By Daniel Costello

Hey everybody: I'm glad to be back at Planet Money and spending the next few months with you. Here's some things that caught our eye today other than the fun Halloween pics circling the office:

Wall Street started the week off in a buoyant mood, after a variety of key economic data came in better than expected this morning. The brightest news came from the Institute for Supply Management, which tracks nationwide factory sentiment. Its closely watched manufacturing index was 55.7 for October. That was up from 52.6 in September and was the best reading since April 2006. Readings above 50 indicate an expansion in industrial activity.

Construction spending for September also rose, up 8%, its biggest gain in a year, while pending home sales for September were up 6.1% as the home buyers tax credit boosted activity.

Meanwhile, Ford surprised everybody -- and probably itself -- by reporting profit of nearly $1 billion in the third quarter North American business this morning and said it would be "solidly profitable" in 2011. The only Detroit automaker to dodge bankruptcy court said positive cash flow of $1.3 billion contrasted with a $7.7 million cash burn a year earlier.

Last but not least, Clorox Co. showed today why not everyone is afraid of a little swine flu: the bleach maker reported net income in the last quarter rose 23% from a year ago, aided by sales of disinfectant wipes to combat the worldwide H1N1 flu virus and lower costs.


categories: Lunch Break

10:54 - November 2, 2009

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