Economists, money managers and traders who watch the markets closely say you can't assume previous bear market measures mean much.

Stocks plunged for a second straight day Thursday, falling to levels not seen in at least five years as financial and energy stocks tumbled.

A look at the political reasoning behind the decision by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to give the Big Three auto makers another shot at a $25 billion loan.

Democratic leaders in Congress decided to delay a vote to bail out automakers until December and will first demand the Big Three show how the funds would transform the industry.

New claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to a 16-year high, the Labor Department said Thursday, providing more evidence of a rapidly weakening job market.