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Paul Wiseman

(EUGENE HOSHIKO/The Associated Press) In this file photo taken March 2, 2011, a forklift arranges the shipping containers near a port in Shanghai. China’s high-flying economy is starting to lose altitude. The big question is whether the world’s economic superstar will shrink gradually _ or so fast that it harms a fragile global economy.

World economy needs China to slow growth gradually

Last updated Tuesday, November 1, 2011 - 9:49am

WASHINGTON — China’s high-flying economy is starting to lose altitude. The big question is whether the world’s economic superstar will shrink gradually — or so fast that it harms a fragile global economy.

Business, China, Economy, International Read more Comments

Federal Reserve chairman Paul Bernanke walks past reporters without speaking as he arrives at a morning session of the Economic Policy Symposium at Jackson Hole in Moran, Wyo., Friday, Aug. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Bernanke proposes no new steps to boost economy

Martin Crutsinger, Paul Wiseman The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, August 26, 2011 - 1:08pm

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke leaned on Congress on Friday to do more to promote hiring and growth, or risk delaying the economy's return to full health.

Bernanke proposed no new steps by the Fed to boost the economy. But at a time when Congress has been focused on shrinking long-run budget deficits, he warned lawmakers not to "disregard the fragility of the current economic recovery."

Business, Ben Bernanke, Economy, Federal Reserve Read more Comments

Fed's pledge helps market

Martin Crutsinger, Paul Wiseman The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, August 9, 2011 - 8:40pm

Fed's pledge helps

By PAUL WISEMAN and MARTIN CRUTSINGER

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve offered super-low interest rates for two more years Tuesday -- an unprecedented step to arrest an economic free fall that dragged down the stock market. Wall Street roared its approval and finished a wild day with a 429-point gain.

The rally was remarkably fast -- the Dow Jones industrial average was still down for the day with less than an hour of trading to go -- and enough to erase two-thirds of its decline the day before.

Business, Economy, Utah, Featured Read more Comments

(MARK LENNIHAN/The Associated Press) Jesse Paloger holds up a sign while standing on Wall Street as he hopes to find a job in New York in December.

Hire hopes: Private jobs report fuels confidence in labor recovery

Christopher S. Rugaber, Paul Wiseman, The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - 9:27pm

WASHINGTON -- Companies added nearly 300,000 jobs in December, according to an unofficial count by a private payroll firm -- more than in any month in the past decade. The news raised hopes that the government's official report Friday on last month's job creation could be a blockbuster.

While there were reasons to doubt the numbers, the report from Automatic Data Processing, and another showing strength in the nation's service industries, reversed what was shaping up to be an ugly day on Wall Street. It also generated optimism that the unemployment rate might finally start to fall.

Some economists expressed skepticism about ADP's monthly figures because they often don't track the official government employment data. Others said that the report's estimate of job gains was so high that it at least reinforced evidence that hiring is picking up as employers gain more confidence.

Business, Economy, Jobs, Unemployment Read more Comments