Put Away the Gloom, Signs of Hope Emerging

Just in time for Christmas, there is a sprinkling of good news for investors. Jobless claims are the lowest since April 2008, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Housing starts hit their highest level since April 2010. Companies are posting record profits. Retailers are on pace to top last year's haul. And the European Central Bank this past week extended low-interest financing to banks to ease funding strains.