NEW YORK (AP) — Stock investors are getting the reassurance they want from the Federal Reserve. The Fed has signaled that it’ll keep interest rates near zero for a while. As a result, investors pushed the Dow Jones industrial average to a record high yesterday. The Dow rose nearly 25 points to close 17,156. The S&P 500 edged up 2 ½ points to 2,001. The Nasdaq rose nine points to 4,562.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — World stocks are mostly higher today as Scotland votes in an independence referendum that could shake the U.K. economy and markets. Stocks in Britain, Germany and France are advancing in early trading. Asian markets started out weak, but mostly erased losses by the end of the day. Markets in Hong Kong and South Korea finished slightly lower. Wall Street is set for further gains, with S&P 500 and Dow futures both up 0.2 percent.
WASHINGTON (AP) — There are two government reports due out today. The Commerce Department will release the number of housing starts that were made in August. And the Labor Department will report the weekly jobless claims. Also due out today is Freddie Mac’s report on weekly mortgage rates.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says the U.S. will train at least 50,000 veterans to become solar panel installers in the next six years. The jobs training program is among a host of initiatives the White House says will cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 300 million tons through 2030, plus save billions of dollars on energy bills for homeowners and businesses. It will launch this fall at one or more military bases.
VEVEY, Switzerland (AP) — Some 200 companies are pledging to create new work and training opportunities for Europe’s young jobseekers over the next several years. One in four is unemployed. Nestle, the world’s biggest food and drinks maker, is leading the alliance, which includes Cargill, Facebook, Google, Nielsen, and Twitter. Nestle says it’s already created 8,000 of the 20,000 new positions it’s promised to generate by 2016.
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