Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama for president

(CBS News) Former Secretary of State Colin Powell broke with the Republican party during the 2008 election, to endorse then-candidate Barack Obama for president, calling Obama a "transformational figure." 

With 12 days to go before the presidential election, Powell publicly endorsed President Obama for re-election on "CBS This Morning" Thursday 

"I voted for him in 2008 and I plan to stick with him in 2012 and I'll be voting for he and for Vice President Joe Biden next month."

Morning Journal-Selective transparency

Economics

This Week’s Data

The International Council of Shopping Centers reported weekly sales of major retailers up 1.0% versus the prior week and up 3.3% versus the comparable period a year ago; Redbook Research reported month to date retail chain store sales up 1.3% on a year over year basis.

The June Richmond Fed’s manufacturing index came in at -17.0 versus expectations of 0.0.
http://advisorperspectives.com/dshort/commentaries/Richmond-Fed-Manufacturing.php

Weekly mortgage applications rose 0.9% while purchase applications fell 3.0%.