msnbc.com: Stocks & economy

Stocks close higher, extend month’s big gains

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:15:27 GMT

Investors shook off some their worries about Dubai's financial problems and extended the stock market's big November gain.

United States - Stock - Business - Dubai - US

After flooding economy, Fed to mop up money

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:09:33 GMT

The Federal Reserve is fine-tuning a strategy to reel in some of the unprecedented amount of money that's been pumped into the economy during the financial crisis.

Federal Reserve System - Financial crisis - Central bank - Government - Finance

Black workers' crisis may linger after upturn

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:23:44 GMT

The recession has compounded a decades-long problem facing black workers, leaving experts worried blacks will remain in crisis even in a recovery.

Recession - Business - Workers' Compensation - Financial Services - Law

Dubai says Dubai World is on its own

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:29:18 GMT

The Dubai government disclaimed responsibility for the debts of its Dubai World conglomerate on Monday.

Government - Dubai - United Arab Emirates - Middle East - Dubai World

Mideast markets nosedive amid Dubai woes

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:03:05 GMT

Dubai's main stock exchange dropped more than 7 percent and Abu Dhabi markets slid more than 8 percent on Monday.

Stock exchange - Initial public offering - Dubai - Business - Investing

Oil rises amid fears of Iran, U.K. conflict

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:51:28 GMT

The gap between what drivers are paying for gasoline compared with a year ago is widening and figures to get worse between now and the end of the year.

Lessons from ‘80s don’t bode well for economy

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:23:48 GMT

The road from recession to recovery is rarely smooth, straight or short. It comes with detours, forks and even dead ends. And sometimes surprises.

Recreation - Roads and Highways - Photography - Highway Ends - Subcultures

Bernanke’s case to keep Congress out of Fed

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:32:33 GMT

The chairman of the Fed is concerned congressional efforts at financial reform could weaken the central bank's ability to handle future crises and may politicize monetary policy.

Central bank - Federal Reserve System - Monetary policy - United States Congress - Finance

U.S. to lean on mortgage companies

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:18:34 GMT

The Obama administration, battling a foreclosure crisis that shows no signs of relenting, will step up pressure on mortgage companies to help people stay in their homes, officials say.

Foreclosure - United States - Presidency of Barack Obama - Mortgage - Business

Jobs, spending data hint at recovery

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:24:58 GMT

In a hopeful sign for the economy, the number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell below 500,000 last week for the first time since January.

Insurance - Jobless claims - Business - Financial Services - United States

New-home sales rise to highest level in a year

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:52:06 GMT

Sales of new homes rose last month to the highest level in more than a year as strong activity in the South made up for weakness in the rest of the country.

Real estate - United States - Business and Economy - Guides and Directories - California

Consumers log stronger-than-expected rebound

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:22:30 GMT

Consumers got back in the buying mood in October as their incomes grew modestly, an encouraging sign for the budding economic recovery.

Business - Wood and Plastics - Materials and Supplies - Construction and Maintenance - Heavy Timber Construction

Durable goods orders fall unexpectedly

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:39:51 GMT

Orders for big-ticket factory goods fell unexpectedly in October as the economy struggles to get back to full health.

FallFoliage - Recreation - Travel - Specialty Travel - Ecotourism

Deere’s profit falls after drop in sales

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:58:05 GMT

Deere and Co. lost $223 million in the fourth quarter, reflecting big charges and a 28 percent slump in sales as demand for tractors, combines and construction equipment sagged.

Deere & Company - Tractor - Business - Engineering vehicle - Agriculture and Forestry

Tiffany raises forecasts for rest of the year

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:15:48 GMT

Tiffany & Co. says its third-quarter profit dipped partly on weaker domestic sales as shoppers continued to curb their discretionary spending.

Tiffany & Co - Sports - Quarter Horse - Equestrian - Breeds

Recovery's pace slower than first thought

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:15:00 GMT

The economy is growing modestly, with consumers too wary about spending to invigorate the recovery.

Recovery Audit Contractor - Business - Medicare - Accounting - Business-to-Business

Fed sees gradual economic recovery

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:17:56 GMT

The Federal Reserve doesn't expect the recovery will be strong enough to quickly drive down the jobless rate, and acknowledged its efforts to keep the rebound going could feed a new speculative bubble.

Federal Reserve System - Unemployment - Government - Economic - Federal Reserve

Consumer sentiment rises before Black Friday

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:59:22 GMT

Retailers heading into the traditional start of holiday shopping are facing consumers who are only a bit less gloomy than they were a year ago as they worry about a weak job market.

BlackFriday - Christmas and holiday season - Consumer Confidence Index - Consumer Information - Home

A toy hamster, holiday sales and the economy

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:26:48 GMT

In a world full of economic indicators, the best one during the holiday season may prove to be a furry toy hamster.

Christmas and holiday season - Economy - Economic indicator - Arts - Movies

Clothing sales fall in Nov., but online roars back

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:32:15 GMT

Home sales rise to highest level in 2.5 years

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:26:15 GMT

Home sales far exceeded expectations last month, surging to the highest level in two and a half years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of an expiring tax credit.

Tax credit - Business - Taxation - Tax - Accounting

Lots of news for investors in shortened week

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:25:58 GMT

Investors are heading toward the final month of the year with more questions about the economy than they had just a few weeks ago.

Arts - Organizations - Organ - Music - Keyboard

Economists see joblessness bottoming out

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:33:31 GMT

Economists expect the joblessness that has weighed down the nation's economic recovery will start to slowly abate in 2010.

Economics - Social Sciences - Business - Forecasting and Consulting - Directories

Campbell's profits rise despite falling sales

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:21:07 GMT

Price-conscious grocery shoppers are being choosy about what they buy to cook at home, even from the value-oriented Campbell Soup Co.

Campbell Soup Company - Home - Cooking - Soups and Stews - World Cuisines

IMF chief: Global economy still fragile

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:54:35 GMT

The international economy is still fragile to shocks despite recent improvements in financial markets, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund said Monday.

International Monetary Fund - World economy - Economic - Financial market - Business

NYT: U.S. faces surge in interest payments

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:01:41 GMT

The government is financing its more than trillion-dollar-a-year borrowing with i.o.u.’s on terms that seem too good to be true — a happy situation that may not last much longer.

New York Times - Government - Business - U.S - Investing

RV industry no longer running on empty

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:43:17 GMT

There are signs of recovery in the nation's heartland, including Elkhart, Ind., but the rebound is faint, uneven and faces many threats.

Recreational vehicle - Elkhart Indiana - United States - Indiana - Thor Industries