Only television surpassed the Net, with about 70 percent of Americans saying they get most of their national and international news from the ubiquitous box. About 40 percent say they get most of their news from the Net, an increase of 16 percent from September 2007. Newspapers are the main source for about 35 percent.

An hour before the market closed, NBC News reported that President-elect Obama had picked Geithner, currently the president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, for Treasury. US stocks reversed earlier losses following the report of Geithner's nomination, with the Dow closing up nearly 500 points.

Bush invited representatives of some of the world's biggest industrial democracies, emerging nations and international bodies to Washington to start developing a more coordinated world response to the economic woes that have millions of people struggling to keep their jobs, their homes and their hopes.

An impatient White House prodded banks and other financial companies to quit hoarding billions of dollars flowing into their vaults from Washington and start making more loans.

With a timely endorsement from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, there's new life to the idea of Congress returning to Washington next month to pass a second round of measures aimed at injecting life into the economy.

The Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act establishes within the executive branch the position of intellectual property enforcement coordinator, who will be appointed by the president.