BEN BERNANKE

Wall Street was set to drop about 1 percent at the open on Thursday after the latest data on the labor market further confirmed investor fears of a slowdown in the economy.

Oil fell sharply on Thursday with North Sea Brent crude down more than 3 percent on concerns over global fuel demand following forecasts of lower U.S. growth and evidence of a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing.

Wall Street was set for a sharply lower open on Thursday after the latest data about the labor market further confirmed investor's fears of a slowdown in the economy.

Stock index futures dipped on Thursday, adding to weakness from the previous session, after the Federal Reserve gave a more pessimistic outlook on the U.S. economy and offered no hints about further monetary support.

Stock index futures fell on Thursday, adding to weakness from the previous session, after the Federal Reserve gave a more pessimistic outlook on the U.S. economy and offered no hints about further monetary support.

European leaders will try to convince Greeks and financial markets when they meet on Thursday and Friday that they have a workable plan to help Athens avoid a debt default and return to financial stability.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut its forecasts for U.S. economic growth, but offered no hint of further monetary support, saying the recovery should gradually pick up heading into 2012.

Stocks dropped on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve acknowledged the sluggish pace of the U.S. economic recovery without hinting at further plans for stimulus.

The Federal Reserve noted that the US economy is slowing down in mid 2011. The labor market is doing worse than anticipated, the housing market continues to struggle, and consuming spending remains constrained.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut its forecasts for U.S. economic growth, but offered no hint of further monetary support, saying growth should pick up soon.

The head of the world's most powerful central bank essentially stuck to the bank's latest U.S. economic forecast in his news conference with reporters Wednesday: the U.S. economy slowed in Q2, but growth is likely to pick-up in the second half of 2011.

Stocks edged lower on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve acknowledged the sluggish pace of the U.S. economic recovery, but gave no hint of further plans for stimulus.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday said the recovery was proceeding more slowly than it had expected, but it offered no hint of further monetary support, saying growth should pick up soon.

The Federal Reserve injected a new phrase into its monetary policy statement: recent labor market indicators have been weaker than anticipated.

The Federal Reserve released a statement today after its June meeting, and ahead of Ben Bernanke's press conference Wednesday afternoon. The press conference will be only the second one in the Federal Reserve's history.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday said the pace of economic recovery was proceeding more slowly than it had expected though it was primarily because of temporary factors.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has a formidable challenge this afternoon when he addresses the economic and investment community post the 2-day FOMC meeting

Ben Bernanke will have to answer at his press conference the big soft patch question.

The Federal Reserve will likely nod to renewed weakness in the U.S. economy in a post-meeting policy statement on Wednesday, but don't expect policymakers to do anything about it any time soon.

Stocks cut early losses and the S&P briefly turned positive on Wednesday, helped by strong results from economic bellwether FedEx Corp .

Stocks opened lower on Wednesday as investors were cautious about the direction the Federal Reserve would take to deal with renewed weakness in the economy.