EASTER

March sales at retail chains are expected to fall modestly, held back by the combination of a later Easter and higher gasoline prices.

Top U.S. store chains from Costco Wholesale to Gap Inc posted disappointing April same-store sales, suggesting that Wall Street's hopes for a consumer rebound may be getting ahead of the pace of recovery.

U.S. retailers including discounter Costco Wholesale and teen chain Zumiez posted slightly disappointing April same-store sales, and the early report suggested Wall Street's hopes for a consumer rebound may be getting ahead of the pace of recovery.

The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment insurance fell as expected last week, resuming a downward trend that had been interrupted by the Easter holiday, government data showed on Thursday.

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly soared last week as applications held back during the Easter holiday were processed, government data showed on Thursday.

The number of workers filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly shot higher last week but did not alter the view that labor markets are recovering as the jump reflected Easter holiday volatility.

The number of U.S. workers filing for jobless aid unexpectedly shot higher last week but did not alter the view labor markets are recovering as the jump reflected Easter holiday volatility.

An early Easter holiday helped top U.S. retailers beat Wall Street's sales expectations as a pickup in consumer spending expanded from discounters to department stores and teen clothing chains.

A nascent pickup in consumer spending has expanded beyond discounters to teen clothing chains and other store chains, according to the first batch of March sales reports from U.S. retailers.

Greece is not seeking to amend an EU-IMF safety net agreement, a top finance ministry official said, trying to calm markets that ditched Greek assets and the euro after a flurry of news suggesting Athens' debt crisis was worsening.

The Aussie dollar opens this morning slightly above the 92 cent level buoyed by optimism of a continued recovery in global economic growth following upbeat U.S economic data in the form of increasing employment.

Top retail chains are set to report a jump in March sales, lifted by an early Easter, an improving job market and warm weather, in what may be the strongest sign yet that consumers are shopping again.

Walgreen Co's sales at drugstores open at least a year rose 2.3 percent in March, helped by an early Easter holiday that was also expected to boost the wider retail sector.

U.S. palladium and platinum futures rose to their highest since 2008 on Monday on strong physical demand and better sentiment, and gold contracts hit a two-week high in thin post-holiday trade.

Walgreen Co said on Monday that sales at drugstores open at least a year rose 2.3 percent in March, as an earlier Easter drove sales of candy and other general merchandise and an extra weekday boosted sales of prescription medications.

The RSPCA is sending an Easter warning to families that while the humble egg is a great treat for humans, just 50 grams ingested by an animal has the potential to be deadly.

(Reuters) - Easter eggs may be good for you, but only if you eat small ones made from cocoa-rich dark chocolate, according to the latest in a string of scientific studies to show potential health benefits of chocolate.

Greece on Monday sold 5 billion euros ($6.7 billion) of 7-year bonds with a looming Easter holiday and a subdued European market dampening demand in the first test of investor appetite since last week's EU-backed debt support deal.

After the slump in gold prices in Kerala, jewelers are waiting for the demand to pick up after Easter (April 4) when Christian marriages will see a rise. During the 50-day lent period prior to Easter, Christians do not conduct marriages as this is not allowed by the Church. So, many marriages are lined up immediately after the Easter.

British Airways cabin crew have decided not to strike over the Easter holiday period, even if staff do decide to walk out, a Unite spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday.

CVS Caremark Corp posted a bigger-than-expected jump in quarterly profit on Tuesday, aided by new stores and increased demand as consumers bought Easter treats and products to combat the H1N1 flu.