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- Stocks recovered most of an early loss today and ended little changed, even after lawmakers in Cyprus rejected the terms of a highly unpopular bailout plan. The Dow closed up three points at 14,455, after dipping as much as 70 in the afternoon. The broader indexes closed slightly lower with the S&P 500 losing three points to 1,548 and the Nasdaq dropping eight points to 3,229.
- Cypriot lawmakers have rejected a critical draft bill that would have seized part of people's bank deposits in order to qualify for a vital international bailout. Hundreds of protesters outside Parliament cheered in jubilation and sang the national anthem when they heard the bill had not passed. Unless Cyprus comes up with an alternative plan to raise the money, it won't qualify for external rescue loans and the country could go bankrupt.
- Oil prices fell as Cyprus rejected the controversial bailout plan. Benchmark oil for April delivery fell $1.58 to finish at $92.16 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. At the gas pump the national average for a gallon of regular stayed around $3.69 -- down a penny from a week ago and 15 cents lower than a year ago.
- A new survey reveals half of workers have little or no confidence that they'll have a financially comfortable retirement. According to a survey by the nonprofit Employee Benefits Research Institute, retirement confidence levels remain at the record lows set last year, despite the improvement in the economy and the stock market. This was the organization's 23rd annual survey.
- Lululemon has yanked its popular black yoga pants from store shelves and online after it found that the sheer material used was revealing too much of its loyal customers. The see-through yoga garb is the latest in a series of quality glitches that threatens to alienate customers who have given clothing seller a fanatical following willing to shell out $100 for the pants.
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