Stocks rise on hopeful signs for the U.S. economy

NEW YORK | Encouraging news about the U.S. economy extended the stock market's rally Friday.

Stocks rise on hopeful signs for the US economy

Trader Kevin Lodewick works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Serena Williams

Serena Williams celebrates with the trophy after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska to win the women's final match Saturday at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England.

Why stocks may be even riskier than you think

NEW YORK | Job growth in the United States is slowing. Sales at stores have stopped growing. The economies of India, Brazil and China are cooling. Europe is crippled by government debt and bad bank loans.

For stocks, a stable and impressive climb in 2012

The stock market just had its best first quarter in 14 years. The surge has sent Wall Street analysts, some of whose forecasts seemed too sunny three months ago, scrambling to raise their estimates for the year.

Strong 3 months of hiring as U.S. adds 227,000 jobs

It's the latest display of the breadth and strength of the economic recovery. The country has put together the most impressive three months of job growth since before the Great Recession.

Dow 13,000 is a big number, but it's just a number

Big, round numbers are hard to ignore. That's why we pay attention when the odometer clicks over to 100,000 miles, and why the world threw a party at the dawn of 2000 instead of the technical start of the millennium in 2001.

'Phantom' show in Vegas to close after 6 years

The Phantom of Las Vegas is singing his final opera.

US job market ends year in better shape

The long-suffering job market is ending the year better off than it began. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits each week has dropped by 10 percent since January.

From vets to moms, Iraq war leaves mark on Indiana town

KOKOMO | In a quiet park on the eastern edge of this auto manufacturing town, a gleaming ring of black granite walls and monuments stands in solemn tribute to the war dead. Hundreds of names are etched in stone, many of them long forgotten to history.

Claims lowest since April '08 as job market improves

In the latest sign that the economy is surging at year's end, unemployment claims have dropped to the lowest level since April 2008, long before anyone realized that the nation was in a recession.

After Euro deal, investors brace for big moves

Europe's fiscal pact may save the euro from collapse and stave off worldwide financial panic. But the concerns of many investors are more personal: Will it lift my flagging 401(k)?

U.S. stock futures fall as debt talks near collapse

Stock futures fell early Monday amid reports that a key congressional committee will fail to reach an agreement this week on how to cut the U.S. government's budget deficit.

Economists see modest growth next year

The U.S. economy will muddle through the next year without a recession, but growth-predicted to be 2.4 percent-will be too weak to make much of a dent in the unemployment rate, forecasters believe.

Gridlock on deficit panel looms over stock rally

Like the sequel of a blockbuster horror movie, the debt ceiling may strike again: A gridlocked bipartisan congressional committee must find a way to agree on a deficit reduction plan by Nov. 23rd.

A year-end stock comeback? It's happened before

2011 was shaping up to be a washout for the stock market just two weeks ago. Now, it's within shouting distance of its biggest comeback in nearly three decades.

How bad can it get if the US falls into recession?

Are investors overreacting to the prospect of a recession? The slightly better jobs report on Friday notwithstanding, the odds of a recession appear to be climbing, and that's bringing back scary memories.

Defiant Obama challenges Republicans on job bill

WASHINGTON | Defiant and frustrated, President Barack Obama aggressively challenged Republicans Thursday to get behind his jobs plan or explain why not, declaring that if Congress fails to act "the American people will run them out of town."

Dismal report shows no net job increase in August

Employers stopped adding jobs in August, an alarming setback for an economy at risk of another recession. The government also reported that the unemployment rate remained at 9.1 percent. It was the weakest jobs report since September 2010.

Shoppers lift U.S. economy, if they keep spending

Consumers spent more on cars, furniture, electronics and other goods in July, and more in May and June than previously thought. If it keeps up, the economy might rebound after growing in the first half of 2011.