TOP STORIES 
 
U.S. PRIVATE SECTOR ADDS 213,000 JOBS

Private payrolls in the U.S. increased by 213,000 jobs in September, according to an employment survey released by ADP. Manufacturing hiring was particularly strong.

 
GM OUTLINES AGGRESSIVE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

CEO Mary Barra laid out an aggressive plan, saying GM can achieve a 10% operating margin in world-wide operations by early next decade through cost cuts, product and marketing improvements, and substantial tweaks to how it does business.

 
U.S. STOCKS FALL SHARPLY

U.S. stocks opened the fourth quarter with broad declines amid growing jitters about global economic growth. Stocks extended losses after readings on the U.S. manufacturing sector and construction spending fell short of expectations.

 
GM, CHRYSLER POST STRONG U.S. SALES; FORD FALTERS

U.S. auto industry sales continued to power ahead in September, led by double-digit gains from General Motors and Chrysler Group and rising demand for sport-utilities and trucks.

 
ISM MANUFACTURING INDEX SLIPS

The ISM's manufacturing purchasing managers' index in September fell to 56.6 from August's 59.0, which was the index's highest level since March 2011. Economists had expected the latest PMI to slow slightly to 58.2.

 
GOLDMAN-LED GROUP BUYS PERZO TO FORM IM FIRM

Fourteen of the world's biggest financial-services firms bought Perzo, an instant-messaging software company, and formed a new technology company that aims to change the way traders communicate.

 
HONG KONG SEEKS TO WAIT OUT PROTESTERS

Hong Kong's chief executive has adopted a new strategy to marshal the city's widespread pro-democracy protests: allow the demonstrations to continue until the protesters tire or lose support from the wider public, a source said.

 
PROXY FIRM ISS URGES SHAREHOLDER VOTE AT ALLERGAN

Allergan should put any acquisition it might strike in the coming weeks to a shareholder vote, proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services said in a report critical of the company's handling of a hostile bid.

 
J.P. MORGAN EXPECTS $869M CREDIT FOR MORTGAGE ACTIONS

J.P. Morgan Chase is about one-fifth of the way finished with doling out the $4 billion in consumer aid that was required as part of its mortgage-securities settlement with the Justice Department last year, according to a new report the bank submitted to an independent monitor.

 
BLACKBERRY NAMES FORMER MOBILE 365 CEO TO BOARD

BlackBerry appointed the former chief executive of mobile messaging company Mobile 365 to its board, marking Chief Executive John Chen's latest move to tap the expertise of former colleagues as part of his turnaround effort for BlackBerry.

 
COCA-COLA TWEAKS EXEC-COMPENSATION PLAN

Coca-Cola, bowing to pressure from lead investor Warren Buffett, announced changes to its executive-compensation plan that will result in the company issuing fewer stock awards and options to employees.

 
 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
Heard on the Street 
BANKS FEEL LESS STRESSED ABOUT LOAN GROWTH

When banks report third-quarter earnings in the coming weeks it will be against a backdrop of the strongest overall loan growth since 2008, writes John Carney.

 
Money Talks 
GLOOMY GLOBAL MANUFACTURING RAISES ECB RISKS

Outside of the U.S., there's been a generalized slowdown in global manufacturing, which means that the ECB not only has to deal with local headwinds as it struggles to inspire growth in the single currency region. It's also facing a global gale.