NEW YORK, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. stock indexes rose Wednesday amid strong economic data ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve announcement on interest rates,

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 51.29 points, or 0.37 percent, to 13,843.76. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 10.47 points, or 0.68 percent, to 1,541.49.

The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 19.46 points, or 0.69 percent, to 2,836.17.

The U.S. gross domestic product rose 3.9 percent, despite a nationwide housing slump, due to a growth in exports, the U.S. Commerce Department said. Most analysts had forecast a 3.1 to 3.4 percent growth rate.

Separately, private U.S. payrolls grew 106,000 in October, ADP Employer Services said.

The Fed continued a two-day meeting to discuss the economy Wednesday, with an interest-rate announcement expected mid-afternoon.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index finished down 86.62 points, or 0.52 percent, at 16,737.63.

The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note was down 8/32, yielding 4.418 percent, while the 30-year bond was down 10/32, yielding 4.698 percent.

The U.S. dollar rose to 115.42 yen from 114.69 yen in New York late Tuesday. The euro rose to $1.4449 from $1.4436.

Exports push U.S. economy up 3.9 percent

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. gross domestic product rose 3.9 percent, despite a nationwide housing slump, due to a growth in exports, the U.S. Commerce Department said Wednesday.

The July-September figures -- the strongest quarterly GDP growth since a 4.8 percent increase the first quarter of 2006 -- exceeded most analysts' forecasts of a 3.1 to 3.4 percent growth rate.

U.S. exports surged 16.2 percent, even as builders slashed investment in housing projects by 20.1 percent, the largest drop in a year, the department said.

Imports increased 5.2 percent.

Consumer spending, the economy's biggest component, rose 3 percent after increasing 1.4 percent in the second quarter.

Purchases of durable goods meant to last three or more years rose 4.4 percent after increasing 1.7 percent April through June, the department said.

Third quarter non-durables spending rose by 2.7 percent. Services spending climbed 2.9 percent.

Business spending increased 7.9 percent, down from the second quarter's 11 percent.

Federal government spending rose 6.8 percent following a 6 percent rise the second quarter.

The value of all goods and services produced in the United States climbed 3.8 percent in the second quarter and 0.6 percent in 2007's first three months, the department said.

AT&T must sell assets for Dobson takeover

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Justice Department has ordered AT&T Inc. to sell assets in five U.S. states to complete its $2.8 billion Dobson Communications Corp. takeover.

The department ordered AT&T to divest certain cell-phone assets in Kentucky, Oklahoma, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Texas where AT&T and Dobson, which operates as Cellular One, are the most significant competitors.

It also filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington to block the proposed takeover unless the divestment takes place.

Without the divestment, the deal "would have resulted in higher prices, lower quality and diminished investment in network improvements and would have substantially lessened competition to the detriment of consumers of mobile wireless telecommunications services," the department said.

AT&T had no immediate comment.

AT&T is the largest U.S. cell-phone provider, with more than 63 million subscribers in 50 states. Dobson's Cellular One is the ninth largest, with 1.7 million subscribers in 17 states.

The merger is also subject to review by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.

Senegal retakes control of Air Senegal

DAKAR, Senegal, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Senegal will retake control of national flag carrier Air Senegal International from Morocco's Royal Air Maroc after the Senegalese airline lost $28.5 million.

RAM's management has "shown its limitations," the transport ministry said in a statement, adding, "Re-capitalization of the company will only be assured by Senegal."

RAM had no immediate comment Wednesday.

As of Monday, Senegal will control 75 percent of the ASI, based in Dakar, and RAM, of Casablanca, will control 25 percent, the ministry said.

A 2001 agreement gave RAM 51 percent, with the government holding a 49 percent interest.