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The Boston Globe

Business

Awaiting crucial news, investors hold back

Investors held back, awaiting news on policy meetings at the Fed and European Central Bank and US jobs data. There were big questions on whether the Fed will take more steps to energize the economy, and worries the ECB won’t act decisively. Earnings reports didn’t lift the mood: Aetna’s profit slumped 15%; Archer Daniels Midland’s, 25%.