More Americans than forecast filed applications for unemployment benefits last week, signaling the labor market is struggling two years into the economic recovery.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered the central bank to repatriate $11 billion of gold reserves held in developed nations’ institutions such as the Bank of England as prices for the metal rise to a record.

Hewlett-Packard Co., the world’s largest computer maker, agreed to buy Autonomy Corp. for $10.3 billion in cash to increase sales of cloud services for businesses while lessening its reliance on personal computers.

U.S. stocks tumbled, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average down more than 400 points for the fourth time this month, on concern the global economy is slowing and speculation that European banks lack enough capital.

For a private equity firm that’s looking for the cheapest way to get online, AOL Inc. is trading for 57 cents on the dollar.

U.S. mortgage rates fell to the lowest in more than half a century as concern that the global economic recovery is faltering spurred demand for bonds that guide home loans, according to Freddie Mac.

Stocks plunged while Treasuries rallied, pushing yields to record lows, amid growing signs the economy is slowing and speculation that European banks lack sufficient capital. Gold climbed to a record, while oil led commodities lower.

The cost of living in the U.S. climbed more than forecast in July, which could make it harder for Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke to convince colleagues to immediately act to spur growth after manufacturing in the Philadelphia region plunged in August.