Bernanke: Fed will monitor sliding dollar

WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Monday said the central bank will monitor the sliding U.S. dollar but pledged anew to keep interest rates at record lows to nurture the economic recovery.

In remarks to the Economic Club of New York, Bernanke engaged in a delicate dance. He tried to bolster confidence in the dollar without taking any real action.

Frank floats loan plan for unemployed homeowners AP Photo pursuing

Frank floats loan plan for jobless homeowners

FALL RIVER (AP) - Rep. Barney Frank is floating a proposal to use the interest the government collects from the TARP bailout to give loans to unemployed homeowners struggling to pay the mortage.

Jobless rate tops 10% for first time since 1983

WASHINGTON (AP) - The unemployment rate has hit double digits for the first time since 1983 - and is likely to go higher.

Patrick looks for ways to kick-start state economy

BOSTON - Massachusetts will consider a fund to provide capital to small- and medium-sized businesses, Gov. Deval Patrick announced Tuesday as he closed a one-day summit with government and business leaders.

Dow Jones industrials pass 10,000 for first time in a year

AP Business Writers

NEW YORK (AP) - The Dow Jones industrial average has reclaimed 10,000 for the first time in a year.

Foreclosures up 5% from summer to fall

WASHINGTON - The number of households caught up in the foreclosure crisis rose more than 5 percent from summer to fall as a federal effort to assist struggling borrowers was overwhelmed by a flood of defaults among people who lost their jobs.

Consumers pare borrowing

WASHINGTON - Consumers reduced their borrowing for the seventh straight month in August, as households trim spending and banks reduce credit card limits.

The Federal Reserve says total consumer debt outstanding fell in August by $12 billion, a 5.8 percent annual rate. That follows a downwardly revised drop of $19 billion, or 9.1 percent, in July.