AFP - US retail sales slumped 1.2 percent in September, government data showed Wednesday in a sign of deeper troubles for an economy ailing from a financial market firestorm and tight credit.

AP - JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s profit tumbled 84 percent in the third quarter after it took big hits from souring mortgage investments, leveraged loans and home loans.

AP - European and Asian markets mostly fell back Wednesday following a strong two-day rally amid concerns that the global efforts to restore confidence in the battered financial system will not be enough to stave off a deep recession.

Reuters - Retail sales last month dropped the most in more than three years while a measure of New York state manufacturing hit its lowest since the index started in 2001, intensifying recession fears.

Reuters - Economic activity weakened across the United States in September as businesses revised capital investments, consumers curtailed spending and the general outlook darkened, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday.

Reuters - Stocks extended losses in afternoon trading on Wednesday, after the Federal Reserve said economic activity weakened across the United States in September as businesses rethought capital investments, and consumers curtailed spending.

Reuters - Turmoil in credit markets poses a "significant threat" to the U.S. economy, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday, suggesting an openness to further interest-rate cuts.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Tuesday as fears that the global economy may not avert recession slammed shares of technology and consumer companies, eclipsing a government rescue plan for banks.

Reuters - Technology bellwether Intel Corp posted a 12-percent rise in quarterly profit as the world's biggest computer chipmaker said demand, while uncertain, was holding up despite the global economic crisis.

Reuters - The U.S. budget deficit hit a record $455 billion in fiscal 2008 as a slowing economy sapped revenues while spending on wars, bank failures and unemployment-related benefits soared, the Treasury Department said on Tuesday.

Reuters - A pair of top Federal Reserve officials on Tuesday highlighted risks to the U.S. economy from the global credit crisis and liquidity squeeze, but did not hint at more interest rate cuts as a solution.

Reuters - Signs of renewed risk aversion surfaced on Wednesday with stocks pressured and gold rising as investors fret the global economy will not escape a recession even after bank bailouts, which have taken the edge off money market stress.

Reuters - European leaders will press on Wednesday for an overhaul of the world's financial structures after Asia joined western bastions of capitalism in bailing out banks to avert a financial meltdown.