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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.

Tokyo - Stocks in Tokyo on Monday fell on disappointing earnings reports, a stronger yen and pessimistic evaluations of the global economy.


The Nikkei 225 Stock Average plummeted 231.79 points, or 2.3 per cent, to close at 9,802.95.


The broader-based Topix index was also down 14.13 points, or 1.58 per cent, at 880.54, ahead of the stock market's closure Wednesday for the Culture Day holiday.

On currency markets at noon (0300 GMT), the dollar traded at 89.96-97 yen, down from Friday's 5 pm quote of 91.09-12 yen.