Friday morning headlines

Stocks open lower - again: Most of the Dow components are down in early trading; Asian markets really took it on the chin.

Consumer confidence rises slightly: The Reuters/ University of Michigan index is at 69.3, from 67.7 in October. But the number is well off the year's high (in better times it's in the 80s and 90s).

Holiday spending on the rise: Local residents plan to take more trips and spend more on travel and shopping than they did a year ago, according to an Auto Club survey.

One-West buys Citi loans: The successor to Pasadena-based IndyMac acquired a $1.4-billion portfolio that includes 600 multifamily and commercial real estate loans. (Bloomberg)

Real estate honcho quits: Nelson Rising, CEO of MPG Office Trust (formerly known as Maguire Properties), said he and the board didn't see eye-to-eye on the direction of the company. Chairman Paul Watson will serve as interim CEO. (LAT)

Cooley gets blasted: L.A.'s DA harassed and unfairly disciplined union officers, according to a county hearing officer. From the LAT:

In testimony earlier this year, Cooley denied any anti-union feelings but said he had a personal dislike of some union officials, particularly the association's former president. [Thomas] Kerrigan concluded that Cooley's explanations "were false and clearly pretexts" for conducting a "deliberate and thinly disguised campaign" aimed at destroying the union. "This case is almost anachronistic in its nature with undisguised acts so bold," Kerrigan wrote, "that they are almost without parallel in recently reported cases, continuing acts committed to destroy a labor union and damage the careers of senior deputies."

California's debt sale: The state needs $14 billion as it tries to shore up its depleted finances. Expect heavy demand from individual investors because the bonds pay better than other short-term securities. (LAT)

Rolls-Royce takes blame: A component in one of its jet engines was the cause of a blowout on a Qantas A380. Rolls said it would replace the part. (NYT)

Boeing traces 787 mishap: The failure of a power panel led to a fire in the surrounding insulation material of the Dreamliner aircraft, which is still being tested. (WSJ)

Barnes & Noble tries toys: With book sales floundering, the retailer has begun testing large "store-in-store" boutiques that offer educational toys and games. From Reuters:

The retailer already has children's sections in its stores, but the boutiques are far larger, feature their own signage and are organized in five sections according to the goal of the toys, such as building, learning and playing areas. It is also broadening its array of items at its children's department at 500 stores for the 2010 holiday season.