TOP STORIES
U.S. HOUSEHOLD WEALTH HITS FRESH RECORD
Americans' wealth hit the highest level ever in the second
quarter amid a rise in stock and home prices, prompting consumers
to ramp up their borrowing--a development that could boost the
economic recovery.
U.S. STOCKS RISE ON FED'S CALMING WORDS
U.S. stocks rose as investors were heartened by signals from the
Federal Reserve that it remains on a measured course to eventually
raise interest rates. The Dow industrials gained 96 points in
recent trading.
U.S. HOUSING STARTS FALL IN AUGUST
Housing starts fell 14.4% in August from a month earlier to a
seasonally adjusted annual rate of 956,000 units, while building
permits fell 5.6%. Economists had forecast housing starts to fall
5.5% and building permits to decline 1.1%.
U.S. JOBLESS CLAIMS FELL 36K LAST WEEK
Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell by 36,000 to a
seasonally adjusted 280,000 in the week ended Sept. 13. That was
less than the 305,000 claims forecast by economists and placed them
just above the 14-year low.
SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE VOTE GETS UNDER WAY
Voters in Scotland were making the pivotal decision of whether
to break up the U.K. after 307 years, in a historic referendum that
pits a vision of independence against the potential economic
turmoil.
ALIBABA IPO GIVES INSIDERS RARE CHANCE TO SELL EARLY
A swath of early investors in Alibaba Group Holding will be able
to sell more than $8 billion worth of shares on the day the Chinese
e-commerce company goes public, an unusual arrangement that is
influencing how bankers price the offering.
UKRAINE LEADER CALLS FOR MORE WESTERN MILITARY AID
President Petro Poroshenko appealed to the U.S. to significantly
expand its military assistance to Kiev and called Moscow's campaign
against Ukraine "one of the most cynical acts of treachery in
modern history."
CONAGRA FOODS' PROFIT SURGES
ConAgra Foods said its fiscal 1Q earnings more than tripled to
$482.3 million, or $1.12 a share, as lower costs and expenses
helped offset nearly flat revenue.
RITE AID PROFIT SURGES, LOWERS FULL-YEAR VIEW
Rite Aid said its fiscal 2Q earnings more than tripled to $127.8
million, or 13c a share, beating expectations as pharmacy sales
help drive revenue higher. Revenue increased 3.9% to $6.52
billion.
YELLEN HIGHLIGHTS DEEPENING U.S. POVERTY
Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said the 2007-2009
recession left lasting scars on the poorest American families that
have yet to heal more than five years into the official economic
recovery.
SWEDEN'S KLARNA TO ENTER U.S. ONLINE PAYMENT MARKET
The co-founder and CEO of Sweden's Klarna, Sebastian
Siemiatkowski, says the time is right to enter the U.S., as the
company plans to enter the already-crowded online-payments market
just after Christmas.
======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES =======
Analysis
HEDGE FUNDS SEEK PROFIT IN SCOTLAND VOLATILITY
Hedge funds have been trying to profit from market volatility
surrounding Scotland's independence referendum, regardless of
whether it votes to leave the U.K.
The Wall Street Journal
CHINESE PROPERTY INVESTORS MAKE BIG BETS OVERSEAS
The slowing of China's economy and the government's
encouragement of diversification have sparked a global push among
Chinese investors and developers.