Construction spending climbed in September to the highest level in almost three years, led by a rebound in homebuilding that is rippling through the U.S. economy.

Kellogg's appetite for salty snacks is helping fatten its profits.

Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE: NVO) says its net profit grew by 35 percent in the third quarter of 2012, chiefly spurred by strong sales of its diabetes drugs.

Drugmaker Eli Lilly says it is planning a multi-million dollar expansion of its manufacturing operations to make cartridges that deliver insulin to patients.

Small business owners borrowed less during September, a sign that they're still not confident enough to invest heavily in their businesses.

Small businesses kept to their slow pace of hiring during October, according to two reports Thursday.

Presidential politics reignited in the wake of natural disaster Thursday, with the candidates beginning their full-throttle closing arguments with new vigor on the same pocketbook concerns that have dominated the campaign from the start.

Millions of Social Security numbers and business records from tax returns as far back as 1998 were hacked in South Carolina and experts said Wednesday it may be the largest cyber-attack against a state tax department in the nation's history.

The average U.S. rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage slipped this week and stayed near its record low, a trend that's helped boost home sales and refinancing.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Oil rose to a one-week high after the Energy Department reported that crude supplies unexpectedly declined and as equities gained on increasing optimism that U.S. economic growth is accelerating.

Drug giant Pfizer Inc. said Thursday that its third-quarter profit fell 14 percent as sales plunged, mainly due to increased U.S. generic competition to cholesterol fighter Lipitor, long the world's top-selling drug.

(Bloomberg) -- Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) asked a federal judge to rule that a false claims lawsuit filed by the United States in New York violates the conditions of a settlement over foreclosure practices that was approved in April.

Most major automakers reported sales increases in October despite losing at least three days of business to the punishing rain and wind from Superstorm Sandy.

Americans spent briskly in October before Superstorm Sandy hit the Northeast at the tail-end of the month. But the question is whether they're still willing to buy an iPhone for Christmas if they plunked down hundreds on a generator for Sandy?

A run of impressive U.S. economic news combined with encouraging signals out of China to drive markets higher on Thursday, a day ahead of key jobs data that could have a bearing on the race to the White House.

(Bloomberg) -- The world’s tallest hotel will open next year in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang as the impoverished totalitarian regime burdened by international sanctions seeks foreign currency through a boost in tourism.

Some investors are pursuing the safety of federally insured deposits. Others are dissatisfied with low nominal and negative real returns and are moving further out on the risk spectrum in their zeal for yield, regardless of whether they understand the additional risk they are incurring.

Shares of property insurers fell slightly more than the broader market on Wednesday as investors assessed the industry's costs to cover losses from Hurricane Sandy.

Small businesses kept to their slow pace of hiring during October, according to a report by payroll service ADP.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally will lead the company at least through 2014, but it's now clear who will succeed him.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. stock-index futures were little changed as investors weighed jobs data and awaited reports on manufacturing and consumer confidence to help assess the strength of the economy before the presidential election.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- The productivity of U.S. workers held up in the third quarter as companies focused on cutting labor expenses to preserve profits as sales cool.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Employment accelerated in October as company payrolls expanded the most in eight months, an indication the U.S. labor market was on the upswing at the start of the fourth quarter, according to a private report based on payrolls.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Fewer Americans than forecast filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance last week, an indication demand is strong enough to maintain current staff levels.

U.S. worker productivity grew at the same modest rate this summer as in spring, a sign that companies may be nearing the limits on how much output they can get from their employees.

Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits dropped 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 363,000 last week, a level consistent with modest hiring.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Treasuries fell, snapping a three-day gain, as Chinese manufacturing output rose in October and U.S. reports today are forecast to show factories expanded and construction spending increased.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- When Apostolia M. Tsimberidou was a young hematologist, a diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia meant a patient had only a few years to live.

Macy's saw revenue from established stores rise 4.1 percent in October, and the New York retailer gave an upbeat outlook on the holiday season despite huge disruptions from Superstorm Sandy.

The Olympic Stadium is in need of a tenant, and London Mayor Boris Johnson thinks the NFL could be the right match.

Estee Lauder's first-quarter net income rose 8 percent, boosted by strong sales growth in North America and China.

The state of Rhode Island has filed a lawsuit against former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and one-time officials with the state's economic development agency in connection with a $75 million loan guarantee to his failed video game company.

Nordstrom Inc. said Thursday that sales in stores open at least one year rose 9.8 percent in October on strong demand for women's, men's and children's apparel.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- The world’s tallest hotel will open next year in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang as the impoverished totalitarian regime burdened by international sanctions seeks foreign currency through a boost in tourism.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC projected an October U.S. auto industry sales rate that trailed analysts’ estimates after Hurricane Sandy slammed the East Coast during the industry’s busiest time of the month.

Netflix's slumping stock price and weakening financial performance has finally attracted an opportunistic and sometimes nettlesome investor in Carl Icahn.

Microsoft Corp. has won a government contract that will expand its data center service and Internet version of its Office software suite into China.

Direct beauty products seller Avon Products said Thursday its third-quarter net income fell 81 percent, hurt by the stronger dollar and an impairment charge. The company also slashed its dividend as it works on a turnaround.

WWE, which produces wrestling events such as WrestleMania and television shows such as Raw and SmackDown, said Thursday that its third-quarter profit fell due to lower sales of video games and home videos and higher salary expenses.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee said the state’s economic-development organization sued Wells Fargo & Co., Barclays Plc and Curt Schilling, the former chairman of 38 Studios LLC, the bankrupt video-game company.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Google Inc. should be sued by the Federal Trade Commission for trying to block competitors’ access to key smartphone-technology patents in violation of antitrust law, the agency’s staff told commissioners in a formal recommendation, according to four people familiar with the matter.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is endorsing President Barack Obama for re-election, citing his leadership on climate change.

Steve Madden shares jumped to an all-time high after the footwear maker's third-quarter results beat Wall Street expectations on higher sales of its shoes and accessories. It also expects strong sales and earnings growth for the year.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has struck a deal with Costco to manufacture store-brand packs of coffee for the retailer.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- American International Group Inc., the insurer that counts the U.S. as its largest shareholder, posted a fourth straight profit as gains in the value of its AIA Group Ltd. stake fueled investment results.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Starbucks Corp., the world’s largest coffee-shop operator, said fourth-quarter profit rose 0.1 percent as new products helped boost U.S. sales.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co.’s board sent mixed signals about succession at the top of the No. 2 U.S. automaker.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. is downsizing its magazines and will cut publishing jobs as it increasingly focuses on online video and other digital content.

Discount retailer Target Corp. says a key revenue measure rose 2.4 percent in October as customers spent more on food and health and beauty items, but the number of people buying items was even with a year ago.

Exxon Mobil says its profit fell 7 percent in the third quarter as it produced less oil and gas and fetched lower prices.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- A gauge of U.S. corporate credit risk fell for a second day as fewer Americans than forecast filed claims for unemployment insurance.

Americans' confidence in the economy surged last month to the highest level in nearly five years, as many were encouraged by an improving job market.

The nation's crude oil supplies shrank last week, the government said Wednesday.

A sign taped to a wall in an Athens hospital appealed for civility from patients. “The doctors on duty have been unpaid since May,” it read, “Please respect their work.”

U.S. builders spent more on home construction in September, a gain that helped offset weakness in nonresidential building and government projects.

U.S. manufacturing expanded for the second straight month in October, boosted by growth in new orders and production.

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the world’s biggest maker of copied medicines, reported profit that beat analysts’ estimates as sales of its best-selling drug Copaxone rose and as the company introduced new generics.

TJX saw revenue at its established TJ Maxx and Marshalls clothing stores rise 7 percent in October, easily beating Wall Street expectations.

Did Vladimir Putin's flight with a flock of cranes end up grounding him? The Russian president's spokesman says no.

New York tried to resume its normal frenetic pace Thursday, getting back much of its vital subway system after a crippling storm, but was l slowed by gridlocked traffic.

Don't roll down the taxi windows. Don't buy a remote-controlled plane without a police chief's permission. And don't release your pigeons.

Two astronauts are spacewalking outside the International Space Station in an attempt to find an ammonia leak in a critical radiator system.