Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) is in talks to sell its part of a Japanese joint venture for $8 billion. (Reuters)

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) will release its iPad 2 today. (Reuters)

The SEC charged a former Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) director as part of its huge insider trading investigation. (Reuters)

Brent oil moved back above $115 and world stock markets fell. (Reuters)

Silver reached a 31-year high and gold hit a new peak. (Reuters)

The House of Representatives passed a bill to fund the federal government for two additional weeks. (Reuters)

Verizon Wireless indicated that a new version of the iPhone would charge customers based on data usage and not a flat plan. (Reuters)

TNK-BP has offered to buy 5% of BP plc’s (NYSE: BP) stake for $8.16 billion. (Reuters)

States may pass laws which allow online gambling although federal laws prohibit it. (WSJ)

Both parties endorsed a new study by the Government Accountability Office which say the federal government has a large number of agencies overlap and cause waste. (WSJ)

Nouriel Roubini’s consulting firm says as much as $100 billion in municipal bonds will default. (WSJ)

Merck (NYSE: MRK) disclosed that the FDA rejected its multiple sclerosis drug.

Ben Bernanke talked to Congress about plans to end the Federal Reserve’s stimulus program. (WSJ)

Carl Icahn is trying to get two more board seats at Dynegy (WSJ)

Groupon may have trouble in the Chinese markets like those other US online firms have faced. (WSJ)

Apple Inc will offer technology support for small businesses. (WSJ)

Nintendo will rely on new 3D technology to turn its sales around. (WSJ)

Manufacturing rates improved in the US and Europe. (WSJ)

GM (NYSE: GM), Toyota (NYSE: TM) and Nissan showed strong US sales for February. (WSJ)

The Pew Center on the States says states based budgets on overly optimistic revenue forecasts. (WSJ)

Federal regulators are pressing for down payments of at least 20% for loans labeled “low risk” (WSJ)

Twitter is trying to establish relationships with small advertisers. (WSJ)

The Motion Picture Association of American picked Chris Dodd as its new CEO (WSJ)

American Airlines (NYSE: AMR) cut capacity because of high fuel costs. (WSJ)

J Crew Group (NYSE:: JCG) approved a $3 billion buyout by its CEO and private equity interests. (WSJ)

Tobacco which contains menthol does not increase smoker health risk, according to the FDA (WSJ)

AIG (NYSE: AIG) will try to sell its large ownership stake in Met Life. (NYSE: MET) (WSJ)

The Energy Information Administration said US natural gas output hit a record last year. (WSJ)

Delinquency rates on commercial mortgage -backed securities rose. (WSJ)

Some consumers spent large amounts on their credits cards during the holiday season. (NYT)

The top ten hedge funds made over $28 billion last year. (FT)

LasVegas (NYSE: LVS) has been hit by a federal investigation of its finances which may hurt its prospects in China. (FT)

Cadillac moved ahead of Lexus, Mercedes, and BMW in US car sales. (Bloomberg)

Douglas A. McIntyre