Economy

US stock market recovers most of an early loss
Stock prices are slightly lower at midday on Wall Street after manufacturing contracted unexpectedly in China this month. The Dow Jones industrial ...
Sales gains lift Dollar Tree's 1Q profit 15 pct
Discount retailer Dollar Tree Inc. said Thursday that its net income increased 15 percent in the first quarter as consumers spent more at its stores, ...
ECB official: New bank authority 'indispensable'
A top European Central Bank official is calling for quick creation of an agency with powers to restructure and wind down busted banks, in an apparent ...
US rate on 30-year mortgages rises to 3.59 pct.
Average rates on fixed mortgage rose for the third straight week, hitting their highest levels since mid-March. Still, mortgage rates remained close ...
US new home sales up 2.3 percent in April
Sales of new homes rose in April to the second highest level since the summer of 2008 while the median price for a new home hit a record high, further ...
Stock slump continues on Wall Street
A global stock market slump is continuing on Wall Street as traders worry about how committed the Federal Reserve remains to keeping up its ...
Ralph Lauren's 4Q profit rises 35 pct
Ralph Lauren Corp. reported a 35 percent increase in fourth-quarter profit as the luxury retailer benefited from lower cotton prices. But economic ...
Oil down to near $93 on Chinese recovery concerns
The price of oil fell to near $93 a barrel on Thursday after a survey showed manufacturing activity in China falling to its lowest level in seven ...
IMF head Lagarde in court in fraud probe
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde is facing questions at a special Paris court Thursday over her role in the 400 million euro ($520 ...
Crane accident cuts power to one-third of Vietnam
One mistake by a clumsy crane operator caused a 10-hour blackout over about a third of Vietnam, exposing the fragility of the nation's power grid.
Bangladesh: Owners' many failings led to collapse
The defects and errors that led to the world's deadliest garment-industry accident extend from the swampy ground the doomed Rana Plaza was built on, ...
Survey shows China manufacturing contracting
A survey shows China's manufacturing contracted this month, adding to signs a fragile recovery in the world's No. 2 economy is slowing. HSBC Corp.
Ford to end auto production in Australia in 2016
Ford Motor Co. said Thursday it will close its two Australian auto plants, ending production in the country in 2016, amid soaring manufacturing costs ...
Am. Samoa to keep flier miles of govt travelers
American Samoa plans to take away frequent flier miles from government workers who travel on behalf of the U.S. territory and use the loyalty points ...
HP's 2Q offers hope even as revenue slump deepens
Hewlett-Packard is still scrambling to meet the growing demand for more versatile and less expensive mobile devices as a slump in its personal ...
Tesla uses stock, note sale to repay government
Tesla Motors, which makes a highly acclaimed $70,000 electric car, has paid off a startup loan from the U.S. government nine years early. The Palo ...
Jennifer Lopez to open cellphone stores
"Jenny from the Block" wants the block to buy Verizon phones from her. Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez on Wednesday announced she's opening a chain ...
Senators warm to transportation nominee
President Barack Obama's nominee for transportation secretary — Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx — received a friendly reception from senators of both ...
Target's 1Q profit drops 29 pct on weak sales
Target Corp. reported a 29 percent drop in first-quarter profit as unusually cool spring weather and financial pressures chilled customers' appetite ...
Lowe's 1Q profit rises, but results miss Street
Lowe's said Wednesday that its first-quarter net income rose nearly 3 percent, but results fell short of expectations as rainy weather hurt spring ...
Vatican releases 1st report of financial watchdog
The Vatican took another step Wednesday to show greater financial transparency by publishing the first annual report from its financial watchdog ...
Oil falls near $94 on small drop in supplies
The price of oil fell near $94 a barrel Wednesday as the nation's oil supply fell less than expected and demand for gasoline remained weak.
Fed weighed slowing its pace of bond purchases
Several Federal Reserve policymakers this month favored slowing the Fed's efforts to maintain record-low long-term interest rates as early as June — ...
Bernanke signals Fed to maintain stimulus efforts
Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Wednesday that the U.S. job market remains weak and that it is too soon for the Federal Reserve to slow its ...