Business Today: Housing lifts S&P 500, but IBM reins in the Dow

	Click to View in Browser 10/17/2012 Housing lifts S&P 500, but IBM reins in the Dow NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 rose for the third consecutive day on Wednesday after housing starts hit a four-year high, but the Dow was weighed down by IBM after it posted weak revenue. Housing starts surge in positive sign for economy WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Groundbreaking on new homes surged in September to its fastest pace in more than four years, a sign the housing sector's budding recovery is gaining traction and supporting the wider economic recovery. Exclusive: White House review finds no evidence of spying by Huawei - sources SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A White House-ordered review of security risks posed by suppliers to U.S. telecommunications companies found no clear evidence that Huawei Technologies Ltd had spied for China, two people familiar with the probe told Reuters. Sales stumbles raise fresh worry for corporate America BOSTON (Reuters) - A slowing world economy took a toll on sales of products ranging from soft drinks to corporate jets in the third quarter, leading top U.S. companies, including PepsiCo Inc, IBM and Textron Inc, to miss Wall Street's sales targets. EBay reports 15 percent increase in quarterly revenue SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - EBay Inc reported a rise in quarterly revenue and earnings on Wednesday as more consumers shopped on its online marketplaces and used its PayPal payment service. Obama slams Romney on tax rate, wealth, "47 percent" WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In what amounted to a do-over on the subject of wealth and fairness, President Barack Obama took aim on Tuesday night at Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's personal finances, his tax plan and his once-private comment about the "47 percent" of Americans who don't pay income taxes. China third-quarter GDP growth set for fresh slide below target BEIJING (Reuters) - China's economy likely slowed for a seventh straight quarter in July-September, missing the government's target for the first time since the depths of the global financial crisis, and data on Thursday could signal still worse to come. UBS "rogue trader" colleague knew but covered back: lawyer LONDON (Reuters) - A former colleague of Kweku Adoboli denied on Wednesday that he knew the UBS "rogue trader" had been booking fictitious trades at the Swiss bank months before losses of $2.3 billion came to light. IMF urges aid for Italy, Spain but Rome baulking MILAN/MADRID (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund called on the eve of a European Union summit for both Spain and Italy to seek euro zone assistance to draw a line under the bloc's debt crisis, but Rome has rebuffed the idea and Madrid seems likely to apply alone. Fearing leaks, Japan's Softbank sprinted to close U.S. deal NEW YORK/TOKYO (Reuters) - After months of secretive talks between "Starburst" and "Saturn" - codenames for Japanese telecoms firm Softbank and its U.S. target Sprint - fears that media leaks could scuttle Japan's biggest overseas buyout pushed negotiators into overdrive. Related Video FACTBOX: Housing market recovery could be the real deal Baxter the robot readied for U.S. factory revival Economic News Sales stumbles raise fresh worry for corporate America Romney adviser dismisses capping bank size A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend