AP Top Financial News At 9:48 a.m. EDT

Stocks open higher; S&P 500 heading for a record Family Dollar rejects Dollar General offer Justice Dept. announces $17 B settlement with BofA Why Bank of America deal might not cost it $17 B Sears 2 Q loss widens on sluggish sales Applications for US unemployment aid fall to 298 K Russia checks more McDonald's after closing 4 Ahead of the Bell: US home sales Growth in China manufacturing weakens in August Some Fed officials want to slow economic help soon