Debt Crisis

PARIS — Amid a wave of criticism, Standard & Poor’s defended its decision to downgrade nine European countries and insisted Saturday that the region’s leaders aren’t doing enough to solve their debt crises.

MADRID — Another troubled European government will almost surely tumble this weekend as Spanish voters braving sky-high unemployment, the sting of austerity, piles of debt and a bleak future are expected to dump the ruling Socialists and hand their national mess to opposition conservatives.

NEW YORK — U.S. stock futures are following European markets lower Tuesday. But the losses were trimmed after a stronger than expected U.S. retail sales report.

WASHINGTON — He set out to create a mini-Goldman Sachs. In the end, he built a mini-Lehman Brothers.

NEW YORK — Stocks slid in early trading Tuesday after disappointing corporate earnings reports and concerns that France and Germany may not reach an agreement to provide additional support for Greece.

NORTH CONWAY, N.H. — Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann said Sunday that her unsuccessful fight against raising the federal debt ceiling kept her away from New Hampshire for nearly four months, but she’s still committed to winning over voters in the key early primary state.

ABILENE, Texas -- Douglas Powell Sr. sent a $100 cashier's check made out to President Barack Hussein Obama in August to go toward the national debt.

The 65-year-old Texan believes he's doing his part to help solve the government's economic woes.

And he wants others to do the same.