Two Years of Health Care Reform: Millions Benefited, Millions Saved

Just two years after President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010, millions of Americans have already benefited from its sweeping reforms. While the new law’s provisions will not be fully implemented until 2014, it is making a difference by drastically improving access to higher-quality care, addressing rising health care costs, and protecting consumers.

Millions of Americans can now get the health insurance coverage they need thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

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Obama Strikes Back at Energy Critics

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Global Economy Growing at Fastest Pace in a Year

LONDON, March 5 (Reuters) - Global private sector activity grew at its fastest pace in a year last month as a strong improvement in the United States offset a drag from the euro zone, survey data showed on Monday. 

The Global Total Output index, produced by JPMorgan with the input of research and supply management organisations, was 55.5 in February, up from 54.5 in January, comfortably above the 50 mark that divides growth from contraction. 

"The world economy is gaining strength. The global PMI hit a one-year high in February, building on the gains of previous months, with momentum improving at both service providers and manufacturers," said David Hensley at JPMorgan.

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Bank Surge Sends Dow to Highest Level Since 2007

The Dow Jones industrial average is at its highest level since 2007 after a day of encouraging signs for the economy: Retail sales were strong, the Federal Reserve was optimistic and most of the nation's biggest banks got a clean bill of health.

The Dow surged nearly 218 points, its biggest gain of the year. The Nasdaq composite index also reached a milestone, closing above 3,000 for the first time since December 2000.

The government reported before the market opened that retail sales in February increased the most since September. Shortly after 2 p.m., the Federal Reserve said it expected the unemployment rate to keep falling.

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Smaller homebuilders seeing signs of rebound

(AP) NEW YORK -- Charles Ruma is suddenly busy. His company, Virginia Homes, is getting five to 10 visits from prospective homebuyers each weekend. During the last three years, he was lucky to get five in a month.

Stonecrest Homes, an Atlanta-based builder, sold 18 houses in January and February, up from two in the first two months of 2011, according to Jim Chapman, the company's chief financial officer. The Atlanta area was one of the hardest hit by the housing market crash.

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