Oil prices rebounded on Friday from 3-week lows, but were still far from reversing the biggest one-day drop in almost a month a day earlier, after a spate of weak manufacturing data reflected slower global economic growth.
The United States, seeking to modernize technology and reduce costs, is embracing cloud computing, but privacy and security issues need to be ironed out during a decade-long transition, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
Manufacturing growth cooled around the world in June, with China hitting its slowest pace in more than a year and growth in the United States and Europe also easing -- further evidence that the global economic recovery is moderating.
New claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week, while manufacturing activity slowed in June, heightening fears the country's economic recovery was stalling.
Oil fell more than 4 percent to below $73 a barrel on Thursday, its biggest dive in five months, as weak manufacturing data from China and the United States fueled concerns about faltering economic growth.
The dollar fell to a seven-month low against the yen on Thursday as economic reports in both the United States and China added to investors' uncertainty about the global economic recovery.
The euro, however, rallied broadly after European banks borrowed less money than expected from a European Central Bank's tender, cooling concerns over euro zone banks' funding issues.
World stocks fell to three-week lows on Thursday and commodity prices sagged after data showing China's rapid growth was losing steam added to worries about the strength of the global economic recovery.
Wall Street looked set to track Asian and European peers lower with U.S. stock index futures all in the red.
China's foreign ministry said on Thursday it had no comment on Google's decision to end automatic rerouting of users to its uncensored Hong Kong search portal, but that all Internet operators had to abide by local laws.
Toyota Motor Corp by Thursday morning had not yet alerted U.S. safety regulators of a recall of Toyota and Lexus models for possible engine stalling while driving, a NHTSA official said.
Asian and European manufacturing output growth cooled further in June, with China hitting its slowest pace in more than a year -- further evidence that the global economic recovery is moderating.
Asset managers are ramping up their presence in Asia to tap the cash of the growing middle class but some industry managers are warning that the quick bucks these funds are chasing may be elusive.
Stock index futures fell on Thursday as moderate Chinese manufacturing data fueled worries about the strength of global economic growth, a day after Wall Street ended its worst quarter since the market meltdown triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
According to Russian diamond-mining giant Alrosa's rough diamond price forecast up to 2018, rough diamond production is expected to return to 2008 levels (165 MM carats) no earlier than 2015 and, thereafter, to remain at around 165-167 MM carats per year as a result of a limited supply of new projects and depletion of existing mines.
Gold held steady near $1,240 an ounce in Europe on Thursday, supported by concerns over weak global growth which are weighing on more economically sensitive assets like stocks and industrial commodities.
The yuan strengthened but stopped short of breaching its recent post-revaluation high against the dollar on Thursday as traders worried the central bank might intervene to pull it back if it rises too far, too fast.
Stock index futures fell on Thursday after soft Chinese manufacturing data and a day after Moody's warned of a potential downgrade for Spain and Wall Street ended its worst quarter since the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
Investors gave stocks and commodities a wide berth on Thursday on mounting worries about the strength of the global economic recovery after manufacturing data showed China's rapid growth was slowing.
Asian stocks and commodities fell while U.S. Treasury futures rose to a 14-month high on Thursday, after manufacturing data showed China's rapid economic growth was slowing, increasing fears of a global double dip.
The euro bounced back from early losses on Thursday on hopes that banks will not have to borrow heavily at a European Central Bank tender, signalling they can deal with the repayment of huge emergency loans.
Oil fell for a fourth straight day on Thursday, shedding 1.7 percent toward $74, on signs that China's economic growth was slowing, raising concerns about energy demand.
The pace of manufacturing growth in the world's second largest oil consumer slowed in June as government steps to cool the property market and curb bank lending combined with a faltering global recovery.
Gold edged down on Thursday as investors waited for more clues on the state of the global economy after prices rallied toward a record this week, but falling shares could spur another round of safe haven buying.
The euro hit a record low against the Swiss franc and the Australian dollar also fell on Thursday as weaker-than-expected Chinese data added to doubts about the strength of the global recovery.
The Chinese data sparked selling in higher-yielding currencies, with one trader saying low liquidity and short-term speculators taking punts on the euro against the Swiss franc and the Australian dollar against the yen added to the volatility.
