Consumer confidence rises....Housing recovery intact...India's power crisis

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are mixed in today's early going, continuing a pattern of listless trading that was seen yesterday. Investors await the outcome of a two-day Federal Reserve meeting and release of monthly unemployment data on Friday.

NEW YORK (AP) — A positive surprise was seen with today's consumer confidence report from the Conference Board. The group's closely-watched index rose to 65.9, which was higher-than-expected. Even so, a spokeswoman for the group says the level of confidence remains "at historically low levels".

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Commerce Department says Americans' consumer spending was flat in June, compared to May. Personal incomes rose 0.5 percent.

WASHINGTON (AP) — New figures indicate that the housing market is continuing to mount a recovery. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index indicates that home prices rose in May from April in all of the 20 cities tracked. Nationally, prices were up 2.2 percent.

NEW DELHI (AP) — India's energy crisis has grown to cover over half the country. Three of its regional electricity grids collapsed, leaving 620 million people without power for several hours, making it the world's biggest-ever blackout.