Business Today: S&P 500 finishes at 5-year high on economic data

	Click to View in Browser 01/4/2013 S&P 500 finishes at 5-year high on economic data NEW YORK (Reuters) - The benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index ended at a five-year high on Friday, lifted by reports showing employers kept up a steady pace of hiring workers and the vast services sector expanded at a brisk rate. Mediocre job growth points to slow grind for U.S. economy WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. employers kept their pace of hiring steady in December, falling short of the levels needed to bring down a still lofty unemployment rate and pointing to lackluster economic growth in 2013. Fed officials eye timeline for ending asset purchases NEW YORK/BALTIMORE (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve could be in a position to halt its asset purchases this year if the U.S. economy improves, a top Fed official said on Friday, while another warned the aggressive easing plan threatens the central bank's credibility. U.S. public schools cut 11,000 jobs in December WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Local U.S. governments cut jobs for the fourth straight month in December, including 11,000 in public schools, dragging down the nation's fragile economic recovery, jobs data showed on Friday. United Tech's Sikorsky sole bidder in U.S. helicopter contest WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force on Friday declined to confirm that it had received only one bid for a $6.8 billion helicopter competition that closed on Thursday, saying that information was "source selection sensitive." Exclusive: U.S. House panel probes SEC spending on consultants WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House Oversight Committee is probing the Securities and Exchange Commission's spending on outside consultants from Booz Allen Hamilton, saying it is concerned about possible waste. Clearwire investor steps up campaign against Sprint deal (Reuters) - A large Clearwire Corp shareholder said on Friday it plans to ask the U.S. telecoms regulator to block the sale of the wireless service provider to its majority owner, Sprint Nextel Corp , stepping up the investor's campaign against the deal. New rule could turn U.S. hedge funds into informers NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. financial regulators are pushing to turn hedge funds into informers on the white collar crime beat. Wal-Mart fires back at rivals over ad campaign (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc has gone on the defensive after some competitors accused the world's largest retailer of using inaccurate information in recent ad campaigns and filed complaints with state legal officials. U.S. senators seek probe into royalties on coal exports WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two influential U.S. senators have asked the Interior Department to examine whether coal companies are dodging hundreds of millions of dollars in royalty payments on lucrative sales to Asia, citing a Reuters investigation into the matter. Related Video Techquity: Facebook to benefit from Google deal with FTC Daily Digit: 155,000 new jobs Economic News Mediocre job growth points to slow grind for U.S. economy Fed officials eye timeline for ending asset purchases A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend