AP - A rally in financial stocks Thursday helped the market extend its grind higher to a third day.

Reuters - The S&P 500 hit a 17-month closing high as rising bank shares led a late rally that lifted stocks on Thursday, more than offsetting worries China may move to cool its overheating economy.

AP - Wall Street banks are seeking exemptions to proposed new financial derivatives rules that could shield more than half the trades that should be subject to disclosure, a federal regulator said Thursday.

Reuters - The appetite and sense of urgency for world financial reform have waned as markets have rebounded and the world economy has shown signs of recovering, the head of exchange operator NYSE Euronext said on Thursday.

AFP - FTSE 100 shares ended in the red on Thursday after the latest batch of mixed economic data and company reports.