We’ll start with new numbers out this morning that show home construction up 12 percent, higher than expected. We’re also seeing weekly jobless claims at a 5-year low.

And, there’s a headless giant in a gigantically important industry. Tom Albanese is out as CEO of the mining powerhouse Rio Tinto. This comes after rough times for the company, now dealing with $14 billion in write-downs. 

President Obama is preparing a nominee to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Marketplace’s David Gura reports from Washington on the tough road ahead for the ATF, at a time when the gun debate is red-hot.

A new study says women are outperforming men in the secretive world of hedge funds. The consulting firm Rothstein Kass report says hedge funds managed by women had returns more than 6 percentage points better than other hedge funds. Meredith Jones wrote the report and joins us.

And finally… rental car insurance policies can be confusing. But it’s pretty safe to say that it’s quite unwise to leave nearly half a million dollars in diamonds sitting in your rental while you gorge yourself at a buffet. Yet that’s essentially what happened to a diamond dealer visiting Florida this week, who reported the gems stolen. He told police he was only gone for 13 minutes. Also missing, three blank checks.