AP - Higher sales at its gas stations and upscale stores helped boost grocer Safeway Inc.'s profit nearly 3 percent in its third fiscal quarter.

Reuters - The Federal Reserve stepped forward as a commercial lender of last resort and signaled a readiness to cut interest rates as governments around the world scrambled to stem the global financial crisis and calls arose for concerted action.

Reuters - Bank of America Corp, citing "recessionary conditions," on Monday halved its dividend and said it would sell at least $10 billion in new common stock to bolster its capital to offset rising loan losses.

AP - Bank of America Corp. on Monday reported third-quarter results earlier than planned, revealing a wider-than-expected profit drop and plans to boost capital by selling $10 billion stock and halving its dividend.

AP - Hotel company Marriott International Inc. said Thursday that its third-quarter profit dropped 28 percent, compared to 2007, and it warned investors about deteriorating conditions for 2009 amid the ongoing financial crisis.

AP - Constellation Brands Inc. said Thursday it lost nearly $23 million in its fiscal second quarter as strong sales of vodka and high-end wines were more than offset by charges to shrink its operations in Australia. Its shares fell nearly 9 percent.

Reuters - Constellation Brands Inc , the world's largest wine producer, posted a quarterly net loss on Thursday versus a year-earlier profit, due to charges and inventory write-downs related to selling some Australian assets.

AP - Hotel company Marriott International Inc. said Thursday that its third-quarter profit dropped 28 percent, compared to 2007, and it warned investors about deteriorating conditions for 2009 amid the ongoing financial crisis.