• Stock futures are falling on the eve of the U.S. earnings season with more signs of instability coming out of Europe.

    The Dow Jones industrial average closed lower for the fifth straight day as worries about sluggish economic growth weighed on markets.

  • Democrats want to push tax cuts through the Senate for companies that hire new workers, give raises or buy major new equipment this year.

    Democrats began trying to push a bill through the Senate Tuesday slicing taxes for businesses that hire new workers and buy major new equipment. They ran straight into opposition from Republicans who complained that the…

  • Seeking an election-year fight over taxes, President Barack Obama is hitting the road to press Congress to extend tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners, framing a debate with Mitt Romney and congressional…

    Clashing over the economy, President Barack Obama challenged Mitt Romney to join him in allowing tax hikes for rich Americans like them, needling his Republican rival on Tuesday to “compromise to help the middle class.”

  • Euro area finance ministers have agreed on the terms of a bailout for Spain’s troubled banks, saying that 30 billion euros can be ready by end of this month.

    The European Union worked towards stabilizing Spain’s finances Tuesday as it backed up the blueprint for the country’s €100 billion bank bailout plan with plans to grant the country an extra year to cut its budget…

  • President Barack Obama is launching a push to extend tax cuts for the middle class, as he seeks to shift the election-year economic debate away from the dismal jobs market and toward the issue of tax fairness.

    President Barack Obama, eager to shift election-year attention away from the nation’s lackluster jobs market, called on Congress Monday to extend tax cuts for families earning less than $ 250,000 a year while allowing…

  • U.S. employers added only 80,000 jobs in June, a third straight month of weak hiring that shows the economy is still struggling three years after the recession ended.

    The American job machine has jammed. Again.

  • Asian stock markets rose Tuesday amid expectations policymakers will implement stimulus measures to help spur weak global growth.

    Asian stock markets were boosted Wednesday by hopes European central bankers will buoy economic growth with new stimulus measures.

  • The price of oil jumped to the highest level since May on renewed fears of a military conflict with Iran.

    Renewed tensions between Iran and the West pushed oil its highest level in more than a month.

  • U.S. stock futures are following global markets higher ahead of a shortened trading session a day before the Independence Day holiday.

    Stocks climbed Tuesday in an abbreviated holiday trading session after an encouraging report about manufacturing. Energy stocks rose the most because of increased tension over oil-rich Iran.

  • US factory received 0.7 percent more orders in May following 2 months of declines.

    US factory received 0.7 percent more orders in May following 2 months of declines.