Economy Week Ahead: Housing, Employment and Factories

Data out this week is likely to underscore an emerging theme of the coronavirus recovery: The economy is getting better, but the pace of improvement is slowing and the longer-term outlook remains uncertain. 


 
Stocks Finish Week Lower, Dragged Down by Tech Shares

Declines in shares of technology companies pushed the S&P 500 to its third consecutive week of declines, capping another tumultuous stretch for the stock market. 


 
WeChat Ban Blocked by Federal Judge in Ruling Against Trump Administration

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration's executive order curbing Americans' use of WeChat, agreeing with free-speech arguments raised by users of the popular Chinese-owned messaging and e-commerce app. 


 
U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Approaches 200,000

The U.S. reported about 41,000 new coronavirus cases, a decrease from the previous day's total, as the nation's death toll neared 200,000. 


 
Banks Pile Into Treasurys, Helping to Fund Government Borrowing Spree

Surging deposits and declining lending are driving banks to dramatically increase their holdings of U.S. Treasurys, offering significant support to the bond market at a time of unprecedented government borrowing. 


 
Global Trade Returns Faster Than Expected

Trade world-wide is rebounding much more quickly this year than it did after the 2008 financial crisis, lifting parts of the world economy and defying predictions the pandemic could send globalization into permanent retreat. 


 
The S&P 500's Hottest Sector: Materials

Shares of the companies that mine or make raw materials are lately trading like once-hot technology stocks. The S&P 500's materials sector is up around 5.4% this month, even as the broader index has fallen more than 4%. 


 
Pandemic Threatens to Widen Racial Homeownership Gap

The housing market has led the recovery from the pandemic-induced economic downturn as Americans have rushed to buy homes, but some analysts warn it may widen the longstanding gap in homeownership between Black and white Americans. 


 
Supreme Court Asked to Rule on Private-Equity Pension Liability

In August, the New England Teamsters & Trucking Industry Pension Fund asked the Supreme Court to revisit a lower-court ruling that said private-equity firm Sun Capital Partners isn't responsible for $4.5 million in pension liabilities of a bankrupt company that was owned by two of the firm's funds. 


 
Fed Issues New Bank Guidance to Improve Main Street Loan Access

The move is a bid to increase loans to small and midsize businesses via the central bank's program amid the coronavirus pandemic.