Hot finance topics

U.S. stock futures are mixed, portending a cautious opening as Greece holds another round of debt-reduction with its creditors.
Dow futures are down 3 points at 12,584. The broader S&P 500 futures are down 2 points to 1,308.
The Nasdaq composite is up 5 points to 2,430. The tech-heavy index is getting a boost from solid earnings […]

Almost all U.S. metropolitan areas will see job growth in 2012, but for many areas it will still take years for employment to return to pre-recession levels, according to a report released on Wednesday by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
All but three U.S. metro areas will have job gains this year, led by expected […]

Under pressure to deliver shock treatment to the ailing euro, European finance ministers failed to come up with a plan for European countries to spend within their means. Such a plan is needed before Europe’s central bank and the International Monetary Fund consider stepping in to stem an escalating threat to the global economy.
The ministers […]

ST. LOUIS - The first international cargo flight from China landed at Lambert International Airport today.
The China cargo Boeing 777 landed at 3:50 p.m. Local leaders said they hoped it would be the first of many cargo flights from China at the airport.
Helping attract a cargo hub at Lambert is one of the issues being […]

European Union finance ministers are debating a tax on financial transactions that would raise money for the EU and make banks share bailout burdens with taxpayers.
The tax would take a tiny fraction from a wide range of financial dealings and use the money to relieve member states’ membership contributions to the EU.
France and Germany support […]

Stocks advanced for the second day running Thursday amid hopes that global policymakers will enact more measures to shore up ailing economic growth.
While both the Bank of England and the European Central Bank are set to keep their respective interest rates unchanged, President Barack Obama is expected to announce measures to boost jobs creation in […]

Asian stock markets took a beating Monday after U.S. companies stopped hiring in August, reviving fears that the world’s largest economy is heading back into recession.
Oil prices extended losses to below $86 a barrel as the dismal jobs report suggested that a weak U.S. economy will lessen demand for crude. The dollar was higher against […]

China’s environmental regulators say they plan to crack down on dumping and improper storage of hazardous materials, with special attention to heavy metals and electronic waste.
Ministry of Environmental Protection deputy director Zhang Lijun said in comments released Friday that the government also would halt reviews of any new industrial projects in Qujing, a city in […]

President Barack Obama and his family are enjoying a vacation day at the beach on Martha’s Vineyard.
Obama, his wife, Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha were spending part of Sunday at a private beach in Edgartown, Mass.
It’s the first vacation outing by the Obamas since the family arrived on the island resort to begin a […]

Concerns over the U.S. economy and Europe