Stocks Little Changed As Energy Gains Offset Small-cap Drop – Business – Northjersey.com

STOCKS GO NOWHERE: Here’s What You Need To Know – Yahoo Finance

Weight Watchers International Inc. plunged 13 percent as the Russell 2000 Index lost 0.5 percent. Bed Bath & Beyond rose 0.7 percent after Canaccord Genuity upgraded the shares to buy from hold. The company “turned in a strong showing” over the holiday season, based on store visits and surveys, Canaccord Genuity analyst Laura Champine wrote in a note.
Source: http://www.northjersey.com/news/business/stocks-little-changed-as-energy-gains-offset-small-cap-drop-1.1185324

Stocks begin New Year to the upside – Yahoo Finance

According to Charlie Brown at the NYSE, just about 650 million shares had traded hands as of midday, one of the slowest days of the year well, including the year we just finished, too. 2. The economic calendar wasn’t barren on the first trading day of the year, as we got manufacturing reports from both Markit and ISM, which showed that manufacturing activity remained in expansionary territory but slowed down in December. Markit’s report came in at 53.9, the slowest pace of expansion since January 2014, while ISM’s manufacturing PMI came in at 55.5, down from 58.7 in November. 3. With a late session rally, the S&P 500 tried to avoid doing something it hadn’t done since 2008, which was finish one year with a down day and start the next year with losses.
Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/stocks-nowhere-heres-know-210000886.html

There have also been signs that banks and homebuilders are coming back to life after consolidating for more than a year. In company-specific news, Linn Energy fell 7 percent after halving its investment plans in response to lower oil and gas prices. Cliffs Natural Resources, which had bullish call buying on Wednesday, also gained 4 percent before the opening bell. best stock to invest in today Oil fell about 2 percent and copper is fractionally lower. The U.S.
Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/stocks-begin-upside-131155700.html

Stocks Turn Lower Following Disappointing Economic Data – U.S. Commentary – NASDAQ.com

Other Markets In overseas trading, stock markets across the Asia-Pacific region moved mostly higher on Friday, although several markets remained closed on the day. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index surged up by 1.1 percent, while Australia’s All Ordinaries Index climbed by 0.5 percent. Meanwhile, the major European markets ended the day in the red. While the U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index fell by 0.3 percent, the German DAX Index and the French CAC 40 Index dropped by 0.4 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.
Source: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/stocks-turn-lower-following-disappointing-economic-data–us-commentary-20150102-00234

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Etf Preview: Etfs, Futures Higher As Jobless Claims Fall To Lowest Level In Seven Weeks – Nasdaq.com

Experts did away with the recent notion that ETFs are a better investment than betting on individual stocks on Wednesday. David Nelson, chief strategist of Belpointe Asset Management, a Greenwich-based wealth management firm, said investors should shift attention back to individual stocks from overall indexes. “We’re past the time of index investing,” he said in an interview on CNBC’s “Closing Bell.” “All the liquidity (the Fed) pumped in brought up the bad with the good, and we’re seeing less of that.” Read More 10 rookie ETFs that raked in the 2014 cash Peter Costa, president of Empire Executions, a New York City-based trading firm, said in the same interview he agreed with Nelson’s analysis. “In a growing market, everyone’s a genius,” he said.
Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/102294677?__source=yahoonews&par=yahoonews

Another first may include the introduction of non-transparent ETFs that will have an exemption from publishing their holdings on a daily basis. Several of these products are already in registration as offshoots of established actively managed mutual funds. The goal is to protect the investment managers best ideas, trade execution, and analytical capabilities from competition. However, it also takes away one of the strongest arguments for owning an ETF in which you know what you own at any given time. Expect the Unexpected It happens every year, but most investors often forget that new sector leaders have a way of coming out of left field .
Source: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/etf-trends-to-watch-for-in-2015-cm426411

ETF Trends To Watch For In 2015 – NASDAQ.com

Natural gas futures was down 1.2%. United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was down 1.0%. Gold was down 0.1% while silver was up 0.3%. Coca-Cola (KO) plans to cut at least 1,000 to 2,000 jobs in the coming weeks, according to a Tuesday report by The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed insiders.
Source: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/etf-preview-etfs-futures-higher-as-jobless-claims-fall-to-lowest-level-in-seven-weeks-cm426577

ETF Preview: Broad Market ETFs Gain in Line With Futures; Energy Funds Higher – NASDAQ.com

If, at any time, you are interested in reverting to our default settings, please select Default Setting above. If you have any questions or encounter any issues in changing your default settings, please email isfeedback@nasdaq.com . Please confirm your selection: You have online selected to change your default setting for the Quote Search. This will now be your default target page; unless you change your configuration again, or you delete your cookies.
Source: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/etf-preview-broad-market-etfs-gain-in-line-with-futures-energy-funds-higher-cm425974

3 Thriving ETFs with Over 500% AUM Growth in 2014 – ETF News And Commentary – Yahoo Finance

The economy expanded at a solid clip of 3.9% annually in the third quarter, up from the initial estimate of 3.5%, and was preceded by 4.6% growth in the second quarter. The country is also on track for the strongest annual job growth since late 1999. This suggests that the U.S. has emerged as a stronger nation trumping global economic concerns and geopolitical threats of 2014. Moreover, the Feds latest dovish comment that it is not in a hurry to raise interest rates has propelled the U.S. stocks higher.
Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-thriving-etfs-over-500-180006124.html

Obama Says North Korea Hacked Sony, Vows Response – Abc News

But there is no relation” to the hacking. On Saturday, North Korea proposed a joint investigation with the U.S. into the hacking attack. An unidentified Foreign Ministry spokesman in Pyongyang said the U.S. would face unspecified “grave consequences” if it rejects its proposal for the investigation. He also said North Korea knows how to prove it’s not responsible for the hacking.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/obama-north-korea-hacked-sony-vows-response-27732851

Obama warns N. Korea over Sony hack: ‘We will respond’ – Yahoo News

Korea over Sony hack: ‘We will respond’ By Susan Stumme 5 hours ago . . Washington (AFP) – US President Barack Obama warned North Korea it would face retaliation for a crippling cyber attack on Sony Pictures over an irreverent film comedy that infuriated Pyongyang. Obama said the movie giant had “made a mistake” in canceling the Christmas Day release of “The Interview,” a madcap romp about a CIA plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Sony defended its decision, made after anonymous hackers invoked the 9/11 attacks in threatening cinemas screening the film, prompting theater chains to say they would not risk showing it.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-warns-n-korea-over-sony-hack-respond-071225569.html

Obama blasts Guantanamo provisions as he signs defense bill – Yahoo News

The law authorizes funds for basic military operations, from a 1 percent pay raise for troops to the purchase of ships, aircraft and other war-fighting equipment. It also authorizes the training and equipping of moderate Syrian rebels battling the extremists for two years and provides $5 billion to train Iraqis battling the militants who brutally rule large sections of the two countries. The measure provides the core funding of $521.3 billion for the military and $63.7 billion for overseas operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Despite Obama’s objections, it maintains a ban on transferring terror continue suspects from the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba to the United States for prosecution or imprisonment. Obama issued a separate statement criticizing the ban on Guantanamo transfers in the defense bill and the government funding bill he signed earlier this week. Obama declared at the outset of his presidency that he wanted to close the detention center, but Congress has thwarted his efforts.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/obama-signs-massive-defense-spending-bill-27727923

Obama Renews Tax Breaks, Creates ABLE Accounts – ABC News

“As I have said many times, the continued operation of this detention facility weakens our national security by draining resources, damaging our relationships with key allies and partners and emboldening violent extremists. Closing the detention facility is a national imperative,” Obama said in a statement. “Instead of removing unwarranted and burdensome restrictions that curtail the executive branch’s options for managing the detainee population, this bill continues them.” Six years after Obama was elected having made a campaign promise to close the prison, 136 detainees still remain, 67 of whom have been cleared for release by either the Bush or Obama administrations. “The Guantanamo detention facility’s continued operation undermines our national security. We must close it,” Obama said. “I call on members from both sides of the aisle to work with us to bring this chapter of American history to a close.” The Guantanamo Bay prison — built to house terror suspects after the September 11, 2001 attacks — has long been controversial, both for the incarceration of uncharged and untried suspects and for the brutal interrogations of some detainees.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-blasts-guantanamo-provisions-signs-defense-bill-030409148.html

Obama Signs Massive Defense Spending Bill – ABC News

But the fate of the tax provisions beyond this year will again be uncertain. Congress routinely extends the package of tax breaks every year or two, but they were allowed to expire in January. The package will add nearly $42 billion to the budget deficit over the next decade, according to congressional estimates. The 54 tax breaks benefit big corporations and small businesses, as well as struggling homeowners and residents of states without a state income tax. More narrow provisions include tax breaks for filmmakers, racehorse owners and rum producers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands . House Republicans and Senate Democrats negotiated to make some of the tax breaks permanent.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/obama-renews-tax-breaks-creates-accounts-27727419

Obama On Garner Verdict: ‘we Are Not Going To Let Up’ – Cnn.com

“I’ve also been in touch with President Obama, as well as Mayor de Blasio regarding our decision. Prosecutors will conduct an independent, thorough, fair and expeditious investigation. In addition to performing our own investigative work, the department will conduct a complete review of the material gathered during the local investigation.” Obama also said law enforcement must improve training and become more accountable in order to strengthen relations within local communities. “We are going to take specific steps to improve the training and the work with state and local government when it comes to policing in communities of color,” Obama said. “We are going to be scrupulous in investigating cases where we are concerned about the partiality and accountability that’s taking place.” Rep. Peter King thanks Staten Island grand jury for ‘doing justice’ The President also said that unlike the recent tragedy in Ferguson, Missouri, video evidence of the police’s confrontation with Garner exists.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/03/politics/obama-eric-holder-on-eric-garner/index.html

<h3 http://www.obamastudentloanforgiveness.net style=”clear:both”>Obama Issues a Warning Over Xi Jinping’s Growing Power

Xis government in Beijing says it has the right to vet candidates for Hong Kongs top leadership role, an election plan that Hong Kong protesters say flouts democratic principles. Chinas official mouthpiece, the Peoples Daily, has accused the U.S. of being involved in Hong Kongs so-called Umbrella Revolution, which erupted in protest over Beijings restrictions on candidacy. The U.S. has said that it supports a meaningful choice of candidates for Hong Kong voters, but denies any involvement in the protests that have been going on for 68 days. Obama told the Chinese president at APEC that the U.S.
Source: http://time.com/3617581/obama-xi-jinping-china-hong-kong/

https://www.youtube.com/v/IeCY-jKpoZ0

Obama to announce choice of Ash Carter for defense chief Friday: White House – Yahoo News

Greg Abbott, as well as the Republican victors in Illinois, Maryland and Massachusetts, the Democratic winners in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, and Alaska’s newly elected independent governor. Abbott is leading the 17-state legal challenge of Obama’s recent executive action to halt deportations of the undocumented parents of U.S. citizens, arguing that immigration policy should be left in the hands of Congress. The meeting comes as part of Obama’s outreach effort after Democrats were trounced in November’s midterm elections. States could play a key role in cementing Obama’s legacy.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/04/politics/obama-meeting-governors-friday/index.html

Obama to name Ashton Carter as defense secretary – Yahoo News

View photo Former US deputy defense chief Ashton Carter, seen here in March 2013, is expected to be named defense Washington (AFP) – President Barack Obama on Friday will name former Pentagon deputy chief Ashton Carter to be his new defense secretary, a White House official said. If confirmed Carter would replace Chuck Hagel, who announced his resignation last month. Carter served as deputy defense secretary under Leon Panetta from October 2011 to December 2013. Politics & Government
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-name-ashton-carter-defense-secretary-111318551.html

Obama to announce choice of Ash Carter for defense chief Friday: White House

President Barack Obama will announce his choice of former Pentagon official Ash Carter to be his next secretary of defense on Friday, a White House official said. If confirmed by the Senate, Carter will replace former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel , who is stepping down from the role. Obama will make the announcement at 10 a.m. (1500 GMT) at the White House, the official said. Sources said earlier this week Obama had settled on Carter for the job. Carter previously served as deputy defense secretary from 2011 to 2013.
Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/102242835

Obama to meet immigration opponent Friday – CNN.com

President Barack Obama waves to the audience during the 92nd annual National Christmas Tree Lig WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will announce his choice of former Pentagon official Ash Carter to be his next secretary of defense on Friday, a White House official said. If confirmed by the Senate, Carter will replace former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, who is stepping down from the role. Obama will make the announcement at 10 a.m. (1500 GMT) at the White House, the official said. Sources said earlier this week Obama had settled on Carter for the job.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-announce-choice-ash-carter-defense-chief-friday-110408694.html

Premarkets: 5 Things To Know Before The Open – Dec. 4, 2014

Story Stocks from Briefing.com – Yahoo Finance

Gas prices for a lucky few have even fallen below $2 a gallon . 3. Earnings and economics: Dollar General ( DG ) and Sears ( SHLD ) will report quarterly earnings before the opening bell. American Eagle ( AEO ) and gun maker Smith & Wesson ( SWHC ) will report after the close. The U.S.
Source: http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/04/investing/premarket-stocks-trading-thursday/index.html?section=money_topstories

4. Wall Street strategists continue to publish their outlooks for 2015, with BMO Capital’s Brian Belski putting a year-end price target on the S&P 500 of 2,250, an 8.5% advance from current levels. Belski expects corporates to spend less on share buybacks and more investing in their businesses, which are dealing with equipment that is as old as its been in decades. 5. On Thursday, the European Central Bank is set to announce its latest monetary policy decision, and as has been the case over the last several months, the real focus will be on ECB president Mario Draghi’s press conference following the decision. During Draghi’s press conference, the market will look for any clues regarding the ECB’s intention to expand its current asset purchase program or embark on a full quantitative easing program involving the purchase of corporate bonds, as some in the market expect the ECB to eventually undertake. 6.
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/closing-bell-december-3-2014-12

Closing Bell, December 3 – Business Insider

The November tally is the 8th straight month of job gains in excess of 200K. Importantly, the tally for October was modestly revised higher. good stock to invest in The consensus expectation for Friday’s BLS report is for ‘headline’ gains of 230K, which includes government jobs that have been averaging in the 5K to 10K monthly level lately. As such, today’s ADP report wouldn’t have much bearing on current BLS estimates, though the two reports can divert in a big way from each other at times. This was particularly the case a few months back when the two reports diverged in a big way in August, though that month’s gap has since been narrowed a bit in subsequent revisions.
Source: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/stocks-are-looking-to-remain-almost-flat-economic-highlights-cm419427

U.S. Stocks Drop on ECB Statement as Energy Shares Slump

stocks fell, after benchmark indexes closed at records yesterday, as energy shares slumped and the European Central Bank said it will wait until next quarter before considering additional stimulus measures. Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. dropped more than 1.8 percent for the biggest losses in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. (INDU) Microsoft Corp.
Source: http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/topstocks/us-stocks-drop-as-ecb-to-reassess-stimulus-next-year/ar-BBgjRXN?srcref=rss

Stocks Are Looking To Remain Almost Flat – Economic Highlights – NASDAQ.com

An improvement in survival or disease-related symptoms has not been established. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trial. Beleodaq was approved by the FDA on July 3rd, nearly 5 weeks before the PDUFA date (August 9th). This indication was approved based on data from the multi-center, single-arm BELIEF trial in 120 evaluable patients, refractory to or who had failed at least one prior systemic therapy.
Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/story-stocks-briefing-com-112019114.html

Vanguard Intermediate -term Government Bond Etf (vgit) Ex-dividend Date Scheduled For December 01, 2014 – Nasdaq.com

A cash dividend payment of $1E-06 per share is scheduled to be paid on December 05, 2014. This represents an -100% decrease from the prior month. The previous trading day’s last sale of VGIT was $64.61, representing a -1.61% decrease from the 52 week high of $65.67 and a 4.14% increase over the 52 week low of $62.04. For more information on the declaration, record and payment dates, visit the VGIT Dividend History page. Our Dividend Calendar has the full list of stocks that have an ex-dividend today. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.
Source: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/vanguard-intermediate-term-government-bond-etf-vgit-ex-dividend-date-scheduled-for-december-01-2014-cm418021

Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) Ex-Dividend Date Scheduled for December 01, 2014 – NASDAQ.com

The firm offers more than 160 funds to U.S. investors and more than 100 additional funds, including ETFs, to clients in the other markets in which the firm operates. Vanguard operates under a unique operating structure. Unlike firms that are publicly held or owned by a small group of individuals, The Vanguard Group, Inc. is owned by Vanguard’s U.S.-domiciled funds and ETFs. Those funds, in turn, are owned by Vanguard clients.
Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/vanguard-announces-estimated-2014-annual-215900390.html

ETF Options For Greenback Rally – NASDAQ.com

We focus on the return and risk needs of insurance companies, corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, consultants, wealth managers, and high-net-worth investors. Our 250+ investment professionals perform rigorous research to understand market trends and identify undervalued opportunities in areas that are often complex and underfollowed. This approach to investment management has enabled us to deliver innovative strategies providing diversification and attractive long-term results. Read a fund’s prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) carefully before investing. It contains the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other information, which should be considered carefully before investing.
Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/guggenheim-investments-exchange-traded-funds-211937907.html

Vanguard Announces Estimated 2014 Annual Capital Gains Distributions for the Vanguard ETFs – Yahoo Finance

shale producer will go under. But it will take time.” Saudi Arabia’s oil minister told fellow OPEC members on Thursday they must combat the U.S. shale oil boom, arguing against cutting crude output in order to depress prices and undermine the profitability of North American producers. Traders said if U.S. crude took out the May 2010 low of $64.24, it could technically be headed for a test below $60, toward the low of $58.32 set on July 2009. “WTI could certainly be down a couple of dollars more next week, webpage and test newer lows from there,” said John Kilduff, partner at energy hedge fund Again Capital in New York.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oil-steadies-near-four-low-glut-looms-opec-162038750–finance.html

U.S. crude down 10 percent post-OPEC, Brent breaks below $70 – Yahoo News

A cash dividend payment of $1E-06 per share is scheduled to be paid on December 05, 2014. This represents an -100% decrease from the prior month. The previous trading day’s last sale of VCIT was $86.73, representing a -2.22% decrease from the 52 week high of $88.70 and a 5.03% increase over the 52 week low of $82.58. For more information on the declaration, record and payment dates, visit the VCIT Dividend History page. Our Dividend Calendar has the full list of stocks that have an ex-dividend today. Interested in gaining exposure to VCIT through an Exchange Traded Fund [ETF]?
Source: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/vanguard-intermediate-term-corporate-bond-etf-vcit-ex-dividend-date-scheduled-for-december-01-2014-cm418018

Guggenheim Investments Exchange-Traded Funds Declare Monthly Distributions – Yahoo Finance

There are a number of ways to benefit from the strength of the dollar via ETFs. Below are a number of ETFs that are directly affected by U.S. dollar and will likely be affected by its continued success relative to other currencies around the world. dollar against the six major world currencies: euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona and Swiss franc. The most heavily weighted currency in the portfolio is the euro at 58 percent, followed by the yen at 14 percent and the pound at 12 percent. The ETF is up 9 percent year to date and up 10 percent over the last six months.
Source: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/etf-options-for-greenback-rally-cm418060

Obama: From ‘deporter In Chief’ To ‘gracias’ – Yahoo News

He even ordered that documents be sent by courier to meeting participants, rather than emailed. Administration officials said Obama largely settled on the outlines of his plan this summer. But he kept pushing for more options to defer deportations for agricultural workers and parents of some young immigrants. For both groups, administration lawyers reached the same conclusion: Obama couldn’t legally do it. Three days after the election, Obama invited congressional leaders for lunch. Administration officials said Boehner made one last attempt to stop Obama, suggesting a possible House vote by the spring.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-deporter-chief-gracias-095625210.html

Obama expands US military role in Afghanistan | New York Post

I founded Power Presentations, Ltd. in 1988. One of my earliest efforts was the Cisco Systems IPO road show. Following its successful launch, Don Valentine, of Sequoia Capital and then chairman of Cisco’s Board of Directors, attributed “at least two to three dollars” of the offering price to my coaching. That endorsement led to nearly 600 other IPO roadshow presentations that have raised hundreds of billions of dollars in more.. the stock market. Over the last 25 years, my focus widened from coaching IPOs to include public and privately held companies.
Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jerryweissman/2014/11/21/obama-pulls-out-five-rhetorical-stops/

Obama Pulls Out Five Rhetorical Stops – Forbes

“It was very hard for women to get an education,” when she was growing up, the 94-year-old Obama says. “Only young boys or men were allowed to go to school.” But things are different in Kenya now, she says. United Nations data actually shows a higher percentage of Kenyan girls going to school than Kenyan boys . “I encourage them even the ones who have had families at a young age I encourage them to go to school so that the cycle of poverty can end,” Obama says. She sometimes uses her grandson as an example of the doors an education can open. Often, Obama says, she and her foundation provide much more than encouragement.
Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/11/22/365836945/obama-grandmother-continues-lifes-work-of-educating-young-kenyans?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=storiesfromnpr

Obama signs order expanding U.S. Afghanistan role: NYT – Yahoo News

Photo: AP MORE ON: President Obama has quietly ordered an expanded role for US troops in Afghanistan through 2015, including permission to target Taliban fighters in the war-torn country. Earlier plans had limited US soldiers to counterterrorism strikes against al Qaeda after this year. The decision wont affect the total number of US troops in Afghanistan, which will be about 9,800 by years end and half that by the end of 2015. The earlier plan would have only allowed attacks on Taliban if they threatened US forces or gave direct support to al Qaeda. To the extent that Taliban members directly threaten the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan or provide direct support to al Qaeda, however, we will take appropriate measures to keep Americans safe, a US official said. The Taliban is much more powerful in Afghanistan than al Qaeda.
Source: http://nypost.com/2014/11/22/obama-expands-us-military-role-in-afghanistan/

Obama to Ferguson: ‘Keep Protests Peaceful’ – ABC News

“I think first and foremost, keep protests peaceful,” Obama said in the interview, which was taped in Las Vegas after he delivered a speech about immigration. “This is a country that allows everybody to express their views, allows them to peacefully assemble, to protest actions that they think are unjust,” Obama said. “But using any event as an excuse for violence is contrary to rule of law, contrary to who we are.” The full interview is scheduled to air Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” The network released Obama’s comment about Ferguson on Friday night. A grand jury is deciding whether to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. The fatal shooting sparked days of sometimes violent protests in the St.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/obama-ferguson-protests-peaceful-27095113

Obama’s Step-Grandmother Continues Educating Young Kenyans : Goats and Soda : NPR

Obamas new order lets American forces execute missions against the Talibanand other militant groups threatening U.S. troops or the Afghan government. The new authorization also allows U.S. air strikes to support Afghan forces on combat missions and U.S. troops occasionally to accompany Afghan troops on operations against the Taliban. The Times did not mention if the change would affect the number of American troops deployed to Afghanistan.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-signs-order-expanding-u-afghanistan-role-nyt-053711618.html