The three biggest US carmakers pleaded with Congress for a $25bn (€19.7bn) lifeline to save their once-proud companies from collapse, warning of broader peril for the American economy as well.

A massive sell-off on Wall Street and an escalating global equity crisis sent Asian stocks plunging today, with Japan’s benchmark index in the midst of a gut-wrenching freefall.

Stocks plunged in the final minutes of trading today sending the Dow Jones industrials 678 points, or more than 7%, to their lowest level in five years.

Wall Street closed narrowly mixed today as investors traded cautiously ahead of the Labour Department’s Friday reading on December employment. Inflation jitters remained high as oil prices set a new trading record above 100.

Ford Motor Co. probably will not name the preferred bidder for its Jaguar and Land Rover units until early in January, sources said today.

Ford Motor Co. is still evaluating bids from three suitors for its Jaguar and Land Rover units, and a sale is not likely until early in 2008, according to sources briefed on the negotiations.

Wall Street tumbled today, led by financial services stocks, on concerns that the US economy’s expansion will erode amid troubles in the mortgage industry.

US stocks rose sharply today, led by strong gains among the blue chips and mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp., which said it had lined up added financing.

Stocks in the US surged today on signs of resilience in the housing market and the US consumer, with falling oil prices giving investors an extra reason to rally. The Dow Jones industrials gained more than 120 points.

Wall Street retreated sharply today as investors glumly absorbed a spike in oil prices and comments from two Federal Reserve officials that unexpected economic growth could prompt an interest rate hike.

Wall Street retreated sharply today as investors glumly absorbed a spike in oil prices and comments from two Federal Reserve officials that unexpected economic growth could prompt an interest-rate hike.

Wall Street surged higher today, hurtling the Dow Jones industrials past 12,500 for the first time as year-end bargain hunters picked up stocks across a variety of sectors.

American stocks slipped today as investors awaited the US Labor Department’s jobs report and reacted to Yahoo Inc.’s announcement of its biggest management shake-up in more than five years.

Surging oil prices pulled stocks sharply lower for a third straight session today, with bland earnings at General Electric Co. and weak consumer data further dampening the economic outlook. The Dow Jones industrial average shed 396 points in the past three days.

US stocks rose moderately today as investors digested Tuesday’s gains, which followed the Federal Reserve’s signal that it may be nearing the end of its streak of short-term interest rate hikes.

US stocks fell moderately today as investors found little reason to extend a year-end buying spree.

Solid employment data failed to extend Wall Street’s rally today as renewed interest rate concerns spurred profit-taking and left stocks mixed.

Wall Street surged higher today, carrying the Russell 2000 to a record close as Wall Street welcomed encouraging economic data and a continuation of double-digit corporate earnings growth.

Wall Street finished an uninspired session mixed today as a new record high in oil prices was partly offset by a better-than-expected reading of the nation’s industrial activity and strong sales at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Wall Street’s fixation with oil prices left stocks little changed today, although investors managed to react stoically to the government’s report of a drop in crude inventories.

Wall Street slipped lower but still held on to most of its recent gains today as investors, their confidence in the economy growing, reacted calmly to oil prices that approached US$60 (€49.36) per barrel.

Investors preoccupied with inflation extended Wall Street’s decline today, selling stocks sharply lower in response to a ballooning United States trade deficit.

A bad jobs report today halted Wall Street’s 2004 rally, sending stocks sharply lower as investors cashed in profits from the market’s recent advance.

Wall Street began the first full week of 2004 with a solid advance today rising on encouraging interest rate news, a strong semiconductor sales report and an upbeat forecast from software firm Siebel Systems.

Toru Hasegawa, president of Yamaha Motor plans to develop the world's first methanol fuel cell for small motorcycles.

THE idea that there are companies generating more wealth than Ireland has been debunked by the United Nations.