Reuters Money: Bernanke tells Congress Fed flexible on bond buying

	Click to View in Browser 07/17/2013 Bernanke tells Congress Fed flexible on bond buying WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday the U.S. central bank still expects to start scaling back its massive bond purchase program later this year, but he left open the option of changing that plan if the economic outlook shifted. Analysis: Higher interest rates? Not a problem for some U.S. stocks NEW YORK (Reuters) - So much for higher interest rates taking a bite out of the stock market. Bond yields have risen sharply in the last two months, but the U.S. stock market has more than survived, with the S&P 500 and Dow industrials notching new all-time highs this week. Employee stock purchase plans see uptick in post-Enron era CHICAGO (Reuters) - Invesco is a big believer in employee ownership. But in 2005, the investment management giant dropped a feature in its 401(k) plan that allowed employees to accumulate its shares in their retirement accounts. Analysis: Top fund managers were blindsided by U.S. bond market carnage (Reuters) - The plunge in the U.S. Treasuries market in the past couple of months may well have been one of the most well-telegraphed reversals in financial market history. U.S. prime money funds cut European exposure in June: JPMorgan NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. prime money market funds reduced their holdings of European bank debt in June as investors favored government securities over money funds at quarter-end, according to a report by JPMorgan Securities released on Wednesday. Housing starts fall to ten-month low WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. housing starts and permits for future home construction unexpectedly fell in June, offering further evidence of a sharp slowdown in economic activity in the second quarter. Schwab clients timid even as equities soar NEW YORK (Reuters) - Birds still fly south in winter, but retail investors no longer plow into individual stocks when the market is on a tear. Financial advisers warn bond clients to brace for losses NEW YORK (Reuters) - Last month, Houston-based financial adviser Gene Theobald picked up the phone and began making calls to clients, telling them to expect a reality check in their June account statement. Column: Gold still not the best inflation fighter CHICAGO (Reuters) - As U.S. interest rates have risen, owning gold has been a loser's game for anyone is trying to hedge against inflation. Blackstone readies fund to let retail clients access hedge funds BOSTON (Reuters) - Blackstone Group LP, one of the world's biggest hedge fund investors, is now giving retail clients a taste of these normally exclusive portfolios through a new mutual fund. Related Video How to play banker on the web Big dividends can mask big risks - Money Clip Business News Wall Street opens higher after Bernanke Bernanke tells Congress Fed flexible on bond buying The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. 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