U.S. stocks gained this morning, joining markets around the world as investors temporarily set aside recession fears to scoop up companies battered in the recent retreat. Investors seemed to shrug off reports showing that consumer confidence plunged to an all-time low and that home prices tumbled for a 25th consecutive month.








Democrat Barack Obama plunged Wednesday into a five-month election battle with Republican John McCain after making history by becoming the first black presidential nominee of a major US party.