NEWS

- Reuters/University of Michigan survey of consumer confidence
showed a rebound in April to the highest level since September

- Citigroup (C.N: Quote, Profile, Research), GE (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research), post better-than-expected
results, bolstering hopes the U.S. economy is stabilizing

- Banks would be focus of any unconventional measures the ECB
unveils next month, ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet says

- GM GM.N says could still restructure out of court, warns
it was more likely GM may need to seek bankruptcy protection

- Executive chosen to lead Fannie Mae through a govt takeover
now tapped to oversee $700 bln rescue of U.S. financial system

MARKETS

- U.S. stocks rise, capping S&P 500's longest weekly winning
streak since 2007, helped by GE, Citigroup. Dow up 0.1 pct [.N]

- Europe share close higher, rising for 6th straight week,
banks gain after Citigroup, GE results. [.EU] Nikkei gains 1.7 pct
[.T]

- Oil prices rise over $50 a barrel on news of rebound in U.S.
consumer confidence and better-than-expected quarterly earnings
[O/R]

- Dollar touches 1-month high vs euro after ECB chief Trichet
leaves investors uncertain about bank's future policy path [USD/]

- US Treasury debt prices fall, pushing benchmark yields to
highest in a month, as stocks undermine any safety bid for bond
[US/]

QUOTES

"The numbers are showing stabilization in the global economy
and in the performance of GE stock. The result still wasn't good,
though." - Jim Hardesty, president of Hardesty Capital Management
in Baltimore, which owns GE shares.

"It (Citigroup results) was slightly better than anticipated,
but we probably underestimated how much government support would
be a wind at their back." - Analyst Michael Holland, of Holland &
Co in New York.

"Perhaps the banking sector crisis is bottoming." - Richard
Hunter, head of U.S. equities at Hargreaves Landsdown in London.

"Confidence today relies equally upon the audacity of our
immediate decisions and upon the soundness of our exit
strategies." - ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet.

"While consumers believe the economy may have hit bottom, most
consumers believe that when the rebound starts the economy will
gain ground very slowly." - Richard Curtin, director of the
Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.

DIARY

(all times GMT)

FRIDAY, April 17

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago - Fifth Summit of the
Americas (to April 19); President Barack Obama and Vice
President Joe Biden expected to attend.

OUAGADOUGOU - French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde and
Christian Noyer, ECB Governing Council member attend Franc Zone
meeting in Burkina Faso (to April 17)
(Compiled by World Desk, Americas, +1 202 898 8457)