MARKETS / FINANCE

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Thursday as weekly U.S. jobless claims fell and data showed a jump in Chinese inflation.

The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell slightly less than expected last week, hinting at a slow labor market recovery.

The Senate on Wednesday passed a $149 billion package of jobless aid and tax breaks, as Democrats continued efforts to lower the 9.7 percent unemployment rate before congressional elections in November.

The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment insurance fell slightly less than expected last week, a government report showed on Thursday, hinting at a slow labor market recovery.

U.S. stock index futures were lower on Thursday ahead of a report on weekly jobless claims and after data showed a jump in Chinese inflation.

U.S. stock index futures were slightly lower on Thursday ahead of data on weekly jobless claims and international trade.

Oil has rallied to within sight of its 2010 high this week, but the physical crude markets in Asia and Europe are telling a more bearish story about oversupply and sluggish demand.

Trying to guess when the Bank of Japan will make its next policy move? For now, try watching the yen.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has written to the European Commission warning that plans to regulate hedge funds and private equity firms could cause tensions with Washington, the Financial Times reported.

Stock index futures fell on Thursday, pointing to a weaker start for Wall Street. By 0859 GMT (3:59 a.m. ET), futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq slipped 0.2 to 0.3 percent.

The U.S. dollar is still the most important world currency, Standard & Poor's said on Thursday, but added that rising levels of U.S. debt and dependence on foreigners to finance much of pose risks to the currency's primacy.

Asian stocks fell on Thursday as investors worried strong loan growth and quickening inflation in China would spur Beijing to tighten monetary policy sooner than expected, while the yen rebounded against major currencies.

Asian stocks fell on Thursday as investors fretted over tighter monetary policy in China on the back of strong loan growth and quickening inflation, while the yen struggled amid signs that Japan's economy may need more support.

The Senate on Wednesday passed a $149 billion package of jobless aid and tax breaks, as Democrats continued efforts to lower the 9.7 percent unemployment rate before congressional elections in November.

(Corrects day bill passed to Wednesday in paragraph 6)

OPEC released its Monthly Oil Market Report on Wednesday. Although the March report projected higher demand for oil than the February report, OPEC remains cautious as key global economic issues remain unresolved.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Wednesday that fundamental reform of the government's role in the housing finance market is needed and it will be next year before proposals are ready for Congress.

Yesterday's announcement of a steep decline in housing finance caught the market by surprise somewhat triggering a drop in the Aussie dollar to an intraday low of 0.9130.

Bank and technology shares lifted Wall Street on Wednesday on hopes a revival in business demand will boost corporate profits.

Regulators have told Bank of America Corp Chief Executive Brian Moynihan and other executives that the largest U.S. bank by assets must become much smaller, Fox Business Network's Charlie Gasparino reported on Wednesday.

Bank and technology shares lifted Wall Street on Wednesday on hopes a revival in business demand will boost corporate profits.

Bank of America Corp Chief Executive Brian Moynihan said on Wednesday the company's decision to eliminate overdraft fees on debit card transactions will give up a lot of revenue for the largest U.S. bank by assets.

(Corrects second paragraph to show bank index is at highest in 16 months, not two years)

The U.S. stock market eked out a modest gain ahead of an important resistance level for the S&P 500 Index and a Chinese CPI report, which market participants will use to gauge the likelihood of a rate hike in the near future.

General Motors Co will pay back roughly $8 billion in debt to the United States and Canada before June, its chief executive said on Wednesday, more quickly than the automaker had promised.

The United States posted a record $220.91 billion budget deficit in February, Treasury Department data showed on Wednesday.

Bank and technology shares lifted Wall Street on Wednesday on hopes a revival in business demand will boost corporate profits.

The former chief investment officer for New York State's comptroller on Wednesday pleaded guilty to helping favored firms gain access to the state's $129 billion pension fund.

Rebuilding Haiti after its catastrophic earthquake should generate major contracts for private companies specializing in construction, logistics, transport and security, but U.S. executives say they need a clear reconstruction strategy to shape their business plans.