FOREX UPDATE

New York - US stocks started the week stronger Monday amid a surge of positive economic news and surprising profits for carmaker Ford.

Ford Motor Co reported a net income of 997 million dollars in the third quarter, its first operating profit since the first three months of 2008.

Economic data on manufacturing, construction and housing all helped push stocks higher. US factory output grew at its fastest pace in three years, according to an index of the Institute for Supply Management.