Unexpected increases in consumer confidence and business spending reported on Friday buoyed investors’ spirits after a bumpy week. Discussion

Stocks rose modestly after the government reported that orders for big-ticket items rose at the fastest pace in four months, sharply higher than analysts expected. Discussion

A government report suggested that the manufacturing sector has muddled through the downturn on the strength of military goods and exports. Discussion

Clear Channel shareholders approved a $17.9 billion takeover by two private equity funds, ending a 20-month effort to take the radio and billboard operator private. Discussion

Why the government should not be in the bailout business. Discussion

Congress has hurled vitriol at the IntercontinentalExchange, but its founder views the business as one of the country’s “most regulated commodity exchanges.” Discussion

DETROIT (Reuters) - American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc posted a wider-than-expected quarterly loss on Friday as the auto parts supplier grappled with a strike by unio ... Discussion

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tool maker Black & Decker Corp said on Friday its quarterly profit fell, hurt by weak demand in the United States and slowing conditions in parts of West ... Discussion

BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. asset manager Legg Mason Inc posted a quarterly loss on Friday as it took charges related to a bail-out of money market funds exposed to risky securit ... Discussion

Some customers like the company’s responses to online criticism; others see an eerie version of “Big Brother.” Discussion

New orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rose surprisingly on demand for metals, machinery and electrical equipment, a government report showed. Discussion

TOKYO (AP) -- Honda Motor Co. reported record profit for a fiscal first quarter Friday as sales growth in new markets offset the damage from a stronger yen and soaring materia ... Discussion

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korea's Samsung Electronics said Friday that second-quarter net profit grew 51 percent compared with the same quarter last year led by its liq ... Discussion

LOS GATOS, Calif. (AP) -- Netflix says its second-quarter profit rose 4 percent, helped by a 25 percent increase in subscriptions and the introduction of a device that allows ... Discussion

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Coal-producing Arch Coal Inc. said Friday its second-quarter profit tripled, beating Wall Street's expectations as the miner benefited from soaring global pr ... Discussion

Japanese stocks fell sharply as Wall Street’s overnight plunge renewed lingering concerns about the U.S. economy. Discussion

Disappointing June home sales and new worries about banks dragged the Dow Jones industrial average down to 283.10 points, or 2.43 percent, its worst loss in a month. Discussion

If you think the housing bailout bill will benefit only troubled homeowners, you may miss out on a windfall. Discussion

The military contractor said it earned $426 million, or $1 a share, in the quarter, down from $1.33 billion, or $2.97 a share, in the year-earlier period. Discussion

In the quarter, the company earned $945 million, or $1.33 a share, compared with $917 million, or $1.25 a share, in the period a year earlier. Discussion