Jobless claims down a bit

Jobless claims down 1,000 to 309,000 last week (Reuters)

Reuters - The number of U.S. workers signing up for unemployment aid edged down slightly last week, the Labor Department said on Thursday in a report underscoring stability in the labor market despite sluggish growth.

US: Q1 non-farm productivity rose 1%

Q1 non-farm productivity rose 1.0 pct (Reuters)

Reuters - Worker productivity grew at a slower than first estimated 1.0 percent annualized pace during the first quarter as the economy just inched ahead, driving up labor costs by 1.8 percent and backing fears inflation remains a concern, a government report on Wednesday showed.

Oil above $71

Oil above $71, nears 9-month high on Turkey Iraq raid

SINGAPORE -- Oil prices held firm above $71 a barrel on Thursday, nearing their highest in nine months even as a raid by Turkish troops into northern Iraq revived Middle East geopolitical jitters.

Goldman Sachs raises PLDT target to 3,000

Goldman Sachs raises PLDT target to P3,000

MANILA, Philippines -- Goldman Sachs has reaffirmed its "buy" recommendation on Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and increased its 12-month target price to P3,000 from P2,700, citing a better outlook for the country's biggest telecommunications firm.

Productivity falls

Productivity falls in 1st quarter (AP)

AP - The productivity of American workers slowed sharply in the first three months of this year but wage pressures eased as well, providing evidence that inflation is being restrained.

Millionaires in the making?

Millionaires in the making with seven mouths to feed (CNNMoney.com)

With seven mouths to feed, what makes this couple think they could become millionaires?

Colony to pay $5.4B for Libya's Tamoil

Colony to pay $5.4 bln for Libya's Tamoil (Reuters)

Reuters - Private investment firm Colony Capital LLC has agreed to pay 4 billion euros ($5.4 billion) for Libya's European oil company Tamoil and Oilinvest.

Morgan Stanley comment weighs on FTSE

Morgan note weighs on FTSE (FT.com)

FT.com - A bearish note from Morgan Stanley (AMEX:MWD) helped send the FTSE 100 tumbling 67 points, or 1 per cent, to 6555.4 in late morning trade, as investors intensified their caution ahead of Thursday's interest rate decision.

Mortgage applications decline

U.S. mortgage applications decline in week: MBA (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications declined last week, dragged down by sinking demand for home refinancing with long-term interest rates at their highest level since October, an industry group said on Wednesday.

Prudential Financial shuts down stock research, trading arm

Prudential shuts down stock research, trading arm (Reuters)

Reuters - Insurance company Prudential Financial Inc. said on Wednesday that it will shut down its institutional stock research and trading business, Prudential Equity Group.

7 year T-bonds rise

Bangking & Finance: 7-year T-bonds rise

The government's borrowing cost went up at yesterday's Treasury bond auction, but officials said this was no cause for concern, since the rate was within expectations.

Fed chief expects economy to rebound

Fed chief expects economy to rebound (AP)

AP - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke predicted Tuesday the economy will rebound from an anemic performance at the start of the year even if the housing slump continues.

May inflation at 2.4%

Inflation in May at 2.4%

MANILA, Philippines -- The consumer price index in May rose 2.4 percent year-on-year, sustaining its uptick for the second straight month but was within the central bank's forecast, data from the National Statistics Office showed.

Peso down, Malaysian ringgit at 1-month low

Peso down on profit-taking, ringgit at 1-month low

SINGAPORE -- The Philippine peso retreated on profit-taking Tuesday while the Malaysian ringgit hit a one-month low as investors bought dollars to cover their short positions. Other Asian currencies were mostly steady.

Factory orders post weak advance

Factory orders post weak advance (AP)

AP - Orders to U.S. factories posted a weaker-than-expected gain in April as declines in demand for cars, planes and boats offset strength in business investment.

Property sector grows 17.1%, fastest in 40 years

The Economy: Property sector grows fastest in 40 years

The Philippine real estate industry continued to post significant growth last year, posting a rise of 17.1% in gross value added (GVA), the fastest annual growth achieved since 1967, the National Statistical Coordination Board said in a statement yesterday.

Chinese stocks rebound to close higher

Chinese stocks rebound in late-day rally (AP)

AP - Chinese stocks rebounded in volatile trading Tuesday following their sharpest one-day drop in three months as strong buying by institutions offset selling by retail investors.

Monetary Board oks agri, rail loans

The Economy: Monetary Board okays agri, rail loans

The policy-making Monetary Board has approved the government's bid to secure funding from foreign donors for the improvement of agricultural production in Mindanao and the face-lift of Metro Manila's dilapidated railway.

Amex to sell private bank unit within weeks

Amex to sell private bank unit within weeks: source (Reuters)

Reuters - New York-based credit card and travel services company American Express is expected to sell its private banking business within weeks, said a source familiar with the matter.

Chinese stocks tumble again

Chinese stocks tumble 8.3 percent

BEIJING - Chinese stocks plunged Monday following government efforts to cool a market boom, recording their biggest one-day drop since a late February drop that triggered a global market sell-off.

New record high for PSE shares

Shares close at new record high on Wall St, regional gains

(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines -- Share prices closed sharply higher, lifting the main index to a fresh record, as Wall Street's advance Friday and the continued upswing in major Asian markets this morning further buoyed investor sentiment, dealers said.

Bancroft family to meet with Murdoch

Bancroft family to meet with Murdoch (Reuters)

Reuters - Representatives of the Bancroft family, which controls Dow Jones & Co. Inc. , plan to meet with News Corp. (NWSa.N) chief Rupert Murdoch on Monday to discuss his $5 billion bid for the company, The Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

US urges Swiss banks to steer clear of Iran

U.S. urges Swiss banks to steer clear of Iran (Reuters)

Reuters - A U.S. anti-terrorism official warned Swiss banks not to do business with Iran on Saturday, saying Iranian officials sought to conceal their identity in deals designed to fund Iran's uranium enrichment program.