Archive RSS Feed: Wall Street Journal Ahead of the Tape

'Beige Book' Spoiler Alert: Don't Bet on Cut

Bernanke has cautioned that recent financial-market turmoil has made charting the economy's course more difficult than usual, putting extra weight on the "beige book" report. Here's a preview of the report.

After a Rate Cut May Not Be Best Time to Buy

The Fed is widely expected to reduce rates when it meets in two weeks, but traders beware: Interest-rate cycles don't always appear to be a great guide to stock performance.

Help Wanted for Economy From Jobs Data

The job market has been a bright spot for the economy. But, beneath the surface, it might not be as healthy as it looks. Just consider what's happening in unemployment-benefit offices.

Investors' View of Risk Returns to Normal

After a long period of unusual stability in stock and bond markets, the losses of the past few months may have brought investors' perceptions of risk back to where they should have been in the first place.

Why Banks Should Account for Conduits

Given the turmoil in commercial paper markets recently, it would be nice to get more disclosure on banks' potentially huge exposure to conduits.

A Crude Reality For Consumers?

With the economy slowing, you might expect energy demand to ease and put downward pressure on prices. But crude oil, heating oil and gasoline prices are marching higher.

Bottom Line Faces Squeeze From China

The influx of low-priced goods from China has been a boon for Wall Street, but the party may be ending. The rash of recalls for China-made products may a sign of how severe the cost pressures on Chinese manufacturers have become.

Consumers May Not Stop Spending Yet

Financial-market turmoil and a slowing job market could launch a powerful broadside against Americans' willingness to spend. But maybe not just yet.

Libor Leeway: Why the Worst May Be Past

A week ago, it had begun to look as if trouble in the short-term credit markets was about to boil over into the economy. The danger isn't over yet, but both Wall Street and the Federal Reserve can breathe a little easier now.

Surprises Loom Regardless of Fed's Move

Futures that price off of interest-rate expectations suggest that investors are evenly divided between a quarter-point and a half-point reduction. No matter what the Federal Reserve does, somebody is in for a surprise.