U.S. stocks follow global markets lower on virus concerns

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell on Wall Street in early trading Thursday as investors worried that a deadly virus outbreak in China could continue spreading and hurt the global economy. The weak opening for U.S. indexes follows a sell-off for global markets as authorities worldwide take measures to monitor and...

High hopes: US, EU and UK all aim for trade deals this year

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The United States, the European Union and what will soon be post-Brexit Britain have all raised the prospect of concluding trade deals between themselves by the end of this year, setting up an intense few months of negotiations. High-level representatives said Thursday at the...

Democrat looking to unseat Sen. Collins wins key endorsement

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A national organization devoted to electing LGBTQ candidates to public office is endorsing for the U.S. Senate in Maine former Google executive Ross LaJeunesse, a Democrat who wants an opportunity to unseat GOP Sen. Susan Collins. The Victory Fund announced Thursday its endorsement...

Union Pacific 4Q delivery volume falls, so does its profit

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific's fourth-quarter profit fell 10% as the railroad hauled 11% less freight. The railroad said Thursday that it earned $1.4 billion, or $2.02 per share, in the quarter. That's down from $1.55 billion, or $2.12 per share, a year earlier. The results fell short of Wall Street...

Home searched after cybercrime targets Florida school board

Cybercrime investigators searched a South Carolina home in a nationwide effort to track down suspects they say stole more than $206,000 from a Florida school board. Federal agents this week searched the Greenville home of a man who has been indicted in the scheme to defraud the Sumter County School Board in...

GM to open racing tech center near Charlotte Motor Speedway

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is planning to open a new technical center for performance and auto racing near the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. The company says the 75,000-square-foot center will open by mid-2020 off Interstate 85 in Concord. GM says it's still finalizing plans for the number...

Bill laying out terms of UK's departure from the European Union on Jan. 31 becomes law after receiving royal assent

The Latest: Merkel says climate may become survival matter

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The Latest on the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (all times local): 3:40 p.m. German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that climate protection may become a matter of survival for Europe and the entire planet. “The question of being able to reach the goals of the...

Portugal police: Banker in Angola scandal hangs himself

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — A Portuguese banker named in a major Angolan money-laundering and corruption scandal has died in an apparent suicide at his home, police said Thursday. Nuno Ribeiro da Cunha, named as a suspect by Angolan authorities in an investigation targeting the billionaire daughter of...

'Who is she?' - US Treasury chief takes swipe at Thunberg

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — As one of the executive producers of the last Mad Max movie, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin might have been interested in the apocalyptic climate warnings of Greta Thunberg. Instead, he took a personal swipe at the 17-year-old, saying she was in no position to give advice...