The New York Fed reported on Monday slowing growth within the manufacturing sector in March, with overall sentiments remained positive and employment improved despite difficulty finding highly-skilled labor.
The cost of living in the U.S. increased at a slower pace in March as the rise in energy prices eased, supporting the Federal Reserve’s view that the jump in oil and gas prices is only temporary.
U.S. Federal Reserve officials, out on a speaking spree on Thursday, suggested the economy would have to deteriorate for the central bank to consider additional monetary stimulus.
U.S. Federal Reserve officials, out on a speaking spree on Thursday, suggested the economy would have to deteriorate for the central bank to consider additional monetary stimulus.
Risky assets rose on moderate volume and moderately bad news Thursday, as investors seemed to be placing a paradoxical bet that a slowdown in economic growth would jolt the U.S. central bank into action -- inflating the prices of stocks, commodities and other assets -- while at the same time assuming the slowdown would not be so harsh as to throw the current recovery completely off track.
The Fed is also well aware that employment had peaked in each of the past two springs before resuming growth late in the year.
Stocks rose on Thursday as lower yields on some euro-zone debt eased some concerns and rumors about China's strong GDP increased investors' appetite for risk.
Dudley said strong first-quarter data might have been the result of unseasonably warm weather in much of the United States that pulled forward some economic activity and hiring.
U.S. 15-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped to a new record low of 3.11 percent in the week ending April 12, mortgage financier Freddie Mac said Thursday.
Stocks edged higher in early trading on Thursday as concerns about rising yields in some euro zone countries eased and on bets corporate America will beat a lowered bar of earnings expectations.
Stocks were set to rise slightly at the open on Thursday after futures pared gains following an unexpected rise in initial jobless claims in the latest week.
The disappointing performance of the U.S. labor market in March shows it is too early to conclude the economy is out of the woods, despite months of encouraging economic data, New York Federal Reserve Bank president William Dudley said on Thursday.
Claims for jobless benefits rose to 380,000 last week, giving economists another piece of data to worry about after a gloomy job market showing in March. Meanwhile, a Federal Reserve report published Wednesday painted a picture of a recovery that continues to press ahead, however, modestly, amid concerns of higher fuel prices.
Stock index futures edged higher on Thursday ahead of data on the jobs market and producer prices, while a tick down in benchmark bond yields in Italy and Spain signaled easing concern about the euro zone's debt troubles.
Stock index futures edged higher on Thursday ahead of data on the jobs market and producer prices, while a rise in Italian borrowing costs could cap gains in equities and pressure other risk assets lower.
The disappointing performance of the U.S. labor market in March shows it is too early to conclude the economy is out of the woods, despite months of encouraging economic data, New York Federal Reserve Bank president William Dudley said on Thursday.
Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.55 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.42 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.59 percent at 3:34 a.m. EDT (0734 GMT).
Stocks popped Wednesday on both sides of the Atlantic, one day after their worst loss of the year, on easing euro zone worries and hopes for a better-than-expected earnings season.
The U.S. economy expanded at a modest to moderate pace from mid-February through late March, but local industries remain concerned about high gas prices in coming months, the U.S. Federal Reserve said Wednesday in its new Beige Book.
Stocks rose on Wednesday, bouncing back after five days of sharp losses that pushed the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq below their key technical levels.
Wall Street was set to bounce back at the open on Wednesday after five days of losses on the S&P 500 that brought the benchmark index down more than 4 percent.
Prices of goods imported into the U.S. rose more than forecast in March, driven by higher prices in fuel and non-fuel sectors, a government report showed Wednesday.
