S&P 500 futures popped about 7 points as the initial Q3 GDP showed growth of 3.5 percent, above consensus of 3.2 percent. Also helping: continuing jobless claims fell to their lowest levels in seven months.    Read More

Stocks have been quietly moving to the upside all morning...the general take is that despite vigorous questioning Mr. Bernanke is holding up well in his principal claim: that he did not threaten action against Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis or the bank's board if they abandoned the Merrill takeover, and more importantly insisted that his actions helped avert a global economic meltdown.    Read More