Stocks Notch Closing Records

All three major indexes marched higher, with the $Dow Jones Industrial Average(.DJI.US)$ and $S&P 500 index(.SPX.US)$ ending at their highest levels ever. Earnings reports so far have beaten investors' expectations and helped lift stocks out of a September slump.

U.S. Consumer Confidence Rose as Delta Covid-19 Wave Eased

People plan to spend on big-ticket items and go on vacation despite elevated worries about inflation.

Home-Price Growth Holds at Record in August

The Case-Shiller index rose 19.8% as demand remains robust despite skyrocketing prices pushing some buyers out of the market.

Tax Proposals Hit Headwinds as Democrats Try to Finalize Deal

A push by Democrats to fund their social-spending and climate bill faltered, with a proposed tax on billionaires' unrealized capital gains and revised bank-reporting requirements both running into opposition from party lawmakers.

Chinese Industrial Companies' Profits Rebound in September

Chinese industrial profits rebounded, driven by the high-tech manufacturing industry, pharmaceutical enterprises and the steady recovery of profits in the consumer-goods manufacturing industry.

World's Climate Plans Fall Short of Paris Accord, U.N. Says

The world's emissions reductions plans would allow far more global warming than targeted in the Paris climate accord, and some of the biggest emitters, including the U.S., aren't on track to hit their targets, according to a United Nations report.

Inflation Could Mean Value Stocks' Time to Shine

Bitcoin, gold and oil are all having a moment as inflation fears rise, but the best haven for ordinary investors might be long-neglected value stocks.

The Lowdown on the Third-Quarter Slowdown

The Commerce Department will release its first read on third-quarter gross domestic product on Thursday. The median estimate among economists polled by The Wall Street Journal is for a 2.8% annual growth rate, but the range of estimates is wide.

Swapping GameStop for ETFs, Retail Investors Ride Out Volatile Markets

Individual investors weren't deterred by the market's volatility last quarter. They changed their strategy, pulling back from buying shares of meme stocks and swapping them for staid exchange-traded funds.

Billionaire Tax Faces Likely Constitutional Challenge

The Democrats' plan to tax billionaires' unrealized capital gains has a problem: It will likely be challenged in court as unconstitutional.