NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Thursday as a sharp drop in oil prices sent the energy sector tumbling and disappointing profit outlooks from large companies such as Merck raised the specter of a worsening economy.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top executives of the major U.S. automakers faced skeptical questioning on Capitol Hill as they pleaded for $34 billion in federal aid and warned of a possible collapse that would jeopardize millions of jobs.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday urged more aggressive steps to halt home foreclosures and said government-funded programs could help strapped homeowners.
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC said on Thursday they would be open to a merger if the U.S. government mandated it as a condition for providing the emergency financing they say is needed to allow them to survive into 2009.
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Many retailers posted sharply lower November sales at stores open at least a year, prompting some investors to pour into the sector on hopes the dismal results signaled a bottom for share values.