UNEMPLOYMENT

US stocks ended mixed on Thursday as investors awaited Friday’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report and slightly weaker than expected economic reports on jobless claims even as Chicago Purchasing Managers index weighed on the sentiment.

It is our contention that if the monthly private sector job growth shows a gain of 200,000 jobs or more, then it will be very difficult for the financial markets not to have a strong response to the collective employment data.

Pending home sales in the US rebounded sharply in February, after showing a decline in the previous two months.

Personal spending in the US rose more than expected in February while income increased less than expected, indicating that the average consumer is growing more confident about the economic recovery.

Blasts in an ammunition factory in the southern Yemeni town of Jaar killed 70 people and injured more than a hundred, said initial reports.

Retailers are expecting a strong demand for Nintendo's latest and greatest portable handheld, the 3DS, but a stiff economy and even tougher competition may make for a tepid reception.

Violence has broken out on the streets of central London, England has tens of thousands of people have demonstrated to express their opposition to drastic spending cuts by the British government.

US stocks ended higher on Thursday as investors are shrugged off bad news and focused on some positive developments from the US corporate sector.

As the western powers and some of their allies in the Middle East impose a no-fly zone over Libya in an effort to protect civilians from Moammar Gaddafi’s armies, many questions have been raised about the campaign and its long-term implications.

US stocks continued to rally on Thursday as investors are shrugging off the bad news and focusing on the positive developments from the US corporate sector.

The applications for jobless benefits in the U.S. fell more than expected last week, recording a drop for a second consecutive week.

Sales of single-family houses in the US fell unexpectedly in February, showing continued weakness in the housing industry recovery.

Existing home sales in the US fell more than expected in February, indicating an uneven recovery in the housing industry. Sales of previously owned homes dropped 9.6 percent to 4.88 million in February compared with an upwardly revised figure of 5.40 million in January, the National Association of Realtors said on Monday.

In a transparent bid to stave off further anti-government protests in Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah has unveiled an astounding and unprecedented multi-billion-dollar package of handouts to his subjects.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced legislation, “The StartUp Visa Act of 2011,” H.R. 1114, to encourage innovation and economic growth by permitting immigrant entrepreneurs greater access to temporary U.S. visas. The bill matches legislation introduced this week by Senators John Kerry, Richard Lugar, and Mark Udall in the Senate.

Saudi Arabian king will likely make announcements today regarding a ministry reshuffle, anti-corruption drive and more welfare dole outs, according to media reports.

Construction of new homes, as well as new building permits, declined more than expected in February, indicating that the U.S. housing industry’s recovery is still weak, even as the rest of the economy improves.

Workers in the private sector overall likely will see higher annual wage increases in the coming months, according to the revised first quarter Wage Trend Indicator (WTI) released by BNA.

The number of unemployed people in the UK rose by 27,000 to 2.53 million for the three months to January 2011, recording the highest levels since 1994, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Wednesday.

FOMC Statement from March 15, 2011

Manufacturing activity in New York State expanded more than expected in March, reaching the highest levels since June 2010.