U.S. productivity rose faster than expected in the first three months of the year, though the gains were more modest than in previous quarters as the recovery continued to take hold.
Separately, the number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits fell a third consecutive time last week in a sign that the labor [...]
Archive for the ‘Market Finance’ Category
Productivity Continues to Rise
May 6th, 2010 by Financial Writer
Tags: business, Dow Jones Industrial, economic, economic recovery, economy, Federal Reserve, interest rates, unemployment, unemployment rate, us economy, us manufactured, us workers, USA
more...Stock Start Weak on Euro-Zone Worries
May 5th, 2010 by Financial Writer
NEW YORK—U.S. stocks tumbled after the opening bell, hit by heightened concerns over Europe as violence erupted in Greece and a possible downgrade loomed over Portugal’s debt.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 86 points, or 0.8%, to 10840, in early trading, extending Tuesday’s 225-point drop. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.3% and Standard & Poor’s 500-stock [...]
Tags: banks, Dow Jones Industrial, economy, investors, stock market, unemployment rate, us economy, us stocks, wall street
As China tries to rein in economy, stock exchange stumbles
May 4th, 2010 by Financial Writer
The Shanghai composite index slides 1.2% on news that the central bank will – again — hike the amount of capital banks are required to hold in reserve.
Reporting from Beijing
China’s leading stock exchange continued its long slide Tuesday, tumbling to its lowest close in seven months after the central government introduced another measure over the [...]
Tags: banks, central bank, China, economic recovery, economy, financial, Global Economy, interest rates, investors, money, stock market
Economic outlook is cautious even with spending up
May 3rd, 2010 by Financial Writer
WASHINGTON — Factories are churning out more goods. Consumers are spending. Government aid is fueling construction activity. But stagnant pay and weak hiring will likely restrain the economic rebound in coming months.
That cautionary picture emerged from a series of economic reports Monday.
Consumers stepped up their spending in March by the largest amount in five months. [...]
Tags: businesses, commerce department, economy, housing market, inflation, money, recession, U.S. markets, unemployment rate, us economy
US Stocks Open Mixed After GDP, Financials Weak On Goldman Probe
April 30th, 2010 by Financial Writer
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)–U.S. blue-chip stocks edged up after consumer spending rose within the first-quarter gross domestic product, but financials weakened after federal prosecutors launched a probe into Goldman Sachs.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 11 points, or 0.1%, to 11178 in early trading, putting it on track to close up for the third [...]
Tags: Dow Jones Industrial, economic, european union, financial, financial system, Global Economy, IMF, mortgages, stock market, us economy, us stocks
FOREX-Euro gains on hopes of Greek aid package
April 29th, 2010 by Financial Writer
* Euro recovers, supported by optimism on Greek aid package
* Solid euro zone data helps; Greek bond spreads narrow
* U.S. weekly jobless claims fall in latest week
The euro rose on Thursday, rebounding from a one-year low the previous day, on hopes a bailout plan for Greece was imminent and would help it avoid a debt [...]
Tags: banks, Capital economics, economy, european union, Federal Reserve, financial, financial markets, interest rates, investors, monetary, us economy
Barrick Profit Tops Estimate on Higher Gold Price
April 28th, 2010 by Financial Writer
Barrick Gold Corp., the world’s largest bullion producer, reported first-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates as prices and sales of the precious metal climbed.
Net income more than doubled to $758 million, or 76 cents a share, from $371 million, or 42 cents, a year earlier, Toronto- based Barrick said today in a statement. Profit excluding [...]
Tags: business, economy, financial, financial markets, financial system, Global Economy, gold price, investors
CIT Group Gains After Reorganized Lender Posts Surprise Profit
April 27th, 2010 by Financial Writer
CIT Group Inc., the commercial lender run by John A. Thain, rose in New York trading after posting a surprise profit for its first full quarter since emerging from bankruptcy.
CIT gained 79 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $41.49, as of 10:28 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading and sold for as much as [...]
Tags: economy, financial, financial markets, financial system, Global Economy, interest rates, investors, lender, us economy
OIL FUTURES: Oil Weakens Post-Rally, Traders Eye Fed Meeting
April 26th, 2010 by Financial Writer
Crude oil futures declined Monday morning, losing ground as traders feared last week’s strong economic data that pushed oil above $85 a barrel may also push the Federal Reserve closer toward eventually raising interest rates.
Light, sweet crude for June delivery declined 56 cents to $84.56 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude [...]
Tags: business, economy, Federal Reserve, financial, financial markets, Global Economy, Global Recession, investors, oil prices
European Stocks Fall on Budget Deficit; Nokia Drops, RBS Gains
April 24th, 2010 by Financial Writer
April 24 (Bloomberg) — European stocks fell for a second week as the euro area’s budget deficit widened to more than double the European Union’s 3 percent limit in 2009, led by Greece and Ireland, offsetting better-than-expected results from companies including Ericsson AB and Volvo AB.
Greek banks sank as Moody’s Investors Service cut Greece’s sovereign [...]
Tags: dow jones, euro, european economy, european markets, european stocks, european union, financial, financial markets, Global Economy, IMF, investors