Large specialty pharmacies like the one that triggered a deadly meningitis outbreak last year would be subject to federal safety inspections and manufacturing standards, under a new Senate proposal introduced Friday.

Stock indexes are edging lower in early trading on Wall Street after the government reported U.S. economic growth that wasn't as strong as economists had forecast.

Stock futures slipped Friday with the nation's economic growth during the first quarter coming in a bit weaker than economists had expected.

Another batch of strong earnings from U.S. companies is sending the stock market higher in early trading.

Small business owners support raising the federal minimum wage because they believe it will help the economy and, in turn, enable small companies to hire more workers.

The retirement fund for Iowa state employees will get a share of a $500 million proposed settlement in a lawsuit against Countrywide Financial Corp. and other companies that bundled securities backed by defective home mortgages.

Piper Jaffray Cos. said Wednesday that first-quarter net income more than tripled, helped by lower expenses.

Insurer AmTrust Financial Services Inc. is buying CPPNA Holdings Inc. for about $40 million, adding a seller of services designed to help protect against identity theft to its business.