Business Today: S&P 500 up for sixth week; fear index hits five year low

	Click to View in Browser 08/17/2012 S&P 500 up for sixth week; fear index hits five year low NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 held near a four-year high on Friday, and the market's key gauge of anxiety sank to its lowest since 2007, suggesting a belief that the problems stressing investors might be closer to a resolution. Consumer sentiment at three-month high in early August NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment improved in early August to the highest in three months as sales at retailers and low mortgage rates spurred Americans to boost their buying plans, a survey showed on Friday. Analysis: U.S. corporate earnings point to further gloom NEW YORK (Reuters) - Earnings season is drawing to a close and the results raise a number of worrying questions about the economy's direction. U.S. tightens reins on Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury on Friday revamped the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to curb chances the giant mortgage finance firms could emerge from government control as the powerful, profit-driven corporations they once were. American Airlines renews push to void pilot contracts (Reuters) - The parent of American Airlines on Friday renewed its push to void its collective bargaining agreement with its pilots' union, two days after a federal bankruptcy judge rejected an earlier effort. Apple fires closing shots in Samsung trial SAN JOSE, California (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics tried to impose an "unfair and unreasonable" royalty rate on Apple Inc for the use of its wireless patents in the iPhone, which would have stymied Apple's commercial prospects, a former Texas Instruments lawyer said on Friday. Facebook shares drop 4 percent, hit another low SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc shares sank as much 4.3 percent on Friday to set a new low, a day after early investors got the green light to sell for the first time. N.Y. Times CEO stands to make $6 million next year (Reuters) - Mark Thompson, the newly appointed chief executive of New York Times Co, stands to make $6 million next year, roughly six times more than he did at the BBC. Insider trading charges for former baseball star, two others NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. securities regulators on Friday charged Hall of Fame baseball player Eddie Murray with insider trading in shares of a medical device company, an allegation the former Baltimore Orioles first baseman settled by paying a $358,151 penalty. World No.1 copper mine Escondida H1 output up 18 percent SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Output from the world's largest copper mine, Chile's Escondida, jumped 18 percent in the first half of the year compared with the same period of 2011, to 533,242 tonnes on higher ore grades, mine activity and cathode output, the mine said on Friday. Related Video Anti-tobacco laws gain traction Wealth Strategies: Investors benefit from trading technology Economic News Consumer sentiment at three-month high in early August U.S. leading economic indicators rise in July 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