By Heather Scott

WASHINGTON (MNI) - The international community must build on the cooperation that successfully put the global economy on a fast-track to recovery, and join forces on reforming financial sector regulation to avoid inconsistencies that could cause problems, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Thursday.

By Brai Odion-Esene

WASHINGTON (MNI) - President Barack Obama returned to Wall Street Thursday to stress the need to move forward on financial regulatory reform, arguing reform will restore trust in the U.S. economy and ensure it remains the premier attraction for investors worldwide.

In a speech prepared for delivery at Coopers Union in New York, Obama said part of what led to the turmoil of the past two years was that with no clear rules and sound practices, "people did not trust that our system was one in which it was safe to invest or lend."

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) - The Senate Budget Committee voted Thursday to approve the fiscal year 2011 budget resolution drafted by the Democratic chairman of the panel, Sen. Kent Conrad.

The Senate Budget Committee approved the Conrad budget on a party line vote, 12 to 10.

By Dennis Pettit

NEW YORK, April 22 (MNI) - The dollar racked up modest gains vs. the euro and the yen in brisk trading Thursday as markets were again rocked by conflicting signals regarding the Greek fiscal outlook that briefly sent euro-dollar skidding to a new low for 2010.

Euro-dollar was changing hands at $1.3315 in quiet afternoon dealings Thursday, the euro about the middle of a $1.3257/1.3353 U.S. hours range, the euro beginning the session around $1.3338 before moving to the early high, only to turn south from there.

By John Shaw

By Heather Scott

WASHINGTON (MNI) - The international community must build on the cooperation that successfully put the global economy on a fast-track to recovery, and join forces on reforming financial sector regulation to avoid inconsistencies that could cause problems, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Thursday.

By Brai Odion-Esene

WASHINGTON (MNI) - Canadian Finance Minister James Flaherty Thursday reiterated his opposition to the idea of imposing a tax on banks to pay for any rescues in a future crisis.

Speaking to reporters following an event on global hunger and poverty at the U.S. Treasury, and ahead of Friday's meeting of Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers, Flaherty addressed the reasons why G20 countries have split into opposing camps.

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid continued Thursday to berate Wall Street banks and Senate Republican leaders on financial regulatory reform and vowed to begin moving legislation within days that represents "the strongest oversight ever over Wall Street."