Personal Finance
FX round-up: Dollar softness in focus as traders eye US rate-rise prospects
Sterling turned in a ho-hum performance on key crosses Thursday, with dollar weakness the focus of traders pondering the outlook for near-term US rates rises and tending to gold safety amid lower global equities markets.
London close: FTSE falls on dollar dip, ex-divs and tendency to gold safety
London equities limped to a lower close Thursday, pulled down by a trinity of factors including dollar weakness, a tendency to safe-haven gold and ex-dividend stocks.
Commodities: Gold higher as investors ponder longevity of equities run-up
Gold is trading higher on Thursday, with both classes of crude oil also up, as investors like the safe-haven yellow metal amid nascent jitters on how long the global equities run-up can last.
Philly Fed index surges to 43.3 in February
Manufacturing conditions in the Philadelphia region unexpectedly improved in February, according to the latest report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
US housing starts drop 2.6% in January
US housing starts fell 2. 6% in January, according to figures released by the Commerce Department.
US initial jobless claims rise less than expected
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week, according to data from the Labor Department.