With politicians clamouring for the central bank to buy shares, the scheduled replacement next spring of Masaru Hayami, the Bank's governor, also weighed on a few officials' minds.

ECONOMIST: The Bank of Japan

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm in the counties of Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, and Saline.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Signs Arkansas Disaster Declaration