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The economy sank at a pace of 0.7 percent in the spring, a better-than-expected performance that provided more evidence that the recession was ending.

U.S. consumer sentiment rose in late September to the highest since January 2008 as expectations of an economic rebound gathered momentum, a survey showed on Friday.

General Motors Co. will go to 24-hour operations at factories in Kansas, Michigan and Indiana to handle an expected increase in demand and to make up for production lost from a large-scale factory consolidation announced earlier in the year.

The automaker says it will add a third shift at its Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kan., in January.

Jobless Americans in high-unemployment states would see their benefits extended for another 13 weeks under legislation to be considered by Congress next Wednesday.

Stocks gained, the dollar slid and commodities rose as the Fed prepared to begin a two-day meeting on interest rates.

The Dow's six-month, 46% surge was one of just six of that magnitude in the last 100 years. Many analysts believe that, as with previous rallies, stocks are in a turbulent period that may lead to another slump.

Report is better than analysts expected; new jobless claims, total benefit rolls also drop.

Orders for durable goods rebounded sharply in July, up 4.9%, staging their biggest gain in two years on demand for planes and capital goods.

Consumer sentiment rose more than expected in August, an indication that Americans' pessimism about the economy may be lifting.

Investors are holding on to their optimism about the economy, sending stocks to fresh 2009 highs. Market indicators rose about 0.5 percent in midday trading Monday, following a surge in overseas markets and extending a big advance from last week.