U.S. stocks slide as China growth slows

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

U.S. stocks fell Friday, losing ground after the S&P 500�s best two-day rise so far this year, as investors ponder slower-than-expected growth in China. See full story.

Stocks now top bonds in the hunt for yield

Dividend-paying stocks� appeal has cooled recently, but the drivers for these stocks and investor�s desire for income persist, notes Rachel Koning Beals. See full story.

Treasurys gain; 10-year yields fall under 2%

Treasury prices rise as data showing slower Chinese economic growth and rising Spanish debt yields left investors seeking safety. See full story.

Dollar rises on U.S., China and Spain worries

The dollar makes a broad risk-off advance, as currency traders key in part off a disappointing reading on Chinese GDP growth as well as rekindled worries about Spain�s debt. See full story.

Europe stocks tumble on Spain, U.S. sentiment data

Spanish stocks plunge, leading European stock markets lower on Friday after data show a sharp rise in borrowing from the ECB by Spain�s banks, while disappointing Chinese GDP data and a surprise decline in U.S. sentiment also dent investors� mood. See full story.

MARKETWATCH COMMENTARY

Instead of acknowledging that banks have become a part of government, we keep pretending they are private institutions, writes David Weidner. See full story.

MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE

Playing the odds that you won�t live past a certain age because of numbers in a mortality table is the wrong way to plan for retirement, say researchers. See full story.