Free Republic

...Nonfarm payrolls added 337,000 jobs in October -- almost double expectations. Revisions also added 113,000 more new jobs for the months of August and September, meaning that the economy has generated 2.1 million jobs in the past year.... Both outlays for heavy machinery and business construction now look perky and, given the huge amounts of cash that companies are sitting on, capital spending should continue to post gains.... The good jobs news might also be due in part to slowing third-quarter productivity growth -- to 1.9%.... Although real growth of 3.7% was slower than expected, any growth over 3.5% will...

By Nichola Groom NEW YORK (Reuters) - One look at corporate America's bare-bones capital spending plans for this year and it's hard to imagine there will be a strong, sustainable rebound in the U.S. economy any time soon. But while recent economic data has shown an encouraging rise in orders for factory goods, many of the biggest names in corporate America are keeping a tight lid on new investments in technology, equipment and construction as well as research and development. After Hewlett-Packard Co., the maker of computers and printers, reported a disappointing quarterly profit, analysts said the company needed to...