THE CLOSING BELL — DOWN 76: The fear on Wall Street is that nervous consumers are going to short-circuit the economic recovery. NYSE, NASDAQ &#187 BLOG: South Bay business news

THE CLOSING BELL — UP 6:Wall Street’s major indexes managed to hold on Thursday to their gains from the big rally that followed the Federal Reserve’s upbeat comments one day earlier. NYSE, NASDAQ &#187 BLOG: South Bay business news

THE CLOSING BELL — UP 120: Stocks shot higher Wednesday after the Fed, ending a two-day policy meeting, issued a more optimistic view of the economy and said it appears to be “leveling out.” That was a change from the central bank’s June assessment that the economy was shrinking at a slower pace. NYSE, NASDAQ TODAY’S BUSINESS NEWS: FOLLOW THE MONEY: &#187 Web site promises to keep track of how stimulus is being spent &#187 Fed signals vote of confidence in economy &#187 June trade deficit rises to $27B, imports up &#187 Boeing delivers first C-17 to Qatar &#187 Kaiser Permanente to cut 1,850 jobs &#187 Oil rises as US imports jump &#187 Mexico: Falling oil could worsen recession &#187 EU markets up, despite Asian jitters &#187 WTO win could open China’s doors to US firms &#187 Home sales rise from 1Q to 2nd &#187 BLOG: South Bay business news

LANCASTER — Small business owners today can learn about purchasing and contracting opportunities with local, state and federal agencies at a workshop hosted by a Los Angeles County supervisor.

Stocks have closed sharply lower Tuesday as Fed policymakers began a two-day meeting that could provide new insight into how the economy is faring. NYSE, NASDAQ TODAY’S BUSINESS NEWS: FOLLOW THE MONEY: &#187 Web site promises to keep track of how stimulus is being spent &#187 Google provides peek into new search engine &#187 US refineries used stolen Mexican oil, Feds charge &#187 Oil dips below $71 ahead of US Fed meeting &#187 Gas prices increasing, but at slower rate &#187 July sees big jump in fuel efficiency of new cars &#187 Productivity rises more than expected in 2Q &#187 Wholesale inventories fall for 10th straight month &#187 Labor sec’y says green jobs hiring will pick up &#187 Watchdog says bad assets still threaten banks &#187 BLOG: South Bay business news

THE CLOSING BELL — DOWN 32: Stocks fell modestly Monday in the absence of any major corporate or economic developments. Investors were also cautious ahead of earnings reports from major retailers and a two-day meeting of the Federal Reserve on interest rates that starts Tuesday. Bond prices jumped as stocks fell. NYSE, NASDAQ TODAY’S BUSINESS NEWS: FOLLOW THE MONEY: &#187 Web site promises to keep track of how stimulus is being spent &#187 eBay, GM to start selling cars Tuesday &#187 Asia rallies as EU stocks dip modestly &#187 Toshiba to join rival Blue-ray camp &#187 Oil falls below $71 ahead of US retail reports &#187 Japan core machinery orders up 9.7% in June &#187 Feds hold back $100M in oil drill leases &#187 Treasurys rebound as stocks fall &#187 BLOG: South Bay business news

THE CLOSING BELL — UP 114: Major stock indexes barreled higher by more than 1 percent Friday after the government said the nation’s unemployment rate unexpectedly fell in July for the first time in 15 months and that employers cut fewer jobs. NYSE, NASDAQ TODAY’S BUSINESS NEWS: FOLLOW THE MONEY: &#187 Web site promises to keep track of how stimulus is being spent &#187 Job losses dip for first time in 15 months &#187 EPA pushes new emission rules on container ships &#187 Japan Airlines books $1B loss in 1Q &#187 Delta to cut more management jobs &#187 EU stocks rise on US jobs report &#187 Oil ends higher for 4th consecutive week &#187 Now hiring: Everywhere you didn’t want to work &#187 BLOG: South Bay business news

THE CLOSING BELL — DOWN 39: Stocks fell moderately Wednesday after a lackluster reading of the service industry added to investors’ anxiety over the government’s jobs report on Friday. NYSE, NASDAQ TODAY’S BUSINESS NEWS: FOLLOW THE MONEY: &#187 Web site promises to keep track of how stimulus is being spent &#187 Treasury to auction a record $75B in 3Q &#187 Factory orders unexpectedly increase in June &#187 Postal service loses $2.4B in 3 months &#187 US jobs, service data weigh on world markets &#187 Toyota plans new sports car &#187 Clunker rebates likely for another month &#187 P&G’s 4Q profit falls 18% &#187 Wednesday’s global economic developments &#187 Oil prices near $72 despite robust supplies &#187 BLOG: South Bay business news

THE CLOSING BELL — UP 34: Investors made few big moves Tuesday after stocks rocketed 14 percent in just 16 days. The market put up modest gains as many traders held their positions and looked toward the Labor Department’s employment report on Friday. NYSE, NASDAQ TODAY’S BUSINESS NEWS: FOLLOW THE MONEY: &#187 Web site promises to keep track of how stimulus is being spent &#187 Consumer spending rises in June, incomes drop &#187 GMAC Financial posts wider 2Q loss of $3.9B &#187 2 big banks lag in mortgage aid program &#187 US homes data helps European markets pare losses &#187 PepsiCo to buy bottlers in deals totaling $7.8B &#187 Toyota reports $819 million quarterly loss &#187 Tuesday’s global economic developments &#187 Upbeat stocks beat up on Treasurys &#187 BLOG: South Bay business news

THE CLOSING BELL — UP 115: The stock market extended its summer rally Monday as reports on manufacturing, housing and banking draw more buyers into a market already up sharply since mid-July. NYSE, NASDAQ TODAY’S BUSINESS NEWS: FOLLOW THE MONEY: &#187 Web site promises to keep track of how stimulus is being spent &#187 US mfg. contraction slowest since August &#187 Construction spending rises unexpectedly &#187 Nissan rolls out electric car for mass market &#187 Automakers get sales boost from ‘Cash for Clunkers’ &#187 GM buyouts fall short, layoffs loom &#187 SoCal gas prices continue upswing &#187 Oil tops $71 on recovery optimism &#187 Foreclosures stabilize in California &#187 Molson Coors reports 2Q profit doubles &#187 World markets up on mfg. recovery hopes &#187 BLOG: South Bay business news