Business and Finance
THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIALS rose 54.83 points to 9041.11, their highest close since July 22, as cautious optimism followed Tuesday's interest-rate cut. The Nasdaq Composite climbed as well. Meanwhile, crude-oil futures dipped below $12 a barrel for the first time since June before recovering slightly. December crude closed at $12.14 a barrel, down 31 cents.</br></br>---</br></br>The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in September, thanks to a jump in sales of U.S.-made aircraft and autos. But economists don't expect such sales to continue, suggesting the deficit will resume its record-setting pace.</br></br>---</br></br>Consumers will pay more for PCs and see less innovation if Microsoft's Windows monopoly is unchecked, an economist hired by the government testified in the antitrust trial.