Germans can be relentless at beating themselves up. When it comes to their auto industry, this tendency may be getting out of hand. The latest scandal for German automakers started with a cover story in the respected newsweekly Der Spiegel, which suggested that Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW have operated as a cartel since the 1990s. It described how the companies …

Bloomberg US stocks extended all-time highs as corporate earnings bolstered optimism about the strength of the global economy, lifting commodities. Bonds bounced as investors waited for clues on the fate of the Federal Reserve balance sheet. The S&P 500 Index advanced as results lifted stocks from AT&T Inc. to Boeing Co. Asian and European benchmark equity indexes rose, while crude …

DUBAI / Reuters Major Middle Eastern stocks markets were mixed in narrow ranges on Wednesday as caution over companies’ upcoming second-quarter earnings announcements outweighed the positive effect of a rebound in oil prices. Brent crude futures rose 40 cents to $50.60 a barrel by the afternoon after rallying more than 3 percent on Tuesday. But many investors are preoccupied with …