Stocks gained ground ahead of this morning's jobs report. The Dow was up 81 points to 13,575. The S&P added 10 points, and the Nasdaq rose 14. Futures trading suggest a slightly lower opening today.
- Better-than-expected U.S. economic data helped boost international stock markets today ahead of a monthly report on employment in the world's top economy. Benchmark crude oil fell to hover above $91 per barrel. The dollar rose against the euro but fell against the yen.
- Just two more jobs reports are due out before Election Day, and one of them is scheduled for this morning. Analysts look for sub-par job growth with the unemployment rate rising to 8.2 percent.
- Greece's prime minister says his country can survive until the end of November without receiving the next planned installment of its bailout loans. Officials from the European Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank are currently in Greece assessing the country's progress in fulfilling the terms for receiving the next round of aid.
- Japan's central bank has ended its latest policy meeting with no change in the country's key interest rate, resisting government pressure for further easing. The Bank of Japan said in a statement today that it expected the world's third-largest economy to "level off" for now, with inflation at about 0 percent.
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