Relief rally…Company to test drug on Ebola patients…Tighter security for federal benefit cards

NEW YORK (AP) — One analyst is describing the surge on Wall Street today as “a relief rally.” Investors have been riding wild swings this week amid concerns about weak economic growth in Europe, plunging oil prices and geopolitical uncertainties such as the fight against the Islamic State group and Ebola. Strong earnings reports and a pick-up in home construction have spurred today’s rebound, with the Dow up more than 200 points and the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq solidly higher this afternoon.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A North Carolina drugmaker plans to test its experimental antiviral drug in patients who have Ebola. Chimerix says it’s received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to proceed with a trial examining the safety and effectiveness of its brincidofovir (brihn-sih-DAH’-fuh-veer) tablets in patients who have the virus. The drugmaker previously made the drug available with FDA’s permission to the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the U.S., who died in Dallas last week.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says the government must take a more hands-on approach to stop security breaches for credit and debit card users. Obama is signing an executive order creating a plan called BuySecure to tighten security for the debit cards that transmit federal benefits like Social Security to millions of Americans. Cards issued by the federal government will now have an internal chip replacing magnetic strips.

NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft’s CEO is still working to repair damage caused by his gaffe last week at a women-in-computing conference. CEO Satya Nadella was widely criticized after suggesting that women don’t need to ask for raises and should just “trust” the system to pay them what they’re worth. After apologizing and formally retracting the statement, Nadella has sent a memo to Microsoft staff saying the company must focus not only on equal pay for equal work, but the opportunity to do equal work. He adds that Microsoft needs to recruit more diverse talent.

NEW YORK (AP) — Publix is recalling a snack mix because the label doesn’t warn shoppers that it contains peanuts. The supermarket chain says it has removed its Publix Asian Mix from store shelves in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina. Peanuts can cause a serious allergic reaction in some individuals and should be listed on the packaging. The company says no illnesses have been reported.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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