3xwy Blog

Reuters – Toronto’s main stock index pushed higher on Friday morning as Barrick Gold Corp and other gold miners rallied around record high gold prices, more than offsetting the index’s fall at the open on weak jobs data.

This week’s Planet Money reports deals with what economists call the “paradox of oil.” We’ll meet two men who work in the African nation of Angola. One is an American, who makes big money in the oil business. The other is an Angolan who sells chewing gum on the street.

Reuters – Starbucks Corp again reported stronger-than-expected quarterly profit, solidifying expectations the chain is turning around after closing cafes and slashing costs, and its shares rose 3 percent.

The U.S. is making progress in Afghanistan in places such as Helmand progress, but a shortage of troops may be hindering some of the work. There is also a long way to go in creating more Afghan soldiers and police, and ensuring the Afghan government provides services to the population.

Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., says al-Qaida and its extremist allies are enemies of the U.S. in Afghanistan. She says the Taliban not only is allied with al-Qaida, but poses a threat to the Afghan government.

AP – Rates for 30-year home loans dipped below 5 percent this week after rising for three straight weeks.

Reuters – A top U.S. securities regulator said on Thursday that she was concerned about naked access, where brokers give high-frequency traders unfiltered access to public markets.

French scientists report that two boys treated with gene therapy for a rare but fatal genetic disease have shown improvements. These results mark a high point for the field of gene therapy. Shown here, the area of the brain that was treated.

Reuters – BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd announced a share buyback worth up to $1.2 billion on Thursday, but analysts said competitive concerns will continue to exert pressure on the company’s stock.

The storm could dump as much as 20 inches of rain as it crosses eastern Nicaragua, with the risk of flash floods and mudslides, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.