A return from ‘fairyland’: Meltdown shakes up consumers’ money views, investing habits

CHICAGO — The stock market bounced back, just as it has for nearly three decades. It just doesn’t feel that way.

At meeting this week, Fed policymakers likely to maintain aid programs to boost economy

WASHINGTON — With the economy starting to rebound but still fragile, Federal Reserve policymakers this week are expected to keep emergency programs to encourage spending and borrowing intact. But to avoid unleashing inflation later on, they are likely to consider ways to rein in programs designed to keep mortgage rates down and get banks to lend more freely.

Obama not ready to say recession is over, says jobs picture could worsen in coming months

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama isn’t ready to close the book on the recession.

42 US states lose jobs in August, up from 29 in July

WASHINGTON — Forty-two states lost jobs last month, up from 29 in July, with the biggest net payroll cuts coming in Texas, Michigan, Georgia and Ohio.

Bumps and bruises of economy taking toll on competitors in resurgent roller derby leagues

RALEIGH, N.C. — There are some pretty horrific images in the Carolina Rollergirls’ online injury archive: The purple-black bruise on Kristi Kreme’s thigh; the nasty case of “rink rash” on Shirley Temper’s backside; the X-ray of the shattered shoulder — and cobalt chrome implant — that ended Harlot O’Scara’s roller derby career.

On eve of G-20, report says protectionism rampant and could increase even as economies recover

WASHINGTON — The world’s major powers are repeatedly breaking their pledges not to erect trade barriers, and there’s no sign the “protectionist juggernaut” will ease as countries recover from the global downturn, an influential monitoring organization said Friday.

Analyst downgrades of Covanta Holding, cites weak prospects in a post-recession environment

NEW YORK — An analyst on Friday downgraded shares of Covanta Holding Corp., saying the company, which converts waste to energy, will not do as well in an economic recovery as it has during the recession.

42 states lose jobs in August, up from 29 in July; biggest cuts in Texas, Mich., Ga., Ohio

WASHINGTON — Forty-two states lost jobs last month, up from 29 in July, with the biggest net payroll cuts coming in Texas, Michigan, Georgia and Ohio.

Spending cuts, political fallout loom in Britain as government borrowing hits record in August

LONDON — The recession’s toll on British government finances was highlighted Friday by official figures showing the government borrowed a record 16.1 billion pounds ($26.3 billion) in August, just days after Prime Minister Gordon Brown conceded that whoever wins the next election will have to take an axe to spending.

World stock markets slip as investors lack new data to give trading direction

LONDON — European and Asian markets mostly fell Friday as a lack of new economic data left investors to book profits on the week’s strong rally, which had brought many indexes to new highs for the year on hopes that the U.S. is emerging from recession.

Improving economies may ease pressure on world leaders to work together, fight protectionism

WASHINGTON — Leaders of the world’s 20 top economies vowed to resist protectionism last November and again in April as they charted a joint strategy for confronting the worst global downturn in generations. As they meet again, they’ll get this progress report: Most of their economies are on the mend — and trade tensions and protectionism are on the rise.

Dollar continues to slide to annual lows against the euro on evidence recession has ended

NEW YORK — The dollar hit another annual low against the euro Thursday as strong economic data added to evidence the recession has ended, pushing traders to risker assets.

As deadline nears, first-time homebuyers and Congress face end to tax credit

As days tick off the calendar, the life span of the much-ballyhooed tax credit for first-time homebuyers is drawing to an end — unless Congress decides to extend it.

Summary Box: US households see wealth grow for first time in nearly 2 years

WHAT HAPPENED? Americans got wealthier. Household net worth grew in the second quarter for the first time in nearly two years, a Federal Reserve report showed. Net worth — the value of assets such as homes, checking accounts and investments minus debts like mortgages and credit cards — rose by $2 trillion to $53.1 trillion from the first quarter.

Airbus sees signs of recovery and expects passenger volumes to rebound next year

LONDON — Airbus’ chief salesman John Leahy said Thursday he is optimistic that the airline industry is recovering — although he warned that financing conditions remain tight.

US households see wealth grow for first time in nearly 2 years as stocks, homes gain ground

WASHINGTON — For the first time in two years, Americans actually got a little wealthier.

Housing starts rise, but key single-family sector cools; new jobless claims drop modestly

WASHINGTON — Adding to evidence the recession has ended, housing construction rose in August and fewer laid-off workers sought jobless aid last week.

Stocks trade in narrow range after jobless claims dip, housing starts rise

NEW YORK — Stocks zigzagged in tight range early Thursday after the government said weekly jobless claims dipped unexpectedly and housing starts grew at a slightly slower pace than anticipated.

Stocks trade in narrow range at open after jobless claims dip, housing starts rise

NEW YORK — Stocks are narrowly mixed in early trading amid reports that showed weekly jobless claims dipped unexpectedly and housing starts grew at a slightly slower pace than anticipated.

August housing construction rises to highest level in 9 months, boosted by apartment building

WASHINGTON — Housing construction rose in August, but the results were mixed, with the large single-family sector falling for the first time in six months.

Stock futures point to mixed open ahead of reports on unemployment, housing starts

NEW YORK — Stock futures traded in a narrow range Thursday amid reports that showed weekly jobless claims dipped unexpectedly and housing starts grew at a slightly slower pace than anticipated.

Stock futures point to modestly higher open ahead of unemployment, housing data

NEW YORK — Stock futures are rising modestly Thursday as investors look to continue the market’s latest leg of the rally.

EU Farm Commissioner offers extra dairy help but sticks to plan to phase out milk quotas

STRASBOURG, France — The European Commission on Thursday promised extra steps to combat sinking dairy prices but insisted it would not abandon long-term farm reforms that include phasing out milk quotas after 2015.

White House: Obama to urge nations to stay vigilant on stimulus as global economy rebounds

WASHINGTON — Wary of complacency, President Barack Obama will urge a summit of world financial powers to stick with efforts to boost the global economy rather than abandon coordinated economic stimulus work, a top White House adviser said Wednesday.

Stocks extend rally to 3rd day following growth in industrial production; Dow jumps 108 points

NEW YORK — Investors barreled into stocks Wednesday after an upbeat report on industrial production raised hopes that the economy is strengthening.

Manufacturers lead early stages of recovery, outlook brightens for consumers as inflation mute

WASHINGTON — Signaling that manufacturers are leading the economy into a recovery, output from the nation’s factories, mines and utilities posted widespread gains in August.

Investor Warren Buffett says economy has yet to improve but it’s no longer getting worse

OMAHA, Neb. — Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says the economy appears to have leveled off at the bottom of the recession over the summer, but Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO still isn’t seeing much improvement.

UCLA forecasts double-digit Calif. jobless rate through 2010 but high tech may recover

LOS ANGELES — A UCLA forecast says California will continue to struggle with recession next year even though its high-tech industries will rebound.

Stocks edged higher on growth in industrial production; consumer inflation remains tame

NEW YORK — Stocks picked up steam Wednesday as strength in industrial production gave investors new reason to wager that the economy is recovering.

US industrial production better-than-expected in Aug., prices up a bit but inflation in check

WASHINGTON — U.S. factories made more cars, clothing and other goods than expected in August, and inflation remained in check in the early stages of a broad economic recovery.