Thursday morning headlines

Stocks falling: With all the grim news out there, what do you expect? Dow is down almost 100 points in early trading.

Nation on the skids: WSJ-NBC News poll finds that 62 percent of those surveyed say the country is on the wrong track; just 29 percent say it's moving in the right direction.

Financial reform bill almost done: Lots of last-minute dealmaking expected on the massive package, billed as the broadest rewrite of Wall Street rules since the 1930s. From Reuters:

Democrats in charge of the process appear likely to retain tough restrictions on banks' trading and investment activities that could crimp profits for the foreseeable future. But with a self-imposed deadline of Thursday evening, last-minute dealmaking could lead to exemptions for mutual funds, manufacturers and other business interests.

Pushing alternative energy: Both the governor and Democratic lawmakers favor legislation that would require privately and publicly owned electric utilities to generate one-third of their power from wind, solar and other clean sources by 2020. (LAT)

iPhone on sale: They're lining up all over the country this morning, including at Apple stores in L.A., to pick up the company's newest smartphone. Customers are mainly guys and geeks. (AP)

Hasbro in play?: WSJ had reported that the toy giant was in discussions with Providence Equity Partners, but the NYT says that the talks appeared to have collapsed a week ago - and Hasbro itself issued a statement saying that it wasn't talking to anybody.

MGM-Lions Gate merger?: The two troubled studios are talking, reports the LAT. If it happens, Lions Gate apparently would be running the show. Move is said to be an effort by Lions Gate to thwart a takeover attempt by Carl Icahn.

Weinstein Co. cuts deal: The movie production company, looking to get rid of its debt load, is giving Goldman Sachs and an insurance company up to 250 films in its library and a small cut in future releases. (WSJ)

Council makes exception on AZ boycott: Company that operates L.A.'s red light cameras will not be included. (Daily News)