Business news is information about the activities of businesses, which are organizations that exchange goods and services with a view to earning profit. These companies may be private, not-for-profit or state-owned.

Businesses exist for several reasons ranging from the desire to earn profit to creating jobs or providing a needed service to society. Some business news stories focus on the ethical dilemmas faced by business owners and managers. These include questions of personal greed, insufficient scrutiny of corporate affairs and an insensitivity or indifference to public opinion.

A variety of business news sources can be found in newspapers, magazines and online. General business news sources provide broad coverage of events and issues affecting all sectors of the economy, while trade publications target specific industries and can focus on more niche topics.

Some examples of business news sources are the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and The New York Times. These news outlets provide global coverage and are regarded as among the best in the world for both journalistic quality and editorial integrity.

Business news covers a broad range of topics, but it is most often associated with financial news. This includes reports on stocks, bonds and other investment instruments. It can also encompass economic policies and major global events that affect the finance industry. Financial news can have a positive, negative or neutral effect on the market and can have a significant impact on individual investors and traders.

There is a strong divide between those who believe that business should be allowed to do whatever it desires, as long as it pays taxes and abides by the law, and those who feel that businesses should be constrained by social responsibility and environmental concerns. Many believe that the latter views are short-sighted and stifle innovation, but there is a growing movement toward a hybrid approach that allows businesses some flexibility to experiment with innovative ideas while still maintaining a strong commitment to responsible practices.

The Library of Congress offers a variety of resources for researching business news, including print and microform newspaper titles, the World Wide Web and subscription databases. If you have additional research questions or would like to consult with a librarian, please contact Ask-A-Librarian.