JOBS

Stocks rose on Thursday as better-than-expected monthly sales from retailers and a fall in the number of Americans filing claims for jobless benefits pointed to stabilization in the economy.

Stocks clung to tiny gains in afternoon trading on Thursday, retreating from an earlier advance as lower energy prices and an unexpected fall in home sales offset optimism stirred by retailers' better-than-expected monthly sales.

U.S. stocks inched higher at midday on Thursday, paring earlier gains, as lower energy prices and an unexpected fall in home sales offset optimism stirred by retailers' better-than-expected monthly sales.

Any job losses from Prudential Plc's planned $35.5 billion acquisition of American International Group's Asian insurance arm will be mainly in back-office operations and not among sales forces, the companies' CEOs told staff in Asia, sources said.

U.S. employers shed 20,000 private-sector jobs in February according to a report by ADP on Wednesday, fewer than the 60,000 jobs lost in January and inline with analysts' expectations.

Jobs shed by U.S. private employers in February dropped from the prior month, while U.S. firms' planned layoffs fell to the lowest since 2006, suggesting the job market may be starting to recover.

U.S. stocks edged higher at the open on Wednesday after a report showed private employers cut fewer jobs in February, adding to optimism ahead of a critical employment report later in the week.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wednesday as a report showed private employers cut fewer jobs in February, adding to optimism ahead of a critical employment report later in the week.

The European Union executive will unveil a 10-year plan on Wednesday to boost economic growth, create jobs and help steer the bloc safely out of its worst financial crisis in decades.

Democrats in the Congress on Friday struggled to make headway on their top legislative priority -- job creation -- as the government prepared to shut off funding for many of the measures they hope will bring down the unemployment rate.

Steve Jobs defended Apple Inc's decision to maintain a $40 billion cash pile and said it was better to save the money for bold risks, like acquisitions, than to spend it on stock buybacks or cash dividends.

Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs said his company has to think big and its $40 billion cash hoard offers flexibility, suggesting that he had no immediate plans to spend the money on a share buyback or dividend.

A fixed-income trading boom fueled profits across Wall Street last year and is sparking hiring this year, recruiters say, as banks hope for a repeat performance in 2010.

Demand for a wide range of U.S. manufactured goods unexpectedly fell in January, while new applications for jobless benefits rose again last week, suggesting a step back in the economic recovery.

New orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods excluding transportation unexpectedly fell in January, while the number of workers filing for jobless benefits rose last week, suggesting a loss of momentum in the pace of economic recovery.

The number of affluent investors worrying about jobs and the political environment rose in February as bipartisan cooperation remains elusive in Washington and the economy struggles with high unemployment.

The U.S. government will pull the plug soon on a popular tax credit that has helped prop up the struggling housing sector amid hope that a pickup in hiring will give the market a fresh shot of life.

U.S. consumer confidence sagged to a 10-month low this month on worries about jobs and fears gridlock in Washington could hinder efforts to restart employment, curbing the economic recovery.

Consumer confidence sagged to a 10-month low this month on worries about jobs and fears gridlock in Washington could hinder efforts to restart employment, curbing the economic recovery.

U.S. consumer confidence sagged to a 10-month low on worries about jobs while the housing market remains under strain, data revealed on Tuesday, underscoring the fragility of the economy's recovery.

A modest job-creation bill advanced in the Senate on Monday as the chamber's newest Republican bucked his party and sided with Democrats on a $15 billion package of tax cuts and highway spending.