Thursday morning headlines

Stocks move higher: Some encouraging news on the European debt morass, but some downbeat news about the U.S. economy. Dow is up 70 points.

Jump in jobless claims: Weekly filings rose by 11,000, to 428,000, which is the highest level in three months. Companies are not laying people off, they're just not hiring. (AP)

August foreclosures way up: California filings jumped 55 percent from the previous month, according to RealtyTrac, as B of A and perhaps other banks speed up their default process. (press release)

Mortgage rates are crazy low: This really is a great time to buy a house - if you can get a bank to loan you the money. The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 4.09 percent, the lowest level since 1951. (AP)

Inflation picking up: L.A.-area prices rose 0.2 percent in August compared with the previous month and 2.4 percent over the past year (lower than the national level). But food costs have been rising way more than that. (OC Register)

McCourt divorce drags out to next year: Which means the ownership question is left in limbo. Trial isn't scheduled until next spring or summer and will last 30 to 45 days. Separately, the Dodger bankruptcy case is proceeding. From the LAT:

Although Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon could decide ownership of the team before the bankruptcy proceedings end, he emphasized Wednesday that "the ultimate question of the disposition of the Dodgers" would need to wait for a resolution in Bankruptcy Court. "Until it gets out of bankruptcy, the baseball team cannot be sold by this court," Gordon said.

Investors snap up California notes: And at the low end of expected yields, which means the state doesn't have to shell out as much in interest. (LAT)


More by Mark Lacter:
American-US Air settlement with DOJ includes small tweak at LAX
Socal housing market going nowhere fast
Amazon keeps pushing for faster L.A. delivery
Another rugged quarter for Tribune Co. papers
How does Stanford compete with the big boys?
Those awful infographics that promise to explain and only distort
Best to low-ball today's employment report
Further fallout from airport shootings
Crazy opening for Twitter*
Should Twitter be valued at $18 billion?
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Mark Lacter
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.
 
Mark Lacter, business writer and editor was 59
The multi-talented Mark Lacter
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