JOBS

A monthly gauge of online labor demand in the United States edged up in March and is near 6 percent above the reading from a year ago, a private research group said on Thursday.

Private employers unexpectedly shed jobs in March, dampening hopes about the strength of the recovery two days before the more closely watched government payrolls report.

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday as a report showing a surprising drop in private- sector employment stoked concerns about the health of the labor market two days before the government's key jobs data.

Private employers unexpectedly shed jobs in March, dampening hopes about the strength of the recovery two days before the government employment report.

U.S. private employers unexpectedly shed jobs in March, dampening hopes about the strength of the recovery two days before the government employment report.

Wall Street was poised for a lower open on Wednesday after a report on private-sector employment in March dented hopes of a stronger economic recovery in the United States, and a rating downgrade of Greek banks heightened concerns about the debt-laden country.

Stock index futures edged lower on Wednesday as investors awaited a report on private-sector employment to assess the strength of recovery in the jobs market.

Stock index futures edged lower on Wednesday as investors awaited a report on private-sector employment to assess the strength of recovery in the jobs market.

The Dow industrials could hit 11,000 this week as investors bet the U.S. labor market had a significant turnaround in March, showing the economic recovery is in good shape.

Swiss banking giant UBS AG has slashed about 200 jobs in its U.S. brokerage unit, a source told Reuters.

The number of workers filing for jobless aid fell sharply last week and a gauge of underlying labor market trends hit a 1-1/2 year low, boosting hopes the economy is on the verge of creating jobs.

Stock index futures rose on Thursday as sovereign debt concerns remained in focus ahead of a meeting of European leaders to help Greece, while investors awaited data on first-time U.S. jobless claims.

Industrial group Fiat SpA aims to raise the number of job cuts in Italy to 5,000 and may spin off its car activities sooner than thought, an Italian newspaper said on Wednesday, sharply boosting its shares.

J.M. Smucker Co on Wednesday said it would cut about 700 jobs, or 15 percent of its workforce, as it plans to revamp its supply chain in a bid to boost profitability of its leading brands.

Carmaker Fiat is seen cutting 5,000 jobs as part of its strategic plan due to be unveiled next month while at the same time increasing Italian production by 50 percent, newspaper la Repubblica reported.

President Barack Obama signed into law a $17.6 billion jobs bill on Thursday and sounded an optimistic note about the U.S. economy, saying it may soon begin adding jobs instead of losing them.

Stock index futures remained little changed on Thursday after data showed first-time applications for jobless insurance ticked lower in the latest week, and U.S. consumer prices were unexpectedly unchanged in February.

Stock index futures dipped on Thursday, one day after the Dow pushed to a 17-month high, while investors awaited data on consumer inflation and the labor market.

Plenty of people download music from the Internet every day, but illegal downloading has a huge economic impact and could put more than one million people out of work by 2015, experts say.

Delta Air Lines Inc said it could cut 840 jobs at a subsidiary that provides ground-handling operations as part of a plan to consolidate operations in Cincinnati in May to save costs.

Apple Inc has awarded its chief operating officer a bonus valued at $22 million for leading the company while Chief Executive Steve Jobs was on 6-months' medical leave last year.