Reuters - Cincinnati receptionist Roz Steadman had never been much of a coupon clipper, but the urge to be more careful with her money amid a faltering economy changed that about a month ago.

AP - From his office in a strip mall in the Southern California desert, energy trader Bill Rapp bet heavily that Hurricane Katrina would cause natural gas prices to go up and up and up.

AP - Wall Street firms and banks stepped up their borrowing over the past week from the Federal Reserve's emergency lending program.

AP - A beat-the-deadline rush to file permits for apartment construction in New York City lifted housing starts to unexpectedly high levels in June, but it was no cause for rejoicing. Construction of single-family homes nationwide fell to the slowest pace in 17 years.

Reuters - Stocks climbed more than 1 percent on Thursday as oil prices dropped sharply for the third day, while banks rallied after stronger-than-expected results from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

AP - Wall Street is surging for the second straight day as tumbling energy prices bolster an already upbeat mood in the market. The Dow Jones industrial average is up 170 points at the 11,409 level, and has been up more than 200 in afternoon trading.