Benzinga's Political Roundup

Germany's Constitutional Court rejected lawsuits aimed at blocking the country's participation in EU bailouts. President Obama's jobs program will inject over $300 billion into the economy next year. The government is proposing to give the USPS an extra three months to make a $5.5 billion...

The Department of Justice is continuing to have discussions with AT&T (NYSE: T) and T-Mobile USA over the merger between the two companies after the DOJ filed a suit to block the deal. An IMF analysis shows that marking the sovereign bonds of six Eurozone countries to market would cut tangible...

The FDIC is filing an objection to Bank of America's (NYSE: BAC) proposed $8.5 billion mortgage settlement. Lehman will ask a bankruptcy judge to allow creditors to vote on its $65 billion payout plan.

The SEC is asking oil and gas companies to provide information about fracking. The White House is reportedly considering the possibility of allowing homeowners with government-backed mortgages to refinance their loans at today's interest rates. The FCC has asked AT&T (NYSE: T) for more...

Moody's downgraded Japan's credit rating to Aa3 from Aa2, citing "large budget deficits and the build-up in Japanese government debt since the 2009 global recession." Angela Merkel rejected claims that Greece should provide collateral for its bailout. New York AG Eric Schneiderman has been...

Crude oil prices rose on reports out of Germany and China on better than expected data. St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said the Federal Reserve "would definitely take action," if U.S. deflation became a risk again. Japan PM Naoto Kan is likely to announce his resignation on Friday. A...

The Obama administration is putting pressure on New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to drop his opposition to a settlement with banks over foreclosure practices. Brent crude oil prices fell after reports came that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime may be close to falling. The Federal...

That chief records officer at the National Archives and Records Administration is criticizing Securities and Exchange Commission over destroying records. Christine Lagarde faces controversy after French judges said she appeared to be "personally" involved in a payout to a friend of Nicolas...

An enforcement lawyer at the SEC said the agency illegally destroyed thousands of files and documents. The Department of Justice is investigating whether Standard & Poor's improperly rated dozens of mortgage securities. Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) is fighting with the U.S. government to...

China promised to let foreign investors buy mainland shares and bonds. Raj Rajaratnam, who was convicted of all 14 criminal counts against him, lost a bid to have his convictions overturned.

In just a few minutes, we will get word from the meeting of Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel on the health of the European Union. The ex-marketing chief of Dutch grocer Royal Ahold NV pleaded guilty to conspiracy.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is look at the methodology Standard & Poor's used to cut the U.S.'s credit rating. The German government is becoming more open to the issuance of euro zone bonds.

The U.S. Postal Service has proposed cutting 120,000 jobs, and withdrawing its employees from federal health and retirement plans. The SEC has asked Standard & Poor's to disclose who within the company knew of its decision to downgrade U.S. debt. China's central bank announced today it would...

Federal Reserve officials are drawing up plans for U.S. banks that would be in line with the capital standards agreed to at Basel III. Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) is being probed by the SEC for possible violations of the foreign bribery law. The Obama administration has a new proposal to sell...

The Senate Banking committee is looking into the downgrade by Standard and Poor to the U.S. credit rating. China's inflation is the fastest it has been in three years, adding to concerns about potential central bank help. Education Management Corp. (NASDAQ: EDMC) is being sued for using improper...