WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Economic growth slowed in October and the first half of November as a glut of homes for sale pushed home prices down and tighter credit took some would-be buyers out of the market, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday.

  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow Jones industrial average notched its biggest percentage gain in four and a half years on Wednesday, after comments by the vice chairman of the Federal Reserve raised expectations for an interest rate cut in December.

  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sales of previously owned homes dropped to a record low in October and businesses slashed spending on new equipment, according to reports on Wednesday that added to signs of a rapidly slowing economy.

  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Freddie Mac surged on Wednesday as strong demand for a record preferred stock issue signaled the second-biggest provider of U.S. home funding could access capital even in turbulent markets.

  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's second in command on Wednesday signaled a readiness to cut interest rates again, acknowledging that financial market turmoil could slow the U.S. economy and the central bank must be flexible.

  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co has agreed to settle class-action litigation covering plaintiffs in four states who claimed its Explorer sport utility vehicles were prone to rollovers, Ford said on Wednesday.

  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Men's Wearhouse Inc warned on Wednesday that fourth-quarter and full-year earnings would be below Wall Street estimates in part due to weak consumer spending, sending shares down more than 11 percent after hours.

  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc got a call from a prominent investment banker suggesting a merger with Bank of America Corp as it was dealing with billions of dollars in mortgage-related losses and the departure of Chief Executive Charles Prince, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday in its online edition.

  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Earnings at U.S. banks and thrifts tumbled 24.7 percent in the third quarter from a year ago to a level not seen since late 2002 as institutions set aside more money to cover expected loan losses.

  ATLANTA (Reuters) - Buyers spent $733 million bargain-hunting on "Cyber Monday," up 21 percent from a year earlier, and some analysts expect that one-day tally to be topped as Christmas nears.