Construction Put In Place

Fed moves closer to new action to help economy WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Reserve, meeting for the last time before an election that hinges on the weak economy, edged closer Tuesday to jumping in to help and suggested it's more worried about prices falling than rising.

NEW YORK - An unexpectedly large drop in home sales dashed hopes that the economy is patching one its biggest holes.

NEW YORK - Apple Inc.'s stronger-than-expected profit report lifted stock market futures Thursday as investors grew optimistic that technology companies could be enduring the recession better than some had expected.