Attorney Laurie Magid yesterday filed formal criminal charges against Joseph S. Forte, a Broomall investment manager who allegedly defrauded investors of $20 million in a scheme that collapsed late last year.

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Markets shrugged off a steady barrage of grim U.S. economic news to push oil prices above $35 a barrel Thursday, with a drop in the dollar encouraging investors to buy crude.

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Tim Geithners plan to make it compulsory for larger hedge funds to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to disclose information to the SEC about their investors and counter-parties, will probably cause some griping in the industry.

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Asian markets tumbled Monday as risk-averse investors dumped equities on reports the Obama administration has forced the departure of General Motors Corp.’s chief executive and suggested a “quick and surgical” bankruptcy for struggling U.S. car makers.

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Investors who say they lost money in an alleged Ponzi scheme perpetuated by Agape World Inc. have filed a lawsuit against Bank of America Inc. and several futures brokerage firms.

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* Agriculture’s peformance provides food for thought (Alice Ross, The Financial Times)

Investors looking for defensive assets, but concerned about the inflated price of gold and gilts, are now landing on soft commodities.

* ‘Employers’ questions were tip-off (Morning Call)

The scam: The employment listing scam — it’s one of the oldest in the book. We’ve Got Your Back reader John recently found himself looking at dubious employers, but he was savvy enough not to take their bait. Would you be that wise?

* The best lip treatments for less than $10 (Shannon Buonsanti, Orange County Register)

The quest for the perfect lip gloss is a powerful thing. Sharing with the world that you’ve found said lip gloss is even more powerful.

Investors have seen this before.Since the bear market began in late 2007, the Dow Jones industrial average has fallen into a pattern of huge declines, big gains, and then even larger declines. Four times, the market has rallied only to dissipate.This past week, the market made a fifth stab at recovery, logging its best performance in months after remarks from bank CEOs and economi…

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Investors take out short trades when they expect a currency to fall. In recent days, futures traders in the US have significantly increased their bets that the euro will fall against the dollar. Data released by the Washington-based Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Friday showed that the “net short position” of trades against the euro by hedge funds and speculators almost doubled in the …

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Investors take out short trades when they expect a currency to fall. In recent days, futures traders in the US have significantly increased their bets that the euro will fall against the dollar. Data released by the Washington-based Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Friday showed that the “net short position” of trades against the euro by hedge funds and speculators almost doubled in the …

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* European, British central banks cut half a point (George Frey)

The European Central Bank on Thursday cut its main interest rate by a half percentage point to 1.5 percent, dropping the cost of borrowing in the 16 countries that use the euro to a new record low amid grim economic news.The Frankfurt-based bank joined the Bank of England, which also cut its rates by a half percentage point, to a new low of 0.5 percent, and announced measures to go furth…

* Fear, Loathing and Commodities (Dave Kansas, Wall Street Journal)

Today s volatile, though mildly positive, trading this morning underscores the rampant fear in the marketplace. The cavalcade of difficult economic news, questions about the massive Obama budget and the seemingly futile search for a market bottom continues to create a massive headwind for investors.

* Sunshine returns after today’s clouds clear out (Niesha Lofing, Sacramento Bee)

Sunshine, a rare commodity lately, is expected to return to the region Friday, bringing warmer temperatures.

* FTSE 100 closes sharply higher (Graham Ruddick, Telegraph)

The prospect of a boost to demand from the economic powerhouse gave commodity stocks a lift. The FTSE 100 surged 133.78 to 3645.87 points as mining stocks rallied by as much as 20pc.

* Asda draws in bargain shoppers (Julia Finch, Guardian Unlimited)

The grocers viewed as the best for bargains are continuing to soar ahead of their rivals as shoppers search for ways to cut their weekly food bills.

* Falling commodity prices hurt Denver energy companies (Atlanta Business Chronicle)

Declining commodity prices hurt results in quarterly and year-end reports by energy companies based in Denver, released Thursday and late Wednesday.

* Sproing! Stocks Bounce Off Bottom Thanks to Obama Housing Plan (Sara Lepro)

Stocks broke a five-day losing streak Wednesday as hope spread that China and the U.S. are taking convincing action to restart their economies.

* Gold halts its losing streak (Bloomberg News)

US companies cut about 697,000 jobs last month, according to the ADP Employer Services gauge, and service industries contracted last month, indicating the recession is intensifying. Employers are slashing payrolls and consumers are reining in spending amid strained credit and battered housing and equity markets. Some investors buy gold as a haven from instability.

* London rally fades after China disappoints (Telegraph)

Commodity stocks were the main drivers of yesterday’s rally after hopes that Chinese authorities would move to stimulate growth in the world’s third largest economy.

* Optimism reverses five-day drop

NEW YORK — Stocks broke a five-day losing streak Wednesday as hope spread that China and the U.S. are taking convincing action to restart their economies. Prices for key commodities such as oil and copper also soared, lifting shares of industrial companies like Alcoa Inc. and Caterpillar Inc.