U.S. stocks slide on global economic concerns

Date: Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:04:08 -0400
U.S. stocks slide on global economic concerns

U.S. stocks fall sharply, with the Dow industrials suffering a 344-point
decline, as rising jobless claims data, mixed retail sales and weaker
oil prices fuel concerns about slowing growth both at home and abroad.

MarketWatch First Take: Market's plunge gives off the whiff of
deflation

Crude futures close at five-month low on weak petroleum demand

Crude-oil futures lose ground after a U.S. government report shows that
supplies of gasoline fell for a sixth week in a row, but less than
expected as demand for petroleum remains weak and storms in the Atlantic
pose no immediate threat to energy production in the Gulf of Mexico.

Spotlight turns to McCain after rousing speech by Palin

The stakes couldn't be higher. John McCain, the Arizona senator and
former prisoner of war who has bucked his party on issues including
immigration and campaign finance, is set to formally claim the
Republican Party's nomination for president on Thursday night and make
his case for the White House.

Palin speech draws 37 million viewers, just short of Obama

CHICAGO
Wednesday night's acceptance speech by Republican Vice-Presidential
nominee Gov. Sarah Palin drew more than 37.2 million combined viewers on
six networks, just short of Barack Obama's 38.3 million viewers last
week at the Democratic National Convention, according to Nielsen Media
Research.