Respite for reptiles as demand drops for skins (AP)
AP - As conspicuous consumption loses some of its cachet during the recession, the swamp's most conspicuous consumers have less to fear from humans.
On the Call: J.C. Penney CEO and Chairman Ullman (AP)
AP - While a flurry of reports have shown the economy is starting to stabilize, consumers don't seem to be feeling it, according to earnings reports retailers issued this week.
Industrial production up for 1st time in 9 months (AP)
AP - Production from the nation's factories, mines and utilities rose more than expected in July, with the first gain in nine months driven by increased output from auto companies.
U.S. consumers' mood darkens in August: survey (Reuters)
Reuters - U.S. consumer confidence fell in early August as a growing number of Americans fretted about their finances even though they expected the broader economy to improve, a survey showed on Friday.
(AP)
AP - Industrial production rises in July for only the second time since recession began in December 2007.
Hong Kong recession ends as economy grows 3.3 pct (AP)
AP - Hong Kong's economy broke out of a yearlong recession in the second quarter as the territory benefited from strong growth in mainland China and better conditions in the West, the government said Friday.
British Virgin Islands, Cayman on tax "white list" (Reuters)
Reuters - The British Virgin Islands and the Cayman islands have joined the global "white list" of countries using internationally recognized tax standards, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said on Friday.
New lead limits big concern for small businesses (AP)
AP - Tighter limits on the amount of lead the government allows in children's products and a requirement for new tracking labels are stirring fear among small business owners, already hurting in a tough economy.
Metal, energy prices rally as dollar weakens (AP)
AP - Prices for copper, silver and other metals rose Thursday as a weaker dollar and the promise of an economic recovery lured investors to commodities.
The Dow Jones industrials' moves since Lehman fall (AP)
AP - How far the Dow Jones industrial average has fallen or advanced each trading day since Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sept. 15. Since Lehman's fall, which touched off a paralysis of the credit markets and deepened the recession, the stock market has gone through an extended period of volatility before kicking into a big rally starting this spring. The numbers are the closing levels for the Dow:
Banks reduce emergency borrowing from Fed (AP)
AP - Banks trimmed their borrowing from the Federal Reserve's emergency lending facility over the past week, and cut back their use of other programs designed to ease the financial crisis.