House lawmakers on Thursday accused former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson of bending to the demands of a major bank and keeping negotiations of a hefty bailout secret in his rush to stabilize the financial markets last year.

Records released by the N.C. Department of Commerce don't support claims that the Apple data center headed for western North Carolina will create "more than 3,000 jobs in the regional economy."

Here's a rare bright spot for consumers: An estimated 1 million auto insurance policyholders across the state are due more than $50 million in refunds.

Charles Schwab Corp. said Thursday that its second-quarter profit tumbled 31 percent as the brokerage's revenue fell and it recorded some one-time charges.

Foreign demand for long-term U.S. financial assets dropped by the largest amount in four months in May, as Japan and Russia trimmed their holdings of Treasury securities.

The world's top cell phone maker, Nokia Corp., on Thursday said second-quarter earnings fell 66 percent as the global recession sapped demand. The company scrapped its target to gain market share this year and its stock sagged.

A South Carolina company is recalling its alfalfa sprouts sold at Food Lion stores in North and South Carolina after tests revealed the presence of a potentially harmful organism.

Lawmakers vented Thursday about the government's inability to solve the nation's housing woes as fresh data showed foreclosure filings continued to rise.

The number of newly laid-off Americans signing up for unemployment benefits last week, and those using this safety net over a longer period, both plunged. But the government figures released Thursday were clouded by difficulties adjusting for temporary shutdowns at

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Thursday he saw "durable, very important signs" of recovery in the financial system - but he warned against repeating the mistakes of the 1930s and withdrawing stimulus too soon.

Biogen Idec, the world's largest maker of medicines for multiple sclerosis, reported profit higher than analysts expected, helped by a 27 percent sales surge for its fastest-growing drug, Tysabri.

Soon, North Carolina residents might be able to ward off possible identity theft by freezing their credit for free.

The corporate parent of North State Bank posted a 23 percent lower profit in the second quarter because of higher FDIC payments.

The banking industry has another winner.

A small number of Delta Air Lines Inc. pilots - just 215 - have agreed to retire as part of a company incentive program designed to reduce the number of pilots to cut costs, according to a union tally disclosed

A small Raleigh drug company won regulatory approval for its first product today, a pain patch for cancer patients.

A Morrisville company bought The Siena Hotel and its popular restaurant, Il Palio -- the second hospitality deal this month to indicate faith in downtown Chapel Hill, if not continued strain in the credit markets.

Handset maker Sony Ericsson said Thursday it booked another loss in the second quarter as the global economic crisis continued to weigh on mobile phone sales.

The National Association of Home Builders says its housing market index climbed in July to the highest level in nearly a year, as low interest rates and other incentives helped builders woo homebuyers.

Back when the good times rolled, Harley-Davidson Inc. couldn't keep up with demand for its flashy high-end motorcycles. Now, the party is over and Harley is feeling the hangover.