U.S. Stock-Index Futures Drop; GE, Caterpillar, Anadarko Fall
U.S. stock-index futures declined, indicating the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index may snap a five-day stretch of gains, on concern the global economic slump is deepening.

Yen Strengthens as Manufacturing Slump Weakens Yuan, Ruble
The yen rose against the euro and the dollar as falling stocks and shrinking manufacturing in China and Russia encouraged investors to buy back the Japanese currency at the expense of higher-yielding assets.

Obama's A-Team Economists Can Start With ABCs: Caroline Baum
President-elect Barack Obama introduced the nation to his economic team at a series of no- frills press conferences last week. The choices spell experience.