In the span of just a few weeks, orders for technology products have collapsed and companies have begun laying off workers.

Lehman?s administrators explained to about 1,000 creditors that dismantling the bank?s European business would take ?many years.?

Two rounds of job cuts represent 3,000 employees, or about 7 percent of the company?s 44,400-member work force.

Reuters - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid on Friday said Bush's proposal to drop a requirement for U.S. automakers to use an existing $25 billion in aid on energy efficiency is "unacceptable".

The company said mall traffic has been weak so far this month and issued a fourth-quarter forecast that was well below analysts? expectations.

You can skip the coffee shop and make great java at home. Here's how.

Reuters - World leaders vowed to work together to overhaul the financial system as they headed to Washington on Friday for a summit on wresting the global economy from recession and avoiding future meltdowns.

AP - Grim seemed an understatement for the retail sector on Friday, as J.C. Penney Co. and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. both posted quarterly profits that fell by about half, and gave outlooks for the rest of the year that were far below Wall street expectations.

The freeze in credit markets and a collapse of the city?s real estate market have made the financing of the Winter Games a critical issue.

Jennifer M. Granholm, whose state is at the leading edge of the economic crisis, is in the spotlight more than ever.

U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, who is retiring after 14 years in Congress, announced yesterday that he has accepted a job at Deloitte Consulting, a global financial services company with a significant federal contracting practice.

Reuters - Two major U.S. retailers said on Friday that holiday cheer may be hard to find this year as shoppers look like they will be reining in spending due to the worsening jobs picture and growing economic weakness.

AP - Teen apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said Friday that weak demand for its girls' tops as well as the consumer-spending slowdown sent its third-quarter profit down 46 percent.

Silicon Insider: Obama, McCain don't understand the importance of entrepreneurs.

Reuters - Consumer confidence rose unexpectedly in November, rebounding from a record drop the previous month as tumbling gasoline prices produced a "stunning" drop in inflation expectations, a survey showed on Friday.

The Salvation Army is experimenting with a plastic alternative for people who do not have cash to throw in a holiday red kettle.

Reuters - Bankrupt Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc has filed court papers seeking approval to communicate with its European operations for help unwinding billions of dollars in assets that "sit unmanaged" and at risk of losing significant value.

Reuters - Asian shares rose on Friday as this week's sharp losses were seen as excessive, but a rally in oil fizzled and the yen edged up as signals flashed 'danger' for the global economy before the G20 meeting this weekend.

Reuters - Sales at U.S. retailers suffered a record decline in October as fears of recession sapped spending, but part of the drop was due to slumping gasoline prices, which helped buoy consumer confidence this month.

U.S. stocks fell in early trading today as evidence grew that the recent financial turmoil had drained consumers' desire to shop, including data this morning showing an unexpected record decline in retail sales last month.