RETAIL SALES

Gold futures dropped 2 percent on Thursday to trade under $800 an ounce after the dollar gained against most other major currencies, lowering investors’ interest in the precious metal.

Sales at retailers posted a much stronger-than-expected 1.2 percent rise in November, government data showed on Thursday, as holiday shoppers coped with high energy costs and the fallout from a housing slump. Excluding autos, retail sales gained 1.8 percent, the Commerce Department said. Economists polled forecast retail sales to rise 0.6 percent while sales ex autos were also projected to increase by 0.6 percent, according to Reuters.

Retail sales rose a sluggish 0.2 percent in October, matching economists' expectations, as a housing downturn and steep oil prices constrained consumer spending, Commerce Department data on Wednesday showed.

Any new signs that the economy continues to decelerate could make it hard for stocks to regain their footing in the coming days after last week's bruising sell-off and a drop in consumer sentiment to a two-year low.

Mazda Motor Corp posted a 1.5 percent rise in quarterly operating profit as a weaker yen, cost cuts and sales growth offset a cutback in shipments to North America, and kept its full-year profit forecast unchanged.

China: GDP grows 11.5% in the first three quarters According to the State Statistics Bureau, China's national economy continued stable and rapid development throughout the duration of this year. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) hit 16.6043 trillion yuan ($2.1 billion) in the first three quarters of this year, with year-over-year growth of 11.5%. The figures represent 0.7% growth compared to the same period last year.

Asian stocks pared early gains on Monday, pausing after their recent rally, while the dollar held firm as strong U.S. retail sales data prompted investors to trim bets of further U.S. interest rate cut.

U.S. retail sales rose solidly in September while a key inflation gauge remained muted, data on Friday showed, suggesting the economy retained some buoyancy despite a weakening housing sector. With consumers flexing their spending power, the latest batch of data paints a less gloomy picture of an economy that is slowing, but not stalling.

Stock futures fell on Friday, weighed down by caution before key economic reports and news that Deutsche Bank had slashed its rating on shares of Dow component Citigroup Inc.

According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), UK retail sales experienced 3% growth this September, a significant increase from the 1.8% growth recorded this August.

Global stocks hit a fresh peak for a third straight session on Wednesday as worries about a credit squeeze continued to recede, while the dollar pared recent gains as investors awaited upcoming major U.S. economic data. Caution ahead of U.S. non-manufacturing numbers and retail sales in Europe due later in the day were seen keeping a lid on European markets.

The ABC News/Washington Post Consumer Comfort Index rose to -15 in the latest week from -17 in the previous period on Tuesday, edging up consumer confidence, though still deep in the negative.

Female consumers are spurring much-needed growth in Chinese consumption and helping offset the country's high savings rate, a source of tension with its trading partners.

Stocks edged up slightly on Friday as expectations of an interest rate cut off-set concerns of a weakening U.S. housing market.

Wall Street grew anxious on Friday after news that Britain's central bank was forced to rescue mortgage lender Northern Rock, suggesting a global credit crisis was spreading.

Retail sales and industrial output eked out smaller-than-expected gains in August, according to data on Friday that kept in place expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week. The reports showed signs of economic softness but the picture was not uniformly bleak. A drop in gasoline prices helped curb the sales retail gain, but helped hold a gauge of consumer confidence steady in early September.

Major U.S. indexes started off the day slightly lower on Friday as August retail sales disappointed while the subprime crisis extended overseas as the Bank of England rescued mortgage lender Northern Rock.

The dollar rebounded against the yen and euro on Thursday as investors resumed buying the U.S. currency after nearly a week of declines, although expectations of a cut in U.S. interest rates capped gains.

Friday's news of a buckling U.S. job market sent stock investors running for the exits, and this week promises to be no less stressful as investors grapple with the increasing possibility of an economic recession.

Motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson Inc said on Friday that 2007 earnings would come in 4 percent to 6 percent lower than last year because of tough times for U.S. consumers, sending its shares down 7 percent.

Consumers spent more boldly than expected last month as declining gasoline prices shielded household budgets, government data showed on Monday. Sales at U.S. retailers rose a slightly more-than-expected 0.3 percent in July and core sales, which strip out car, building materials and gasoline sales, were even stronger, the Commerce Department data showed.