Gold closes above $1450 for the first time; ends at $1455 EU: No mechanism for Portugal bridge loan Soros: Euro rescue mechanism flawed US non-manufacturing ISM index falls to 57.3 from 59.7; more than expected US budget battle remains at stalemate; negotiations continue ahead of Friday deadline Portuguese banks ask central bank to seek EUR 15 bln bridge loan Fed’s Kotcherlakota: Fed committed to containing inflation FOMC minutes show sharp divide between inflation hawks, doves; QE 2 seen ending in June S&P 500 closes virtually unchanged US 10-year note yield rises 6 bp to 3.485% Oil falls $0.60 to $107.85 ... (full story)