Economy

Supercommittees failure raises probability of a downgrade, rating agency says.

Strength shows investors are betting on expanding economy.

Third-quarter drop in inventories points to a bounce in growth in fourth quarter.

Only a week before deadline, GOP, Democratic legislators are far from a deal.

ECs Barroso calls crisis systemic; ECB buys Spanish, Italian bonds.

Republican plan would raise $300 bln by overhauling the tax code.