finance

Americans borrowed less for a record ninth straight month in October, another sign that consumer spending will remain weak, making it harder for the economy to mount a sustained rebound.

The divisive issue of abortion emerged Monday as an obstacle to Senate passage of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul as a moderate Democrat proposed tough restrictions that liberals said they could not possibly accept.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned Monday that it's too soon to know whether the economic recovery will last and again pledged to hold rates at record-low levels for an "extended period."

Even the prospect that interest rates will remain low couldn't bring out buyers in the stock market.

Federal health regulators are investigating reports of dangerous radiation levels at two more California hospitals, following earlier unsafe medical scans at a Los Angeles facility.

Federal regulators on Monday accused three former top executives of collapsed mortgage lender New Century Financial Corp. of fraud, saying they misled investors as the company's subprime loan business was failing in 2006.

President Barack Obama said Monday the massive federal bailout program for financial insititutions has turned out to be much less costly than expected and there may be ways to redirect some of the money toward creating new jobs.

The Obama administration will lose $200 billion less than expected from the federal bailout program and is looking at using part of the savings to fund new job creation efforts.

Tasting maple syrup is a lot like tasting wine. Sniff the aroma, take a sip, hold it on your tongue and savor it for a moment to register the sensation.

The Pulitzer Prize Board has elected its first member representing a primarily online news organization, keeping in step with the board's recent decision to allow entries from more online sites.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Monday said the U.S. economy's recovery remained fragile and unemployment may be high for some time, cooling anticipation of an early increase in U.S. interest rates.

The projected long-term cost of the U.S. government's bailout of the nation's big banks is going to be at least $200 billion less than previously thought, a Treasury Department official said on Sunday night.

Eight people charged in a coast-to-coast U.S. hedge fund insider trading investigation have at least one more month for possible resolution of their cases, according to court records on Monday.

A bubble has formed in commodities as "speculative fervor" returns to markets after the global financial crisis, veteran Wall Street economist Henry Kaufman said on Monday.

The Securities and Exchange Commission will likely seek public input on so-called high-frequency trading strategies, and whether traders using them gain any special advantages by placing fast computers next to exchanges.

Securities regulators on Monday charged three former executives at now-bankrupt lender New Century with fraud, the latest government attempt to bring major players in the subprime mortgage market to justice.

Billionaire Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc won U.S. antitrust approval to take over railroad operator Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp , the Federal Trade Commission said on Monday.

MetLife Inc forecast 2010 earnings that could beat average Wall Street expectations, helped by cost cuts, improved investment returns and higher revenue, but said it did not see a return to historical growth levels until at least 2011.

EBay Inc's former chief executive, Meg Whitman, took the witness stand on Monday to make the case that free online classifieds provider Craigslist unfairly denied the giant e-commerce company a seat on its board.

The bailout cost less than expected, and some money could help lower the deficit or create jobs, President Obama said.

Investors were concerned about the pace of recovery after Mr. Bernanke suggested that interest rates would remain low until the economy firmed up.

The decline was another sign that consumer spending will remain weak, making it harder for the economy to mount a sustained rebound.

The bailout program had cost less than expected and some of the money could be used to reduce the deficit and create jobs, Obama said.

The company said that it would acquire Gloucester Pharmaceuticals for $340 million in cash and $300 million in future milestone payments.

After a law forced a cut in transaction fees, some merchants and banks added new charges for customers that were, sometimes, higher than the old ones.

Google unveiled efforts to expand its search technology, including integration with Twitter and photo analysis.

Mr. Bernanke suggested that interest rates would remain low until the economy showed firmer signs of recovery.

Russia’s 11 time zones have long been a source of national pride, but the government is now considering shedding some to modernize the economy.

Mercedes-Benz will pay $75 million to $100 million to put its name on an arena in Shanghai. The deal appears to represent a first for China.

Don't be left in the wreckage.

The place to be won't be the U.S.

Big Oil prepares to bid on a group of heavy oil blocks in Venezuela's Orinoco basin.

Four quarters for a public company? Here are four stocks that mean it.

Can Selena Maranjian make you cry?

Two stocks enter. One stock leaves.

Two stocks enter. One stock leaves.

Two stocks enter. One stock leaves.

Two stocks enter. One stock leaves.

Two stocks enter. One stock leaves.

The long-term effects of outsourcing technology are unknown, but it's certainly not a new concept.

Adelson's China Sands makes a disappointing debut.

Dubai's sand castles shake the gold markets.

Bill O'Brien, CEO of Direct Edge, on the happier asects of flash orders and dark pools.

Russell Ackoff revolutionized the way companies handle management.

By all means, we should let Congress audit our central bank.

You can get a better return off the money you have at a bank. But you have to take some risk to get it.

A fully consolidated system of indirect taxation is still a long way off.

Wall Street opens sharply lower as traders worry over bank exposure to potential Dubai World default.

The wobbly holiday retail outlook in North America and Europe.

14 Recommendations

If there's a single word that best sums up investors' views toward stocks heading into 2010, it's probably "wary."

11 Recommendations

Five senior executives at American International Group told the insurer last week they may quit if their compensation was cut significantly by the U.S. pay czar, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

10 Recommendations

The Obama administration will lose $200 billion less than expected from the federal bailout program and is looking at using part of the savings to fund new job creation efforts.

8 Recommendations

General Motors Co. said Monday it has appointed Tim Lee, its vice president for global manufacturing and labor relations, to head its international operations, part of a shakeup that last week saw the departure of Fritz Henderson as CEO.

8 Recommendations

Mara Proctor used to design limestone hearths and columns for luxury homes near Kansas City, drawing on her college education and six years of training.