AP Top Business News at 8:36 a.m. EDT

The US national debt now stands at $40 trillionPrices soar as Gaza smuggling booms. Officials, soldiers and middlemen are accused of cashing inUS futures little changed after US Treasury doubles bond buybacksWalmart sees the slowest pace in US comparable sales in 6 years and offers cautious guidanceUS unemployment claims dropped to 206,000 last week with layoffs still sparseHong Kong conglomerate seeks $1.5 billion in damages from Panama for takeover of canal portsChampagne growers race to preserve quality in record-early harvestJapan reports record exports and imports for July as energy costs climbPrince Harry emphasizes need to better apply veterans' skills during roundtable with service membersUS stocks halt their slide after the Treasury Department moves to ease pressure from the bond