Today's Headlines

Bloomberg:
- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke signaled the US central bank is prepared to lower interest rates again even amid signs of accelerating inflation.
- US regulators for Fannie Mae(FNM) and Freddie Mac(FRE) removed limits on the companies’ $1.5 trillion mortgage portfolios, bringing an end to a restriction that stifled their ability to provide financing for the housing market.
- The risks to European economic growth are on the ‘downside’ and the inflation rate may rise further because of higher oil and other commodity prices, European Central Bank board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said. He said that the US economy would not likely slip into recession.
- Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s plans to increase taxes on wealthy foreigners living in Britain may prompt hedge funds to expand operations abroad instead of in the UK, a poll by accounting firm Phoros Management showed.
- Stony Brook University, part of the State University of New York, received a $60 million donation from hedge fund manager Jim Simons, former head of the schools’ mathematics department.
- High-yield, high-risk loan prices have rebounded as interbank lending rates steadied, according to Bank of America(BAC) analysts. The average price of US leveraged loans rose to 90.45 cents on the dollar yesterday, up from a low of 86.28 on Feb. 7, citing S&P LCD data.
- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended all children get vaccinated against influenza, expanding the number of people who should get flu shots by 50%.

NY Times:
- GM(GM) Voices Confidence in Lending Business.
- Now on the Campaign Trail, a Reined-In Bill Clinton.

Philadelphia Inquirer:
- The University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University are in serious talks with the Philadelphia School District to jointly operate two small high schools in University City – the first venture of its kind for the district at the high school level.