Investment adviser and financial planning company Ameriprise Financial Inc. spent more than $206,000 lobbying the federal government in the first quarter on a variety of financial issues.

Shares of real estate investment trusts ended lower Friday amid wider-than-expected losses at insurer American International Group Inc. and escalating oil prices.

Stocks Advance As Deal Talk Increases Stocks rose Monday following reports of potential corporate deals, including news that Washington Mutual Inc. might get a $5 billion investment from private equity firms.(9:59 AM EST) INDUSTRIES