A cautious forecast from FedEx Corp. and a ratings downgrade of 18 banks gave investors new reasons to worry about the economy.

The pendulum of government regulation is swinging in a new direction. The government spent most of the past three decades dismantling rules put in place to fix the bad practices that led to the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Treasurys were mixed Wednesday, breaking a four-day streak of gains, following a benign report on inflation. Long-term Treasurys reversed early gains and fell slightly in late trading, pushing yields higher.

Technology shares buoyed the Nasdaq on Wednesday after positive broker comments on Qualcomm, but financial shares’ losses held back the Dow and the S&P 500.

U.S. consumer prices rose slightly in May, but over the past 12 months prices registered the biggest drop in nearly 60 years, allaying fears that inflation could threaten prospects for economic recovery.

Accommodating weather and a boost in the number of maple trees tapped are being credited for a bumper 2009 maple syrup crop.

Here’s maple syrup production totals for 2009, as reported by the federal government: — Vermont: 920,000 gallons, up 30 percent.

President Barack Obama signaled to gay rights activists Wednesday that he’s listening to their priorities by extending some benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. But he didn’t give them even close to everything they want, bringing growing anger against the president to the surface.

Consumer prices rose less than expected in May and posted the steepest annual drop in 59 years, according to government data released Wednesday, fresh evidence that the recession is keeping inflation in check.