new data on the economy presented a mixed picture on thursday , providing little guidance for investors ahead of the federal reserve board 's meeting next week to consider a possible interest rate cut .

Short summary: muddled economic data ahead of fed meeting


at least five wall street firms warned massachusetts officials -- but not most individual savers -- about growing weakness in the market for certain bonds that many had viewed as safe , according to published reports thursday .

Short summary: firms warned state but not small investors of auction-rate securities problems


president george w. bush spent a crisp fall saturday gingerly balancing a tiny screeched owl on a gloved hand at a wildlife refuge and casting for rockfish on the chesapeake bay .

Short summary: bush angles for conservation stature while bird-watching fishing


hurricane edouard continued to churn across the atlantic tuesday , and meteorologists expressed concern that the `` dangerous '' storm could hit the united states by the weekend .

Short summary:
dangerous edouard may be unwanted labor day guest in florida