# Business

3 Encouraging Trends in Housing for the U.S.

Sometimes you have to dig for good news. And this is surely true in the real estate sector. There are some nuggets of good news buried in the latest housing data. Here are three encouraging trends.

# Business

Big Banks Agree To Pay $8.5 Billion To Homeowners After Foreclosure Abuse

Ten of the nation's major banks, such as Bank of America and Citibank, have agreed to pay $8.5 billion after an investigation into the abuse of homeowners during foreclosures on mortgages during the recent housing crisis. According to the Fed, $3.3 billion of the settlement will be direct payments to eligible borrowers and $5.2 billion will go toward other assistance, such as loan modifications and forgiveness of deficiency judgments.

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Dow Jones Average is Up 5% in 2011; Third Consecutive Year of Gains

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, an index of 30 blue-chip U.S. stocks, finished 2011 with a gain of 5.5 percent, the third consecutive year that the bellwether index has finished in positive territory.

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Young Millennials Spur Capitalism with a Conscience

It's capitalism with a conscience. Nordstrom recently opened a test store where all profits go to charity. Starbucks has three coffee shops where a big chunk of the money made helps the needy. In the past few years, dozens of America's biggest brands have embraced social generosity.

# Business

20 Industries Where Jobs Are Coming Back

In the US economy, the good news is finally starting to outweigh the bad. The private sector -- especially small and medium sized businesses -- has been adding jobs for several months in a row now. Everybody wants to know where the jobs are. Here are 20 fields where jobs are starting to return.

# Business

GE Teams Up With EPA to Keep Appliances Out of Landfills

GE has begun a partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency to work on refrigeration appliance recycling best practices. It doesn't sound sexy, but GE estimates that its new recycling technology could cut refrigerator landfill waste by 85%.

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Toys R Us Launches "Be A Hero For Autism" Fundraising Campaign

ToysRUs yesterday announced the launch of its nine-week in-store fundraising campaign to benefit Autism Speaks, North America's largest autism science and advocacy organization.The company will collect donations in its stores through April 30 and provide a $400,000 grant to kick off its fifth annual campaign.

# Business

Coffee Shop's Incredible Response To Neighborhood Robberies

Where a string of robberies in local shops might have made Lexington, Kentucky a more sad place, one coffee shop has conjured up a few pay-it-forward Christmas miracles. After thieves broke into A Cup of Common Wealth, the coffee shop's owners were blown away by the outpouring of love and support. Reports of additional robberies inspired the owners to rally the community, and give a free beverage to whoever spends money in those affected businesses. They also started a Community Christmas Tree that is spreading gifts to any in need -- even the burglars.