Muni malaise

The muni bond market weakened yesterday after S&P downgraded more than 11,000 public finance issues to keep them in line with its newly lowered rating on US government debt.

Crude craters

Crude oil declined below $79 a barrel in the last half-hour of floor trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Keep out!

Verizon Communica tions sought court in junctions to prevent striking workers from blocking access to the company’s facilities, a spokesman said on the third day of a strike in volving 45,000 employ ees.

Retail samba

Walmart Stores is in talks to acquire the Bra zilian unit of French re tailer Carrefour, in a step that would create the largest retailer in the Latin America na tion.

Forbes hire

Forbes Media hired Randall Lane as editor of Forbes magazine. Lane will report to Lewis D’Vorkin, chief product officer, and will join the company shortly after Labor Day.