Archive for October, 2008

Consumers slash spending, world markets stabilize (Reuters)

Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Masaaki Shirakawa leaves a room after his news conference in Tokyo, October 31, 2008. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)Reuters – Americans slashed spending and the country’s business outlook weakened but there were signs of stabilization in global markets on Friday, with interbank rates falling and U.S. stocks posting their best week in 34 years.

October auto sales may have hit two-decade low (Reuters)

Chevrolet Uplanders minivans are seen at a dealership in Silver Spring, Maryland, July 1, 2008. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters)Reuters – U.S. auto sales are expected to plunge to the lowest levels of the year in October and possibly the slowest running rate in two decades, with no certainty of when consumer confidence will return.

Stocks advance to add to week’s large gains (AP)

Traders work on the floor of New York Stock Exchange Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)AP – The stock market closed out a horrendous October, its worst month in 21 years, with a big advance Friday as more investors took chances on stocks turned into bargains by waves of intense selling. The session’s advance ? which gave the market its first back-to-back gains in more than a month ? fed hopes that Wall Street has indeed found a bottom.

SEC Seeks Comment On Fair Disclosure Regulations (Investor’s Business Daily)

Investor’s Business Daily – You may soon get your earnings results and other breaking corporate news from company Web sites rather than wire services under newly approved public-disclosure guidelines.

Ugly October ends with an upbeat day on Wall St (Reuters)

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, October 30, 2008. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)Reuters – U.S. stocks ended one of their worst months on record, but signs of further thawing in credit markets lifted battered shares on Friday.