in seoul, south korea. thank you. the u.s. trade deficit fell 5.3% in september to $44 billion. but the shortfall through the first nine months of the year is still 40% higher than a year ago. first time applications for jobless benefits fell by 24,000 last week. the third drop in the last four weeks. stocks posted modest gains today. the dow was up 10. the s&p 500 finished ahead five. nasdaq gained 1. the man leading the republican takeover of the house is letting the g.o.p. me sanel of fiscal frugality take wing. while the current speaker is not exactly going down with the ship. correspondent james rosen has a round-up of today's capitol hill pronouncements. >> time will not dim the glory of their deeds. >> reporter: the house speaker used those words to honor disabled veterans at a memorial ground breaking but clearly feels the same way about herself and the bang wished democrats in the congress. feisty op-ed for "usa today,"