Business briefs

Jobless jolt

US unemployment is hovering near 10 percent, according to a prediction by economists, which is one reason the recovery that began more than a year ago has disap pointed Federal Reserve policy makers. The fore cast before a Labor Dept. report on Friday said the official October unem ployment rate will stick at 9.6 percent for the third month in a row.

Ben’s hot seat

Fed policymakers’ meet-

ings tomorrow and Wednesday are set to be a defining moment for central bank boss Ben Bernanke. Fed watchers expect the meetings to culminate in the an nouncement of around $500 billion in Treasury bond purchases and per haps a statement indicat ing a willingness to make even more.

Hotels swell

Atlantic City visitors are spending 21 percent more on hotel rooms since 2007, even though gambling revenues at the city’s 11 casinos are down 23 percent during that same period.

Potash pickle

Canadian Prime Minis ter Stephen Harper is under growing political pressure to reject BHP Billiton’s $40 billion hos tile bid for Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan. The fed eral review ends Wednes day.