Business Highlights

The Associated Press

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Airbus planes with cockpit power failures still await fixes

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) ⿿ As United Flight 731 climbed out of Newark with 107 people aboard, the pilot and first officer were startled to find screens that display crucial navigational information were blank or unreadable and radios were dead.

They had no way to communicate with air traffic controllers or detect other planes around them in the New York City area's crowded airspace.

Within minutes the pilots had turned around and safely landed the Denver-bound Airbus A320 at Newark Liberty airport. They later told investigators that clear weather might have been the only thing that saved them from a crash.

The January 2008 emergency was far from the first of such multiple electrical failures in the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, and it wasn't the last, according to records reviewed by The Associated Press. More than 50 episodes involving the planes, which first went into service more than two decades ago, have been reported.

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Rise in US home sales reflects steady improvement

WASHINGTON (AP) ⿿ The recovery of the U.S. housing market is looking steadier and more sustainable, a trend that will likely add to economic growth in 2012 for the first time in seven years.

Purchases, construction and prices are gradually but consistently increasing, though they remain far below levels seen in a healthy economy.

Sales of previously occupied homes rose 2.3 percent in July from June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.47 million, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. Over the past 12 months, sales have jumped more than 10 percent.

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T-Mobile brings back unlimited data plan

NEW YORK (AP) ⿿ Unlimited wireless data is back. After sliding off the menu of cellphone plans, data plans with no caps are making a comeback at smaller wireless companies trying to compete with AT&T and Verizon.

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