Homebuilder sentiment unexpectedly flat in September

(Reuters) - Homebuilder sentiment unexpectedly held steady in September, according to a survey on Monday that pointed to a still-weak housing market.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index was unchanged at 13, matching last month's level, which was the lowest since March 2009. Economists polled by Reuters expected a rise to 14.

A reading above 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor. The index has not been above 50 since April 2006.

The NAHB survey showed the current sales conditions gauge for single-family home sales remained unchanged at 13 after August was revised down a point, which was the lowest level since April 2009. The sales expectations measure for the next six months remained unchanged at 18.

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New TV thriller "Event" a test of viewer patience

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - With the conclusion last season of "Lost," "24" and "Heroes," it would seem television is ripe for a new action serial. That could bode well for NBC's "The Event," which premieres Monday, particularly because its pilot asks a lot of viewers but gives back comparatively little in return.

Successful shows of this stripe walk a careful line, building suspense and mystery even as they reward viewers with answers and insight. "Event" teases viewers with an intricately plotted tale of conspiracy and terrorism, but it weaves the story from so many directions, perspectives and timelines that the episode becomes a sort of video Rubik's Cube.

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IBM to buy analytics firm Netezza for $1.7 billion

NEW YORK (Reuters) - IBM Corp said on Monday that it would buy data analytics company Netezza Corp for $1.7 billion to expand its business of helping clients analyze market information.


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Facebook denies phone building, but not plans.

(CNN) -- Facebook denied a story published this weekend that says the company is "building a mobile phone," but CNET has confirmed that the social-networking giant has reached out to hardware manufacturers and carriers seeking input on a potential Facebook-branded phone.

[Technology blog] TechCrunch published a story saying "Facebook is building a mobile phone ...or rather, they're building the software for the phone and working with a third party to actually build the hardware."

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