CPI climbs

The consumer-price index increased 0.5 percent from June, more than twice the 0.2 percent that economists were expecting, figures from the Labor Department showed.

Dog days

Morgan Stanley shares hit a 52-week low of $15.44 before closing down 4.8 percent to $16.20.

Sears slips

Sears Holdings’ quarterly loss almost quadrupled as the retailer failed to stop its prolonged sales decline even as it offered more margin-sapping discounts. Sears shares fell 8.2 percent to $55.23.

TCW threat

TCW Group Inc. CEO Marc Stern said he fired Jeffrey Gundlach because the company was being “destroyed.” Stern testified yesterday in the trade secrets trial against Gundlach in Los Angeles.

AIG payment

The US Treasury has received an additional $2.15 billion in repayment from American International Group. The action leaves AIG with $51 billion in outstanding government capital.

Sources: Bloomberg, Dow Jones, AP and Reuters