President Barack Obama on Monday tapped Xerox Chief Executive Ursula Burns to help lead an education initiative aimed at helping students excel at science, technology, engineering and math.

Xerox Corp. is a step closer to acquiring Dallas-based Affiliated Computer Services Inc., now that the U.S. antitrust review period for the deal has expired.

By Kiyoshi Takenaka and Gilbert Kreijger

Stocks advanced Thursday as investors seemed to focus more on some big-name earnings beats and a rise in leading indicators instead of a disappointing jobless report. Travelers and MMM led the Dow.

Stocks advanced Thursday as investors seemed to focus more on some big-name earnings beats and a rise in leading indicators instead of a disappointing jobless report.

Stocks slipped Thursday as investors weighed a disappointing jobless-claims report and some encouraging earnings reports.

Earnings continue to come in largely above expectations, but other factors are waylaying the stock market's recent advances - ranging from Walmart's price cuts to analyst Richard Bove's downgrade of Wells Fargo to rising oil prices. 

Despite promises by President Barack Obama, more than 70 million Americans who have health insurance through their jobs could be open to higher costs or denials of some coverage under a leading overhaul plan making its way through Congress.

The corner office is getting a bit more bullish about the economy. While investors have been bidding up shares in the stock market for months, many chief executives and boards had privately remained skittish about their own businesses until recently.

Stocks snapped a three-day losing streak Monday as investors cheered a wave of merger-and-acquisition activity.

Stocks rallied Monday, after a three-day losing streak, as investors cheered a wave of merger-and-acquisition activity.

Futures swung to indicate a positive open for Wall Street on Monday, riding a wave of merger and acquisition activity and despite stocks in Europe and Asia falling.

Anne Mulcahy, chairman and former CEO of Xerox, said the uncertain economy has forced the company to remain cautious about spending and instead focus on making sure costs remain under control and that its balance sheet remains strong.

The Dow topped 9,000 for the first time since January as investors shrugged off a rise in jobless claims and cheered earnings from Ford and 3M. A third straight rise in existing-home sales also buoyed the market.

The Dow topped 9,000 for the first time since January as investors shrugged off a rise in jobless claims and cheered earnings from Ford and 3M. A third straight rise in existing-home sales also buoyed the market.