BEN BERNANKE

The U.S. economic outlook grew dimmer in September, leading businesses to be wary of spending and of building up inventories ahead of the holiday sales season, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Tuesday central banks may need to use monetary policy to combat asset bubbles, although regulation should be a first line of defense.

Fissures at the Federal Reserve over the correct course of future monetary policy were on display Monday, with one top policymaker calling for further easing even as another suggested tighter policy may be needed.

According to an AFL-CIO report, Immelt made about $15.2 million last year.

The U.S. budget gap widened slightly in fiscal 2011, staying above $1 trillion for a third straight year and providing fodder for a political battle over taxes and spending ahead of next year's presidential election.

Gold prices will climb to $2,075 next year on six key variables that, UBS said Friday in a report on the precious metal.

Rick Perry came in like a lion. But he's close to going out of the Republican presidential nominee race as a lamb.

Republican front-runner Mitt Romney largely ignored his presidential rivals at a debate on Tuesday, casting himself as the candidate most suited to rescue the economy and lead the party back to the White House.

Ben Bernanke, if a Republican wins the White House in 2012: you're fired.

A new study reveals income for U.S. workers fell even rapidly after the summer of 2009 than during the recession that preceded it.

Job creation accelerated more than expected in September, easing the risk of a new recession, although the economy still created too few positions to heal the labor market much.

In the midst of global market turmoil in the second half of 2011, at least two central banks of developed countries have responded with quantitative easing.

New claims for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week, according to a government report on Thursday that hinted at an improvement in labor market conditions.

October is here, and Halloween is near. Pumpkins are about, a chill is in the air, and the colors of black and orange mingle on store shelves with piles of assorted, small candies -- meaning it's time for Halloween Costumes 2011.

Industrial commodity prices ended several days of losses on Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve said it would take measures to prevent the economy from sliding into recession, although copper and crude oil held near multi-month lows.

Gold prices hovered in a tight range Wednesday as strong physical buying offset renewed optimism among stock investors that Europe might yet avert a sovereign debt-induced recession.

Europe is likely already in a mild recession, and the United States could very well join it, but the global economic turmoil is unlikely to reach the depths of the 2008 downturn, Morgan Stanley's Stephen Roach said on Tuesday.

Asian stocks rebounded from steep losses over the past several sessions on Wednesday, after tentative signs that European leaders are stepping up their efforts to stop the region's sovereign debt woes from sparking a full-blown banking crisis.

Asian stocks trimmed earlier gains Wednesday as investors remained skeptical about whether European leaders are going far enough their efforts to stop the region's sovereign debt woes from sparking a full-blown banking crisis.

The chances of a new U.S. recession are rising rapidly as employment and housing remain depressed and Europe's debt crisis threatens to spill over, according to a number of prominent economists.

The S&P 500 brushed up against a bear market on Tuesday, but investors rushed in to buy technology and other beaten-down sectors and the index posted its largest gain in more than a week.