BUSINESS

European markets fell Thursday as investor confidence was weighed down by the global economic concerns following the increasing trade deficit of Japan and China’s disappointing manufacturing activity.

Early in-person voting for the presidential elections will begin in Idaho and South Dakota Friday, even as the Democrats and Republicans are engaged in court battle on the issue of limiting such early voting before the actual date of the elections.

The top after-market Nasdaq gainers Wednesday were Apogee Enterprises Inc, Targacept Inc, Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ancestry.com Inc and Align Technology Inc. The top after-market Nasdaq losers were Horizon Pharma Inc, Herman Miller Inc, Gevo Inc, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc and Citrix Systems.

China's manufacturing activity stabilized in September compared to August, according to the preliminary HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index released Thursday.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Wednesday were Steelcase Inc, Gannett Co, AAR Corp, Cabelas and Chimera Investment Corp. The top after-market NYSE losers were XPO Logistics, Norfolk Southern Corp, CSX Corp, CLARCOR Inc and Access Midstream Partners, L.P.

Asian markets fell Thursday as investor confidence was weighed down by the report that Japan's trade deficit increased in August, raising more concerns about the faltering global economy.

Asian shares fell Thursday as investors awaited manufacturing data from China later in the session for clues about whether Beijing would be prompted to take more stimulus action.

Nike Inc (NKE.N) is beefing up its capacity to use its cash to purchase its own shares, with the board of the world's largest sportswear maker approving an $8 billion buyback program.

Last week on “The X Factor” viewers got a treat when they were introduced to 13-year-old Carly Rose Sonenclar sang “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone during the Providence audition.

Wednesday, Sept. 19, is the 10th anniversary of International Talk Like Pirate Day, aaargh.

While the financial markets have improved substantially, the labor market has proven to be lackluster.

Ben & Jerry's new Limited Batch flavor is Cannoli ice cream. It's mascarpone based with fudge and is with covered cannoli pieces, in addition to a mascarpone swirl.

In the statement released with the initiation of the new program, it was obvious the Fed hoped to stimulate the economy while lowering unemployment and boosting the housing market.

Claire Danes says YouTube helped her prepare for her bipolar role on “Homeland,” but some people with the disorder are not pleased.

Here is video of USC head coach Lane Kiffin abruptly ending his Wednesday press conference.

For the first time ever, there are now more millionaires in Asia than in North America.

Gold prices traded flat Wednesday and against news suggesting a rally was in the offing, after reaching six-month highs earlier in the day.

BP Plc is in talks with Marathon Petroleum Corp. to sell its Texas City refinery to pay for Deepwater Horizon spill costs.

The Palestinian Authority's budget is short some $400 million, a gap that will remain and cause serious fiscal difficulties, even if all donors fulfill their 2012 pledges to Palestine, the World Bank warned on Wednesday.

The Washington-based International Monetary Fund has had enough of Argentina's attempts to reduce its inflation-indexed debt payments by using sketchy stats.

The Bank of Japan unexpectedly boosted its asset-buying program by ¥10 trillion ($126.7 billion), following similar easing steps by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank.

Sales of previously owned homes rose 7.8 percent in August to the highest level since May 2010, and construction starts also increased.

Twenty years ago Poland was a poor country just out of Communism. Today it's snatching outsourcing jobs away from India. How did they do it?

All kinds of markets have been up following the announcement last Thursday of further monetary stimulus from the U.S. central bank. But the one thing that has gone up the most, according to futures markets where people put money on such things, are the chances Barack Obama will win the U.S. presidential election in November.

There are fears over the economic impact of the dispute between China and Japan if the row over islands in the East China Sea is not resolved soon.

American Airlines may fire people.