Hurricane damage, losses at its life and health business and markdowns on assets from the global financial turmoil contributed to the third-quarter loss at the Swiss Reinsurance Company.

Belo Corporation said its quarterly profit was hurt by the economic downturn and hurricanes that struck its markets in Texas.

Orders to American factories plunged by the largest amount in nearly two years as the credit strains began to hit manufacturing with full force.

Orders to American factories plunged by the largest amount in nearly two years as the credit strains began to hit manufacturing with full force.

New applications for unemployment benefits rose slightly last week to a seven-year high, partly due to hurricanes that hit Texas and Louisiana last month, the government said.

Spending by businesses on major items fell in August after three monthly increases, reinforcing the sense that businesses are nervous about making long-term investments amid the downturn.

As the financial storm on Wall Street intensified last weekend, James J. Schiro, 62, chief executive of Zurich Financial Services, had his eye on another catastrophic event: Hurricane Ike.

Crude oil prices briefly returned to triple-digit territory on Thursday, but gave up most of their gains to fall below $100 a barrel by the end of the day.

The Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise operator, beat analysts’ quarterly profit expectations and raised its 2008 profit forecast.

Gasoline prices eased a bit as oil companies reported that the damage from Hurricane Ike to production platforms and refineries appears to be relatively minor.