Hosting Stuff: Most Recommended Business

Republicans block small business lending bill (AP)

AP - WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's election-year jobs agenda suffered a new setback Thursday when Senate Republicans blocked a bill creating a $30 billion government fund to help open up lending for credit-starved small businesses.

AP survey: A bleaker outlook for economy into 2011 (AP)

AP - The U.S. economic recovery will remain slow deep into next year, held back by shoppers reluctant to spend and employers hesitant to hire, according to an Associated Press survey of leading economists.

Foreclosures up in 75 percent of top U.S. metro areas (Reuters)

Reuters - Foreclosures rose in 3 of every four large U.S. metro areas in this year's first half, likely ruling out sustained home price gains until 2013, real estate data company RealtyTrac said on Thursday.

Obama: We'll get back money from auto bailout (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama said the government will recover all the taxpayer money his administration provided to bail out the auto industry last year.

China allows release of critical IMF report (AFP)

AFP - China allowed an IMF report critical of its currency policy to be released Thursday for the first time in four years, signaling Beijing's confidence that it can control the debate on the yuan.

Toyota recalling over 416,000 cars in U.S., Canada (Reuters)

Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp said on Thursday it would recall nearly 417,000 high-end passenger cars and SUVs in the United States and Canada to fix steering problems.

Panasonic buying Sanyo and other unit for $9.4 billion (Reuters)

Mortgage rates hit low of 4.54 percent (AP)

AP - Mortgage rates are the most affordable in decades for those who can qualify for a loan.

Economic growth likely slowed in second quarter (AP)

Video game group spent $1.1M lobbying in 2Q (AP)

Stocks fall amid uncertainty over the economy (AP)

AP - Stocks ended an erratic day with a modest loss Thursday as investors tried to reconcile another batch of conflicting economic signals.

Foreclosure activity up across most US metro areas (AP)

AP - Households across a majority of large U.S. cities received more foreclosure warnings in the first six months of this year than in the first half of 2009, new data shows.

Exxon and Shell quarterly profits soar (Reuters)

Reuters - Exxon Mobil's quarterly profit jumped 85 percent on surging oil prices and a big rise in refining margins, while Royal Dutch Shell Plc's (RDSa.L) profits rose 34 percent.

Tanker probe eyes possible Persian Gulf collision (AP)

AP - Investigators in the UAE are looking into whether a Japanese tanker damaged at the mouth of the Persian Gulf was involved in a collision, backing away from an earlier theory that natural causes were to blame, the top port official where the vessel is moored said Thursday.

Bangladesh raises garment workers' pay 80 percent (AP)

AP - Bangladesh has raised minimum monthly wages for its millions of garment workers by about 80 percent after months of violent protests over poor pay and conditions, a government minister said Thursday.

Exxon Mobil's 2Q earnings more than double (AP)

AP - Exxon Mobil Corp. said Thursday its second quarter income nearly doubled to $7.56 billion as oil prices increased from last year.

Wall St falls on tech outlook worries (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. stocks sagged in volatile trading on Thursday after weak outlooks from technology companies and downbeat comments from a Federal Reserve official gave investors little reason to buy.

Toyota recalls 412,000 cars in US to fix steering (AP)

AP - Toyota is recalling nearly half a million cars, most of them large sedans sold in the U.S., for problems that can cause the steering wheel to lock up. It's the latest indication that the automaker is still struggling with vehicle problems even as it works to overhaul quality control.

NY AG announces probe of life insurance industry (AP)

Citigroup to pay $75 million to settle SEC charges (Reuters)

Reuters - Citigroup Inc will pay $75 million to settle charges that it failed to disclose subprime exposure to investors in 2007, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Thursday.