No shutdown in U.S. Midwest as business activity index surges

(Reuters) - Business activity in the U.S. Midwest surged past expectations in October as new orders hit their highest level since 2004, countering recent evidence of soft economic growth.

Obama warns of 'economic shutdown' as debt deadline approaches

WASHINGTON: Faced with the looming prospect of a debt default, President Barack Obama today appealed to Congress to pass the budget while pushing Republicans to agree to hike the borrowing limit to prevent an "economic shutdown".