Quick Overview

• The index of U.S. leading economic indicators fell 0.7% in September for a third straight month on aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina and continued high fuel costs, the Conference Board reported Thursday.
  
  

• The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's regional index of activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region increased from 2.2 to 17.3 in September, more than expected. Inflation watchers were worried about the prices paid index which advanced to its highest level in almost 25 years.
  
  

• The U.S. DoE said that underground natural gas supplies were up 75 billion cubic feet last week to 3.062 trillion cubic feet, assisted by mild temperatures across the U.S. Supplies are down 5% YoY.
  
  

• Retail sales in the U.K. were up 0.7% in September and also up 0.7% from a year ago, stronger than expected.

• Argentina's economy grew 8.9 percent in August compared with a year earlier, the Economy Ministry said on Thursday, pointing to a third straight year of vigorous growth after a deep recession.
  
  

• Google Inc. Posted a third-quarter profit seven times higher than a year ago, driven by the moneymaking competence of its Internet-leading search engine.