The House overwhelmingly passed a bill Wednesday to permit the government to borrow enough money to avoid a first-time default for at least four months, defusing a looming crisis setting up a springtime debate over taxes, spending and the deficit.

Sears continues to try reduce its future pension obligations by offering early buyouts to its retirees, and is selling debt bonds to offset some of the costs.

TD Ameritrade said it brought in $15.6 billion of net new client assets in the quarter ending Dec. 31, up more than 50 percent from the same quarter a year ago.

Here's the quick 411 on it: Don't bother going there. In fact, if you work with retail investors, discourage them from going there.