Reuters - British Airways' profit collapsed in the first quarter as high oil prices, an economic slowdown and weak consumer confidence combined in what the airline called the worst trading conditions it had ever experienced.

Reuters - Global stocks ticked higher on Thursday in the afterglow of a concerted central bank move to boost liquidity but a rebound in oil and disappointing results from some major companies capped gains.

Reuters - The number of U.S. workers filing claims for new jobless benefits leapt 44,000 last week, Labor Department data on Thursday showed, but an official said the increase was at least partly due to special factors.

AP - The number of people filing claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to the highest level in five years, reflecting in large part a new government outreach effort to locate people eligible for benefits.

Reuters - The Dow industrials and the S&P 500 fell on Thursday as disappointing growth and employment data heightened concerns about the economy's health and the outlook for corporate profits.

Reuters - An emergency dose of government stimulus helped the economy grow at a 1.9 percent annual rate in the second quarter, a soft pace but enough to take it off a path perilously close to recession.

AP - Stocks mostly declined Thursday after a weaker-than-expected reading on the nation's economy and troubling news on jobs touched off renewed concerns about businesses and consumers.

AP - The country didn't get the energetic rebound in economic growth hoped for from the government's tax rebates in the second quarter, and the economy jolted into reverse at the end of 2007, raising new recession fears.

Reuters - Standard & Poor's on Thursday cut ratings on all three major U.S. automakers deeper into junk status, citing expected losses due to higher gas prices and a weakening U.S. economy.

Reuters - The Dow industrials and S&P 500 rose on Wednesday as a surprising increase in private-sector employment and central bank efforts to boost liquidity in stormy financial markets offset a surge in oil prices.