INFLATION

The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits rose unexpectedly last week in a sign concerns about a weak economy were sapping an already beleaguered labor market, data showed on Thursday.

Claims for unemployment benefits last week rose more than expected, hitting their highest level in more than two months. In addition, manufacturing in a key northeastern region fell more quickly than expected, developments that may pressure the Federal Reserve to try to stimulate business activity.

India's food price index rose 9.47 percent and the fuel price index climbed 13.01 percent in the year to Sept. 3, government data on Thursday showed.

China will keep monetary policy tight to contain inflation while forging ahead with structural reforms and boosting consumption to sustain long-term economic growth, Premier Wen Jiabao said on Wednesday.

The Asian Development Bank trimmed most of its 2011 and 2012 growth forecasts for the region while noting that Asia's emerging economies are showing resilience in the face of the darkening global environment.

South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Tuesday it had declared a wage dispute with DRDGold , the nation's fourth largest gold producer.

Royal Bank of Canada on Monday downgraded its growth forecast for the Canadian economy in 2011, citing weaker performance in the United States and Europe.

China's bank lending quickened to 548.5 billion yuan ($86 billion)in August, topping market expectations of 500 billion yuan and rebounding from July'sseven-month low, pointing to a slight relaxation in credit conditions for the nation's businesses.

The global economic slowdown has brought emerging Asia's rate-hiking cycle to a premature pause and the next step could be easing if the United States slides into a recession or Europe's debt troubles spawn a full-blown financial crisis.

The global economic slowdown has brought emerging Asia's rate-hiking cycle to a premature pause and the next step could be easing if the United States slides into a recession or Europe's debt troubles spawn a full-blown financial crisis.

China's inflation pulled back in August from a three-year high while economic activity slowed, underlining expectations that the central bank can hold off on further tightening of monetary policy in the face of a global economic slowdown.

China's inflation pulled back in August from a three-year high, underlining expectations that price pressures have peaked and the central bank can hold off on further tightening of monetary policy in the face of a global economic slowdown.

China's inflation pulled back in August from a three-year high, underlining expectations that price pressures have peaked and the central bank can hold off on further tightening of monetary policy in the face of a global economic slowdown.

The following are highlights of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech on the economic outlook before the Economic Club of Minnesota on Thursday.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday the U.S. central bank would spare no effort to boost disappointingly weak growth and reduce unemployment, while downplaying concerns about inflation.

China should keep tightening monetary policy to fight inflation pressures even as the pace of global growth shows signs of faltering, the International Monetary Fund's China mission chief said on Thursday.

The European Central Bank signaled on Thursday that it had halted a cycle of interest rate rises begun just five months ago, saying euro zone inflation risks were no longer skewed to the upside and economic growth would be slow at best.

In a nation whose love for gold is legendary, financial adviser Biju Daniel is one of scores of Indians who are rethinking how they amass riches through the precious metal.

The sluggish U.S. recovery failed to gain speed in recent weeks and softened in some areas of the country, as volatile stock markets and sputtering factory activity weighed on growth, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday.

In a dramatic policy shift, the Bank of Canada said on Wednesday it saw less need to raise interest rates, becoming the latest major central bank to take a more cautious stance about the worsening global economy.