A see-saw session for stocks left the major averages with modest gains Wednesday despite another round of lackluster economic data out of the housing market and industrial sector.
Independent investment advisers remain fairly bullish in their outlooks for the economy, the job market and stock market performance over the next sixth months, even as their clients have become more pessimistic, a recent survey by discount brokerage Charles Schwab has found.
It's a summer for the record books in the U.S. housing sector -- and not in a good way. New-home sales unexpectedly plunged 12.4% in July to a 276,000-unit annual rate, the lowest level since the Commerce Department began keeping records for the statistic in 1963.
The less-than-expected durable good orders gain in July is more evidence that economic growth slowed in summer. This will likely increase pressure on the Fed for action to jump-start a U.S. economy that's operating well below potential.
Shoveling trillions of dollars into banks hasn't boosted either spending or lending. What if the federal government stopped trying to revive the economy by encouraging borrowing -- and instead dropped money straight into your bank account?
Former Conde Nast executive Richard Beckman, who's been hiring big-name editors for his trade magazine group, may be courting Rupert Murdoch biographer and professional gadfly Michael Wolff for an editorial director position.
Craigslist received a joint letter from 17 state attorneys general demanding that its adult services ad section be shut down. It's the states' latest move against a part of the site that allegedly touts prostitution and child trafficking.
Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis is unwilling to pay more than $70 a share in its bid to buy biotech firm Genzyme, media outlets reported Wednesday. If a deal can't be reached, the French drugmaker may consider alternative takeover targets.
Barnes & Noble's board has sent a letter to shareholders urging them to vote to rebuff investor Ron Burkle's battle to control the bookseller. The letter is part of annual-meeting materials B&N; mailed to shareholders, formally launching its proxy battle.
Some analysts have called water the ultimate commodity, but most investors have been cool on water stocks so far. One exception may be American Water Works, which provides infrastructure for the water business.
Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...| Symbol | Last | Change / % | Volume |
|---|
| 3.68 | -0.03 -0.81% | 508.71M | |
| 105.94 | +0.41 +0.39% | 272.33M | |
| 12.66 | +0.02 +0.16% | 159.95M | |
| 39.87 | -0.26 -0.65% | 89.92M |
| 5.60 | +2.55 +83.61% | 43,944.00 | |
| 5.90 | +2.65 +81.54% | 33,143.00 | |
| 5.69 | +2.40 +72.92% | 52,816.00 | |
| 5.75 | +2.31 +67.15% | 25,900.00 |
