Dow has biggest two-day decline since 2008

All three major US stock indexes closed down more than 3 percent today amid investors’ concern that policymakers are running out of tools to avoid another global recession.

Harvard endowment posts big investment gain

After Harvard changed investment strategies following huge losses in 2009, the nation’s largest endowment grew by $4.6 billion to $32 billion - a 21.4 percent jump - in its most recent fiscal year.

Republican debate | 9 p.m. on Fox News

Barbs no longer veiled, GOP contenders debate tonight

Mitt Romney and Rick Perry, the two leading contenders for the nomination, have spent much of the past two weeks attacking one another by name.

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2011/09/22/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/Foliage Forecast.JPEG-06e53-749--90x90.jpg Focusing on foliage

Vermont tourism officials insist the state synonymous with autumn color and glowing vistas is open for business in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene.

Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s.

Melinda Sue Gordon/Sony Pictures

Exclusive Friday Preview | Movie Review

'Moneyball' is a winner

Brad Pitt is a hit in the movie that finds the humor and frustration of life in the front office of a baseball team.

TELEVISION REVIEW

‘Person of Interest’ lacks interesting personalities

It’s a real disappointment, a saggy, numbed-out crime drama with leads who fail to pull you into their characters.

TELEVISION REVIEW

Witless ‘Whitney’ doesn’t fit in

NBC adds “Whitney’’ to its fine Thursday night lineup, but it’s a pile of stale sitcom cliches, with a laugh track that will make you flinch and cringe.

Business

Tags in this section:

Nation

Tags in this section:

Key parts of schools law to end

President Obama is poised to broaden federal influence in local schools by scrapping key elements of No Child Left Behind and substituting his own brand of school reform.

Style

Bargain Bin

Annual fabric sale has all the angles covered

At Marblehead’s Fall Festival, expect horse-drawn hayrides, pumpkin and mask decorating, a car show, and sidewalk sales.

Arts

Tags in this section:

Television review

Bello reason ‘Prime Suspect’ works

The new NBC adaptation is related to the Helen Mirren series in name only. Star Maria Bello brings an entirely different energy to the badge.

Opinion

“R.B. Scott also said that no one he met while researching the book suggests Romney ‘would ever win the Mr. Congeniality prize.’ ”

Joan Vennochi  

Ideas

“It doesn’t make any difference whether you assign more homework in English, science, or history. Students will still do the same.”

Ozkan Eren,   assistant professor of economics at the University of Nevada, on whether homework works