Etan Patz Case: Photos Of NYPD, FBI Searching SoHo Basement For Missing Boy's Remains [SLIDESHOW]

Photo: REUTERS/Keith Bedford

New York City apartment building where FBI agents and New York City Police were searching a basement for clues in the 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz

A New York City apartment building where FBI agents and New York City Police were searching a basement for clues in the 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz, April 19, 2012. The authorities began their search early on Thursday at the SoHo neighborhood building where the 6-year-old boy disappeared, FBI spokesman Peter Donald said. Patz, who was one of the first missing children to appear on a milk carton, was formally declared dead in 2001. His disappearance helped launch a national movement on the issue of missing children. The date May 25 was declared "National Missing Child Day" in his honor.

Photo: REUTERS/Keith Bedford

Job growth in Britain reaches six-month high

Recruiters filled permanent vacancies at the fastest rate in six months in January, according to a survey released on Wednesday, pointing to growing confidence among employers.

Permanent staff placements and temporary/contract staff billings both rose at faster rates in January, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation said in a statement.The REC/KPMG permanent placements index rose to a six-month high of 57.4 in January from 54.9 in December.

The temporary index rose to a seven-month high of 56.5 from 52.8 the previous month.Index levels above 50 indicate net hiring among the panel of 400 recruitment companies polled each month.

Britain's coalition government hopes the private sector will be able to create extra jobs to sustain growth as spending cuts begin to bite this year.

Source: Reuters

Photo: REUTERS/Keith Bedford

Taiwan Market May See Selling Pressure

RTTNews - The Taiwan stock market headed back to the upside on Wednesday, one day after snapping the eight-day winning streak in which it gained more than 1,000 points or 18 percent to close at a fresh seven-month closing high. The Taiwan Stock Exchange is close to reclaiming the 6,500-point plateau, but analysts are expecting a sharp pullback at the opening of trade on Thursday.

The global forecast for the Asian markets is laced with pessimism as sentiment plummeted on weaker than expected economic data out of the United States, as well as mixed corporate news. The European markets finished sharply lower, as did the U.S. markets - and the Asian markets are forecast to also move significantly lower.

The TSE finished modestly higher on Wednesday, boosted by gains among the technology stocks and the automobile shares.

For the day, the index was up 52.59 points or 0.82 percent to close at 6,485.14 after trading between 6,435.49 and 6,512.07 on turnover of 159.84 billion Taiwan dollars. There were 1,342 gainers and 798 decliners, with 144 stocks finishing unchanged.

Among the gainers, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co rose 1.8 percent, while United Microelectronics Corp was 1.85 percent higher, Taiwan Fertilizers rose 4.71 percent and Yulon Motor rose 6.46 percent.

The lead from Wall Street is broadly negative as stocks saw substantial weakness during trading on Wednesday, as disappointing retail sales offset some of the recent optimism about the outlook for the economy. The major averages all moved sharply lower after ending the previous session mixed.

The weakness in the markets came after a report from the Commerce Department showed that retail sales unexpectedly fell for the second consecutive month in April after showing back-to-back increases in the first two months of the year. The report showed that retail sales fell 0.4 percent in April following a revised 1.3 percent decrease in March. Economists had expected sales to come in unchanged compared to the 1.2 percent decrease originally reported for the previous month.

A separate report from the Commerce Department showed a continued decrease in business inventories in the month of March. The report showed that business inventories fell 1.0 percent in March following a revised 1.4 percent decrease in February.

Meanwhile, shares of Intel (INTC) ended the day modestly lower after the European Commission fined the semiconductor giant a record 1.06 billion euros for allegedly abusing its dominant position on the market for computer chips known as x86 central processing units. Intel president and CEO, Paul Otellini said the company takes strong exception to the decision, arguing that it ignores the reality of a highly competitive microprocessor marketplace. Otellini added that Intel would appeal the decision.

On the earnings front, department store operator Macy's (M) reported a first quarter adjusted loss that came in narrower than analysts had been expecting. Nonetheless, shares of Macy's fell 6.7 percent, as the weak sales data weight on the retail sector.

In other news, American International Group CEO Edward Liddy appeared before lawmakers, attempting to defend the steps the beleaguered insurer has taken to reduce the risks it poses to the financial system.

The major averages all closed firmly negative, with the NASDAQ ending the session at its worst level of the day. The Dow fell 184.22 points or 2.2 percent to 8,284.89, the NASDAQ closed down 51.73 points or 3 percent at 1,664.19 and the S&P 500 fell 24.43 points or 2.7 percent to 883.92.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

Photo: REUTERS/Keith Bedford

FBI agents and New York City police officers stand near a New York City apartment building where they were searching a basement for clues in the 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz

FBI agents and New York City police officers stand near a New York City apartment building where they were searching a basement for clues in the 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz, April 19, 2012. The authorities began their search early on Thursday at the SoHo neighborhood building where the 6-year-old boy disappeared, FBI spokesman Peter Donald said. Patz, who was one of the first missing children to appear on a milk carton, was formally declared dead in 2001. His disappearance helped launch a national movement on the issue of missing children. The date May 25 was declared "National Missing Child Day" in his honor.

Photo: REUTERS/Keith Bedford

FBI agents and New York City police officers stand near a New York City apartment building for clues in the 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz

FBI agents and New York City police officers stand near a New York City apartment building where they were searching a basement for clues in the 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz, April 19, 2012. The authorities began their search early on Thursday at the SoHo neighborhood building where the 6-year-old boy disappeared, FBI spokesman Peter Donald said. Patz, who was one of the first missing children to appear on a milk carton, was formally declared dead in 2001. His disappearance helped launch a national movement on the issue of missing children. The date May 25 was declared "National Missing Child Day" in his honor.