U.S. payrolls shed 54,000 jobs in August, but private businesses added 67,000 workers, and the nation's unemployment rate rose slightly to 9.6 percent for the month as half a million Americans resumed their search for work, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Friday.

Long-term mortgage rates fell again this week, with both 30- and 15-year mortgages remaining at the lowest levels since Freddie Mac began keeping track.

Passenger and cargo traffic increased at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in July and for the year. (LCC)

Most Charlotte-area stocks rose Thursday, with Lowes Cos. Inc. gaining 70 cents to close at $21.94. The Mooresville-based retailer (NYSE:LOW) posted a 3.3 percent gain on the day. The Dow Jones Industrials gained 51 points to close at 10,320. (LOW) (WFC) (BAC) (NUE) (GR) (PNY) (CATO) (SPW) (TRK) (FDO) (DUK) (LNCE)

Duke Energy Corp. has been selected by Site Selection magazine as a top 10 utility for economic development. (DUK)

One measure of housing sales unexpectedly rose in July, a sign the housing market is stabilizing even without the home-buyer tax credit.

US Airways Group Inc. is going for its third grand slam with a promotion that allows frequent fliers to score up to 100,000 bonus miles. (LCC)

Private employers added 67,000 jobs, more than forecast, but governments shed jobs in August, the Labor Department reported, as the jobless rate rose to 9.6 percent.

Sentiment in the markets has improved over the last couple of days after a run of strong economic data from around the world.

The Canadian gold miner said that it would buy its Australian rival for 3.4 billion dollars in cash and stock, beating an all-share offer from Eldorado Gold.

The announcement by the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization followed Russia’s decision to extend its ban on wheat exports.

Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin announced Thursday that Russia’s ban on grain exports would be extended well into next year because of continued uncertainty over production.

For all the turmoil over Toyota's wave of recalls, the world's largest automaker may face a bigger problem: the surging yen.

European companies tend to focus on the dollar exchange rate, but the yen’s recent strengthening is playing a role in Germany’s export boom as well.

The company, which had committed to setting aside $20 billion for damage claims and penalties, says proposed legislation could disrupt those efforts.

As Nicolas Sarkozy prepares to take over as president of the Group of 20 on Nov. 12, analysts say many of his proposals appear to be hamstrung from the start.

For the first time in years, small businesses' share of federal contracting improved, but it remains below the goal.

It's really not that hard to win friends and influence people.

How do you choose between expert advice and your own instincts?

A newspaper company survives a very tough economy in a very tough industry.

Karen Storek talks about the New Parents Network, which she has run for 23 years, and how she deals with A.L.S.

BP owns just a fraction of the U.S. service stations that carry its brand, but independent station owners are suffering since the spill.

Daily Grommet, a Web site, endorses companies that it says offer outstanding products and service; it gets a share of revenue from sales on the site.

With tough standards for bank financing, it is harder to sell a business, and how owners manage this reality will have a major impact on their wealth.

The procedural blockade underscored how determined Republicans are to deny Democrats any further victories.

After banks denied loans, some businesses in the United States turned to microloans like those offered in the third world.

Britain's largest supermarket chain has moved into filmmaking, confident its customers will pay for adaptations of their favorite novels. Is this a new revenue stream for the flagging DVD market -- or just another product doomed to spoil on the shelves?

Study: Women are earning more money than their male peers -- but only if they're young, single and childless

Buying a house is supposed to make us better citizens, better investors and better off. But that American Dream may well be a fantasy

The broad stock market has gone nowhere in 2010, but the shares of apartment REITs are up more than 20%. What's fueling this mini-bull market? Oddly, the housing bust

Long synonymous with quality, Toyota is reeling from months of negative publicity related to the quality and safety of its cars. This could be one long fight to win back consumers' hearts

Designers and singers are teaming up in hopes of scoring double rewards

An ethical lapse cost the highly respected CEO his job at HP. But executives who know him say he's got too much talent to just fade away

The shortage of primary-care doctors will soon be acute as debt-laden medical students continue to favor specialization over lower-paying family practice