FALL

Southwest Airlines Co was hopeful on Monday the government would not force it to ground planes over a maintenance issue, and shares lost nearly 4 percent.

U.S. credit card defaults declined in July after five straight months of record highs, suggesting the ability of cardholders to pay bills could be stabilizing, Fitch Ratings said on Monday.

NEW YORK - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Monday as Chinese equities dropped sharply and commodities fell on concerns that asset prices have run ahead of the economic realities.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Monday as Chinese equities dropped sharply and commodities fell on concerns that asset prices have run ahead of the economic realities.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Monday as Chinese equities dropped sharply and commodities fell on concerns that asset prices have run ahead of the economic realities.

Oil fell more than 2 percent to around $71 a barrel on Monday as a drop in China's key stock index stoked worries about the pace of economic recovery and a revival in energy demand.

Bankrupt U.S. media group Tribune Co could emerge from bankruptcy in the autumn without a major overhaul of its present top management, the New York Times said, citing people briefed on the restructuring plans.

Oil fell toward $72 a barrel on Monday, as a drop in China's key stock index stoked worries about the country's economy, but hopes that energy demand would soon rebound are on track to push prices up about 4 percent in August.

The reinvigorated market for initial public offerings has sparked a rash of new filings by prominent companies that have been waiting for years for the chance to go public, setting the stage for potentially billions of dollars in IPOs by the end of the year.

U.S. retailers could see sales in the 2009 holiday season decline from last year's dismal results or show only a slight increase, even in the best scenario, according to a new forecast.

The U.S. economy shrank less than expected in the second quarter, despite a record drop in inventories, and fewer workers filed new claims for jobless benefits last week, a sign the economy was starting to heal.

SEATTLE - U.S. retailers could see sales in the 2009 holiday season decline from last year's dismal results or show only a slight increase, even in the best scenario, according to a new forecast.

The U.S. economy shrank less than expected in the second quarter, despite a record drop in inventories, and fewer workers filed new claims for jobless benefits last week, a sign the economy was starting to heal.

Luxury home builder Toll Brothers Inc reported a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss on Thursday, but shares fell amid concern about the extent that price cuts were supporting sales.

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits fell last week to 570,000, and those collecting long-term unemployment benefits dropped to the lowest level since April, government data showed on Thursday.

Stock index futures fell on Wednesday as oil futures turned lower and ahead of durable goods and new home sales data.

Kitchen-cabinet maker American Woodmark Corp posted a surprise quarterly loss as margins were weighed down by labor and overhead costs, sending its shares down 17 percent.

Oil fell below $74 a barrel on Tuesday, down for the first time in six days on softer Asian shares as renewed concerns over the economic recovery emerged, after reaching a 10-month high a day earlier.

Benchmark iron ore prices in China fell to $95 a tonne on Monday, easing 17 percent from its nearly one-year peak of $115 in early August, as traders said many Chinese steel mills stopped buying ore for future delivery.

British gas producer BG Group Plc said a well it and partner Petrobras drilled offshore Brazil does not contain hydrocarbons despite an initial examination suggesting gas could be present.

Hanson plans to play a bunch of new music for its fans this fall, even though the sibling trio's new album probably won't come out until the spring of 2010.