 million in emergency humanitarian assistance.
Dempsey said if called upon, the military would be ready to act and the services are working on ways to try to halt the violence. But both he and Panetta set a high threshold for U.S. military involvement in a war in the Middle East after decade-plus conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I think it's clear that the only way that the United States would get involved militarily is if there's a consensus in the international community to try to do something along those lines," Panetta told the House Armed Services Committee. "And then obviously ensure that the international community is able to get authorities required in order to make that happen."
Pressed later on the issue, Panetta said, "At this point in time ...a decision is that we will not have any boots on the ground and that we will not act unilaterally in that part of the world."
The Pentagon leaders' testimony came as representatives from Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, U.N. Security Council member Morocco and Qatar, plus Western powers such as the U.S., Britain and Germany, gathered in Paris to discuss ways of helping special envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan to end the violence in Syria. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was participating in the session.
Panetta said there were no easy solutions. "There is no silver bullet. I wish there was, but there isn't," he said.
At the same time, the Pentagon chief insisted that Assad's days are numbered despite his formidable hold on power. The former CIA director said U.S. intelligence has concluded that the regime faces a broad-based insurgency that is striking back.
Assad "will be taken down," Panetta said.
In a bipartisan response, House Republicans and Democrats echoed the military leaders' reluctance about using force. Many members of the committee had challenged President Barack Obama last year after Obama dispatched the military to protect Libyans under siege in Benghazi. The rebel effort, with the help of NATO forces, toppled the decades-long regime of strongman Moammar Gadhafi.
Lawmakers complained that Obama failed to get congressional approval for his actions against Libya. Several members of the panel pressed Panetta on whether Obama would seek congressional authorization for any military operation against Syria.
"We won't take any action without proper legal authority," Panetta said, adding that Obama would act based on his constitutional powers and the War Powers Act.
The leaders of the committee cautioned against military force against Syria, acknowledging that the conditions created by Damascus were not comparable to Libya, with a united opposition and a united international community.
"I am not recommending U.S. military intervention, particularly in light of our grave budget situation, unless the national security threat was clear and present," said Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., the committee's chairman. "Nevertheless, these reflections lead me to wonder what the United States can do to stem the violence and hasten President Assad from power."
Rep. Adam Smith of Washington State, the panel's ranking Democrat, said the United States should support the Syrian people "but we must be extremely cautious as we discuss the potential for the use of military force."
Their comments highlighted the split in Congress on military action. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee and President Barack Obama's 2008 presidential rival, along with Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have been outspoken in calling for military airstrikes against Syria.
"Changing the military balance inside Syria requires the United States, in close coordination with our Turkish, Arab and other allies, to provide the Syrian opposition with the help they are pleading for to defend themselves. This can include training and equipping the Syrian opposition with weapons, providing them with tactical intelligence, and using airpower to target Assad's command-and-control and help the Syrian opposition to create safe zones inside Syria," the three said in a statement.
McCain and Graham also were among a bipartisan group of lawmakers who introduced a resolution Thursday condemning the Syrian government for crimes against humanity and urging the president to collect information about such crimes to be used in an appropriate tribunal.
"If we bear witness today, justice will come closer for the Syrian people," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., in introducing the resolution. "The president and government of Syria, its leaders, and senior officials who are responsible for crimes against humanity will be brought to account for such crimes."

By DONNA CASSATA, Associated Press

                      Facebook IPO Rumored to Hit Nasdaq on May 17


May 17 could be the day that Facebook makes its highly anticipated Wall Street debut, TechCrunch is reporting.
Citing multiple sources close to the company, TechCrunch said that Facebook's initial public offering (IPO) of stock will hit the Nasdaq on May 17, provided that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) gives it the green light. The new information seems to confirm earlier media reports that Facebook would list shares on the Nasdaq during the third week in May.
Facebook's IPO will value the company at around $100 billion, according to TechCrunch.
Facebook filed papers with the SEC in February for a $5 billion IPO, ending months of speculation that the social-networking giant was planning to go public. The filing revealed that the social network had 845 million users and was profitable for the past three years, bringing in revenue of $3.7 billion last year.
Facebook will trade under the ticker symbol "FB" on the Nasdaq, according to reports. The Nasdaq is also home to such tech giants such as Apple and Google, while the rival NYSE recently won the listings of LinkedIn and Pandora.
Facebook just last week had the tech world buzzing thanks to its $1 billion acquisition of mobile photo sharing app Instagram. That deal is expected to close later this quarter.
Also, Facebook just got the go-ahead for a massive expansion of its headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif, according to the Palo Alto Daily News. The Menlo Park City Council this week approved Facebook's plans to expand its 57-acre, nine-building campus. The expansion will allow Facebook to hire thousands of additional employees and bring in millions of dollars to the city.

.By Angela Moscaritolo

    WRAPUP 1-Lagarde sees deal in making on IMF funding

WASHINGTON, April 19 | Thu Apr 19, 2012 11:17am EDT
(Reuters) - International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said on Thursday she expects to win a big boost in funding to help the lender safeguard countries from the euro zone debt crisis now that Europe had taken significant steps on its own.
Calling the euro zone the "epicenter of potential risk" for a world economic recovery that is "timid and fragile," Lagarde also urged European Union policymakers to directly inject some of their bailout funds into troubled EU banks.

"We expect our firepower to be significantly increased as an outcome of this meeting," she said at a news conference to kick off the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank.

The IMF wants to secure at least $400 billion in new funding, which would double its firepower to deal with the euro zone debt crisis and any spillover to other countries.

So far, it has raised $320 billion - all from Europeans and Japan. It wants additional contributions from the leading emerging economies, which are resisting until they get some further assurance they will get a larger say in running the international lender.

A larger IMF war chest to safeguard countries outside of Europe that might run into trouble if the euro zone's troubles widened could help ease concerns in financial markets over the risk of global contagion.

Investors are worried the crisis could hit Italy and Spain, forcing them to join Greece, Ireland and Portugal as bailout recipients.

Markets are worried about Spain's ability to ratchet down its budget deficit as its economy shrinks. Global stocks fell on Thursday despite solid demand for Spanish bonds as investors remained skeptical about the fiscal soundness of the euro zone and softer-than-expected U.S. economic data damped sentiment.

Finance ministers from the BRICS group of leading emerging market nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - were scheduled to gather in Washington later on Thursday, and the prospect of further IMF financing was certain to be discussed.

China, Brazil and Russia have said they are willing to chip in but they want to get more voting power at the IMF in return.

When Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi said on Tuesday that Japan would contribute $60 billion in loans, he said there was no gap between China and Japan on IMF funding.

The Group of Seven developed nations were set to talk about bulking up the IMF's resources at an informal meeting later on Thursday, and the topic was set to be taken up by the Group of 20 developed and developing nations at a dinner and again at a meeting on Friday.

"Ensuring that the fund has sufficient resources to tackle rises and to promote global economic stability is in the interests of all our members," Lagarde said on Wednesday as she announced the latest in funding commitments.

She hopes to secure at least $400 billion at this week's meetings, which conclude on Saturday with a meeting of the IMF's steering committee and the joint IMF/World Bank Development Committee.

A rise in borrowing costs in Spain and Italy has lent urgency to the fundraising effort, and the IMF has warned the fallout from a broadening of the crisis could imperil the global economic recovery.

The United States has declined to provide fresh funds but on Wednesday it threw its weight behind the effort to raise more capital from other nations. Previously, it had pressed for bolder action from Europe first.

Lagarde said Europe had taken "significant steps" to combat the crisis and erect a financial firewall to contain it. "There is a little bit missing here or there but it shows significant determination to defend their currency zone."

In addition to bulking up its own bailout funds, the euro zone has said it would provide about $200 billion to the IMF.

Sweden said it would commit $10 billion and increase the amount to $14.7 billion later, while Denmark said it would give $7 billion. Norway pledged about $9.3 billion.

While Europe won some praise from Lagarde on Thursday, she said the region should enable its bailout fund to inject capital directly into banks.

"The European Stability Mechanism and European Financial Stability Facility could actually help in terms of recapitalization anywhere in the euro zone," she said. "What we are advocating is that this be done without channeling through the sovereigns."

By Lesley Wroughton

                                   US home sales fell in March, as market stays weak

US previously occupied home sales fell 2.6 percent, signaling housing market still weak

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Americans bought fewer previously owned homes in March, a sober reminder that the housing market remains weak.
The National Association of Realtors says home sales fell 2.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.48 million. That followed a revised 4.6 million sold in February.
A mild winter may have encouraged more people to buy earlier, essentially stealing sales from March.
January and February made up the best winter for sales in five years. The increase offered some encouragement ahead of the spring-buying season. Still, sales remain far below the 6 million per year that economists equate with healthy markets.
First-time buyers, who are critical to a housing recovery, rose to 33 percent of all purchases last month. In healthy markets, they make up at least 40 percent. 

By Derek Kravitz, AP Economics Writer

        IMF: States policy should take into account economic growth and financial stability

International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 17 financial monitoring report pointed out that the current uncertainty of the global economic environment, national fiscal policy must be to develop short-term growth space to face the vulnerability of the economy and rebuild the long-term space enhance the stability of the financial balance between. Some analysts believe that this is a dilemma for many countries.

Overall, the financial risks still exist, but more than six months ago the situation has improved. In many developed countries, debt ratios are at historically high levels and rising loan demand is still very high, the financial market is still in a state of alert, the downside risks have not eliminated.

In 2009, the national deficit and debt levels have almost reached the high point, at present, have begun to fall, but the overall level of debt is still in a higher position.

According to the prediction of the IM F, this year, the deficit of all developed countries from GDP4.3% down to 2.5%, 107% of the national public debt levels will be of GDP. Emerging economies such as China, India, Russia and Brazil are expected deficit for this year's average of 2.1 percent of GDP, national debt will fall to 36 percent of GDP.

In the major developed countries, the proportion accounted for by the Japanese deficit this year will be up to 10% and 8.7% in 2013. Since 2009, Japan ranks among the highly indebted government. The next two years, Japan's public debt-GDP ratio increased to 35.8 and 241.1%, respectively, although still the highest in the developed economies, but the forecast has been lowered. Due to the low growth in the past 20 years and several rounds of expenditure to stimulate the economy, Japan is by far the highest in the world. The majority of Japanese government bonds purchased by the Japanese people. Japan is the traditional savings, and enable the Government to bear the debt burden that other countries can not afford.

2012, the United States is expected that the deficit will reach 8.1 percent of GDP, public debt levels to 107% of GDP. UK deficit will reach 8% of G DP, the level of public debt to GDP of 88%.

In Europe, the 2012 deficit would reach 3.2 percent of GDP, lower than the 6.2 percent in 2010, but higher than the euro area set target of 3%. Germany is the better a country. This year's deficit of 0.8 percent, down from 4.3 percent in 2010, public debt to GDP of 79%. French deficit was 4.6 percent lower than the high point of 7.6 percent in 2009. The national debt level of 89%.

Greece is heavily indebted countries of the euro area, under the strict control of the IM F and the European Union rescue the terms of the 2012 deficit is expected to reach 7.2 percent of GDP, have more than halved compared to 2009, the level of public debt to 153% of GDP. Italy and Spain is Europe's more awkward for the State. After years of economic stagnation, the Italian national debt will reach 123% of GDP deficit level is relatively low, at 2.4%. The IM F is expected to Italy the next two years are unable to achieve a balanced budget, at least until 2018, the 2013 debt balance than the Italian Government promised five years later. The Spanish Government has recently formed a budget crunch consensus, hoping to reduce Spain's deficit from 8.5% of GDP to 5.3 percent, down from 11.2 percent in 2009, the level of public debt reached 79 percent of GDP this year. However, the goal of the new budget may lead to more sluggish economic growth.

The IM F in the latest report has been to improve the prediction of the next two years the global economy, but economic growth is still very fragile. Many governments face is to improve the sustain economic growth and reduce the deficit debt to maintain the dual problem of financial and monetary stability.

The IMF believes that the national policy-makers face the dilemma of policy choices for this background, IM, F put forward some suggestions.

For countries with fiscal space, the recent fiscal adjustment plan should avoid the formation of pressure on economic activity and employment. Although the countries have sufficient fiscal space to consider slowing down the pace of recent adjustment to reduce down the risk of the economy, further economic slowdown in countries with fiscal space should be allowed to self-stabilization mechanism to the free-running to allow the increase in the deficit, avoid excessive financial constraints, so as not to undermine the economic environment. In the medium term public finance should not affect the sustainable development.

For emerging market economies this year, the fiscal adjustment will be slower. Slowdown in economic growth, should be considered, this slow down is appropriate. The medium term, before the erosion of fiscal space should be rebuilt in order to retain the flexibility of lower future economic development.

In the short term, many countries have unpredictable impact is still fragile, which makes them almost no space to fix the policy error. Although the major powers, the debt ratio is expected in 2015 is expected to stabilize, however, retrogression there is a risk, which limits the policy options.

Countries in the current recession, new research shows the negative impact of fiscal adjustment is huge due to the weak economy during the multiplier effect, multiplier to adjust the debt ratio in the high-end, fiscal policy can be postponed. Therefore, as long as the conditions allow, the gradual but steady policy adjustment is the best. The adjustment must be public confidence and trust.

The Government's policy flexibility in the short term, the longer-term. Need to reduce the debt ratio shows that very few countries have a long-term fiscal space, therefore, the medium-term adjustment program becomes necessary.

By Source: Economic Information Daily　

• France, Spain clear bond auction hurdle

MADRID/PARIS (Reuters) - France and Spain sold all the bonds they wanted at auction on Thursday, though for Spain the cost was rising yields, indicating growing concerns the government will not be able to tame its deficit.
After a brief respite fuelled by a trillion euros of cash the European Central Bank (ECB) lent Europe's banks in December and February, markets are becoming nervous again about euro zone debt loads, with fears that Spain might follow Greece, Ireland and Portugal in needing a bailout from international lenders.
That has put pressure on bond yields in the region, notably for Spain and Italy.
The Spanish treasury said it sold 2.5 billion euros (2.0 billion pounds) of two bonds, taking its issuance to half its gross target for the year.

Stock futures signal higher Wall Street open

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open for equities on Wall Street on
Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq 100 rising 0.5 to 0.7 percent.
The Labor department releases first-time claims for jobless benefits for the week ended April 14 at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Economists forecast a total of 370,000 new filings, compared with 380,000 in the prior week.
On the earnings front, focus will be on the first quarter earnings of Bank of America (BAC.N), the second-largest U.S. bank. Wall Street has priced in a profit of 12 cents per share, down from 17 cents in the same period one year ago.
Other major companies announcing results include Morgan Stanley (MS.N), Microsoft (MSFT.O), Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX.N), Verizon (VZ.N) and DuPont (DD.N).
The Conference Board releases its report on March leading economic indicators at 10:00 a.m. EDT. Economists forecast a 0.2 percent rise, compared with a 0.7 percent gain in February.
National Association of Realtors (NAR) releases existing home sales for March at 10:00 a.m. EDT. Economists forecast a 4.62 million annualized unit total, versus 4.59 million units in February.
Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank releases April business activity survey at 10:00 a.m. EDT. Economists forecast a reading of 12.0, versus 12.5 in March.
China's economy has weathered the worst after reporting its slowest quarterly growth since the tail-end of the financial crisis in the first three months of 2012, and is heading for a rebound in coming months, a Reuters poll showed.
U.S. oil major ExxonMobil (XOM.N) and Russia's Rosneft (ROSN.M) unveiled an offshore exploration partnership on Wednesday that could invest upward of $500 billion in developing Russia's vast energy reserves in the Arctic and Black Sea.
EBay Inc (EBAY.O) said quarterly sales and profit grew more than expected and raised its 2012 forecasts, citing growth in the e-commerce company's Marketplaces and PayPal businesses.
Marriott International Inc (MAR.N) reported a higher quarterly profit late on Wednesday as corporate business strengthened, and the hotelier raised its forecast for a key revenue metric, sending its shares up in extended trading.
Europe's top shares (.FTEU3) rose 0.6 percent on Thursday as Spain prepared to test investors appetite for risk at its bond auction.
Spain will pay dearly for longer-term debt on Thursday when it auctions a 10-year bond for only the second time this year to markets spooked by fears it will miss deficit targets and fail to restart growth.
The Dow Jones industrial average (DJI:^DJI - News) dropped 82.79 points, or 0.63 percent, to close at 13,032.75 on Wednesday. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (MXP:^GSPC - News) shed 5.64 points, or 0.41 percent, to 1,385.14. The Nasdaq Composite Index (NAS:^COMP) slipped 11.37 points, or 0.37 percent, to 3,031.45.
(Reporting by Atul Prakash. Editing by Jeremy Gaunt.)

Warren Buffett is going to die

Spain Needs No Bailout? EU Officials Doth Protest Too Mu

By Aaron Task
After a one-day reprieve, and a big rally in the Dow, financial markets were backsliding again Wednesday amid ongoing concerns about Europe generally and Spain particularly.
In Europe, major bourses fell after separate reports showed weaker-than-expected construction data for the EU and Italy. U.S. stocks slid from the open and were lower in recent trading, albeit modestly, with weakness in tech giants IBM and Intel weighing on major averages.

Buffett Cancer Diagnosis: The Real Question Facing Investors Now

By Jeff Macke
The trading world trembled after the bell yesterday with the disclosure that Berkshire Hathaway (BRK) Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett has stage 1 prostate cancer. Berkshire's A and B class shares immediately dropped after regular trading on the cancer headline. The shares recovered most of the drop after details revealed that the illness isn't life-threatening and that Buffett intends to conduct business as usual.
Predictably, the news revived the constant debate on Berkshire Hathaway's succession plan and on precisely how much of a Buffett Premium is built into BRK shares. In the attached clip I discuss with my Yahoo! Finance colleague, Aaron Task of The Daily Ticker, why most of this conversation is

Wall Street lower as IBM, Intel drag
By Chuck Mikolajczak | Reuters – 15 minutes ago
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were lower on Wednesday after the S&P 500 notched its biggest gain in a month,
weighed down by IBM and Intel after their quarterly results.
The benchmark S&P on Tuesday climbed 1.55 percent, its biggest percentage gain since March 13, as Coca-Cola Co
round of solid earnings reports and on easing concerns over the euro zone debt crisis.
"Investors don't like volatility but large run-ups can be equally unsettling too because investors question if that is going to
hold," said Tim Speiss, a partner at Eisner Amper in New York.
According to Thomson Reuters data, 22 companies in the S&P 500 were expected to report on Wednesday, including
American Express Co , Qualcomm Inc and eBay Inc after the close.
Of the 56 S&P 500 companies reporting through Wednesday morning, 79 percent beat Wall Street estimates.
International Business Machines Corp and Intel were the biggest drags on the Dow after the technology bellwethers posted
quarterly results late Tuesday. IBM lost 2.4 percent to $202.56 and Intel fell 2 percent to $27.88. The
semiconductor index <.SOX> declined 1.5 percent.
"Investors should not overreact to positive news nor should they be overreacting to really what could be viewed as isolated
earnings reports. One report does not make a trend, unfortunately," said Speiss.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 56.99 points, or 0.43 percent, to 13,058.55. The Standard & Poor's 500
Index <.SPX> lost 4.68 points, or 0.34 percent, to 1,386.10. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> fell 6.36 points, or 0.21
percent, to 3,036.46.
Yahoo Inc gained 3.3 percent to $15.51 after posting an uptick in revenue, its first quarterly sales growth in three years, as
new the chief executive outlined his plans to revamp the struggling Internet media cHalliburton Co advanced 4.1 percent to $34 after the world's No. 2 oilfield services company said North American revenue
reached a record high. The PHLX oil service sector <.OSX> gained 1.1 percent.
SXC Health Solutions Corp will buy pharmacy benefit manager Catalyst Health Solutions Inc
Catalyst jumped 30 percent to $82.64 and U.S.-listed shares of SXC Health climbed 6.5 percent to $85.50.
Genworth Financial Inc slid 18 percent to $6.32 and was the worst performer on the S&P 500 after the life and mortgage
insurer pushed back the initial public offering of an Australian unit.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc Chief Executive Warren Buffett said he has stage 1 prostate cancer that "is not remotely lifethreatening or even debilitating in any meaningful way." Berkshire Class B shares lost 1 percent to $80.03.
(Reporting By Chuck Mikolajczak; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)