IBT Staff Reporter

Commodity prices fell once again, and Silver Bullion sank for the fourth day in succession, losing 22.5% against the Dollar since Thursday last week - the sharpest plunge since April 1987.

After his side's comfortable passage into the Champions League final, which set up an enthralling finale against Barcelona, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said the Catalans' reputation didn't scare his side.

New U.S. claims for unemployment aid unexpectedly rose last week to touch their highest level in eight months, pushed up by factors ranging from spring break layoffs to the introduction of an emergency benefits program, a government report showed on Thursday.

General Motors Co's quarterly profit more than tripled, beating expectations, driven by a recovery in the U.S. market and strong sales in Asia.

It was a good day for the top four men in world tennis as Rafael Nadal, Novak Dkjokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all won their second round matches at the Madrid Open.

U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Thursday as commodities lost ground on worries about less demand after recent tepid economic data and ahead of Friday's key payrolls report.

Lloyds took a 3.2 billion pound ($5.3 billion) charge on Thursday to compensate consumers who were over-charged on insurance policies, and Ireland's economic woes heaped further pain on the British bank.

Portugal's two key opposition parties signaled after meeting European and IMF officials that they will back a 78-billion-euro bailout that is expected to consign the economy to two years of recession.

Spain drew healthy demand for its five-year debt Thursday, with an only modest rise in yields encouraging hopes it can ride out the threat of contagion from a euro zone debt meltdown that has swallowed neighboring Portugal.

The European Central Bank kept euro zone interest rates on hold as expected on Thursday leaving markets focused on whether Jean-Claude Trichet will flag a June hike by declaring the bank is in a state of strong vigilance.

U.S. retailers showed strong sales gains in April as the late Easter spurred sales of candy and clothes, and inflation lifted prices of groceries and gasoline.

Swiss commodity trader Glencore's planned $11 billion listing was fully covered on the first day as investors rushed to take part in the mega-float, two sources close to the deal said on Thursday.

Sony has been hit with a class action suit in Canada, seeking 1 billion Canadian dollars ($1.04 billion) in damages, in the wake of the security breaches of the PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment.

Adidas said soaring demand from the United States, China and Russia for its sneakers would offset a profit hit from the Japan earthquake, allowing it to raise its sales outlook for the second time this year.

Stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, halting a three-session retreat, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.04 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.1 percent at 0910 GMT.

Axa on Thursday said it was confident it would raise profits this year in spite of a drop in first-quarter sales as Europe's second-biggest insurer implements a strategy shift focused on improving margins.

British bank Lloyds said it will take a 3.2 billion pound ($5.3 billion) provision to cover it for losses from the mis-selling of protection insurance and suffered another 1.1 billion hit in Ireland.

The world's biggest spirits makers Diageo and Pernod Ricard beat forecasts on Thursday with strong sales growth in the first three months of 2011 as buoyant emerging market growth offset a weak Europe.

Factories manufacturing Apple iPads and iPhones in China are forcing staff to sign pledges not to commit suicide, according to an investigation, the Daily Mail reported.

A secret memo released online by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in its 'Vault' has emerged as proof for the famed landing -- or crash or capture -- of a flying saucer with three dead aliens in Roswell in New Mexico in June 1947.

Axa, Europe's second- biggest insurer, on Thursday posted a 2 percent drop in first-quarter revenue on a comparable basis, hit by significant declines in business in France, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Overall, the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant remains very serious.

The European Central Bank will show its determination to check firming price pressures at its meeting on Thursday with markets focusing on whether it uses the strong vigilance codewords to signal a rate rise in June.

The euro kept close to a 17-month high against the dollar and stock markets hugged recent levels on Thursday as investors waited for the European Central Bank to give hints on future interest rate rises.

U.S. carmaker Chrysler is planning to close a deal to refinance $7.5 billion of government debt by May 24, according to details of Chrysler's offering memorandum to the banks published on Thursday by newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.

Adidas, the world's second-largest sporting goods company, raised its sales outlook for the second time this year after the U.S., Chinese and Russian markets drove first-quarter growth.

Spot silver prices slid for the fifth straight day Thursday to the lowest in a month, while the euro secured gains against the dollar Thursday before the European Central Bank meeting where it is expected to reinforce its hawkish outlook.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said on Wednesday he would press for lower interest rates for Dublin's EU/IMF bailout but insisted higher corporate taxes would not be part of any such deal.

Manchester United will meet Barcelona in the Champions League final after seeing off German side Schalke after a 4-1 win in the second leg of the semifinal tie at Old Trafford.