WASHINGTON — Consumers barely increased their spending in October but their incomes rose by the most in seven months. The extra money could boost spending during the upcoming holiday shopping season. The Commerce Department says spending increased 0.1 percent last month, the poorest gain in four months. But incomes increased 0.4 percent, the best showing since March. Read full article > >

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October consumer spending rose slight 0.1 percent but incomes increased stronger 0.4 percent

WASHINGTON — The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 4 percent this week, nearly matching the all-time low hit just one month ago. Freddie Mac said Thursday the rate on the 30-year loan dropped from 4.10 percent last week. Four weeks ago, it dropped to 3.94 percent — the lowest rate ever, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Read full article > >

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Fixed mortgage rates near historic lows

NEW YORK — Stocks are closing higher for the third day this month after retailers had better sales in May than expected. All three major indexes had their best day so far in June. The government reported Tuesday that retail sales edged down 0.2 percent last month, but economists expected worse. The decline reflected temporary supply-chain disruptions from the disasters in Japan. Excluding weak car sales, retail sales were slightly higher. Read full article > >

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Stock market has its best day in June on steady retail sales; the Dow is back above 12,000

Somewhere, Steve Jobs is beaming. With the help of the iPad, Apple has surpassed Google as the most valuable brand in the world, according to Millward Brown’s 2011 Brandz study. The study reports that Apple’s global value rose 84 percent last year….

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Apple Now More Valuable Than Google

Direct investment in India fell more than 31 percent last year, and corruption and bureaucracy are being blamed.

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Foreign Investment Ebbs in India

The number of U.S. troops killed by roadside bombs in Afghanistan soared by 60 percent last year, while the number of those wounded almost tripled, new U.S. military statistics show.

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IED casualties in Afghanistan spike

As the mosque debate dominates the summer spin cycle, a new Pew Research Poll shows that an increasing number of Americans believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim — now up to 18 percent from 11 percent in March 2009. At the same time, only a third of Americans say Obama is a Christian, down from nearly 50 percent last year.

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Avlon: GOP knows Obama’s no Muslim