DEMS, GOP STAGE DUELING NY SENATE SESSIONS

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Evenly split political factions turned the New York Senate Tuesday into a two-ring legislative circus of sharp words, laughter and jeers, including a derisive "Duh," where Republicans and Democrats dueling for control held simultaneous sessions in the ornate chamber.

Democratic Gov. David Paterson ordered Tuesday's session to break a two-week stalemate and get the Senate moving on issues with June 30 deadlines, including bond financing, municipal taxes and mayoral control of New York City schools.
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WALL STREET P.M. 06.23.09:STOCKS REMAIN SLUGGISH

DJIA: -16.10 CLOSE 8322.91
S&P 500 +2.03 CLOSE 895.10
NASDAQ -1.27 CLOSE 1764.92

DOLLAR DROPS; S&P 500 GAINS;
DEMAND FOR TREASURIES UP
BLOOMBERG NEWS: The dollar fell by the most in six weeks against the euro, sending oil, gasoline, gold and sugar higher . . . Treasuries gained for a third day as the government’s sale of $40 billion of two-year notes drew higher-than-forecast demand . . . The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 0.2 percent to 895.10 . . . rebounding from its steepest loss in two months . . . Today’s U.S. stock trading fell to 8.12 billion shares, among the lowest volume days of this year . . . READ MORE

RECOVERY 'NOT YET EVEN NEAR'?
REUTERS: Bleak data from the United States and Europe suggested that leading economies may not yet even be near a recovery from a global recession. In the United States, sales of previously-owned homes rose at a lower-than-expected 2.4 percent pace in May, according to the National Association of Realtors . . . READ MORE