New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo will investigate Merrill's connection with the freezing of the ARS market.
The dollar continued its rise, gaining ground against the euro and rising to a nearly two-year high against the British pound.
Missouri securities regulators spearheaded the investigation into the firm's role in the market's February collapse.
The Reuters/University of Michigan survey fell to a reading of 61.7 in August, compared with 61.2 in June.
U.S. industrial production increased 0.2% in July following a 0.4% jump in June, according to the Fed.
Over the past 12 months, the annual inflation rate has risen 5.6%, marking the largest increase since January 1991.
The firm is accused of misleading an issuer of student loans in that state by urging it to buy auction rate securities.
The firms will buy back a total of about $7 billion of auction rate securities from retail investors.
H&R Block's more than 900 brokers and advisers will be added to Ameriprise's employee platform.
The amount of money that employees paid in to their defined contribution plans in the first half of 2008 increased.
ING Groep recorded a 25% decline in profits as it dealt with weak financial markets and write-downs from subprime mortgages.
July retail sales dipped 0.1% after rising 0.3% in June, with the drop attributed to a 2.4% decline in the automotive industry.
In an unexpected move, the nation's trade imbalance in June fell to $56.8 billion, a 4.1% decline.
Walter A. Bell, Alabama’s insurance commissioner, announced that he will step down at the end of the month.
Conseco said that it plans to transfer Conseco Senior Health Insurance, its long-term care unit, to an independent trust.
The bank will separate its investment banking, global asset management and wealth management units.
Many are cutting back on medical care to cope with rising costs and a worsening economy, according to NAIC.
LPL Financial will increase its outgoing account transfer fees for retail accounts and termination fees by $20.
Raymond James' two primary broker-dealers are being scrutinized over ARS sales.
Qualifying investors will have the option of getting their claims heard by a three-person panel of arbitrators.
