SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — International stock markets turned lower today, shrugging off robust Chinese trade figures as investors exited riskier assets after concerns resurfaced about the global economic outlook. Futures point to a lower opening on Wall Street today. Benchmark U.S. crude oil plunged more than $1.50 but remained above $84 per barrel. The dollar fell against the yen and the euro.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new poll finds around 25 percent of privately insured people still worry about paying for a major, unexpected medical expense. The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds the biggest financial concerns are among people with so-called high-deductible plans that require patients to pay a significant share of their medical bills before insurance kicks in.
BEIJING (AP) — China’s trade improved in September, possibly easing fears of a deeper slowdown in the world’s No. 2 economy. The Customs Administration says that exports totaled 1.315 trillion yuan ($214 billion), up 15.3 percent from the same month last year, while imports of 1.125 trillion ($183 billion) were up 6.9 percent.
BEIJING (AP) — Growth in China’s car sales slowed again last month while the country’s own brands increased their market share. An industry group says that sales of passenger vehicles in the world’s biggest auto market rose 6.4 percent in September from a year earlier, slowing from 8 percent growth in August. The market share of Chinese brands rose to 38.5 percent in September from 37.1 percent in August and was up 0.2 percent from a year earlier.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A small Italian restaurant fed up with the online review site Yelp recently launched a novel marketing campaign. Instead of trying to get better reviews, the restaurant owners decided to take a different approach: get terrible ones. It seems to be working. More than 1,000 reviewers left hundreds of tongue-in-cheek reviews panning the Richmond, California, eatery. Chef Michele Massimo says it boosted business.
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