Stocks turn negative as investors brace for jobs data A period of relative calm on Wall Street ended in the last hour of trading today as stocks tumbled amid growing investor anxiety about the government’s key November employment report.

SEC head: Rescue plan needs 'exit strategy' The top U.S. securities regulator said the government must start to build an “exit strategy” that includes taxpayer protections for its massive financial rescue plan.

HP freezing salaries in fiscal 2009 Employees have been notified by e-mail that they won’t receive a salary increase in fiscal 2009, which began in November, according to two people who asked not to be identified because the message was confidential. The only exceptions will be in countries where pay freezes are illegal, the two people said.

Economic blues push crude below $44 Prices may dip below $25 a barrel next year if the recession spreads to China, Merrill Lynch & Co. said in a report today.

Facebook users can share info with outside sites Facebook is allowing any outside Web site to participate in a service in which the social networking site's members can transfer their profile information and friend network to other places they visit on the Internet.

Chicago foreclosures to rise 40% for 2008 The number of foreclosures in the Chicago area in 2008 is expected to rise nearly 40 percent to more than 53,000, a housing industry research group said Thursday.

Advocate pursuing deal with Rockford Memorial Advocate Health Care, the Chicago area's biggest hospital operator with nine facilities, is exploring a partnership with Rockford Memorial Hospital in Rockford, the largest hospital in Rockford, according to sources familiar with the talks.

Dow drops 200 at end of calm day NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are down moderately in early trading following discouraging sales reports from many of the nation's big retailers, and word of big job cuts at AT&T and DuPont.

Congress still skeptical as automakers ask again U.S. automakers drew fresh skepticism from lawmakers Thursday in a rocky confrontation over their pleas for an expanded $34 billion rescue package they say they need to survive.

Feds file charges against Del Biaggio alleging more than $100 million in fraud Federal authorities filed civil and criminal charges today against bankrupt Silicon Valley financier William "Boots" Del Biaggio III, accusing him of bilking investors, banks and private lenders out of more than $100 million over the past five years. Read SEC complaint More del Biaggio saga

Bernanke: More foreclosure aid needed Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday that the government must do more to address foreclosures.

More Americans call recession 'serious' More than four out of 10 Americans say the economy is in a serious recession, a belief that has grown stronger within the past few weeks, according to a poll released Thursday.

Banks' emergency Fed borrowing falls Read full story for latest details.

Granholm calls for quick action to help auto companies LANSING --Gov. Jennifer Granholm said at a news conference Thursday "time is of the essence" for the auto companies, and she's concerned there may not be enough time for Congress to put together an oversight group and pass legislation to help the industry.

Brown-Forman to buy back $250 mln in shares SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Brown-Forman Corp. said late Thursday that it plans to buy back up to $250 million in Class A and Class B shares over the next 12 months. The company has about 56.6 million shares outstanding. Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

Dow closes down 215 after late tumble A period of relative calm on Wall Street ended as stocks tumbled in the final hour of trading on growing investor anxiety about the government's November employment report.

Discounters Take On Manufacturers Over Pricing Discounters such as Costco are in a battle with manufacturers of consumer goods about the prices they can charge. Manufacturers have enlisted online monitoring companies to detect when discounters are selling below the minimum. Now the discounters are fighting back.

Edison Gets OK for Solar Plants Edison International received state approval to go ahead with a contract with a local solar energy startup for new solar power plants in Kern County.

Guess Profit Rises, But Outlook Tempered Guess Inc. said its net income rose 10 percent in the third quarter, beating expectations. But the apparel retailer cut its full-year revenue and profit outlook, citing the slowing economy.

U.S. Markets Drop On Late Sell Off U.S. markets traded relatively unchanged for most of Thursday until sellers took over in the last hour of trade as investors looked for the exits ahead of the November employment report Friday morning.

Ottawa Transport Drivers' Union Votes To Strike Unless the deadlock between OC Transpo and the Ottawa City government is resolved soon, bus drivers of the transit will strike beginning Dec. 10.

Brazil Sees Doha Meeting Nearly Certain `It`s practically certain, it has to be,` Amorim said about expectations World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy.

Chastened U.S. Auto CEOs Beg For Billions `We`re here today because we made mistakes, which we are learning from,` General Motors Corp Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner testified.

Personal Finance: Gambling on Retirement Casinos are luring seniors with cheap meals and free buses. How to get in the game without losing your nest egg.

Careers: Finding a Job When You're Over 50 How to find a job when you're over 60.

Nearly 29,000 Job Cuts Reported In 24 Hours Nearly 29,000 job cuts were announced across the globe on Thursday as a weak credit market and on-going recession in major economies are hurting the profit margins on several companies across all sectors.

Is Europe's Central Bank Missing the Crisis? A rate cut signals a small shift in strategy, but the ECB is lagging behind other central banks in tackling the economic downturn

Jackson: 'It's not the Big Three. It's 4 million jobs' DETROIT -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson said today that denying a federal bridge loan for the struggling Big Three would be devastating, collapsing the nation's economies and sending cities in a downward spiral.

Big Three plead for $34B from Congress The CEOs of the leading automakers were back before Congress Thursday, arguing for a larger bailout than they asked for just two weeks ago, and hoping to undo the damage they did to their case at the earlier hearings.

Stocks tumble ahead of jobs report Stocks tumbled Thursday as a rash of job cuts at major companies added to jitters ahead of the November jobs report.

Dow Tumbles 200+ Amid Economic Worries The Dow closed down 215 points Thursday following new reports on jobless claims and dismal retail sales in November.

Six gunmen shot at India's Delhi airport: report SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Six gunmen have been shot by Indian security forces at Delhi's main international airport, the BBC reported Thursday on its Web site, citing airport officials. Security had been strengthened at several Indian airports after warnings were received of possible attacks, according to the BBC. The airport incident follows terrorist attacks on Mumbai last week in which more than 150 people were killed. Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

Citigroup board member Rubin may step down: CNBC BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- Robert Rubin, a director at Citigroup Inc. , could step down as a result of heat he's faced over the banking giant's woes, CNBC reported Thursday afternoon. The business channel sourced Wall Street executives who said Rubin likely can't survive on the board after Citi's management missteps, adding that a spokesman for Rubin said the rumor is absolutely untrue. Rubin has faced increased scrutiny recently on reports he has earned more than $100 million at Citi since 1999, not including stock options. Citi shares were off 5% heading into Thursday's closing bell. Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

U.S. stocks slide as layoffs mount, auto giants ask for aid NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks fell sharply Thursday after a two-day climb as auto executives pled for federal aid and in the aftermath of mostly dismal retail-sales results and layoffs from corporate giants including AT&T Inc. and DuPont Co. After falling more than 300 points, the Dow Jones Industrial Average scaled back its decline, ending at 8,376.24, off 215.45 points, or 2.5%. The S&P 500 shed 25.51 points, or 2.9%, to finish at 845.23, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 46.82 points, or 3.1%, to 1,445.56. Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

Yum sees at least 10% earnings a share growth in 2009 SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Yum Brands Inc. said late Thursday that it expects "at least 10%" growth in adjusted earnings a share in 2009. The company also reaffirmed its forecast of 12% growth in adjusted earnings a share in 2008. Yum reported earnings of $1.68 a share in 2007. Analysts surveyed by FactSet Research estimate earnings of $1.90 a share in 2008, and $2.08 a share in 2009. Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

Security scare at Delhi airport, no deaths: reports SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- There was a minor security scare at a major airport in New Delhi, India but no one has been killed, according to media reports Thursday. Indian police told the Associated Press that it was not a terrorist incident without elaborating further. Two sharp sounds had sparked a security scare but nothing was discovered after police swept the terminal and normal operations had resumed, Reuters reported, quoting a local television station. The BBC had reported on its Web site earlier that six gunmen had been shot by security forces. Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

Guess profit rises 11% on solid sales growth SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Clothing and apparel maker Guess? Inc. reported late Thursday fiscal third-quarter 2009 net income of $64 million, or 69 cents a share, up from $58.3 million, or 62 cents, a year ago. Revenue for the three months ended Nov. 1 rose 12.5% to $527.9 million. Analysts polled by FactSet Research had predicted the Los Angeles-based company would turn in a profit of 63 cents a share on $515 million in sales. The company said it sees earnings of $2.27 to $2.32 a share for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2009, compared with analysts' estimates of $2.41. Guess shares rose 10 cents, or 0.7%, to close at $13.96 ahead of the report. They surged another 2.9% in after-hours trade. Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

Novell reports fourth-quarter net loss of 5 cents a share SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Novell Inc. late Thursday reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $16.3 million, or 5 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $17.9 million, or 5 cents a share, in the same quarter a year earlier. The company reported a loss of 5 cents a share from continuing operations. Revenue slid marginally to $244.7 million from $244.9 million, the provider of open source software for businesses said. Analysts surveyed by FactSet Research had forecast earnings of 4 cents a share on revenue of $247.8 million. The company is targeting no less than 10% operating margin, on an adjusted basis, in fiscal 2009. Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

Dow closes down 200 after late tumble Wall Street turned cautious in the final hour of trading Thursday, sending the Dow tumbling as investors awaited Friday's monthly employment report.

Discounters Take On Manufacturers Over Minimum Pricing Discounters such as Costco are in a battle with manufacturers of consumer goods about the prices they can charge. Manufacturers have enlisted online monitoring companies to detect when discounters are selling below the minimum. Now the discounters are fighting back.