NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks were mostly flat on Wednesday, on a volatile last day of a strong third quarter, as a disappointing report on Midwest business activity was offset by gains in commodities and tech.

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Dow, S&P flat as tech offsets weak PMI reading

In hard times, entertainment either grinds it out with the rest of us, or it waltzes. During the Depression in the ’30s, there were stories about the plight of the nation’s unemployed, like John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath,” alongside the extravagant…

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John Steinbeck – Grapes of Wrath – Great Depression – American – Arts

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In hard times, arts provide escapism and realism

The real estate billionaire and newspaper owner is among at least four bidders for the magazine, says BW’s Tom Lowry

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Mort Zuckerman Bids for BusinessWeek

High unemployment caused Medicaid enrollments to rise an average of 5.4% in fiscal 2009, and spending on the program to rise 7.6%—the biggest increases in six years. The gains were sharply higher than had originally been projected, putting even more pressure on already battered state …

Medicaid Enrollment Up 5.4%, Highest Increase in Six Years

Ever since President Ronald Reagan proposed building a ballistic missile shield in 1983 to prevent a doomsday scenario, the idea has been dogged by an unanswered question: Will it work? The prime target during the Reagan era was Russian missiles. A scaled-…

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Ronald Reagan – National missile defense – United States – Missile – History

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New missile defense plan bets on Navy interceptors

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. economy contracted in the second quarter more slowly than initially thought, but negative news on jobs and on manufacturing activity in the country’s Midwest region in September pointed to a patchy recovery from recession.

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U.S. Q2 GDP decline eases; manufacturing still weak

At a time when credit and debit card fees are under fire, American Express Co. said Wednesday it will no longer charge monthly fees on its gift cards. The change will apply to cards currently in stores and even in people’s wallets. Previously, a monthly $2…

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Credit card – AmericanExpress – Debit card – Business – Gift card

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American Express drops gift card dormancy fee

Two former Moody’s Investors Service employees detailed allegations of misconduct at the big ratings firm as lawmakers took aim at a credit rating industry they condemned as rife with conflicts of interest and needing reform. Seeking accountability for the…

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Moody – US Securities and Exchange Commission – Credit rating – Business – Municipal bond

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Ex-Moody’s employees allege misconduct

Investors shook off their disappointment with a weak regional economic report Wednesday and resumed buying stocks on the final day of a stellar quarter. The Dow Jones industrials initially fell more than 100 points after the Chicago Purchasing Managers Index…

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Wall Street – Business – Investing – United States – Dow Jones & Company

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Stocks rebound from slide on manufacturing data

A new report ranks the Reno-Sparks area as the hardest hit when it comes to percentage of lost construction jobs in the recession. The report released Wednesday by the Associated General Contractors of American put the northern Nevada area 337th among…

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Nevada – Reno Nevada – United States – Business – Recession

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Report: Reno highest in construction job losses

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks erased their losses in early afternoon trade on Wednesday, with first the Nasdaq turning positive. The S&P 500 and the Dow industrials quickly followed suit, advancing into positive territory.

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Wall St now positive, Cisco leads Nasdaq up

The unemployment rate fell in about 60 percent of metropolitan areas in August from the previous month, as layoffs eased nationwide. An Associated Press analysis of Labor Department data found that the jobless rate dropped in 232 of 380 metro areas. That’s an…

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Unemployment – United States Department of Labor – Work – Layoff – Associated Press

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Jobless rates drop in most metro areas in August

When it comes to preparing for a swine flu outbreak, the top concern for most U.S. business leaders is getting enough vaccine for their employees, according to a new survey. The Business Roundtable found that most businesses have a plan to deal with the flu,…

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Swine influenza – Vaccine – United States – Health – Business Roundtable

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Getting swine flu vaccine top business concern

The Federal Reserve is developing some new tools for reeling in the extraordinary support it’s provided to the economy, Fed Vice Chairman Donald Kohn said Wednesday. However, Kohn and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Dennis Lockhart said they see no…

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Federal Reserve System – Interest rate – Inflation – Monetary policy – Central bank

Kohn: Fed is developing new exit tools

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Donald Kohn said on Wednesday policymakers would raise benchmark interest rates well before consumer spending and business investment overheats, adding that obstacles to borrowing are likely to subdue the economic recovery.

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Kohn: Fed to raise rates before spending overheats