[naviga:h3]Durable goods orders climb 3.4%[/naviga:h3]

WASHINGTON — Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods posted a sizable gain in June, while business investment rebounded after two months of declines.

Orders for durable goods jumped 3.4 percent in June from May, when orders had fallen 2.1 percent, the Commerce Department reported today. The gain was the best result since March and largely reflected a surge in demand for commercial aircraft

A category viewed as a proxy for business investment plans jumped 0.9 percent, also the best showing since March. This category had declined in April and May and had been weak for a number of months. The result may suggest growing confidence among manufacturers as consumers boost their spending.

U.S. manufacturers have struggled this year from the effects of a strong dollar and a plunge in energy prices. The higher value of the dollar against foreign currencies makes U.S. goods more expensive and less competitive in major export markets, while the lower oil prices have led energy companies to scale back investment plans.

[naviga:h3]Special Olympics gets $25M donation [/naviga:h3]

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Special Olympics has received a $25 million donation, the largest single private gift in the organization’s 47-year history.

The donation comes from the philanthropic foundation of Thomas Golisano, founder and chairman of Paychex. The Rochester, N.Y., company is a payroll processor and human resources services provider.

Officials with the Golisano Foundation announced the donation Saturday during the opening of the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. The foundation says it will provide $25 million to expand the Special Olympics’ health services globally for people with intellectual disabilities.

In 2012, Golisano donated $12 million to the Special Olympics to help it launch an initiative to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities receive access to health care in their communities on a year-round basis.