UNEMPLOYMENT

Employers hired far fewer workers than expected in December, showing the world's biggest economy still struggling to gain momentum, but the unemployment rate dropped to a more than 1-1/2 year low.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a lower opening on Friday as investors await key U.S. monthly non-farm payrolls and unemployment data from the government.

The U.S. Senate convened yesterday for the first session of the 112th Congress. It did some procedural work, honored Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-MD, for being the longest serving woman senator, talked until after sundown and recessed until Jan. 25.

U.S. stocks opened flat in early trade on Thursday, following weaker-than-expected weekly jobless claims and December retail sales data.

In this piece, we will examine four of gold's most important rules; the irreversible trends affecting the gold price; and how the consequences of these trends will push gold higher in 2011 and beyond.

New claims for jobless benefits moved higher last week, but a decline in the four-week average to a nearly 2-1/2 year low indicated a trend toward better labor market conditions remained intact.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose during the week ending Jan. 1, according to a report by the U.S. Labor Department.

New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, but a decline in the four-week average to a fresh low in more than two years indicated the labor market improvement remained intact.

The Canada Summer Jobs Program has received an additional $10 million this year from the federal government and is likely to pay for 3500 more jobs

Survey suggests that a half or more of law school students feel inadequately prepared to handle the various non-academic demands of the profession

Some economists are warning that housing prices in general could double-dip and the price declines may accelerate in 2011.

House Republicans wasted no time in going after President Obama’s healthcare reforms of 2010.

This morning’s ADP stunning employment report suggests that Friday’s nonfarm payroll data should come in very strong, according to Tom Sowanick, Co-President and Chief Investment Officer of OmnivestGroup.

Republicans scaled back plans for deep cuts in U.S. government spending as they took power in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, diluting a key promise that helped them to victory in November's election.

Silver and Gold Prices both unwound the last of late Dec.'s gains in early London trade on Wednesday, retreating to $29.20 and $1370 respectively per ounce on what several analysts called profit taking as world stock markets also fell.

The U.S. employment situation might be seeing better times, according to figures released in the latest ADP Employment Report for December, which showed a rise for the second consecutive month

John Lipsky, the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has said 2011 will be a pivotal year for the global economic recovery and for international policy cooperation, adding that it's also a crucial year for the Fund as it will try to address these principal challenges.

Professor returns to teach at the Kennedy School of Government after spending two years as Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the White House National Economic Council (NEC).

A surprise surge in private-sector employment last month for its biggest-ever rise in a private payrolls report provided the most bullish signal in months that the economy is on the mend.

While Republicans, who will take control of the House of Representatives tomorrow, are promising to repeal healthcare reform and commence investigations into several facets of the federal government, Democrats, who are still in control of the Senate, have also been considering some significant moves aimed at curtailing the power of the filibuster.