For oil producers that have grown accustomed to rising revenues, falling oil prices are turning into a cause for concern, if not quite panic.

Loan defaults are rising, but the victims seem to be small companies in industries with big problems.

A broad sell-off sent the Dow Jones industrial average tumbling in afternoon trading, but few investors seemed to know why.

The West, looking to express its disapproval of the Kremlin’s actions, may make its favored billionaires a surrogate target.

Jobless claims rose, indicating a slowdown. But productivity rose in second quarter, and the service sector grew unexpectedly in August.

A broad sell-off sent the Dow Jones industrial average down 230 points in morning trading, but few investors seemed to know why.

The increase in unemployment claims reversed three weeks of declines and indicated that the slowing economy was taking a toll on the job market.

Wall Street fell sharply in early trading after retailers posted weak sales reports and the government reported a spike in weekly jobless claims.

Many retailers struggled with a sluggish back-to-school season, though Wal-Mart posted higher August sales, as shoppers focused on buying essentials amid worries about high gas and food prices.

Productivity jumped 4.3 percent in the April-to-June quarter, a full percentage point higher than economists expected, and labor costs fell 0.5 percent, the government said.