A private research group says consumer confidence in May soared to the highest level since last September amid tentative signs that the economy is improving.

A widely watched index shows home prices fell at the sharpest rate ever in the first quarter.

Stocks are extending their gains Tuesday after a research group reported that consumer sentiment rose in May to the highest level since September.

Federal regulators are adopting a new system of special fees paid by U.S. financial institutions that will shift more of the burden to bigger banks to help replenish the deposit insurance fund.

The Wichita unemployment rate jumped 0.4 of a percent in April, to go from 6.7 percent in March to 7.1 percent in April.

Wall Street has made a late-day reverse, ending a choppy session slightly lower ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.

The federal government is making $50 million in federal funds available for green energy job training in communities hurt by layoffs in the auto industry.

A private research's group forecast of economic activity rose more than expected in April, the first gain in seven months.

The government says the number of newly-laid off workers requesting unemployment insurance dropped last week after spiking the previous week due to auto layoffs.

Another bad signal from the job market and anxiety over a possible downgrade of British government debt sent stocks sharply lower Thursday.

A top Chrysler executive says the company is selling cars and trucks better than expected this month despite being under bankruptcy court protection.

Chief Executive Gary Kelly said Wednesday that traffic so far in May is "very soft"

The House has passed legislation that would impose sweeping new restrictions on the credit card industry.

Stocks are holding on to modest gains after the Federal Reserve said it expects the economy to improve in coming months even as policymakers lower their expectations for all of 2009.

Oil prices hit a six-month high, climbing above $62 a barrel after a government report showed a drop in U.S. oil supplies for the second straight week.

Stocks are higher in early trading on news that Bank of America Corp. was able to raise billions of dollars in capital.

Tightening oversight of Wall Street's credit rating agencies is on the minds of lawmakers who want to protect investors.

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The Home Depot reports that its fiscal first-quarter profit rose 44%. The nation's largest home improvement retailer beat Wall Street's expectations despite lower sales.

There are mixed figures out on home construction. There was a rebound in single-family home building last month. But construction of multi-family units, such as apartments staged a steep plunge.

Investors are reining in their optimism about an economic rebound after housing construction tumbled to a record low in April.

Many of the nation's largest public housing authorities fear they will be left out when the government distributes hundreds of millions in economic stimulus dollars.

Congress has sent President Barack Obama a bill to clamp down on mortgage fraud. It will also set up a $5 million independent commission to investigate the cause of the worldwide financial meltdown.

Reassuring news about housing and banking has convinced investors to return to the stock market.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says the government should not impose caps on executive pay in the financial sector. However, he said Monday government can set compensation standards to curb excessive risk-taking by financial institutions.