U.S. Unemployment Claims Archives

Here’s today’s ‘Just A Minute’ bringing you a 60 second summary of what’s happening in the financial markets:

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING TODAY

Europe Shares Seen Lower Amid Russia Sanctions

European shares are on track for a lower open today as tensions in Ukraine are back into focus. The FTSE is called down 22 points at 6,762 while the German Dax is seen lower by 13 points at 9,846. The U.S. and the European Union announced a fresh round of sanctions against Russia yesterday following the annexation of Crimea back in April and ongoing tensions in the rest of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin is reported to have said that relations between the U.S. and Russia are in danger of reaching a dead end and could damage U.S. business interests in his country. On Wall Street yesterday, the Dow index posted its 15th record-high close of the year thanks to a rally in tech shares after Intel posted strong third-quarter guidance.

Economic data also helped to boost sentiment. The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book found the economy expanding at a modest to moderate pace with consumer spending up in all of the Fed’s districts. Another report had U.S. factory output increasing for a fifth month in June. U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen also concluded a second day of congressional testimony, where she faced a multitude of questions from lawmakers about legislation to make the Fed more accountable.

U.S. Unemployment Claims: Increase Expected

The last few months have seen moderately higher increases in non-farm payrolls. On the plus side, there’s been a marked increase in the monthly change, with the net gain running above the 200,000 mark for five straight months through June, the first run of 200,000 plus increases for five consecutive months in nearly 15 years.

Whether the latest run of strength is a genuine sign that the economy’s finally poised to create new jobs on a sustained basis or just another temporary bout of short-term noise that will again give way to the modest increases of recent history, remains to be seen. Watch for today’s weekly numbers on new filings for unemployment benefits. Last week’s report showed that claims fell to 304,000 for the week to July 5 - close to a seven year low. But the data was for the July 4 holiday week and so the latest numbers may be misleading. The consensus prediction is for a slight rise to 310,000. If the prediction holds, it will provide fresh support for thinking that modest improvement in the labour market is still in force.

U.S. Unemployment Claims today @ 12.30 GMT

Tech Stocks: Google Set To Be A Trillion Dollar Company

Google has the potential to hit a trillion-dollar market cap in the next 10 years, according to one technology investing leader who expects the search engine giant to join Facebook in gobbling up smaller companies and continuing to grow rapidly. The rise of the first trillion-dollar companies was one of a handful of big ideas entertained during a recent tech-focused panel where it was noted that companies that can make it easier to make videos will do well. Big things are also predicted for digital currencies, although not necessarily bitcoin, which is the most prominent name now but has faced price volatility, theft and scandal over the past year. Other providers will come along with at least half a dozen multi-billion dollar digital currency companies expected to emerge.

That sums up today’s highlights! Remember to keep in touch for all the latest tradable events of the day. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn. We hope you have a profitable day on the markets.

Here’s today’s ‘Just A Minute’ bringing you a 60 second summary of what’s happening in the financial markets:

Main Trading Event Of The Day: U.S. Unemployment Claims @ 12.30 GMT

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING TODAY

European Stocks Up On Supportive Fed & China Data; Jobless Claims Data Awaited

European stocks were seen to be edging higher today, boosted by expectations that the Federal Reserve would continue to support the U.S. economy and by data showing an increase in Chinese factory activity. Britain’s FTSE 100 was expected to open 14 to 16 points higher, or as much as 0.2 percent and Germany’s DAX to open 32 to 33 points higher, or 0.3 percent. Global shares rose overnight after minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s last meeting reassured investors that policy makers would stick to their easy monetary policy stance. While Fed staff presented several approaches to raising short-term interest rates, they said the discussion was simply prudent planning and not a sign rate hikes would come any time soon. The Fed is unlikely to spoil the recovery while inflation is low and underemployment is high. Sentiment on risk assets was further boosted by China’s factory sector which showed its best performance in five months in May, confounding some of the more bearish on the world’s second-biggest economy and top consumer of metals.

Meanwhile, U.S Unemployment Claims data is awaited today. Initial claims for U.S. unemployment benefits hit a seven-year low of 297,000 claims last week, confirming the strong recovery in the US economy. Claims fell 24,000 from the preceding week, indicating stronger economic growth in the second quarter. Stronger labour market and rising inflation pressures give the green light to the Fed’s ongoing tapering move. Jobless claims are expected to increase to 312,000.

UK Retail Sales Rise Much More Than Expected

British retail sales rose much more strongly than expected in April helped by robust food sales during the Easter holiday. Retail sales volumes jumped 1.3 percent on the month to show 6.9 percent growth on the year - its highest annual growth rate since May 2004. Economists had expected retail sales to rise 0.5 percent on the month and for sales to be up 5.2 percent compared with April last year. Sales for March were also revised up significantly. Britain’s consumers have been the main driver of the country’s economic recovery which began last year. A fall in inflation and signs of higher wages have helped restore some of the spending power lost in the years after the financial crisis. The turnaround in the housing market has also given home-owners more confidence to spend.

And The World’s Biggest Brand Is Now….

Google has leap-frogged over Apple to take the top spot in a global ranking measuring the value of the world’s biggest brands. Google saw a 40 percent year-on-year increase and is now worth to $159 billion making it top of the world’s most valuable global brands according to a recent report. Google has been hugely innovative in the last year with Google Glass, investments in artificial intelligence and a multitude of partnerships. Apple was knocked off the top spot after three years as the world’s number one, after its brand’s value fell 20 percent to $148 billion. A perception the Silicon Valley giant no longer redefines technology for its customers, as evidenced by a lack of new product launches, was behind the dip, according to the report. However, the fact Google and Apple took first and second place reflects technology brands’ growing dominance. The top four most valuable brands Google, Apple, IBM and Microsoft, all belonged to technology companies. The average technology brand is worth $45.9 billion, sitting way above the average brand value of £24.9 billion. The Top 100 have a combined value of $2.9 trillion and have increased by 49 percent since 2008. Their resurgence is a reflection of global growth which followed the end of the 2007 financial crisis.

That sums up today’s highlights! Remember to keep in touch with us via Facebook, Twitter, Google+ & Twitter for all the latest trading developments of the day.

We hope you have a profitable day on the markets.

Tag Archives: U.S. Unemployment Claims

U.S. Unemployment Claims: Increase Expected

European Stocks Up On Supportive Fed & China Data

Sign Up to Open an Account at Banc De Binary