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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. Federal Reserve added $17.5 billion in temporary reserves to the banking system Monday through overnight repurchase agreements, or repos, through the New York Fed's Open Market Desk. "The large operations this morning are intended to offset the drain to reserves arising from an elevated balance in the Treasury's account at the Fed," the New York Fed said in a statement on its Web site. The Fed injected $13.5 billion through a 4-day repo, and $4 billion through a 2-day repo. "Clearly the Desk is looking to provide a lot of liquidity into the system for the turn of the year," wrote analysts at Action Economics.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Energy stocks drifted slightly lower at the open Monday, the final session of 2007, amid sharply lower volume. Early action saw shares of Delta Petroleum Corp. jump as much as 24% to $19.30 a share after Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. announced it was taking a 35% stake in the company at $19 a share. But the news failed to spur gains elsewhere in the group. The Amex Oil Index was off 0.2% at 1,574 points, the Philadelphia Oil Service Index was down 1% at 303, and the Amex Natural Gas Index was essentially unchanged at 580 points.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWtach) -- Stocks in the energy sector gained ground at the open Friday, turning higher on a rebound in the broad market and on another step up by crude-oil prices. Early action saw the Amex Oil Index rise 0.9% to 1,580, led by a 2% gain for Anadarko Petroleum Corp to a 52-week high. The Amex Natural Gas Index was up 1% at 581 and the Philadelphia Oil Service Index was up 0.8% at 307 points. Crude-oil for February delivery was up 84 cents at $97.46 a barrel in New York.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- The results of the Treasury Department's 3-month and 6-month bill auction show demand remains robust for risk-free short-term instruments ahead of the end of the year. The Treasury awarded $20 billion in 3-month bills at 3.28%, compared with last week's 3.0%. The bid-to-cover -- which measures bids received to bids tendered -- was 2.32, unchanged from last week. The indirect bid, a carefully watched category that includes foreign buyers, was 26.4%, up from 16.0% the week before. The Treasury also awarded $19 billion in 6-month bills at 3.49% compared with 3.28% last week. The indirect bid rose to 37.1% from 30.5% and the bid-to-cover rose to 2.61 from 2.34 last week. The auction "was well-bid, helped by the $2 billion cut in offering size to $39 billion, though light trading conditions limited demand," wrote analysts at Action Economics.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- The dollar ticked higher against the yen while losing ground against the euro Monday, but remained in recent ranges in extremely thin trading ahead of the Christmas holiday. "The U.S. economic calendar is empty on Monday, and we expect the greenback to remain rangebound through the morning session," wrote currency analysts at Action Economics. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was at 77.595, compared with 77.730 late Friday. The euro was trading at $1.4396, up from $1.4356 late Friday, while the pound was at $1.9773, down from $1.9810. Against Japan's currency, the dollar was buying 114.29 yen, up from 114.06 yen Friday.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- The dollar continued to gain on most of its major rivals Thursday, benefiting from thin market conditions ahead of next week's holiday and shrugging off downbeat weekly jobless claims data. "In these thinning markets, the price action can be treacherous, with sharp moves both directions. However, the underlying technical tone remains supportive of the U.S. dollar," wrote currency analysts at Brown Brothers Harriman. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was at 77.740, up from 77.590 late Wednesday. Against Japan's currency, the dollar was buying 113.19, compared with 113.38 yen Wednesday. The euro was trading at $1.4338, compared with $1.4377 late Wednesday, while the pound was at $1.9868, compared with $1.9965.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Technology stocks shook off early doldrums and headed north Wednesday, a session highlighted by Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. and Palm Inc. following the release of their respective financial results.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Oil and gas stocks moved mostly higher at the open Wednesday ahead of the weekly U.S. inventory report. The Amex Oil Index was up 0.5% at 1,496 points in early action, led by a 1.3% gain for Hess Corp. . The Amex Natural Gas Index was ahead 0.5% at 559 points and the Philadelphia Oil Service Index was up 0.2% at 287. Crude-oil for February delivery was trading 71 cents higher at $90.79 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Traders are expecting the Energy Information Administration to report a slightly bearish drop in U.S. crude-oil and heating oil inventories for the week ended Dec. 14.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Technology stocks put in a mixed early performance Wednesday, with Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. and Palm Inc. highlighting the sector's action. Take-Two shares rose 92 cents, or more than 5%, to $18.97 following its upbeat fourth-quarter report, which it delivered late Monday. Palm also reported results after Monday's market close, but its shares fell 56 cents, or more than 9%, to $5.36, after the company gave a weaker-than-expected earnings forecast. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index fell 4.5 points to 2,591.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Fitch Ratings said Friday it revised Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s rating outlook to stable from negative. The revision reflects the view that while Berkshire Hathaway continues to be exposed to very high risk that threatens the company's long-term financial and operating strategies, the duration over which this risk is likely to manifest itself is uncertain, Fitch said. The rating agency also cited a reduction in its concerns about investigations by the New York Attorney General's office and the Securities and Exchange Commission into non-traditional or loss mitigation insurance products sold by Berkshire Hathaway's insurance subsidiaries for its action. At the same time, Fitch affirmed Berkshire Hathaway's issuer default ratings at AAA.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Moody's Investors Service said its downgrade of Citigroup Inc.'s debt ratings was not a reflection of the company's move to consolidate its structured investment vehicles, The Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site Friday. The newspaper said Moody's commented on a conference call that Citigroup's move to bring $49 billion in assets onto its balance sheet would not likely result in serious losses.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Treasurys bonds were lower Thursday, pushing up yields, after economic data showed better-than-expected November retail sales and a rise in wholesale prices of 3.2% the largest change since August 1973. Inflation erodes the return on fixed-income assets. "The acceleration in price pressurse and little sign that the consumer has been fazed by the credit turmoil or the surge in gas prices has taken a bite out of rate cut hopes," wrote analysts at Action Economics. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note was down 10/32 at 100 30/32, with a yield of 4.135%. The 30-year bond was down 20/32 at 106 22/32 with a yield of 4.584%. The two-year note was down 2/32 at 99 29/32 with a yield of 3.170%.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- The dollar was mixed Wednesday, slipping against the euro and pound but jumping against the yen in line with growing risk appetite, as stocks surged on news the Federal Reserve will take coordinated steps with four other central banks to ease credit conditions. The special measures were "just the tonic the financial markets had been looking for and anticipating somewhat after reports overnight that the banks were cooking up a plan," wrote analysts at Action Economics. The dollar was buying 112.29 yen, up from 110.61 yen in late U.S. trading Tuesday. The euro was at $1.4685, up from $1.4657 in late U.S. trading Tuesday. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, was at 76.235, down from 76.265 late Tuesday. The pound sterling was at $2.0480, up from $2.0345 late Tuesday.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - The dollar was mixed in narrow ranges against major counterparts Tuesday, as investors await the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates to be announced at 2:15 Eastern. The central bank is expected to cut its benchmark by a quarter-point to 4.25%, and might also cut the discount rate. "Of interest will be the Fed's statement, whether they leave it much more open ended, or indicate that downside risks to the economy have risen," wrote analysts at Action Economics. The dollar was buying 111.60 yen, compared with 111.71 yen in late U.S. trading Monday. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, was at 76.100, compared with 76.070 late Monday. The euro was at $1.4704, compared with $1.4712 Monday, and the pound sterling was changing hands at $2.0472, compared with $2.0459 Monday.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Oil and gas stocks clung to a narrow trading range at the open Monday, much like the rest of the equities market. Early action saw the Amex Oil Index hovering within less than one percentage point of unchanged at 1,430 points, with Royal Dutch Shell breaking 1.5% lower to lead decliners at $80.21 a share. The Amex Natural Gas Index was up 0.2% at 540.9 points and the Philadelphia Oil Service Index was ahead 0.2% at 284.8. Crude-oil for January delivery was last trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at $88.20 a barrel, down 51 cents.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Billionaire investor Carl Icahn said in a statement Friday that the replacement of Ed Zander as Motorola Inc. chief executive was "long past due," and that the board's action does "not even begin to address the major problems at Motorola." Icahn said the telecom company should be split into four separate companies: namely, a mobile devices company, an enterprise mobility company, a connected home company, and a company focused on mobile networks infrastructure.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Fitch Ratings on Friday downgraded the senior unsecured notes of Six Flags Inc to CCC/RR6 from CCC+/RR5 because of weaker than expected operating performance. The ratings agency did not change the company's other ratings, and reiterated its negative outlook for Six Flags. About $2.5 billion in debt is affected by the rating action, Fitch said.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- The dollar was higher Wednesday compared to Tuesday's late U.S. trading levels, but it was off its overnight session highs after Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Donald Kohn said the central bank can be "nimble" and can't hold the economy hostage to teach speculators lessons, implying more interest rate cuts could lie ahead and weigh on the dollar. "The wide ranging and frank comments from the Fed VC suggest he would vote for further easing," wrote analysts at Action Economics. The euro was trading at $1.4757, down from $1.4824 late Tuesday but off its session low of $1.4711. The yen was lower in line with higher risk appetite after a solid opening on Wall Street, with the dollar buying 109.94 yen, up from 108.88 late Tuesday but below an earlier high of 110.08. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was at 75.505, up from 75.210 late Tuesday.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- U.S.-listed shares of overseas companies lost ground Monday, tracking seesaw action on Wall Street as optimism about the holiday shopping season became overshadowed by continuing trouble in the financial sector.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Prices of most Treasurys were narrowly lower Friday, pushing yields up, in line with higher stocks prices in a thin trading session that will finish early. "The flight to safety in recent sessions has given a big lift to Treasuries, and rich levels, combined with a rebound in equities, motivated some selling pressure in fixed income markets," wrote analysts at Action Economics. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note was down 5/32 at 101 27/32, with a yield of 4.025%. The two-year note was down 3/32 at 101 2/32 with a yield of 3.061%. But the 30-year bond was up 5/32 at 108 29/32 with a yield of 4.454%.