JOBS

Surprisingly strong U.S. job creation last month is forcing some, though not all, analysts to adopt a more upbeat outlook for growth prospects in the world's largest economy.

Employment in the U.S. private sector increased by 201,000 jobs – a greater addition than originally forecast for the month of August, according to an ADP study released Thursday. Employment in the U.S. private sector increased by 201,000 jobs – a greater addition than originally forecast for the month of August, according to an ADP study released Thursday.

Gold futures blew past the $1700-per-ounce mark early Thursday morning ahead of a widely-anticipated appearance by European Central Bank president Mario Draghi where the central bank head was expected to announce further monetary accommodation in the eurozone.

The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell last week to its lowest level in a month, an upbeat signal for a labor market that has struggled to create enough jobs.

Despite modest growth in the economy in the Palestinian territories, unemployment remains the highest in the region, and despair and frustration are growing among a very young population.

The stakes are high. Friday's August jobs report will be the last major data point for the Federal Reserve to consider ahead of the Sept. 12-13 FOMC meeting.

During the holiday week, economy-watchers are likely to focus on Friday's August nonfarm payrolls report and the European Central Bank’s governing council meeting, on Sept. 6.

U.S. consumer spending got off to a fairly firm start in the third quarter, rising by the most in five months and offering hope economic growth could pick up this quarter.

The miners – part of a 460-strong staff – have locked themselves 1,200 feet underground inside the Carbosulcis di Nuraxi Figus mine.

France will abandon some of its discriminatory policies against Roma immigrants and give them greater access to the French job market.

Sony Mobile announced Thursday that it would lay off about 15 percent (approximately 1,000 personnel) of its global workforce as part of its global operational restructure. The company also announced that it would move its corporate headquarters from Lund, Sweden, to Tokyo, Japan in October.

About 70,000 bank branches – including The State Bank of India, the nation’s largest public sector bank – will be idle.

Police said a burglar stole the wallet of the late Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) Chairman Steve Jobs July 17, when he broke into his empty residence in Palo Alto, Calif. The wallet had $1 inside along with Jobs’s California driver’s license.

The home of the late Steve Jobs, Apple's iconic founder and visionary who died last year at the age of 56, was reportedly burglarized on July 17, but police say they now have a suspect in custody. Tom Flattery, deputy district attorney in Santa Clara County, said that 35-year-old Kariem McFarlin of Alameda broke into Jobs' home on Waverly Street in Palo Alto and stole more than $60,000 worth of "computers and personal items."

Amid constant political caterwauling about the demise of American manufacturing, Japanese automakers like Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM), Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) and Nissan Motor Co. (Tokyo: 7201) are gradually bringing manufacturing jobs to North America by building new factories and adding extra shifts to meet resurgent demand in the U.S. automotive market.

Saudi Arabia is drawing up plans to build a women-only city in an attempt to bolster the Middle Eastern country's female workforce.

The U.S. trade deficit in June was the smallest in 1-1/2 years as lower oil prices curbed imports, according to government data on Thursday that suggested an upward revision to second-quarter growth.

Globalization -- basically, free markets and the transfer of jobs to lower-cost labor/production centers -- has lifted more than 1 billion people out of poverty. However, globalization, at least initially, also contains a contradiction that, in time, could undermine not only the uniting of markets, but trade and global GDP growth itself.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Monday that although broad measurements of the economy point to recovery, many people and businesses are facing tough times.

Asian stock markets rallied Monday as better-than-expected jobs data from the U.S. and optimism at European action to boost the faltering regional economy buoyed sentiment.

Crude oil futures declined during the Asian trading hours Monday after surging the most in a month in the previous session on upbeat U.S. jobs data.